Customs throughout the year

The annual cycle
Customs and traditions in Vorarlberg

• October

  

  Weather phenomenon

  Altweibersommer

  This is the German name given to the last golden summer days of the season which is sometimes wrongly translated into English as “old women’s summer” instead of Indian Summer. At this time of year, the nights are already quite cool, so dew forms around dawn, which illuminates the many spider threads that can be found at this time… The name actually comes fro the old German word “Weiben,” or knotted cobwebs. So Altweibersommer translates roughly to the “summer of old knotted cobwebs.” Nevertheless, autumn is indeed the most beautiful season for hikes and walks through the colourful nature and in the clear air.

• September

  

  Alpine culture

  Traditional Alpine cattle drive into the valley

  Cattle have spent the summer grazing on high Alpine pastures for centuries. In the Alpine regions, the traditional “Alpabtrieb cattle drive” (in Vorarlberg they say “Alp” instead of “Alm”) is the ceremonial culmination of the farming year when livestock return to the valley. In Bregenzerwald, this tradition has been maintained in an almost unchanged form for over 400 years. In mid-September, the festively decorated cows return from their summer holiday to the village and are joyfully welcomed by the local people. In some places this is combined with a market, food and drink and musical entertainment.

  • “Alpabtrieb” – Traditional Alpine cattle drive
• November

  

  Traditions

  Martini customs

  St. Martin’s Day on 11 November incorporates a wealth of traditions. St. Martin is one of the most popular figures in the Catholic Church. Everyone knows the story of Martin sharing his coat with a beggar. In addition, St. Martin’s Day or Martini was a historically important date for customs, law and economy in the peasant working year. In the town centre of Dornbirn, the patronal feast (feast of the patron saint of the town’s parish church of St. Martin) is celebrated on Martinmas. The Martinimarkt (St. Martin’s Market) in Dornbirn is very popular, and visitors arrive in the  historical, old clothes. The “Martinigans Essen” (St. Martin’s goose dinner) is also widely celebrated. Martini also marks the beginning of the carnival (11. 11. at 11:11 am).

  • Martinimarkt in Dornbirn
• December

  

  Customs

  Nikolaus, Advent and Christmas

  In many ways, St. Nicholas looks like a bishop… this is no coincidence. After all, St. Nicholas was indeed a bishop! If you have always wanted to know who exactly St. Nicholas was, why he gives presents to children on 6 December, what his miracles are all about, and why he has so much to do with Christmas, you can find out here.

  In southern Germany, Christkindl and Advent markets are widespread in December. They can also be experienced in Vorarlberg: in Bregenz at the Christmas market, in Feldkirch at the Blosengelmarkt market, and in Bludenz at the Alt-Bludenzer Advent market. At these markets, locals have the opportunity to stock up on gifts for families and friends. Vorarlberg’s villages and towns adorn their streets and squares with garlands of light, and there are illuminated Christmas trees in front of the churches at the many squares, in gardens and on balconies.

  • Christmas markets in Vorarlberg
• January

  

  Customs

  New Year's Eve and the beginning of the year

  As is the case all over the world, the New Year is welcomed with fireworks and festivities on the night of 1 January. Residents meet at New Year’s Eve balls or gala dinners, and in towns and villages there is lively activity in the streets with open-air bars, music and dancing. “Theater für Vorarlberg” performs a comedy on New Year’s Eve at the Theater am Kornmarkt in Bregenz. Meanwhile, small and large orchestras offer New Year’s Eve and New Year’s concerts. Bodenseeschifffahrt (Lake Constance cruises) organise New Year’s Eve cruises. But people also celebrate privately: Guests with their hosts in the hotels or locals with friends at home.

• February

  

  Alemannic customs

  Carnival (Fasching/Fastnacht)

  Vorarlberg fosters Alemannic carnival customs. The “foolish season” begins on 11 November with the election of carnival princes and princesses. In the months that follow, people enjoy themselves at balls and carnival festivities. The week of carnival in February is particularly busy. On “gumpige (= fat) Thursday,” it is customary to steal roasts. On “bromige Freitag” (= Sooty Friday), people paint symbols with soot on the faces of other people. Then on Saturday and Sunday, parades with many “Mäschgerle” (masked people) take place all over the state. One of the largest is in Feldkirch. On the following Tuesday, carnival is bid a merry farewell at midnight at the latest.

• March

  

  Alemannic customs

  Funken-Abbrennen

  This custom, which is intended to drive out winter, is only practised in the Alemannic region. On the Saturday and Sunday after Shrove Sunday, numerous metre-high “bonfires” are lit up all over Vorarlberg. These bonfires are artfully constructed from wood. The witch, symbolising winter, is enthroned at the very top. When the fire reaches the witch, a loud bang is heard. Bonfire festivals are very popular. In addition to this spectacle, the many visitors can enjoy warming drinks and “Funkaküchle” (bonfire cakes).

  • Funken Bonfires in Vorarlberg
• March/April

  

  Religious customs

  Holy Week and Easter

  During the Easter season, various customs are celebrated throughout Vorarlberg. These include Ratcheting (“Ratschen”), the Easter fire and the Easter lamb, which is often eaten on Easter Sunday. According to ancient tradition, all church bells are supposed to fly to Rome from Maundy Thursday Mass onwards and not return until Easter Vigil, because the solemn sounds of the bells are not appropriate on Holy Weekend. Therefore, during this period, services are announced by means of ” ratchets,” a small mechanical percussion instrument.
  Easter eggs: At Easter, chicken eggs are boiled, dyed, decorated, hidden (by the Easter bunny), or zealously searched for by children and ultimately eaten.

• June

  

  Medieval customs

  Solstice celebrations

  Old customs rekindled: On the weekend close to the longest day (“solstice”), bonfires light up the night sky on the mountainsides of Vorarlberg. The solstice is traditionally celebrated when the longest day and the shortest night meet, and in many places a mountain bonfire is lit on the peaks. This time is also associated with customs, e.g. the plants and herbs harvested on this day are said to have special healing powers and whomever sees a firefly will be lucky in love…

  • Solstice celebrations 2023