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Living tradition – my favorite Christmas traditions

29 November 2024

Post originally written in: Deutsch

What would Christmas be without our traditions, which make this very special time even more magical? Some Christmas traditions are probably known around the world, while others are deeply rooted in the culture and history of a particular region. However, there are also traditions that are limited to the small circle of the family - be it the Christmas tree decorations that hung on great-grandma's tree or a very specific dish that is served on Christmas Eve.

Christmas traditions - pure nostalgia

There are many customs in Tyrol that have been passed down from generation to generation and are still practiced today. At a time when consumerism is becoming increasingly important and Christmas often no longer has much to do with tranquillity and contemplation, it is good to reflect on these old customs. Because deep inside all of us is the desire for "Christmas like back then" - at least a little.

The custom of the branches of St. Barbara

Various customs are associated with December 4, the memorial and name day of St. Barbara. The best known of these is certainly the custom of the Barbara branches. On this day, people cut cherry branches and place them in a vase at home. If there is no cherry tree to hand, apple, plum or other fruit tree shoots will also do. The only important thing is that the branches blossom by Christmas Day - because that promises good luck for the coming year! In addition, the supposed miracle of nature, the blossoming of the branches in winter, is said to symbolize the miracle of Christmas Eve.

And this is how it works with the flowers

Personally, I've never managed to get my branches to bloom for Christmas. This year, however, I want to play it safe, because 2025 is supposed to be a good year. So I did a little research:

There should have been frost before I cut the branches. If this is not the case, simply put the branches in the freezer for a few hours.
Place the branches in lukewarm water overnight and only then place them in the vase.
Place the vase in a place that is not too warm.
It is important that the branches absorb enough water. Therefore, cut the ends regularly or tap them lightly with a hammer.
The water should be changed every three days.

Customs around food

It's hard to believe, but Advent was originally intended as a kind of fasting period. It's hard to imagine nowadays, because what would the pre-Christmas period be without cookies, Kiachl or mulled wine - whether at the Christmas market or homemade? You can find the right recipes at Nadja's, as well as the one for the delicious Tiroler Zelten - a cookie made from dried fruit, nuts and rye flour - which is traditionally baked on St. Thomas' Day, December 21, and therefore the shortest day of the year. There are exciting customs surrounding the Zelten, which Werner explains in detail in his blog.

"Keep it simple" on Christmas Eve

What's on the table on Christmas Eve? In many Tyrolean families, the answer is clear, because tradition is very important. These are dishes that evoke childhood memories and are passed down from generation to generation. While we serve turkey with red cabbage and croquettes - an exception in Tyrol - the classic noodle soup with sausages remains a favorite in many households. This simple but hearty, warming dish has its origins in a time when a variety of ingredients was rare and meat was a specialty. The festive meal often follows on December 25th.

The custom of „Krippele schaug’n“

This „Krippele schaug'n“ is an old Tyrolean custom. People visit relatives, neighbors and friends to admire their beautiful Krippen, which have often been in the family for generations. Many Krippen have been lovingly handcrafted - some in typical Tyrolean style, others with oriental inspiration. People marvel at new figurines, exchange tips and experiences and discuss the perfect placement of Krippe. This "shop talk" often ends - as is customary in Tyrol - in a convivial get-together over a schnapps, the so-called "Gloriawasser".

Not everyone has the opportunity to admire the artistic depictions of the Christmas story in private homes. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to do so in public places in and around Innsbruck. Particularly famous is the Jaufenthaler-Krippe at the Tiroler Landestheater-Nebenplatz. The special feature: It is a movable Krippe with 28 figures operated by motors. A visit to the Folk Art Museum Innsbruck, where you can also marvel at the infant Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds with their sheep and many other figures.

Nativity scene magic in Affenhausen and Oberperfuss

An incredible variety of nativity scenes from all over the world can be found in the Affenhausen Nativity Scene Museum. Erwin Auer the founder and chairman of the Wildermieming Nativity Scene Association has fulfilled a dream with this museum. Each Krippe is a work of art in itself. Masterful background paintings, countless details and filigree figures make the nativity scene exhibition a very special experience.

Also in Oberperfuss„Krippele Schauger“ will also get their money's worth. On 7 and 8 December 2024, a special exhibition will take place at „Spritzenhaus“, where the lovingly handcrafted works of the Oberperfer nativity scene maker Gerhard Wolf will take center stage. There are also freely accessible displays such as the villagekrippe, the churcheskrippe and Tyrol's largest housekrippe at the Hotel Krone. These can be admired at any time between the first Advent and Candlemas (February 2nd, traditionally the end of the Christmas season).

The custom of the carol singers

A very beautiful custom that is celebrated around the Feast of the Three Wise Men on January 6th in Tyrol is the "Carol singers". Children and young people dress up as the "three wise men from the East" and go from house to house singing. With poems and songs, they bring the good news of Christmas to the people and collect donations for needy children all over the world. You can tell that the carol singers have visited by the letters C+M+Bthat they leave on the door frames. These do not - as is often wrongly assumed - stand for the names of the Three Wise Men Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, but for Christus Mansionem Benedicatwhich means something like "Christ bless this house".

The magic of the Rauhnächte - letting go and welcoming new things

The period that begins on the night of December 24th to 25th and ends on the night of January 5th to 6th is known as the "Rauhnächte". Many myths surround these twelve nights and there are different customs depending on the region. If you would like to know more, read the exciting article by my colleague Werner. In recent years, I have also started to take an interest in these old traditions. I read books, clicked through social media posts and websites and finally spoke to the „Almkräuterer“ Joseph Heim talked to the Heim who works on Fridays and Saturdays at his stall in the Markthalle Innsbruck on Fridays and Saturdays, collects wild herbs in the Zillertal Alps at altitudes between 1,500 and 2,500 meters. He uses these to develop various medicinal and culinary products, which he sells there.

The longest night of the year

He explains to me that the Rauhnächte actually begin earlier - namely with the winter solstice on December 21 - and extend over 21 days. "It's three times seven nights, a sacred number," says Heim. He sees this time as a phase of reflection and connection with nature. "The Rough Nights are there to get what you need from the diversity of nature. For me, the winter and summer solstices are the biggest celebrations of the year, which I want to spend with people who are particularly close to me."

Letting go, cleansing, welcoming the new

According to Joseph Heim, the burning of wood on December 21 is an ancient custom that symbolizes letting go of the past and making room for the new. The day after, it was customary to scatter the ashes of the burnt wood on the fields - this promised good luck and a good harvest. A nice custom, which also serves to let go, is to write everything that weighed you down in the past year and that you don't want to take with you into the new year on a piece of paper and then burn it.

Per fumum - through the smoke

The best-known ritual of the Rauhnächte is probably smoking. An expert in this field is Doris Siebenförcher from the „Tiroler Harzmanufaktur PERFUMUM“. As for Almkräuterer, the night of St. Thomas is also an important date for her. However, in her opinion, the Rauhnächte begin on the night of December 24th to 25th. "The twelve Rauhnächte result from the difference between the solar year and the lunar year," explains Siebenförcher. Anyone who would like to find out more should visit her stand at the Christmas market on the market square on the market square. There you will find an impressive selection of resins and incense blends for every occasion - be it for cleansing, harmonizing, energizing or simply because it smells good. It's well worth a visit!