Customs in Salzburg: Silent Night, Schützen, Perchten and Co. – A look at some customs between Christmas and New Year
Christmas tree, Mettenwurst soup, Raunnachte, Perchten or wax casting on New Year’s Eve. Each and every one of us associates the days around Christmas and New Year’s Eve with very special experiences with the family or in the community. Our customs and traditions, which are extremely popular with young and old, are as diverse as Salzburg is. A few examples of how colorful and important these traditions are.
The message in full:
Salzburg – Traditions and customs, this is an important topic across generations. Even the elementary school students in the 3rd and 4th grades get to know the customs of Salzburg with all its traditions in a playful way with the new coloring book of the local history associations. Among other things, the children are explained the meaning of the Perchten, the Glöckler or the Tresterer and they are initiated into the secrets of folk culture and its myths and rituals. The state media center has taken a closer look at the “hustle and bustle” in all Salzburg districts from the first Raunacht to the Epiphany and presents some examples of customs.
It begins with the rough nights
You are not allowed to hang up your laundry on rough nights. This folk wisdom is well known to many. “The ‘Rach’n und Sprengen’, the blessing of the house with the smoking pan, was originally the task of the monks and later passed to the male heads of the family – the house fathers. Today, this custom is gaining in importance again. In Salzburg, smoking is preferably done on four nights: from December 20th to 21st, from December 24th to 25th, from December 31st to January 1st and from January 5th to 6th. The first two nights are always “dry” – people used to fast here – and the last two are “fat” nights,” explains Michael Greger, head of the State Institute for Folklore.
The Eternal Song
When the bells of the churches Maria Bühel, Oberndorf and Laufen ring at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, the memorial service for what is probably the most famous Christmas carol begins around the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf. 4,000 to 5,000 locals and guests don’t want to miss this atmospheric celebration. “The highlight is every year when the song is sung in the original version and original cast – i.e. two male voices with guitar. This is a very special moment for everyone present,” says Clemens Konrad, Managing Director of the Oberndorf Tourism Association. Every year around two billion people sing the eternal song under the Christmas tree.
Wagrain under the sign of Joseph Mohr
December 26th in Wagrain is all about the text of “Silent Night, Holy Night” by Joseph Mohr. For the 60th time, the commemorative singing for Mohr takes place in the parish church in the Pongau community. The event is organized by Charlotte Hutter: “My husband and I set it up together. This year there are again 70 musicians. My children and grandchildren also play with different instruments,” says Hutter.
500 shooters compete
On the afternoon of December 31st, the old year is said goodbye loudly in Tennengau, Flachgau and in the state capital. For the 55th time, the traditional New Year’s star shooting of the pillory shooters takes place. From around 3 p.m. in the three districts, around 500 comrades fired their pillory nozzles from around 50 positions. The highlight is the last salute with the cannon of the civil guard on the Staatsbrücke. Around twelve men from the Leopoldskron-Moos pillory gunners will take part from the “Bürgerwehr” location. For the district commander of the riflemen in the city of Salzburg, Gottfried Grömer, it is the 36th mission in a row.
Contemplative ways in Lessach
While Aussergebirg the old year comes to an end loudly, in Lungau it is said goodbye quietly and contemplatively. Locals and guests will gather in Lessach at 6 p.m. on December 31st. For more than 30 years, the traditional New Year’s Eve blowing has been taking place there in the open air. Only brass players play folk songs and melodies and get young and old in the mood for the turn of the year. The mulled wine, freshly prepared from the copper cauldron, and the mayor’s speech should not be missing.
Thalgau is brightly lit
When evening falls in Thalgau on January 4th, the Flachgau community belongs entirely to the Glöckler family. With their white pants and shirts and with the magnificent and brightly lit caps, it represents the shrine to the precious light, they parade through the place. The “Thalgauer Glöcklerlauf” was founded 31 years ago by the “D’Wartenfelser” traditional costume association and has always taken place on the fourth day of the new year ever since. “At the moment we have 18 caps, which are lovingly made by hand and fitted with new fringes before each run,” says former club chairman Josef Winkler.
On horseback in Annaberg-Lungötz
Three kings in magnificent robes and a pioneer on horseback parade through the two districts in Annaberg-Lungötz on January 5th. The Epiphany Ride has been taking place in the Tennengau community for around 70 years. “What’s special about us is that we’re the only group in the state that plays wind instruments for the people and doesn’t sing,” says club chairman Georg Lanzinger. The mounted musicians play around 60 times on the day before Epiphany.
Beak perchten sweep out and bring good luck
With “Ga Ga Ga” on January 5, the Rauriser Schnabelperchten go from house to house in the valley. They wear long beaks, cardigans, patched smocks and straw slippers and are equipped with a humpback basket, large scissors, needle, thread and a broom. “Eight volunteers of five Perchten each are on the road the day before the last Raunacht and check whether the households are properly managed and whether the floors have been wiped clean. This custom only exists here in Raurisertal,” says one of the Schnabelperchten, who bring luck and blessings for the coming year.
A Fried, a Gsund and a Reim in Pongau
On January 6, 2023, the big Pongau Perchten Run will take place for the 64th time. For the 17th time, the Schön- and Schiachperchten meet with their companions, such as the Habergeiß and Zapfenmandl, in Altenmarkt. Manfred Steger has been with the Perchten for around 16 years. As captain, he goes ahead and conveys to the guests “to Fried, to Gsund and to Reim”: “The final preparations for the approximately 430 participants are in full swing. The mirrors are cleaned and the fur coats cleaned. The whole place is happy that the run can take place again. We’re hoping for good weather and lots of spectators,” said Steger.
In Zell am See, the treacle is used
In the pre-Christmas period until January 6th, the Zeller Tresterer Pass runs from farm to farm. Their mystical stomping dance and the old Perchten saying “to peace, to health and to rhyme” promises a harvest blessing to the farmers they visit. They appear in splendid clothing and with a crown of feathers on their heads, with 50 to 60 white rooster feathers. “The sources for the pomace go back to 1838. They are shown there as they are now. The dance step of the Trester is unique and incomparable, it only exists in the Pinzgau. Dance scholars have also confirmed this to us,” reports Lukas Schmiderer, the chronicler of the Zell Tresterer group.
Press release from the Salzburg State Media Center