Perchtenlauf: Masks of Fear
A Percht (plural: Perchten) is a character of the Bavarian-Austrian alpine customs, of which there are, especially in the period from late November to January, several different variants of another character, which in turn can be assigned to two groups: the "good" Schönperchten and the "evil" Schiechperchten, which are supposed to drive out the winter - or the evil spirits of winter - according to a legend with their hung bells.
Noisy parades with masks of demonic women, pagan goddesses, and wild and tame animals are described, along with other customs and traditions, at the Kalenden celebrations (Roman-Germanic New Year and Christmas festivals) as early as 500 A.D. by Caesarius of Arles. Thus, the Percht is also associated with the Wild Hunt. To what extent the Perchtenlaufen actually goes back to pagan customs, however, is disputed. The name Percht developed only later.
Origins and developments of the custom
In the 11th century, the term Giperchtennacht was mentioned in the Mondseer Glossen, which Johann Andreas Schmeller and Jacob Grimm interpreted as a translation of the Greek word 'Epiphanie' (Old High German (gi)beraht 'radiant').
With the progressive Christianization in the Alpine region at the beginning of the Middle Ages, the Percht was increasingly associated as the figure of Domina Perchta or Frau Welt with the seven leading lasses. In 1729, Christian Gottlob Haltaus associated Percht Day with the goddess Precha.
Percht cults only experienced a renaissance again with secularization and a changing attitude towards folk culture in the 19th century and then again towards the end of the 20th century.
In Salzburg, the festival of the Perchta was celebrated with masks for the last time in 1941, at that time as a National Socialist neuheidn customs.
Perchtenlaufen in The Present Time
Until today in Austria, South Tyrol of Switzerland, and in the south of Germany, the Perchtenläufe takes place in the post-Christmas period.
Nowadays, it is usually local clubs that still make Perchten costumes and organize Perchten runs. A group that participates in a Perchtenlauf in disguise is called a pass. This term is also used for the Glöckler.
The Perchten generally represent two groups, the "good" Schönperchten and the "bad" Schiechperchten (obdt. schiech, pronounced schiach, accented on i: 'ugly, bad, evil'). A vital utensil of the Perchten is the bell, with which, according to popular interpretation, winter - or the evil spirits of winter - is to be driven out (winter exorcism or driving out the old year).
Perchten appear in the Rauhnächten between Christmas and New Year to monitor the diet, cleanliness, and work regulations for these days. While the Schiechperchten often appear in large numbers and with a large entourage during the night, the Schönperchten appear during the day and wish the villagers good luck and blessings.
On January 5, the Rauhnächte ended with the so-called Glöckötåg (Glöcklertag). In the evening, from about 5 p.m., a symbolic fight between loud ringing Glöckler and Bärigln as Schiechperchten takes place, for example, on the central, usually deeply snow-covered field of Altaussee. The bell ringers, who represent the spring, try to "ring out" the winter. Still, the Bärigl vehemently resist, resulting in a wild fight.
At midnight, the haunting of this last Rauhnacht is over. A Percht checks the house for cleanliness - in keeping with the Frau Perchta legend - and, while still maintaining his face hidden, is not allowed to speak a word.
Krampus & Percht Aren’t The Same
Krampus left, Percht right
Percht isn’t Krampus!
Though we might think that the Percht and the Krampus are the same creatures because they are big, look scary, and have horns, they are not the same.
So, what is the difference between them both?
The Krampus
The Krampus mask is human and painfully carved with a tongue hanging out. In addition, the Krampus may have only one pair of horns attached. Most often, these come from home-slaughtered animals. The Krampus wears goat skin, has a bell belt with several small bells, and is the companion of the Nikolo. In addition, the rod he carries is said to instill fear in all naughty children.
The Percht
The mask of the Perchten is based on nature and represents an animal. The Percht may wear several pairs of horns on the mask, which is a fertility symbol for the new year and is supposed to drive away the evil winter spirits. Usually, Perchten are accompanied by witches, and they carry a horse tail. and now you know.
