Pre-Christian Alpine traditions

Perchten are occurring in the Bavarian- Austrian Alpine Customs forms which occur mainly in late December and January. Her name is probably related to the legendary figure of Perchta which, however, in turn, has an unexplained origin. A theory on naming assumes that the term berchttac of Middle High German, berchtnacht, the medieval word for the holiday of Epiphany ( Epiphany ), today derives the Epiphany on January 6, ; bercht Middle High German meant shiny ',' bright ' ( cf. English bright, bright ').

The Perchten embody two general groups, the "good" Schönperchten, and the "bad " Schiechperchten ( obdt. schiech, pronounced schiach emphasizes on i: ugly, bad, evil). Important item of Perchten is the bell with the popular interpretation after the winter - to be expelled (winter expulsion, or expulsion of the old year ) - and the evil spirits of winter. The visit of Perchten is sometimes held up popularly known as auspicious omen. The extent to which Perchtenlaufen really goes back to pagan customs, is controversial.

• 6.1 Historical Reporting

History of Perchten customs

Are noise parades end with masks of demonic women, pagan goddesses as well as wild and tame animals, together with other customs, described to the Kaiendenfeiern ( Roman - Germanic New Year and Christmas celebrations ) as early as 500 AD by Caesarius of Arles. So the Percht is also associated with the Wild Hunt. However, the references Percht developed rather later. In the 11th century the name Giperchtennacht was mentioned in the Mondsseer glosses that ( radiant Old High German ) is interpreted by Johann Andreas Schmeller and Jacob Grimm as a translation of the Greek word epiphany.

With the progressive Christianization in the Alps at the beginning of the Middle Ages Percht was then brought increasingly shape the Domina Perchta or woman world with the seven major vices in connection. 1729 brings Christian Gottlob Haltaus the Prechtag with a goddess Precha in context.

A Renaissance witnessed the Perchtenkulte again only with the secularization and a changing attitude to popular culture in the 19th century, and then again towards the end of the 20th century.

Perchten occur in the rough nights between Christmas and New Year, to monitor the food, cleanliness and work rules for these days. While the Schiachperchten often occur in large numbers and with a large entourage of the night, the Schönperchten appear on the day and wish the villagers happiness and blessing.

Typical traditional Perchtengestalten

• Woman Bercht / Perchta, Bechtra, Sampa, Zamperin, Stampa (Lower Austria ), Rauweib, Poodle woman ( Eastern Styria, Burgenland ), lutzl ( Lucia, Burgenland ), witches ( Inner Salzkammergut ), Bechtrababa, Baba ( " witch Percht " Unterkärnten, Slovenia)
• Berchtlmuada ( " Percht - mother " ), Zampermuada, Pudelmuatta ( Styria )
• Perchtnmuatta ( " Perchten mother " ), Karl Stein
• Berschtln, Perschtln - companion of Percht ( Unterinntal )
• Berigln ( Schiechperchten of Ausseer Lands )
• Gloeckler ( luminaries, Schönperchten of the Salzkammergut region and adjacent regions)
• Habergeiß, Hovangoas or Hobergoaß (especially in Carinthia, Salzburg and Styria Innergebirg )
• Buffoon, Tamperer ( Lower Tyrol )
• Mandl wood, moss man / Aumann, and root man ( forest and earth spirits, Upper Bavaria, Salzburg )
• Scheller ( widespread )
• Schnabelpercht ( Pongau: Rauris, Wörth and Bad Gastein).
• Schönpercht ( as a special figure of the Enns Valley ), or Schönperchten in Karlstejn
• Tresterer ( Schönpercht of Pinzgau )
• Vogelpercht ( Enns )

In addition, there are numerous local forms, some of which are typical for a town, and most are related to the local legends and legendary inheritance.

Traditional Perchtenmasken, mostly from the first half of the 20th century can be found in local museums of many places where the Perchtenbrauchtum is alive even today, such as the valley museum in Rauris, the local history museum in Altenmarkt im Pongau but also in some national museums such as the Folklore Museum Salzburg, the Styrian landscape museum in Trautenfels Castle and the Museum of Ethnology Hamburg.

