14th Perchtenlauf in Altschlaining: A festival of customs and spectacle

14th Perchtenlauf in Altschlaining: A festival of customs and spectacle

The 14th Perchtenlauf of the ASKÖ Schlaining took place last weekend, which once again attracted hundreds of visitors. Fifteen groups from Burgenland, Styria and Lower Austria put on an impressive spectacle that took the audience into a world of tradition and old customs. The Perchtenlauf, best known for its gruesome characters, has been growing in popularity for years, especially in Burgenland, where this tradition has taken root over the last two decades.

The event started at 5 p.m. and at 6 p.m. the various groups moved through Altschlaining in a colorful and loud procession. “We want to give people a connection to old customs and the associated culture,” explained Christian Kristaloczi, chairman of ASKÖ Schlaining, who moderated the event as usual.

Spectacular performances

The performances included not only the traditionally feared Perchten, but also child-friendly elements. Ten groups performed, supported by angels who distributed sweets to the little spectators. Among the participants were the “Castro Olber Devils”, the “Zillingdorf Bergwerk Devils”, the “Flugfödteifln” from Wiener Neustadt and the “Hermanos del Infiernos”. A particular highlight was the performance of a fire eater who amazed the audience with her skill and spectacular fire effects.

In addition to the cultural experience, physical well-being was also taken care of. Visitors were able to enjoy delicious dishes such as toasted langos and liver loaf rolls as well as various hot and cool drinks. The event was accompanied by a rocking selection of music, which created an atmospheric atmosphere and invited the audience to join in the celebration.

Overall, the Perchtenlauf in Altschlaining was considered a complete success. The mixture of old tradition, excitement and fun captivated many people and created an exuberant atmosphere. The historical connection to the time when people believed in ghosts and scary creatures was impressively showcased through the lively performance.

For those interested in finding out more about upcoming events, there are also other Perchten and Krampus runs in the Oberwart district. For example, there will be a Krampus run in Loipersdorf on November 15th. An overview of all upcoming events can be viewed on various platforms and local media sites. The growing popularity of such traditions clearly shows that the custom also has a place in modern times and that people feel a fascination for the eerie creatures and the stories associated with them.

For a detailed list of the upcoming Perchten runs in the Oberwart district, see the current reporting on www.meinkreis.at.