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Allerheiligenkirmes - History |
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"The word 'Kirmes' is an abbreviated version of the middle high German word 'Kirchwihmesse'. New churches were consecrated ahead of the first service. In most cases a bishop sprinkled the building, both inside and out, with holy water.
The main portal, the walls and the altar were symbolically washed and anointed. The anniversary of the first consecration was celebrated each year with a special church festival. The day on which all the churchgoers from the often far-flung parish gathered also attracted travelling tradesmen and entertainers. This was the origin of annual fairs.
The most important consecration in Soest took place in 1166A.D. when the final consecration of the Minster Church of St. Patrokli was conducted by Reinold von Dassel, Archbishop of Cologne. There was probably an earlier consecration of the older Petri Church, but of which there is no record. (The other churches in Soest were built at a later date.) There were, however, earlier markets in Soest. Market rights were conferred on Soest in 1144 A.D. by the Cologne Archbishop of the Town of Medebach.
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The Soest Kirmes may go back as far as those times, but the earliest verification is written on parchment and dated 1338 A.D. This parchment is the oldest preserved 'town accounts' where an unimpressive and almost illegible entry notes "Item de wrighe kermesse constat VI s." i.e. "In addition the free Kirmes cost 6 shillings". As a result of this confirmation Soest celebrates its 667th Kirmes in 2004. (Until a few years ago the oldest known reference in the town archives dated from 1417, thus resulting in a difference in the reckoning of 79 years.)
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