Saint Barbara: Legend and celebrations in the Christkindlstadt Steyr

Saint Barbara: Legend and celebrations in the Christkindlstadt Steyr

The Gösser-Barbara beer tapping on November 30, 2024 in Steyr attracted many visitors, including the Kohlgrube Bergknappenkapelle and the Kohlgrube-Wolfsegg and Geboltskirchen mountain club club. The event that Saint Barbara is supposed to honor began with a festive move, led by National Councilor Katrin Auer. The festive atmosphere was reinforced by the presentation of the new Barbaragerstatt 2024, brewed in Styria, which was opened by Mayor Markus Vogl with a strong blow in the barrel, such as the legend of Barbara

The St. Barbara, who lived in the 3rd century and is considered a patron saint of miners, is revered in numerous stories and legends. Her story tells of her father, who kept her locked up to dissuade her from her Christian faith. Barbara, determined in her belief, had a third window in her tower installed as a symbol of the trinity and was secretly baptized. Her steadfastness finally led her to a cruel examination of her father, who tortured her out of jealousy and unbelief and delivered her to the authorities. The burgrave Martian finally condemned her to death, but Barbara remained unshakable, like Archbistum Cologne

In the last phase of her life, when she was on the way to prison, her robe is said to have got stuck on a tree branch, which then blossomed. This branch is often interpreted as a symbol of hope and faith, and its flower happened on the day of her martyrdom. After her cruel execution by her own father, who, according to the legend, was punished for his deed by a flash, Barbara found a permanent worship in the folklore of the miners, which led to her many representations in mines.