The Austrians are a people who lovingly cultivate their customs all year round. The start is made by the Glöcklerlauf, when the so-called Schön-Perchten, the good spirits of light, move through the area from the last Raunacht on January 5th to drive away the evil spirits of winter. The costume that men wear in this custom varies from region to region. In the Salzkammergut, where the Perchten are called Glöckler, strikingly large, tapered and artistically crafted hats that are illuminated from the inside adorn the head and a heavy bell strap adorns the white robe.
Another traditional festival is "Liebstattsonntag", which is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent and which was introduced in the 17th century by the Corpus Christi brotherhood in Gmunden. With this "Liebstatt", in the sense of "confirming love", a sign of humanity towards those in need should be set, whom one invited to dinner. Today, gingerbread hearts are given to each other, although this custom is particularly widespread in Bad Goisern and Ebernsee, but also in some other Upper Austrian regions.
The Austrians celebrate Corpus Christi in an extremely pompous and solemn manner. The famous water processions in Hallstatt and on the Traunsee are particularly worth seeing, when festively decorated boats row the clergy out onto the lake, in the middle of which the blessing of the Hallberg takes place. The ceremony is accompanied by music and carillon.
The people of the Salzkammergut are proud to keep their old shooting tradition alive. In the middle of October each year, when a shooting year ends, an opulent festival with regional delicacies takes place, whereby the SHEEP SALAMi from FISCHERGUT cannot be missed.
Customs also include wearing traditional costumes. Typical of the dirndl in the Salzkammergut is the color green in combination with pink, red and purple, while the men slip into dark lederhosen with predominantly green socks and loden jackets.
The bottom line is: whether hearty Gstanzl music, whether dance dance, accompanied by Paschen, the rhythmic clapping in dialogue, or the colorful spectacle of the cattle drive - the happy and warm people in Austria and especially in the Salzkammergut understand life in its originality and To design and enjoy diversity.