Goose March Buchen

In Buchen, the Carnival continues in a form that is rarely experienced today: original, mysterious, and full of centuries-old traditions. The historical Goose March is one of the most impressive Carnival parades in the Odenwald and captivates numerous visitors every year.

One of the central figures is the Pea Straw Bear, who is led through the streets on long leashes. With his hugs, he deliberately seeks closeness to the audience, making the Carnival an immediate experience. The parade is led by the Huddelbätzen: silent figures in tattered costumes, from which small bells dangle. Their multi-toned ringing announces the parade from afar.

Especially striking are the masked, silent figures who use gestures and placards to denounce grievances and peculiarities of city life – a lively form of historical social criticism. Long before the actual Goose March, the millers parade through the town. They were once considered "unclean" and had to live outside the city walls – their role serves as a reminder of old social orders and exclusions. Among the most unusual customs is also the act of sitting on a rotating wheel that is pulled through the city.

The Goose March in Buchen is much more than a Carnival parade: it is a living piece of cultural history, an intense experience for all the senses, and an absolute highlight of the Carnival along the Bergstraße and in the Odenwald.