Perchtenlauf in Waxenberg: Tradition meets eerie spectacle!

Perchtenlauf in Waxenberg: Tradition meets eerie spectacle!

On the Nicholas evening, December 6th, the municipality of Waxenberg experienced a fascinating variant of the traditional perch run. Over 140 participants immersed in the role of grim Perchten and crossed the town center with their eerie masks and extraordinary costumes. This impressive performance, which was accompanied by the Waxenberger Burgteufeln and other groups such as the Mühlviertel Urdecke, attracted not only locals, but also numerous visitors who were captivated by the mystical atmosphere and the noisy bell. As meinzirk.at , such events are not only a thrill, but deeply rooted in culture, since they originally intended to express evil ghost goods.

This folklore tradition, which has its origin in the alpine regions, is also evident in the history of running perch. The custom has Hisotiric roots that go back to pre -Christian Europe, where it served to displace evil spirits and to celebrate the new year. In its representation, the Perchten Run combines festive masks and costumes, which have undergone a remarkable change in recent centuries. In Tyrol and other regions, a game between "beautiful" and "ugly" figures is often staged during perch runs, which is described in detail by wikipedia . Due to the deep cultural importance and the aftermath of earlier pagan customs, the Perchten run is an important part of local customs, even if it was sometimes suspicious by the church.

The enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the demonstration, while the different types of mask, from terribly to fascinating, moved around, and were both afraid and amazement at the audience. This next weekend, December 7th and 8th, the Schlossvent Waxenberg will also take place, a festive event that duly celebrates the contemplative time of the year, as announced by the organizers. The anticipation is great and visitors can look forward to an unforgettable experience.