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Every seven years, the Dance of the Coopers is performed to commemorate the end of the plague in the 15th century.

Viktualienmarkt market women perform a dance in fancy dress.

Since “liquids don’t count during fast-time,” monks brewed a nourishing ale during the lenten fast, a tradition that has survived to this day. Bavaria’s “fifth season” is launched by the ceremonial breaching of bock beer barrels, the most famous being the Salvator breaching on Nockherberg.

Most Bavarian towns and communities raise decorated May-poles on 1 May, a custom dating back to the Middle Ages when the “tree of life” was thought to bring success. Overnight, the Maypole is guarded by local youths: If a Maypole is stolen, it has to be ransomed with many barrels of beer.

Corpus Christi processions are held throughout southern Bavaria – the largest is in Munich – to mark this important Catholic feast day.

Annual “Cook’s Ball,” where costumed couples dance a Bavarian waltz and polka at 6am at the foot of the Chinese Tower in the Englischer Garten. This tradition harks back to an annual ball for Munich’s domestic servants.

Bad Tölz, Schliersee, Murnau, and many Bavarian towns stage processions on horseback or in painted carts in honour of St Leonard, the patron saint of horses.

Wonderful Christmas markets with stalls, mulled wine, and treats. On Marienplatz and in many other areas of the city.

The Alphorn was a means of communication between cow-herders across long distances, as was yodelling, which evolved into a style of singing. Young men danced the Schuhplattler – a folk dance involving much slapping of shoe soles. These traditions are a mainstay at regional folk festivals.

Each region has its own distinctive folk dress, and folklore associations keep the tradition alive, parading regional costumes in processions and at festivals such as the Wiesn.