St. Leonhard celebrates the "Blochziachn"

Updated on 30.01.2024

St. Leonhard, 28 January 2024 - On Sunday, the traditional "Blochziachn" was celebrated in St. Leonhard in the Pitztal Valley. This unique custom takes place every four years.

On Sunday in St. Leonhard, the 30-metre-long spruce weighing over two tonnes was pulled through the village with great enthusiasm. A number of carnival revellers were on hand to move the spruce through the village. Led by the scooters and bell ringers, they were followed by "Mias- und Tatschenmandln", the bears with their bear drivers, the "Schwoaftuifl", the "Fuhrmann" and many other masks. Young and old, from first-graders to over 70-year-olds, took part in this spectacular event, explained Alfred Rauch, chairman of the carnival association.

One of the central figures of the "Blochziachn" is the wild man, a mythological figure of the Pitztal carnival. He epitomises the wild and unbridled nature of man. His garment, handmade and weighing around 25 kilograms, is impressive. It is the job of the driver to capture the wild man, who uses his superhuman strength to help bring the Bloch to his destination unharmed.

The next "Blochziachn" will not take place until 2028, which is why this year's celebration was particularly significant for the inhabitants of St. Leonhard. The custom has developed into an important cultural event that reflects the community's solidarity and the values of tradition and cohesion.