|
|
|
Folk Customs - January |
|
|
|
Page 3 of 11
MARCH AND APRIL
Easter is movable feast depending on the first full moon in Spring, and therefore can either fall in March or April. Customs connected with Lent and Easter are the most important ones in these two months.
On the first Sunday in Lent, there is a quite exquisite event taking place: In Vorarlberg and in the adjoining Tyrolean region called Ausserfern, a big pyre, the so-called “Funke(n)” is being burned down – which is therefore called Funkensonntag (Sparkle Sunday). On top of the sparkle (i.e. the wood-pile) is the sparkle-witch, a doll filled with gun-powder which finally explodes. These and other seasonal bonfires are often seen in connection with magic, especially as regards fertility, abundance and health. In any case, these fires are definitely a huge success in boosting die community and the public communication.
On the fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare) people already start to look forward to the Easter celebrations. Markets and fairs are quite characteristic for this day. In Graz, for example, there is the traditional rag-fair held on Monday and Tuesday, following Laetare.
Once the festivities of Laetare are past, the Passion of Christ comes into focus. In the churches the crosses are covered, and the big Lenten cloths (traditional in Carinthia, dating back to the 15th century) in the presbytery bar the view to the altar. The cloth illustrates scenes from the Old Testament. As people and their environment changed, so did the illustrations of these cloths: Since the 1970’s an increasing number of Lenten cloths are used reflecting also contemporary problems such as pollution control.
Palm Sunday starts the Holy Week (in German “Karwoche”; kara: grief, lament). In memory of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, palm ceremonies and processions are held in every parish. In some cases specially shaped bunches and palm donkeys attract more than liturgical interest. Not one palm procession tough is alike. The first striking differences can be observed in the form, size and decoration of the Palmbuschen (palm bunches). In Austria, the bunches are made of sallow-twigs (colloquially “palms”). On the countryside they are handmade by the people themselves, while elsewhere they are bought on markets and at the florists. The palm bunch is put behind the cross or a picture of a Saint for the protection of the house or apartment, and people living in it. In the country palm bunches can also be found in the stables to protect the animals, and under the roof to avert lightening. Very often some twigs are stuck in the house garden and in the fields. In the past, when thunderstorms approached, catkins were thrown into the flames of the kitchen stove of fireplace, and swallowed as “holy medicine” by people suffering a sore throat.
In very few small towns you can be lucky and still watch the Palmeselumzug (processions with a palm donkey). They were quite usual in many places from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment. Today, however they are rather rare, exotic and marvellous relics of the past. Thaur (Tyrol), Puch (Salzburg) are two of the villages where donkeys are still used in processions.
Passion plays are well-known live theatres in Austria. When you plan to attend one, please not however that they are not performed in Lent or at Easter as well as not every year. Passion plays are performed in Erl (Tyrol; since 1613), in Hinterthiersee (Tyrol, performed for 200 years) and at the Roman quarry of St. Margarethen (Burgenland). Performances will be held every fifth or sixth year.
Certain Viennese churches have restarted the tradition of celebrating mourning masses on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
On Holy Thursday the church bells remain silent. The popular believe is that the bells have “flown to Rome” and do not return until the following Saturday, for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection. The toll of the bells is replaced during those days by the boys wielding “Ratschen” (rattling instruments) and shouting rhymes.
In places all over Austria Easter bonfires are lit. They have special shapes (predominantly Christian symbols such as the initials of Christ and Mary, chalice and host, sacred heart, etc.…) – which is the case in the Lavanthal (Carinthia) and the southern part of Burgenland. The bonfires are often accompanied by the hurling of torches and shooting. These Easter bonfires, also called “bonfires of joy”, burn in the night before Easter Sunday and are said to announce the rejoicing over the Resurrection of Christ. This meaning, however, is not the only one people attach to it: They are also considered as a danger-signal from the time of the Turkish invasion (16th/17th centuries), pre-Christian Spring fires of ritual purification, etc. …
Austrians are better acquainted with the tradition of the Easter Egg. During Easter you will discover Easter Eggs are decorated in any possible creation that jumps into the mind of people – from simple ornaments to magnificent and highly artistic forms. Hard-boiled coloured eggs – said to be brought by the Easter Bunny (Osterhase) – are used for playing and are also eaten. The eggs you can admire on Easter Trees (“Osterbaum”) or Easter Bunch (“Osterstrauss”) are empty eggs (of course). This has been an innovation from the World War II.
April is all about “Bewegungsbräuche” (customs connected with motion and exercise) of various kind and origins. The quite unique “Vierberglauf” (four mountain run) on the second Friday after Easter has a pretty impressive history to look back on. The participants gather on the previous night for midnight mass in the little church on the Magdalensberg (Carinthia), and right after that event the 502 kilometres “run” begins. During this adventure the participants collect various “mountain leaves” (ivy, evergreen, juniper, etc.), which are then used in a magical way to avert thunderstorms and lightening.
|
|
|
