Useful information

Epiphany

At Epiphany on January 6th (known as Dreikönigsfest), young people all over Upper Austria dress in costumes resembling what the Three Kings supposedly wore. They walk from house to house singing carols and reciting sayings in order to collect donations for charities.

Carnival

In February, Carnival revelers have fun at parades all over Upper Austria and enjoy the Faschingskrapfen, a delicious filled pastry. The masquerade parade in the town of Ebensee, called Fetzenzug, is an especially traditional Carnival celebration.

Liebstattsonntag

The Liebstattsonntag is a romantic tradition in the Salzkammergut region. On the fourth Sunday of the fasting period, people give each other decorated gingerbread hearts to show their affection for each other. 

Ratscher

During Passion Week, children with rattles, the so-called Ratscher, walk from house to house making noise instead of the church bells.

Easter and Eierpecken (March/April)

The egg is an old symbol of fertility and also a symbol for the resurrection of Jesus. In Passion Week, the eggs are coloured on Gründonnerstag to be ready for Easter Sunday, when the eggs are put in nests and are hidden for the children. They have great fun looking for the nests and taking part in Eierpecken. But not only kids amuse themselves trying to break their opponent’s egg with their own.

Maypoles

On the first of May, or on the previous day, maypoles are set up everywhere. The whole village community decorates and sets up the maypole together at a celebration. There is also the custom of stealing maypoles from neighboring villages within the first three days. To prevent the maypole from being stolen, the villagers guard it around the clock.

Unruhe-Nacht

At Whitsun in May or June, the Night of Unrest takes place, also known as Unruhe-Nacht. Especially in rural areas, people should watch out as it is allowed to hide things from other people’s gardens to indicate they should clean up.

Peterlfeuer

Summer solstice, a ritual which might appear outdated, usually takes place on the night before June 29th. People celebrate it by setting fire to piles of wood with a straw doll on top, called Peterl, a personification of harm. They gather around the fire, play music, sing and jump over the flames. 
 

Trachtensonntag

On this special Sunday in late summer, people wear their Trachten to raise public awareness for these traditional regional costumes: women wear a Dirndl and men a Lederhose, which are very traditional in Upper Austria. It is often celebrated with music and folk dances, usually in combination with handicraft markets, religious village festivals with fetes, the socalled Kirtag, or the traditional Frühschoppen, where beer is already drunk on late Sunday morning. These Frühschoppen take place on Sunday mornings throughout the year and are public social events with brass bands and traditional Austrian food.

Almabtrieb

The ceremonial cattle drives during September and October down from more than 300 mountain pastures in Upper Austria into their winter barns in the valley, called Almabtrieb, takes place especially in the Salzkammergut, Pyhrnpass and Ausseerland regions. For this purpose, the cows are decorated with bells and garlands of flowers. (von Pocket Guide übernommen)

St. Martin’s Day and Lantern Fest

St. Martin, who once shared his cloak with a poor and freezing beggar, is commemorated on November 11th. The celebration is especially popular among children, who walk in processions carrying lanterns they made in kindergarten. People bake yeast dough pastries in the form of the so-called Martin men and eat roast goose, a dish called Martinigansl.

Advent season

On the four Sundays before Christmas, people light an Advent wreath. They are often self-made or can be bought at Christmas markets, where people admire handicrafts with a glass of hot punch or mulled wine in their hands. At this time of the year, people bake Christmas biscuits such as “Vanillekipferl”, “Lebkuchen” (gingerbread) and “Ischler Gebäck”, as well as “Kletzenbrot” (fruit bread). Kids are waiting for Saint Nicolas on December 6th, who brings presents to good children, and hope that they don’t get a visit from Krampus on December 5th, if they misbehaved during the year.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve children can’t wait for the Christ Child to come. The birth of Jesus is celebrated with a decorated Christmas tree. Until the early afternoon of December 24th, most families still make preparations for the Christmas dinner, decorating the Christmas tree and setting up the crib, until they go to the Christmas Children’s Mass in the afternoon. When they return, the Christ Child has placed the presents under the Christmas tree unnoticed and the “Bescherung” can begin, where everyone opens their presents.