What is "kirchweih"

Kirchweih is literally the dedication of a church in German. More generally it also names the celebration of the anniversary of a dedication both at church and in local customs. The festivity is often on the day celebrating a church's patron saint or the day of laying the foundation stone, now often celebrated the following weekend. Customs vary locally in German-speaking countries, also local names such as Kirtag, Kärwa, Kirmes and Kilbi.

In the liturgy of the Catholic church, the Latin gradual , part of the proper of the mass for the feast day, is Locus iste, set to music for example as a motet by Anton Bruckner.