Highlights of the Tyrolean Cultural Winter

Updated 18.10.2022

For many guests and locals, Tyrol in winter means almost endless fun on the slopes, idyllic winter hikes or fun tobogganing. But the heart of the Alps has much more to offer besides the popular winter sports activities. A glance at the calendar of events shows that Tyrol offers a wealth of unique cultural events that make a winter holiday really special.

Krampus runs

It is a centuries-old custom that is particularly firmly anchored in Tyrol: the Krampuslauf. And so it is sometimes the adherence to the tradition that makes the interest in the pre-Christmas custom grow even beyond the Alpine region. Depending on the region, the Krampus appears in many guises: as a companion of St. Nicholas who punishes naughty children, together with the legendary figure of Perchta or as a flawless devil. And so the Krampus runs throughout the country differ in their style and presentation - sometimes very traditional and without modern influences, sometimes hellishly loud and devilishly wild.

The run of the Tarreter Krampeler on 6 December 2022, for example, is special, because in Tarrenz great importance is attached to the traditional nature of the Krampus appearance. And so there are no elaborate shows with large floats and modern masks. Instead, it is the hand-carved, over 100-year-old larvae, the costumes made of real lambskin and goatskin and trousers made of flitschen that make the Krampuslauf so special. From 8 pm the Krampeler parade through the village, after the youngsters had already made their appearance the day before as the "Kluane Krampeler". The Lienz Krampus Days on 5 December are a great experience for the whole family. Here the Krampuses - sometimes also called Klaubauf - are out and about to punish those who have not lived up to the virtues of St. Nicholas throughout the year. All dates and further information can be found at www.tirol.at/krampuslaeufe.

Christmas markets

It is not only the unique scenery amidst the mountains that makes the Advent and Christmas season in Tyrol something special. It is deep-rooted traditions and the atmosphere at Christmas markets all over the country that delight guests and locals alike. Traditional Christmas tunes and culinary delicacies shorten the wait for the Christ Child and sweeten this atmospheric time of year.

A visit to the Rattenberg Advent in the Alpbach Valley is a special experience. It is probably the most original Christmas market in Tyrol, because on the one hand there are no sales stalls, only bar and enjoyment - although the famous glass artists offer their wares in the shops. For another, the Rattenberg Advent does not use electric lights at all. On Advent Saturdays, only candles, torches and open fires light up the historic alleys of Austria's smallest town, creating a very special atmosphere. The Christmas market in Mayrhofen in the Zillertal is also surprisingly different. It takes place in the middle of huge, old trees on the Waldfestplatz. It is small and contemplative, with local handicrafts in the foreground. Visitors sit comfortably around the open fire, drink mulled wine and nibble on Zillertaler Krapfen, while Christmas sounds can be heard from brass bands and singers.

An overview of the Advent and Christmas markets can be found at www.tirol.at/advent.

Fasnacht

It is a centuries-old custom that still captivates entire villages today: Fasnacht. The exuberant celebrations and colourful traditions are even part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. For despite their age, they are as alive as ever in many places in Tyrol. And they all have one central theme: the battle of spring against winter. The Tyrolean carnival customs impress with their splendid, hand-carved masks and elaborate dresses as well as with their imaginatively decorated floats with superstructures, which, in addition to the time-honoured groups and figures, provide merriment, hospitality and lots of mischief.

The Fisser Blochziehen, for example, is one of the largest carnival customs in the Alpine region. The event takes place every four years, as it will again on 29 January 2023. The centrepiece is a 30-metre-long, colourfully decorated Swiss stone pine tree - called Bloch - which is painstakingly pulled through the village on sledges by various figures. The carnival lasts until late afternoon, with playful elements such as witches and the "Schwoaftuifl", who make it difficult for the spectators to get around. At the end, the valuable Swiss stone pine is auctioned off and the proceeds benefit the carnival, village community projects and social institutions.

On 12 February 2023, on the other hand, one of the most colourful carnival customs in the Alpine region takes place with the Nassereither Schellerlaufen. The tradition, which is over 270 years old and only takes place every three years, has even been a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage site since 2012. The focus is on primitive figures who parade through the village in splendid robes and impressive wooden masks. The main act is the battle between spring in the form of the bear and winter, embodied by the bear driver. In the end, spring wins and the village is engulfed in a sea of colour and thunderous ringing by the more than 500 active figures and masks. Weeks and months before the parade, the Schellerlaufen captivates the whole village, which is busy with the elaborate preparations.

Further information and dates for the carnivals in Tyrol can be found at www.tirol.at/fasnacht.

Tyrolean Winter Festival Erl

For many years now, the sound of the Tyrolean Festival Erl has found great resonance far beyond the borders of the province. Far away from the big cities, fertile ground has developed here for culture at the highest level. Works that have undeservedly fallen into oblivion have become an integral part of the Tiroler Festspiele Erl. And so the choice for this year's Winter Festival fell on Mercadante's rarely performed opera jewel "Francesca da Rimini". Donizetti's extremely popular opera buffa "Don Pasquale", which immediately became a huge success after its premiere, is also on the programme. The last evening of the year ends on an enjoyable note with melodies from Millöcker operettas. And excellent compositions and concerts await at the Winter Festival in the new year as well, coming to an end with the final concert on 8 January 2023 against the breathtaking backdrop of the Kaisergebirge.

An overview of the Tyrolean Festival Erl's winter programme can be found at www.tiroler-festspiele.at.

Further information on the Tyrolean Cultural Winter and an overview of the complete calendar of events can be found at www.tirol.at/veranstaltungen.