In South Tyrol and Tyrol, we are on truly historic ground. The north-south routes across the main Alpine ridge have always been of great interest to people and have therefore been fought over time and again. At the same time, they have also always been places of encounter and cultural exchange. The natural resources in the Alpine valleys – silver, copper, zinc, iron ore in particular, but also gold – were coveted and brought prosperity and cultural flourishing.
The region's long and rich history is visible everywhere. The traces of the earliest settlers, Celts and Rhaetians, may be buried, and not much is left of the Romans; but from the Middle Ages onwards, there is rich evidence: numerous castles, churches, monasteries, but also bourgeois houses and mansions can be found everywhere in the country and bring long past times back to life.
Gardena Traditional Costume
Horse-drawn Carriage
Customs in Deutschnofen
Andreas Hofer
Living Past…
The mountains, and especially the Dolomites, are also the setting for numerous fairy tales and legends. There is a legend for almost every castle or ruin and for many a bizarre rock formation, and one of the oldest and most famous heroic epics in the German-speaking world, the legend of King Laurin and Dietrich of Bern, is set in the Adige Valley and the Rosengarten.
Even the more recent past, from the division of Tyrol after the First World War to the South Tyrolean Autonomy Statute of 1972, has left its mark. In the united Europe, these conflicts have now become obsolete, and the peaceful coexistence of the ethnic groups is to the advantage of all.
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…Vital Tradition
With such a varied past, it is not surprising that the population in South Tyrol and Tyrol has a deep awareness of history and tradition. The care of traditions and customs reflects this historical awareness as well as an intimate connection to the homeland. There are not many places today where traditions are still lovingly and authentically maintained as they are here. Not only are church holidays celebrated solemnly, but old customs of pagan origin, such as the Perchten or Krampus runs, are fixed components of people's lives. Sacred Heart and solstice fires are highlights of the calendar year, and immensely spectacular experiences for holidaymakers. The Christmas markets are also atmospheric and unforgettable for every visitor.
Traditional craftsmanship is also still cultivated and honored. Wooden masks from Ahrntal, Christmas cribs from Val Gardena, or quill embroidery from Schnalstal are just a few of the special and regionally typical craft traditions that are still in full bloom.
Our Tip:
You don't have to look far! Tradition and craftsmanship are at the center of numerous events, whether it's a gourmet festival or a village fair; many craft businesses also invite you to visit. In Tyrol and South Tyrol, tradition is not just folklore, but a living everyday reality. More information in the comprehensive overview of South Tyrol.
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Pentecost is a holiday, everyone knows that. But why actually? We have pursued the question of what exactly is celebrated at Pentecost and which Pentecost traditions are still alive in South Tyrol.
As diverse as the South Tyrolean landscape, so too is the language. Dialects change after just a few localities and locals immediately know from which part of the country the other person comes.
During the time before Christmas, customs are very important in Tyrol: People meet at various Christmas markets, enjoy regional delicacies, or listen to the melodies of different brass groups.
Picturesque towns with southern flair, quaint valleys and the view of an impressive mountain world – this is what the fringe program of numerous cultural events looks like, which take place in South Tyrol year after year.
In Imst, some ancient customs are still maintained during Easter time. The focus is on the “Bergl“, the Calvary hill, a cult site whose history dates back far into pre-Christian times.
In the village of Thaur near Innsbruck, an old Easter tradition is still maintained: On Palm Sunday, a “Palm donkey procession“ takes place just as it did 200 years ago.
Anyone who walks through South Tyrol with open eyes will soon notice that the farmers and craftsmen here wear a blue apron on workdays. It is an integral part of the workwear and shapes the image of South Tyrol like no other piece of clothing.
Originally a pastime of the alpine herdsmen, carving in the Ahrntal has developed into a flourishing craft at the highest level. Especially famous are the masks with witch and devil faces
Advent not just as a kitsch and consumer event, but very close to its original idea – you can find this in the Karwendel region and the old silver city of Schwaz.
The largest and oldest Krampus run in South Tyrol takes place in Toblach in the Hochpustertal. Over 250 devils and Krampuses participate, causing mischief as darkness falls.
