Schleicherlaufen in Telfs – a living tradition

Finally Schleicherlaufen in Telfs again! The colorful spectacle full of masks, music and mystical traditions took place in bright sunshine. Or rather: once through the middle of Telfs. The big Schleicherlaufen only takes place every five years and has been part of the intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO since 2010.

With its mixture of centuries-old customs, magnificent costumes and unique symbolism, the Schleicherlaufen not only captivates locals, but also visitors from near and far.

The roots of the Schleicherlaufens

The history of Schleicherlaufens goes back to the 18th century. The main characters, the Schleicherowe their name to their special way of moving: they move silently and stealthily before chasing away the winter with a powerful stomp. Their impressive hats, adorned with mirrors, feathers and elaborate decorations, are masterpieces of traditional craftsmanship.

The festival symbolizes the transition from winter to spring, the renewal of nature and the victory of light over darkness. Many of the figures that appear in the procession have a deep-rooted meaning and reflect ancient myths and social role models.

The course of the Schleicherlaufens

The ritual begins in the early hours of the morning:

• 07:00: The sun is ceremoniously carried through the town, a symbol of the returning warmth of spring.
• 08:45 a.m.: The "savages" roam the streets and loudly announce the event.
• 09:00 a.m.: The "Schleicher" are picked up with cuddles and prepare for their impressive performance.
• 10:00 a.m.: The bear is symbolically captured.
• 11:00 am: Start of the main performance at the first venue.

Every group taking part in Schleicherlaufen contributes to the lively presentation of this tradition. However, the time already begins on Epiphany with the unearthing of the Naz, the main character of the Telfer Fasnacht. More on this later.

The groups and their significance

The lurkers

The Schleicher are the main characters of the festival. Wearing splendid hats and elaborately decorated costumes, they appear as they creep along, only to symbolize the awakening of nature with loud stamping. Their dance marks the climax of the festival. They are always preceded by the lantern bearer. He dances through the ranks and makes room for the lurkers so that they can perform their dance in the "Kroas" (=circle). With every step, they ring their bells and give goose bumps.

The savages and the Panznaff

One of the most frightening groups are the savages. Dressed in shaggy costumes made of tree beard with grotesque masks, they embody untamed nature and roam noisily through the town. Particularly striking is the Panznaff - a clown-like figure who bangs his head, makes faces and sticks his tongue out at the spectators. He stands in an empty wooden barrel pulled by a donkey and occasionally even steals the headgear of curious onlookers. It is also said that his front incisors are pulled out so that he can stick his tongue out further. But who knows for sure...

Bears and exotic animals

Bears represent strength, ferocity and the age-old struggle between man and nature. They are led on chains by their herders, break free and resist until they are finally tamed. In addition to the bears, exotic figures also roam the streets of historic Tyrol - they bring a touch of foreign worlds to the carnival celebrations and represent the mysterious and unknown.

The four seasons

These figures embody the constant change of nature:

• Spring appears as a young boy with colorful flowers and fresh greenery.
• Summer shines in rich yellow and gold and stands for the fullness of life.
• Autumn wears warm earth tones and symbolizes ripeness and harvest.
• Winter appears in frosty colors and heralds the calm of the cold months.

Together they remind us of the eternal cycle of nature.

The heralds

The heralds are the solemn heralds of the Schleicherlaufens. With drums and fanfares, they parade through the town and loudly draw attention to the forthcoming parade.

The Vogler

The Vogler with their traditional float are one of the most entertaining groups at Schleicherlaufens. With their elaborately designed float and curious hats, they are an integral part of the carnival procession.

s’Galtmahd

This group depicts the hard work of farmers in times gone by. With scythes, rakes and pitchforks, they symbolize the importance of the hay harvest for rural life.

The Bease Buam

The "bad boys" create an exuberant atmosphere with their pranks. They tease the audience, play jokes and make the audience laugh with their crude humor.

The Bachoufn

This group represents the traditional baker's trade. With sacks of flour and baskets of bread, they humorously demonstrate the importance of the art of baking for the village community.

The Kurpfuscher

As wandering quacks and faith healers, they praise their dubious medicines and exaggerate the old healers who roamed the countryside in past centuries.

The Soafnsiader

This group embodies the old soap boilers who used to make the valuable household soap. With cauldrons and large mixing spoons, they draw attention to traditional soap production.

The Laninger and the Naz

The Laninger are a legendary group of the Schleicherlaufens, known for their self-confident and often subversive appearance. Their most famous character is the Naz, a small puppet that looks like a child but has surprisingly adult characteristics: he drinks schnapps, smokes cigarettes and then throws up on the audience, laughing loudly.

The Naz is ceremoniously dug out of a pile of gravel on January 6, Three Kings' Day. This marks the official start of the carnival season. After Schleicherlaufen, it is dug up again on Shrove Tuesday with much noise and lamentation - a symbolic end to the days of revelry.

The Zonner

The Zonner is a particularly striking figure. He cheekily shows his tongue to the spectators - some Zonner have even had their front teeth pulled out so that they can stick their tongues out extra far, so the story goes...

Musibanda

The "Musibanda", performed by the Marktmusikkapelle Telfs, liven up the parade with a musical performance.

An unforgettable experience

The Schleicherlaufen in Telfs is more than just a carnival custom - it is a living cultural heritage that connects generations and shows the deep roots of tradition in the region. With its mixture of artistic craftsmanship, lively theatrical performances and ancient symbolism, it fascinates anew every time.

Sunday offered a breathtaking performance of this unique tradition in perfect weather conditions. The anticipation for the next Schleicherlaufen in five years' time is already palpable!

And the carnival is not over yet! All of Telfs is upside down until Shrove Tuesday, when the Naz is buried again! Telfs lives the fifth season to the full!

Read more about the Telfer Schleicher:

My colleague Theresa has taken a look behind the scenes of the Schleicherlauf and its protagonists.

All photos © Danijel Jovanovic Photography - www.djphotography.at
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