New Year

Traditionally are: shooting with "Böller" and pistols.

Glöcklerlauf
The Glöcklerlauf is a tradition in the villages round the lake Traunsee and in Bad Ischl, Lauffen, Strobl, St. Wolfgang and in Salzburg.

Taking part almost allways in the evening. White figures with bell belts run through the towns and villages. On their heads they wear very different light canopies, with a light inside. These canopies have different forms: morion, star, five-jag and seven-jag. The Glöckler bring luck and shall protect against the forces of nature. The more they are, they more luck in the coming year. Starting village may have benn Ebensee.

Glöckl-kids
old custom, of many centuries.. In the morning hours of January 5th in the Ausseerland the kids are going from house to house with white linen bags. They ring with bells and shout "bitt gar sche um an Glöcklkrapfn" - (pleading for a Glöckldonut) Then they get donuts, fruits and sweets, wish a happy New Year and move on.

Perchten
On January 5th at 3 p.m. in Gößl it's "zam gleit". The kids go through the village, ring bells and wait for the "berigln", who embody the winter demons and go in the evening hours in whole Grundlsee from House to House. The Berigln come into the houses and get schnaps, must and bacon. In Gössl they are allowed to talk "bad" about their host. At Midnight every Berigl has to "bless", to demaskerate himself, never matter where he is.

Epiphani
On January 6th the three Magi go from house to house, sind old relgious songs and ask for donations for charitable aims. House blessing: they write the year and the letter (C)K+M+B (Christus mansionem benedicat) with chalk on the timber set.

New Year - Glöckler

Customs in the Salzkammergut