Ancient customs and legends in South Tyrol

“Kirchtagsfest“ - Thanksgiving
In Tyrolean dialect the Thanksgiving feast is pronounced “Kirschta“. It has a very long tradition in Olang. Not just local people come to visit, but also tourists who want to experience Tyrolean sociability.

“Almabtrieb“ - driving down the cattle from the pastures
September is the month when the cattle have to be driven down from the pastures. It is an important event and quite a jolly feast in some valleys of South Tyrol. The cows are adorned with flowers, colored ribbons, and bells, and the farmers pray and thank for the prosperous summer with no major accidents. The peal of the cow bells should turn away all the evil demons on the way down into the valley. The cows return to their stables, where the have to spend the winter, and wait till Whitsun in June, when their annual ascent to the pastures will start again.

Observances
There are many customs and traditions kept alive in Olang, such as the splendid procession in the occasion of Corpus Christi in June, Thanksgiving, or the Holy Mass at Christmas`Eve.

The legend of the bear (15th cent.)
The legend has it, that once upon a time a farmer from the Arndt inn was attacked by a bear on his way to Enneberg, in the woods near the Furkel Pass. Some people say it was not a bear but a pack of wolves. However, in his great fear the farmer made a pledge: If he survived this attack, he would construct a proper stone church out of the wooden chapel at his farm house. Was it this pledge or the devoutness of the local people who made the realization of a church in Geiselsberg in the 15th century possible? We don´t know exactly.

The legend continues:

While dismantling the old wooden chapel a carpenter hurt himself with his axe and his blood stained the timber. Swallows carried some of the bloody splints to a nearby elevation and used them for the construction of their nest. The workers took it as a sign and chose that spot for the new church.