From Friday, May 22 to Monday, May 25, 13 members of the Alliance of Transylvanian Saxons in Canada and members of the Transylvania Club participated in the International Heimattag der Siebenbuerger Sachsen in Dinkelsbuehl. This year’s event attracted a record number of participants, estimated 15,000–20,000 people, including 115 different groups and over 3,000 marchers in traditional Tracht for the Sunday parade (Trachtenumzug) alone.
The group arrived on Friday and registered for the weekend, reconnecting with old friends and meeting many new ones. They also enjoyed the music, food, dancing, and Gemütlichkeit in the nightly Festzelt alongside 3,000-4,000 of their Saxon friends until the late evening and early morning hours.
Saturday featured a packed schedule of events and activities, including the opening ceremonies, where greetings from Canada were delivered. It was also a historic occasion as delegates signed a Federation agreement welcoming Switzerland as a new member. The day concluded with a dinner and brass band dance, and, of course, a visit to the Festzelt, featuring Oliver Haidt.
At the Sunday Trachtenumzug parade, the group was honoured as special guests, marching second in line and covering several kilometres through the streets of downtown Dinkelsbühl, cheered on by thousands of spectators. Many called out warm welcomes and expressed their appreciation for our attendance. Later, our dance group performed the dance “Gückende” twice for spectators on the city-centre stages. They also participated in a combined dance group presentation, performing three different dances together with several hundred dancers from various groups – an impressive and inspiring sight to witness.
A meaningful evening torchlight procession through the city, followed by a memorial service attended by hundreds of participants at the memorial site and gardens outside the city walls, brought the formal activities of the day and weekend to a close.
The group of 13 left Dinkelsbühl in awe and reinvigorated by their Saxon heritage and roots. Having met many new friends along the way, it was truly exhilarating to witness the sheer number of Saxons who gathered in one place to celebrate their shared heritage. Equally memorable was the warmth, hospitality, and sense of community shown by everyone the group encountered throughout the event.
“Everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hopes to attend again in the future. For those who have not yet had the opportunity to attend a Heimattag, I would strongly encourage you to consider it. It is a unique and rewarding experience that brings history, culture, and community together in a remarkable way. I am already looking forward to attending another Heimattag and, hopefully, doing so again in the near future.”
Rick Hesch
To see more from Heimattag in Dinkelsbuehl, please use the below links to access videos from the festivities:
Opening Ceremony (Eroeffnung Des Heimattages) 1:30:00-1:37:30 – signing of Federation agreement with new member from Switzerland.
Opening Ceremony (Eroeffnung Des Heimattages) 1:55:51-2:00:00 – Greetings from Canada
Traditional Tracht Parade (Trachtenumzuges Youtube) 0:46-1:28
Transylvania Club Youth Dancers performance of Gückende 0:41:18-0:53:40
Dance Group Aufmarsch 14-18
Dance Group Aufmarsch 40-52
