Living Salzburg customs
Salzburg traditions from putting up the maypole to the Rupertikirtag and the Perchtenlauf
From spring to the turn of the year, i.e. all year round, traditional customs and traditional events fill the calendar in Salzburg. Whether it's palm bush tying, maypole erecting, Rupertikirtag, Glöcklerlauf or Perchtenlauf - various events bear witness to the centuries-old traditions of the people of Salzburg. Let yourself be inspired by the various customs and immerse yourself in Salzburg's colorful and varied folk culture!
Salzburg celebrates spring with Easter traditions & the raising of the maypole
When the temperatures outside rise again and the first spring flowers adorn the meadows, then spring has arrived. The first traditional festival in Salzburg starts with Easter and the Easter customs that have developed over the centuries. Easter eggs are painted, people get together to make palm bushes and colorful Easter markets invite you to stroll around for Easter. Visit the traditional Easter market at the Salzburg Open Air Museum and learn all about the traditions surrounding Easter for yourself. You can also stock up on delicious delicacies for the big celebration. Especially for families with children, the market with its Easter egg hunt & Co. is well worth a visit. For culture fans, an evening at the Easter Festival is a great opportunity to attend classical operas or concerts.
The beginning of May heralds the next tradition to celebrate spring: the traditional maypole festival. Watch as strong men lift the festively decorated maypole into the air with long poles. At the same time, you can enjoy a cozy get-together to celebrate May. The Salzburg Open Air Museum, the Stiegl Brewery World (link to excursion destinations in the city of Salzburg, anchor link to paragraph) as well as Salzburg's traditional groups such as the "Lustige Salzburger" or "Jung Alpenland" invite you to their maypole festivals in the city of Salzburg.
Summer in Salzburg: Salzburg Dult and Salzburg Festival
In addition to the Whitsun Festival and the Salzburg Festival, there are several other traditional events on the summer program in Salzburg. Culture lovers can visit the illuminated fountain and promenade concerts in Mirabell Gardens, which are performed by local bands with brass bands, drums and the like and are also free of charge. At the traditional events in the Heckentheater (also in Mirabell Gardens), the traditional performances by dancers, singers, musicians and traditional groups can be admired. These events are also free of charge.
The Salzburger Dult, which is held around Whitsun on the grounds of the Salzburg Exhibition Center, is a more traditional event. Dressed in lederhosen or a dirndl, you can head to the marquee or the various rides, including a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and much more.
The date in fall: With traditional costume and good humor to the Rupertikirtag
Like the Salzburg Dult, Rupertikirtag is a typical Salzburg folk festival. The cathedral consecration festival, which is held in honor of Saint Rupert, marks the traditional autumn in the city of Salzburg. Rupertikirtag is celebrated right in the old town around Salzburg Cathedral on September 24 with a marquee, beer garden, fairground rides and more.
Contemplative and spooky time with Christmas and New Year customs
The pre-Christmas period in Salzburg is a special time of reflection with romantic Advent markets, above all the Salzburg Christmas market in the old town, but also of traditions. With furs, spooky masks, horns, bells and the like, the terrifying Perchten are said to drive away the evil spirits in the pre-Christmas period. The traditional Krampus and Perchten runs always start on St. Nicholas' Day and are an absolute highlight of Advent. But the Glöcklerläufe, in which white-clad Glöckler with elaborate paper caps, so-called "Schönperchten", parade through the city of Salzburg at the beginning of the year to drive away the darkness and cold, are also a highlight of the event.
The traditional Citizens' Guard of the City of Salzburg
When it comes to time-honored customs, there is one thing that should not be missing: the Citizens' Guard of the City of Salzburg. It performs at various cultural and traditional events throughout the year - be it the opening of the Salzburg Festival, the St. Martin's Day celebrations in November or the star shooting at the turn of the year. Once a military civic guard to protect the city, it now only exists to preserve the tradition - for example, during the Georgi Ride, the civic guard accompanies the Georgi rider on horseback to Hohensalzburg Fortress. This is followed by the Georgi Kirchweih, a mass, a horse blessing and a festival on Kapitelplatz.
Your typical Salzburg hotel: Hotel & Gasthof Hölle
In the evening, return to your family-run hotel not far from the event venues in the city of Salzburg: Hotel & Gasthof Hölle. Treat yourself to classic Austrian specialties in the restaurant or relax with a cozy drink in the hotel bar. In fine weather, the guest garden invites you to end the day in the open air. The next day, head back to Salzburg's old town, which is rich in tradition and close by, and experience the time-honored traditions of your fellow countrymen.
Would you like to experience the classic customs and traditions of Salzburg up close? Then book your room now at the centrally yet quietly located Hotel & Gasthof Hölle or simply make a non-binding enquiry!
