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Page 1 of 11 “Folk customs are an important source of information about the everyday life of ordinary people. … Austrian culture has been predominantly formed by Catholicism which also left its traces on non-religious customs. …”
JANUARY
January 1, New Year is being welcomed at midnight with the toll of the famous bell called Pummerin. It is situated in the north tower of the St. Stephen’s Church in Vienna. With the measurements of three meters of height and 21 tons of weight, it is the second (!) biggest bell in the world. The current Pummerin only took up its duty in 1952 when it was transferred from St. Florian (Upper Austria). The original Pummerin, which interestingly enough was cast from Turkish cannon, first tolled in 1712 at the coronation of Emperor Charles VI, father of the famous Empress Maria Theresia. In 1945, however, just before World War Two officially ended, the bell crashed down and smashed to pieces when the St. Stephen’s was burning.
At midnight, people in every town and village welcome the New Year: Dancing to the Blue Danube Waltz (the unofficial Austrian anthem) by Johann Strauss junior, sparkling wine, and fire works.
Later on New Years Day, an event takes place that has millions of people all around the world under its spell of magnificence, perfectionism and entertainment: The annual New Year’s Concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra from the Great Music Hall of the Musikvereinsgebäude. This amazing concert has been part of the town’s tradition since the 18th century. It is broadcasted in the morning by the ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Company) – radio, and at noon by the ORF-TV, which is accepted by all the big broadcasting corporations of the world for their local transmissions. Keep in mind tough that if you ever intend to buy tickets for the concert itself, they have to be ordered a very long time in advance.
January 6, Twelve Night or Epiphany, is the date for the mummers of various kinds such as the Twelfth Night or Epiphany singers (Sternsinger), the runners with special caps (Glöckler), special mid-winter masks (Perchten), and the Three Kings. On this day (usually) children dress up as Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They walk from door to door, they sing and ask for a donation. As a little “thank you” they will bless your home by writing the following above your door and additionally you can ask them for frankincense.
Also on January 6, the traditional running of mid-winter masks (Perchten) takes place in certain regions in Austria. In Gastein Valley (Salzburg) the procession exists of twelve Kappenperchten (with beautiful large head dresses called “caps”), two Turmperchten (“Turm” means “Tower”, and refers to the pointed cap, two to three metres high), “Wildperchten”, “Jagdperchten”, and “Fetzenperchten” (the names again referring especially to their appearances marked by game, hunt and rags) and their “Gesellinnen” (companions), young men dressed in regional female costumes. They all run in single file. It is believed that the good quality and abundance of the next harvest plus the well-being of the people depend on the appearance and dancing and jumping of these mid-winter masks.
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