Posts Tagged ‘Brauchtum’

The new year in Salzburg starts with a curious tradtion- the Glöcklerlauf:

In the night from the 5^th to 6^th January, the so called last Rauhnacht (the last of the Twelve Nights, that concludes Christmas) a procession takes place.

Men, dressed in white clothes, wearing belts with heavy bells and headdresses, that are lighted from inside out, wander the streets. They start their procession in the district Kleingmain at 7 pm. and walk to the city center of Salzburg, where the procession ends at about 9 pm.

In former times, the procession was believed to chase away the cold and darkness and invite light and warmth to come back. The men with their amazing, bright headpieces create a wonderful and mystical scenery that is worth seeing!

On September 9th the ‚Gwandhaus’, a popular shop for traditional Austrian clothes,  opens for its special dirndldress-Sunday.

First there is a mass at 11 a.m. in the garden of the Gwandhaus. Afterwards the Gwandhaus is open for visit. There is traditional music and traditional food from the Restaurant and the Greißlerei de Merin.

At the Atelier you can visit the needlewomen and learn more about traditional sewing techniques. Also the museum with rare and antique costumes and the shop is open.

Sallerhof Tipp: Arrive to the Gwandhaus with bus 25 (busstop in Grödig only 5 walking minutes away from the Sallerhof). Bus 25 has also a busstop at the Gwandhaus. This way, you can enjoy a glas of beer or wine without worrying how to get home afterwards.

The Heckentheater (theatre of the hedge) is part of the Mirabellgarden and one of the oldest Heckentheater in the area. Every Friday evening in Summer at 18:30 the Heckentheater is filled by local music groups and traditional costume associations for the Brauchtumsnachmittag, an event where traditional music and customs are performed.

If the weather is not good enough to perform in outside, then the event is moved into the castle.  The castle Mirabell and it’s wonderful garden was build in the 17th century by archbishop Wolf Dietrich of Raitenau. The garden was changed later on by the plans of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Since then the garden and of course the castle are extremely popular attractions.

Salzburg Militia

Every year at the beginning of November, the militia organizes a popular festivity: St. Martins feast, in the honour of the city and militia patron, the holy Martin.

The ceremonial act starts at the dome in Salzburg, where the city militia and other militias from the country come together to celebrate the mass. Afterwards there is a procession through the city centre.

At midday, parts of the militia and many interested people come together at the Mönchsberg for a shooting match. With crossbows they compete against each other and there is also a shooting match for non-militia members. The shooting match has an historic origin and reminds of times when the citizens of Salzburg still had to defend themselves.