Traditional horse blessings on Stefanitag inspires Reiter in Premstätten

Traditional horse blessings on Stefanitag inspires Reiter in Premstätten

Premstätten, Österreich - On December 26th, Stefanitag, a traditional horse blessing took place in Premstatten. The Reithof Peißl in Zettling welcomed numerous riders and their horses, including Asian warm -blooded animals and Icelandic ponies. In bright sunshine, the spectators also enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Saint Stephanus, worshiped as the patron saint of the horses, has inspired this custom, which not only blesses the animals, but should also ensure that they receive sufficient exercise. Pastor Norbert Glaser spoke the prayer of blessing and every horse received bread and salt, which is related to the Christian blessing of animals, as has already been documented in a report by meinzirk.at.

In addition, there are numerous horse matters around this day in many Carinthian parishes, as can be seen from another report by Krone.at. This Tradition has deep roots, because Stefanitag is the first holiday after Christmas to be dedicated to St. Stephanus. He is considered the first martyr and is worshiped as a protector of the horses and coachmen. In various parishes of Carinthia, the animals are blessed according to the services, which means that not only their health, but also a good relationship with the riders. The Stefaniritt also serves to prevent diseases such as the dreaded crossbeat in animals, which underlines the importance of this event.

Overall, the StefaniTag shows the close connection between humans and animals, as well as the cultural and religious customs that are kept alive in the Austrian regions. The celebrations are not only a festive occasion, but also a sign of the appreciation of animals in agriculture and in everyday life for people. These events aim to promote traditional culture and strengthen the community by offering a space for the joy of riding and maintaining animals.