After two years of being forced to have a Covid break, we were eager to have our Johannisfeuer back in style with visitors and a big fire.

The disappointment was all the greater when many of the surrounding communities had to cancel their fires due to the prevailing forest fire danger.

Thanks to the Grafenwöhr fire department, however, the appropriate safety precautions could be taken and nothing stood in the way of the lively party. Not even the predicted rain kept us from celebrating.

After about three days of set-up work, the time had finally come: around 300 visitors crowded onto the Birka to watch the spectacle.

Around 8 p.m., we gathered in front of the fire and rang in the festivities with singing and a short speech before the pagoda fire, which was about two meters tall, was lit by the youngest members of the tribe just in time for dusk.

Until dawn there was still a lot of commotion on the Birka, where we ended the night comfortably around the fire.