PRE-CHRISTIAN ALPINE TRADITIONS

(Redirected from Paganism in the Eastern Alps)


The central and eastern 'Alps' of Europe are rich in traditions dating back to pre-Christian (pagan) times, with surviving elements amalgamated from Germanic, Gaulish (Gallo-Roman) and Raetian culture.

Contents

Survival through the ages

Krampus

Perchten

See also

References

External links

Survival through the ages

Ancient customs survived in the rural parts of Austria, Switzerland, Bavaria and Slovenia in the form of dance, art, processions, rituals and games. The high regional diversity is a result of the mutual isolation of Alpine communities. In the Alps, the relationship between the Roman Catholic Church and paganism has been an ambivalent one. While some customs survived only in the remote valleys inaccessible to the church's influence, other customs were actively assimilated over the centuries. In light of the dwindling rural population of the Alps, many customs have evolved into more modern interpretations.

Krampus

The word Krampus originates from the Old High German word for claw (''Krampen''). In the Alpine region the Krampus is represented by an incubus in company of St Nicholas. Traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December and particularly in the evening of December 5 and roam the streets frightening children (and adults) with rusty chains and bells.
In some rural areas also slight birching especially of young females by the Krampus is part of tradition.
The present day Krampus costume consists of red wooden masks or Larve, black sheep's skin and horns. Considerable effort goes into the manufacture of the hand-crafted masks, as many younger adults in rural communities engage competitively in the Krampus events.

Perchten

Originally, the word 'Perchten' (plural of Perchta) referred to the female masks representing the entourage of ''Frau Perchta'' or ''Pehta baba'' as is known in Slovenia, an ancient goddess (some claim a connection to the nordic goddess Freyja, though this is uncertain). Traditionally, the masks were displayed in processions (''Perchtenlauf'') during the last week of December and first week of January, and particularly on 6 January. The costume consists of a brown wooden mask and brown or white sheep's skin. In recent times Krampus and Perchten have increasingly been displayed in a single event, leading to a loss of distinction of the two. Perchten are associated with midwinter and the embodiment of fate and the souls of the dead. The name originates form the Old High German word ''peraht'', or brilliant, meant as a warning against the sin of vanity.

Regional variations of the name include Berigl, Berchtlmuada, Berchta, Pehta, Perhta-Baba, Zlobna Pehta, Bechtrababa, Sampa, Stampa, Lutzl, Zamperin, Pudelfrau, Zampermuatta and Rauweib. The Roman Catholic Church attempted to prohibit the sometimes rampant practise in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries but later condoned it, resulting in a revival.
In the Pongau region of Austria large processions of ''Schönperchten'' (beautiful Perchten) and ''Schiachperchten'' (ugly Perchten) are held every winter. Other regional variations include the ''Tresterer'' in the Austrian Pinzgau region, the stilt dancers in the town of Unken, the ''Schnabelpercht'' (beaked Percht) in the Unterinntal region and the ''Glöcklerlaufen'' (bell running) in the Salzkammergut. A number of large ski resorts have turned the tradition into a tourist attraction drawing large crowds every winter.

See also

★ Karakoncolos

★ Berchtoldstag

★ Fasnacht

★ Busójárás

★ Kurentovanje

★ Zvončari

★ Continental Germanic mythology

References

★ The Culture Information System of the Austrian Ministry of Education, Science and Culture

★ ''Wenn die Hexen umgehen'', Claudia Lagler, 5 January 1999, Die Presse (newspaper), (in German)

External links

★ Perchten of Salzburg

★ http://altesitte.ch/ Swiss neopagan site focussing on pre-Christian Alpine traditions

★ http://www.sagen.at/

★
★ Swiss legends

★
★ Austrian legends