Traditional Perchten Characters
- Frau Bercht/Perchta, Bechtra, Sampa, Zamperin, Stampa (Lower Austria), Rauweib, Pudelfrau (Eastern Styria, Burgenland), Lutzl (from Lucia, Burgenland), Witches (Inner Salzkammergut), Bechtrababa, Baba ("Witch Percht", Lower Carinthia, Slovenia)
- Berchtlmuada ("Percht mother"), Zampermuada, Pudelmuatta (Eastern Styria)
- Perchtnmuatta ("Perchten mother"), Karlstein
- Berschtln, Perschtln - companions of the Percht (Lower Inn Valley)
- Berigln (Schiechperchten of the Ausseerland)
- Glöckler (light figures, beautiful Perchten of the Salzkammergut and adjacent regions)
- Habergeiß, Hovangoaß or Hobergoaß (especially in Carinthia, Salzburg Innergebirg and Styria)
- Hanswurst, Tamperer (Tyrolean lowlands)
- Holzmandl, Moosmann/Aumann, and Wurzelmann (forest and earth spirits, Upper Bavaria, Salzburger Land)
- Scheller (generally spread)
- Schiachpercht
- Schnabelpercht (Pinzgau: Rauris, Wörth, Bucheben and Seidlwinkltal)
- Schönpercht (as a special character of the Ennstal) or Schönperchten in Karlstein
- Tresterer (Schönpercht of the Pinzgau)
- Vogelpercht (Ennstal)
- Woodpecker (Northeast Bavaria)
Regions of Traditional Perchten Runs (Perchtenlauf)
Austria
Well known is the Pongauer Perchtenlauf. This takes place alternately in the four communities of St. Johann, Altenmarkt, Bischofshofen, Bad Gastein, and Bad Hofgastein on January 6. There is evidence that the first Perchten runs took place before 1850. Among other things, Tafelperchten, Kappenperchten, Habergoaß, bears with drivers, the Rettenbachbock, Werchmandln, hunters, and poachers and Teufelsbrünnljäger as figures can be seen.
In the Austrian Salzkammergut area and the Styrian Enns Valley, the Perchten custom also still lives on. On the evening of January 5, anyone who feels like it can dress up as a Percht and then parade from house to house, where, depending on the owner's mood, he is granted entry and given plenty of food and drink - or not. The disguise is usually old scraps of cloth (these, or in Hinterberg especially horsehair, also cover the face). In Altaussee there are also still Bärigl called fur perchten.
Another area is the upper Mur valley in Styria (Murau/Kreischberg, Gröbming) and the Salzburg Lungau, which combines autochthonous Upper Styrian with Salzburg and Salzkammergut motifs.
Also, in Tyrol, near the Salzburg border (Fieberbrunn and surroundings), Perchten appearances according to old tradition are reported again.
In addition, Perchten runs are held in Wiener Neustadt, Hirschstetten (Vienna), Berndorf, Perchtoldsdorf, Pitten, Aspang, and Zöbern, as well as in many places in and around the Wachau (Lower Austria), in many places in Carinthia, such as. For example, in St. Veit a der Glan, Villach, Klagenfurt or in Liebenfels, where there is one of the last Perchtenmaskenschnitzereien, as well as in Tyrol (eg Ellmau, Zell am Ziller) and in Vorarlberg (Innerbraz).
Germany (Bavaria)
On the Bavarian side, Perchtenlaufen still take place, for example, in Karlstein and Nonn near Bad Reichenhall, in the Rupertiwinkel in Ainring, Laufen, Waging am See, and in the Inn-Salzach region in Burghausen. Also, in Kirchseeon near Munich, inspired by older fragments of lore, Perchtenlaufen was reintroduced as an annual custom from 1954 on. Perchtenlaufen was also common in Franconia and still takes place in Trebgast near Kulmbach and in southern Thuringia. In Nuremberg, a Perchtenlauf has been held regularly since 2014 in Almoshof.
Collections of Perchten Masks
Traditional Perchten masks, mostly from the first half of the 20th century, can be found in local museums in many places where Perchten customs are still alive today, such as the Talmuseum in Rauris, the Heimatmuseum in Altenmarkt in Pongau, but also in some supra-regional museums such as the Volkskundemuseum Salzburg, the Steirisches Landschaftsmuseum in Schloss Trautenfels, the Volkskundemuseum Wien and the Museum für Völkerkunde Hamburg. In Kirchseeon, the Perchten Museum Maskeum opened in 2021. An extensive private collection with mainly old and more modern Perchten masks shows at the Mask Museum Diedorf near Augsburg.
I hope you enjoyed reading more about the culture on this side of the world.
Are you in the mood for some dark Christmas stories? You can watch some of them on YouTube! Some read by Krampus himself! Himself. You know what I mean.