The tavern signs – or generally the nose signs – are an ancient form of advertising. In many places in Tyrol and South Tyrol, we still find these traditional advertising signs today, and occasionally new ones are added.
Around the Advent season, there is a lot of old customs. In South Tyrol, where traditions are always maintained with great care, a particularly large amount of it is still alive.
What would a cultural region like South Tyrol be without an orchestra of international standing? The Haydn Orchestra, under its principal conductor Gustav Kuhn, is today one of the most prestigious orchestras in Europe.
Saint Martin is probably one of the most popular saints of the Catholic Church. His feast day, November 11, is also celebrated in a very traditional way in South Tyrol.
The Alpine pastures in the mountains of South Tyrol and Tyrol are not only popular and idyllic destinations for hiking tourists, but also a very important factor in the ecosystem of the Alps.
Hardly any other dance is as closely associated with Alpine culture and traditional customs as the Schuhplattler. In Tyrol and South Tyrol, this ancient form of dance is still cultivated with great enthusiasm today.
Much has changed in Tyrol‘s agriculture in the last 50 years. However, those who move attentively through the country will still discover numerous traces of old working methods.
The Perchten are on the move! The winter Perchten runs are undoubtedly among the most impressive, but also the most enigmatic customs in the Alpine region.
Chiusa, the small town at the foot of the mighty Säben Monastery mountain, captivates with the special atmosphere of its medieval town center. Battlemented and painted house facades with oriel windows, arcades, and old crafts and inn signs give Chiusa a unique charm.
Carnival in South Tyrol, that‘s exuberance, cheerfulness and atmosphere, but it‘s also mysterious primordiality and a lot of old customs that reach deep into history.
In Tyrol and South Tyrol many old customs and traditions are still alive, which elsewhere have long been forgotten and extinct. One such ancient tradition is the disk knocking at the beginning of the pre-Easter fasting period.
What you always wanted to know about beer: Find out here! At Schloss Starkenberg above Tarrenz near Imst in Tyrol, you dive into a fabulous world of experience that revolves all around the golden barley juice.
A cultural-historical peculiarity in numerous Tyrolean and South Tyrolean churches are the so-called Easter tombs in the form of a baroque backdrop altar, as you can still find them here today.
If you long for original pre-Christmas atmosphere, if you value tradition and genuine customs and want to avoid stress, hustle and bustle, and consumer frenzy, then Advent is probably the best time for a vacation in South Tyrol!
In the beautiful Sarntal in South Tyrol, many old customs still live on that have long been forgotten elsewhere. This originality is due to the secluded location of the Sarntal, which can only be accessed from the south through the Sarner Gorge and from the north, from Sterzing, via the Penser Joch.
It is well known that South Tyrol is a bilingual country and it is also unmistakable, as bilingual signs, place name signs and signposts in German and Italian are present everywhere.
The cattle drive in autumn is a beautiful, old tradition and is celebrated every year in every valley with lots of colors and music. In Tyrol and South Tyrol, alpine farming is a very essential factor in the lives of people, and it also plays a big role in the maintenance and preservation of the alpine natural landscape.
What would Tyrol be without its marksmen? At festive occasions, during parades and on public holidays, they turn out in their smart, colorful traditional uniforms with flags and (historical) rifles and give a salute.
South Tyrol is rich in myths, fairy tales, and legends that take place against the unique backdrop of the Dolomites, the ‘pale mountains‘. One of the most beautiful is entwined around the legendary Rosengarten.
The Kastelruther Spatzen, that‘s a success story of now over twenty-five years! It all began in the 1980s, when Karl Schieder, Walter Mauroner, and Valentin Silbernagl, who had been playing music together for some time, founded the Spatzen.
Bells are certainly among the most fascinating instruments in the world. Especially the large church bells captivate us, their sound carries far across the country and awakens our attention.
In addition to the large and colorful ‘Schemenlaufen‘, another ‘classic‘ carnival custom enjoys great popularity in Imst: the sweeping out on Shrove Tuesday.
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