Rosental celebrates with a torchlight hike and traditional leather jump!

Rosental celebrates with a torchlight hike and traditional leather jump!

On November 29, 2024, the traditional St. Barbara celebration of the Voitsberg - Köflach Revier miners' association took place in Rosental. The celebration began with a solemn mass in the atmospherically lit Gradner Chapel, led by the city priest Martin Trummler. The event was accompanied musically by the Rosentaler Bergkapelle and ensured a cozy get-together for the numerous visitors, including Mayor Johannes Schmidt and former mayors. There was hot tea and winter punch to get the guests in the mood for the upcoming highlight: the traditional Ledersprung, a custom with roots going back to the 16th century that symbolizes the transition from newcomers to full-fledged members of the miners' community. Among the new members were Jakob Edler, founder of Bioenergie Köflach, and Martin Trummler himself, who had the honor of carrying out this act of honor.

Torchlight hike and social gathering

After the mass, a torchlight hike led from the Gradner Chapel to the Knappschaftsvereinhütte. There the new members were warmly welcomed and their participation in this traditional custom was celebrated. The leather jump, in which you jump over a piece of leather protection, the “ass leather”, symbolizes courage and the solidarity of the miners. The name derives from the use of this utensil in mining, where it was used for protection. After the successful jump, all visitors were invited to stay in the Knappschaftsheim Rosental to warm up and enjoy the traditional Barbarawurst. The event ended with a toast to the new members of the community to celebrate their welcome.

The first mention of Rosental in historical documents dates back to 1381 Wikipedia reported. Since these early times, the region has experienced many cultural developments, including the founding of associations and the emergence of traditions such as the St. Barbara celebration, which has retained its significance to this day. Especially in the context of mining, it becomes clear how strongly the community is shaped by such rituals, which underlines the connection between past and present.