“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.

Further, festivals are held every year on the high-altitude Alpine meadows at the foot of the Dolomites in and around Olang/Valdaora.