January 1st / New Year's Day
Goldegg im Pongau, Austria
In the province of Salzburg, especially in some villages of the Pongau and Pinzgau, the traditional and now rare medieval custom of "Perchtenlaufen" has survived. Although, like all pagan customs, it was fought against by the church for centuries, almost disappeared through targeted elimination and adapted to the spirit of the times depending on the region. Many larger towns use this spectacle as a tourist event. Only rarely does it still refer in its performance to its traditional origins, as in Goldegg, with its parade through the streets and farms, the dances, the various figures, and the transmission of faith. The so-called „Perchten“, exclusively boys and men, bring luck and fertility for the new year to the farms of the village and scare away the demons - each figure with its own significant role.
In folk belief is still true today: Many Perchten mean a good year.

annaroters.com
@anna_roters
mail@annaroters.com