cogball - 12,000 early risers at the Kocherlball in Munich
Landler, Zwiefacher, Polka, Hiatamadl and Boarischer - around 12,000 Early Birds have danced their way into Munich's traditional Kocherlball in the English Garden at dawn. With shining sunbeams, couples twirled around the Chinese Tower, immersed in Bavarian dances.
First Guests in the Dark
The first guests arrived at the Chinese Tower in the dark to secure the best spots. With candles lit, they brought their own picnic baskets. Many came in traditional attire, some in historical uniforms and costumes, and a few wore the garb of the former Kocherl, the household staff, whose morning meetings the ball traces back to.
"A casual, cheerful Kocherlball," summarized Press Spokesperson Ursula Seeböck-Forster. "Guests started arriving at half past five in the dark with candles on the tables. Everyone is thrilled that the weather has been perfect from the start this year." Last year, dancers had to bring umbrellas due to rain. The Haberl family, hosts of the ball for the past 35 years, revived it in 1989.
Dancing started at 6:00 AM. Katharina Maier and Markus Kaindl, the dance masters, ensured that even beginners didn't lose rhythm during the traditional dances. Two music bands, the very young formation Quetschnblech and the Kapelle Massanari, took turns performing on stage, sometimes without sheet music and playing intuitively, as the organizers announced.
The Ball at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden has been canceled twice - in 2020 and 2021 due to the Corona Pandemic. However, the attendance has been unbroken since then.
Banned due to Moral Decay
The ball has a long-standing tradition that dates back to the 19th century. It was a Sunday morning gathering for the so-called Kocherl - the household staff - in the English Garden during pleasant weather. They chose the early hour because they had to resume their duties when their employers returned from church.
The Kocherl were not considered to have behaved appropriately - this displeased the authorities. In 1904, the ball was therefore banned. For the 200-year anniversary of the English Garden in 1989, Munich City Council revived this custom. Since then, the Ball at the Chinese Tower on the third Sunday in July has become a cultural event.
The traditional attire and historical uniforms served as a reminder of the custom's roots in Bavarian society, as seen in the early hours of the Kocherlball in Bavaria, Germany. Visitors to Munich's Kocherlball embraced the local dance tradition, participating in dances such as Landler and Polka, even if they were new to the steps. Every year, the ball continues to attract participants from across Germany, preserving and celebrating the region's dance heritage in Munich.
