Poodle mother: An ancient custom returns to Styria!

Poodle mother: An ancient custom returns to Styria!

Weiz, Österreich - The fascinating tradition of the poodle mother brings memories of past times in Styria. Especially in the night from 5th to January 6th, this mysterious figure makes her round. Like styria.Ork.at , brings the poodle mother, which calls itself "pasta" in a dialectal way, over the threshold, while it moves around in old robes. In the past, their presence was particularly important because they brought joy to the children, who often suffered from the sparse offer of sweets and fruit. Cecilia Muhr tells of the memories of older generations in which "there were many families, there was no fruit in winter.

in Weiz and other regions there are still different variants of this custom. The poodle mother pulls from house to house and expects the soils to be turned properly beforehand. Otherwise it could be that they do not "poodle" gifts. Kerstin Reisinger remembers how her grandma mysteriously disguised and, when everything was neat, came in with apples and small surprises without losing a word, like meinbezirk.at . However, this custom is practiced less and less and is often forgotten, even if some families, such as the Reisingers, actively hold onto it.

traditional customs on Epiphany

The poodle mother is the focus of the last of the twelve murmurers that end on Epiphany. Despite its slow death, this custom is still an exciting way to maintain the connection to the traditions of the region. Manuel Gasser from the Pöllauberg cultural association underlines that the local variations of this custom reflect the diversity of Styrian culture and keep stories from the past alive. In fact, the poodle mother not only has a entertainment value, but also a deeper cultural meaning by embodied the values of family, order and give.