Lunz am See: Magical Rorate fair brings light into the dark!

Lunz am See: Magical Rorate fair brings light into the dark!

In the contemplative Advent season, the churchgoers in Lunz am See in the Scheibbs district flock to the traditional Rorate fair, which begins every Tuesday at 7.30 a.m. The snow crunches under her feet, while many bring the light to church with lanterns. These trade fairs are a ray of hope in the dark season, where the motto "Rorate Caeli Desuper" donates the believing comfort and hope. The pastor, Franz Josef Trondl, emphasizes that the light that comes from the little candles in the church is a sign that "the light comes from God and we should be light for each other," reports ORF Lower Austria.

The Archdiocese of Munich and Freising also has a rich tradition of roratemesses that attract hundreds of people during this time. Despite the concerns about a decline in this "special piety exercise", trade fairs are still very popular. Manfred Becker-Huberti found in the late 1990s that there was no shortage of participation. The parishes made it easier for the believers to take part in the trade fairs by offering them not only early in the morning, but also in the afternoon and evening. The absence of artificial light and the festive mood, reinforced by candlelight and often snow, ensure that these trade fairs remain unforgettable, as Michael Wagner from the municipality of Munich confirms and adds that the "combination of darkness, light and music" makes every rorat fair a special experience.

After the service, many visitors can be breakfast together in the nearby coffee house. Equipped with school bags and kindergarten backpacks, families enjoy the contemplative time before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Advent in Lunz am See offers an oasis of calm and silence in which the arrival of Christ is celebrated with a light light.