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Every second Wednesday in November, the village of Quirnbach holds its traditional horse market. The event includes vendors, food specialties, musical entertainment and a raffle.
“Like in recent years, we again expect about 20,000 visitors coming to enjoy our annual event,” said the mayor of Quirnbach, Hans Harth. “Actually, our village has a long market tradition.”
In 1444, historical documents mention the first market called “Bartholomäusmarkt.” The local church, Bartholomäus Church, was known as a place for pilgrimage. With the pilgrims, the vendors came to sell all kinds of merchandise. Quirnbach turned into a community with monthly markets after the town of Kusel was burnt down during the French Revolution in 1794. The Kusel markets had to move to Quirnbach. According to a document dated April 26, 1799, every third day of the month a cattle market was authorized. After Kusel was rebuilt, city officials wanted the markets back. But vendors and farmers from the local areas and even neighboring countries wanted to keep going to Quirnbach. In the years 1856 and 1857, 25 markets were held each year in Quirnbach. Local people made good money with the many guesthouses and inns they needed to feed all the visitors. Until around 1900, every second house in the village was turned into an inn.
After around the middle of the 19th century, horses were not only owned by noble people but also used as draught animals by farmers. Quirnbach officials decided to hold their first horse market on Saint Martin’s Day of 1877. The date in November was a good one for farmers. The crop was in and the financial situation was balanced. People had the time to visit the horse market. They sat together, celebrated and had fun. They started having dances. Since at that time it still was customary for parents to engage their children (without asking them), the horse market turned into the “marriage market.”
Also, the village asked the government to give authorization to hold a lottery, where people could win household items and agricultural machines.
The main prizes were horses. The first time, 5,000 lottery tickets were sold. In 1892, 24,000 tickets were sold and in 1893, more than 300 ticket vendors traveled through the Pfalz to sell the tickets.
After World War II and due to a growing motorization of agriculture, the cattle and horse market lost its importance. Better streets allowed farmers to visit their cattle dealers at any time and not only during the market.
Soon Bartholomäusmarkt turned into a village carnival.
In the beginning of the 1980s, community officials, local clubs and business people helped to revive the horse market and the lottery.
Lottery tickets will be sold until 9 p.m. Wednesday. The first prize is a cruise on the AIDA cruise ship for two people for one week; the second prize is a three-day trip to Paris for two people; and the third prize is a three-day trip to Berlin for two people.
The horse show with a total of 80 horses of different breeds will start at 10 a.m. In between the presentation of the horses, there will be show performances. The European champion in western riding will show her skills. About 50 horses will get awarded after the show performances.
“We will have more than 100 vendors’ stands and booths with clothes, horse
equipment, fruit, sweets, food specialties and a lot more set up along the streets,” Mr. Harth said.
Musical entertainment will be provided throughout the day in the fest tent.
Quirnbach is located near Glan-Münchweiler on autobahn A62. It has 560 inhabitants, including 85 Americans.
“We hope a lot of our American neighbors are coming to join us in this fun-filled traditional event,” Mr. Harth said.
