Last Udated: 24 January 2005
The Perchtenlauf is an ancient ritual that some say originated in the need for ancient Germanic peoples to help nature recover from the cold dark winter days and regain the warmth of Spring. This tradition is still held in some of the mountain villages in the "Salzkammergut", or central region of Austria.
On Epiphany (Holey Three Kings Day; January 6), the large festive Perchten Procession alternates every 4 years between Gastein, St. Johann in the Pongau, Bischofshofen and Altenmarkt. The variety of masked characters has over the course of the time and tradition divided into two main groups, i.e. good and evil representations. The Schoenperchten with board-like headdresses or Tresterer stamping dances leads one side, while "Schiachen", with terrifying horned demon-masks, represents the other side. An abundance of companion-figures circle around both groups, often oriented to the world of legends and folktales or related to typical figures of the folk/peasant life. Even today, the Perchten are still associated with folk beliefs in a good year and fertility of the soil (and farm wives).
Information on this tradition and its current practice (including photos) can be found in the following locations:
Perchten Summary [PDF] (Last updated 1/21/05)- German & English description and photos of the Perchtenlauf. The 2005 Ponzgau Perchten festival calendar is supplemented with narrations and photos describing the history and wide variety of costumed characters involved in the Perchten tradition. Some of the English translation at the end is not yet completed and still appears in computer-generated gibberish - hope to finish this soon. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. (Some original photos Copyright 2005 by Richard Wallace)
Internet site for the Zell am See Perchten group. Excellent overview & photos of Perchten (especially the Tresterer type), but completely in German.
Nice summary article (in German) of Perchten tradition in the Salzburg area.
Many people link the Perchtenlauf (Perchten procession tradition) to the old Northern-Germanic myth of the "Wild Army" or "Wild Hunt". A discussion of this relationship can be found on the Reginheim site, under the Winter Holidays/Wild Hunt. The Wikipedia internet encyclopedia also has an extensive article on the Wild Hunt mythology.
There is a great downloadable video clip of a Schiachperchten procession during the Pongauer Perchtenlauf at the iaeou.at Austrian information site.
Summary provided by Richard Wallace, planina@mindspring.com.