Perchtenlauf in Krems: Tradition meets critical voices

Perchtenlauf in Krems: Tradition meets critical voices

On Friday, the traditional perch run of the "Waldviertla Höhln Teifl'n" starts in Krems on the Danube. Similar events will also take place in other places such as Amstetten, Mistelbach and Wieselburg this weekend. This group has set itself the goal of keeping the customs of the perch runs alive and bringing people closer through exciting stories that are told in their appearances.

Michaela Kastenhofer, a committed member of the "Waldviertla Höhln Teifl'n", emphasizes: "We are like a big family, we stick together." It becomes particularly cute when the little ones, like the five-year-old Luca, dress in scary "Schiachpercht" costumes. When asked whether he is afraid, he replies happily: "No, that is fun."

serenity when the perch run

Shortly before the big event, the mood in Krems is relaxed. Jonas Eschelmüller expresses himself positively: "I think it's a cool custom, I don't mind." Kathrin Tellian also thinks about participating with her children: "They are at an age where you can explain that well." However, there are also a few skeptical voices, such as those of Franz Pichler from Weißenkirchen. He says: "It gets bad when they rattle around with the chains and hit the audience. This is a no-go." The role of alcohol in these festivities is also viewed critically.

The police are less clear with regard to possible incidents in the perch runs. It does not record the exact number of ads separately due to acts of violence. However, two documentaries from the years 2018 and 2019 are known in which young people were seriously injured by firecrackers at these events - more about this in an article at noe.orf.at read.

in Krems there is a general feeling of security, despite occasional negative experiences. Martina Heinzl from Grafenwörth reports: "There are always negative experiences, but I think now you have regulations where you really know exactly how it works." The organizers and the police seem to be concerned with both protecting the tradition and offering an unforgettable experience.