Perchtenkostüm from the Ausseerland

Perchtengruppen

In general, there are local clubs that still produce Perchtenkostüme and organize Perchtenläufe nowadays. A Basse ( alternate spelling: Pass ) thinks the respective group that participates dressed in a Perchtenlauf. Even with the Glöcklern this designation is used.

Perchtenlaufen today

To date, can be found in many places in southern Germany and Austria in the Perchtenläufe in Nachweihnachtszeit ( the rough nights from Christmas Eve until Epiphany, traditionally have Perchten something to do even at this time in Customs ).

The Perchtenlaufen mixes with another custom of the Alpine region, the Krampus. Sinnentfremdet found Perchtenkostüme also at various carnival parades, most recently, to Halloween. Many of these are Perchtaufführungen but falls rather as a tourist attraction than as a living tradition, especially in the period to December 5 ( Krampustag, not really the time for Perchten, but only for Krampus ). But there are independent perchtenartige figures in traditional customs to the Nicholas ( such as Butt Mandln the Berchtesgaden country, Iffele the Küssnachter Klausjagen or Hallwiler Chlausen ).

Salzburg, Rupertiwinkel, Reichenhall and the Inn-Salzach Region

It is known the Pongauer Perchtenlauf. This place alternately in the four municipalities of St. Johann, Altenmarkt, Bischofshofen and Bad Gastein place on 6 January. Proven the first Perchtenläufe were held before 1850. On display are among other Tafelperchten, Kappenperchten, Habergoaß, bear with driver Rettenbachferner Bock, Werchmandln and hunters and poachers and Teufelsbrünnljäger as figures.

The Wild Hunt still takes place in one of the places around the Unterberg ( Großgmain, Viehausen, Maxglan Morzg, Grödig Anif, Marzoll or in Leopoldskron - Moos) their representation.

In the Bavarian side will take place eg in Karlstejn and Nonn to Bad Reichenhall, in Rupertiwinkel in Ainring, running and in the Inn -Salzach region in Burghausen Perchtenläufe today.

In Salzburg the festival of Perchta 1941 was celebrated for the last time with masks, his time as a Nazi - neuheidnisches customs.

Salzkammergut

In the area of the Austrian Salzkammergut in Styria's Enns Valley the Perchten Customs lives still continue. On the evening of January 5, anyone can, at the whim of this has to dress as Percht to then go from house to house, where it is granted at the whim of the owner, inlet, and it is abundant hosts - or not. As fairing mostly old rags used (these, or in the back of the mountain especially Ross hair, also cover the face ), regarded as an exceptional Altausee, where there is also Pelzperchten ( Bärigln ). The Percht controls the house is clean - in the spirit of Perchta saga - and must, while holding still hidden his face, speak no word.

Other areas

Another area is the upper Mur Valley in Styria ( Murau / Kreischberg, Groebming ) and the Salzburgian Lungau, the autochthonous Obersteirische connects with the Salzburg and the Salzkammergut designs.

In Tyrol, close to Salzburg limit ( Fieberbrunn and vicinity), are reported back Perchtenauftritte the old tradition.

The Tschäggätta in Loetschental run, in contrast to most Perchten, specifically to Candlemas (February 2 ), thus showing strong relationship to Fasnacht. Glöcklerläufe to Carnival, there are also in the Styrian Mur.

In addition Perchtenläufe be held in Wiener Neustadt, Hirschstetten (Vienna ), Berne Village, Perchtoldsdorf, Pitten, Aspangbahn and Zöbern (Lower Austria ), in many places in Carinthia, such as in St. Veit an der Glan, Villach, Klagenfurt or in Liebenfels, where there is one of the last Perchtenmaskenschnitzereien, as well as in Tirol ( eg Ellmau, Zell am Ziller ) and Vorarlberg ( Innerbraz ).

In Kirchseeon near Munich Perchtenlaufen was inspired by older traditions fragments, from 1954 re-introduced as an annual custom.