Funken witch in the crossfire: tradition or misogynistic legacy?

Funken witch in the crossfire: tradition or misogynistic legacy?

Next Sunday, March 11th, Spark Sunday is celebrated again in the Ländle, a custom that sells the winter. The popular tradition brings numerous sparks, in which the symbolic figure of the spark witch is often burned. But this usage could soon be put to the test. According to reports from Vol.at there is an emerging debate about the relevance of this figure, which many are considered to be magical. While some supporters defend the witch as part of the culture and ask themselves whether society should not struggle with major problems, critics consider and demand that traditions may adapt to social changes.

The opinions range from clear support to rejection. Manuela Slappnig from Dornbirn spells out for the witch: "It's just part of it. It's just Vorarlberg. That is our culture." In contrast, Paul Verocai emphasizes that he feels the sparking consumption as outdated: "There are a few traditions that are complete crap." As part of the discussion, the question is also raised whether the figure of the witch must be female. Irmgard Huber from Dornbirn sees scope here and emphasizes that the witch could also have male trains.

cultural heritage under pressure

The discussion about the Funken witch could have massive consequences, since some voices from the community see the tradition as a endangered aspect of the cultural heritage. According to vorarlberg.orf.at , the witch could be questioned as part of the customs in the future. This raises fundamental questions, especially since the relevance of customs in a changing society cannot simply be ignored. Many citizens stand by their traditions, but it becomes clear that opinions and perspectives can change quickly. It remains exciting how Spark Sunday will develop this year and what decisions will be made to reconcile the tradition with the current social values.