{"id":3953,"date":"2014-12-06T14:11:12","date_gmt":"2014-12-06T13:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cityseacountry.com\/?p=3953"},"modified":"2024-08-01T13:54:41","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T12:54:41","slug":"tradition-in-salzburg-perchten-krampus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cityseacountry.com\/en\/tradition-in-salzburg-perchten-krampus\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Tradition in Salzburg: Perchten and Krampus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bells ring, chains rattle and suddenly you look into the eye of a wild creature. That\u00b4s what might happen to you when you are spending your time in Salzburg, Austria<\/a> during Christmas time.<\/p>\n

A couple of days before the 6th of December Krampusse accompany St. Nicholas. They are wild looking creatures traditionally with 1 pair of horn from local animals and some red color in their face.<\/p>\n

\"Salzburg<\/p>\n

The so called Perchten are pagan spirits and they appear traditionally during the Rough Nights (Winter Solstice, Epiphany,..). Their mission is to dispel the winter (the old year).<\/p>\n

Nowadays the tradition is sometimes mixed up a little between the Perchten and Krampusse and the carved masks are looking more real than ever.<\/p>\n

We were right among them at the Gnigler Krampuslauf after we attended the best Christmas markets in Salzburg<\/a> in the pittoresque city.<\/p>\n

\"Salzburg<\/p>\n

Before you can see them you hear their bells and you can feel the tension growing amongst the visitors.<\/p>\n

Even if you are guarded by a fence and even if you know there are men and women behind the masks the atmosphere is a little scary.<\/p>\n

Especially the teenagers in the front row were screaming when the Perchten and Krampusse were trying to get a hold of them. But no one will be harmed.<\/p>\n

\"Salzburg<\/p>\n

Even witches jump around among the wild creatures. Every group is differentiated by a sign they carry in front of them. We read the word Pass on it many times. A Pass is a group of Krampuss and\/or Perchten.<\/p>\n

That\u00b4s how we knew where they come from.<\/p>\n