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Perchten#

Perchten, female masks impersonating legendary characters, appearing in various regions during mid-winter, mainly on January 5. Other regional names for them are Frau Bercht, Berigl, Bechtra, Berchtlmuada, Bechtrababa, Lutzl, Sampa, Stampa, Zamperin, Zampermuatta, Pudelfrau and Rauweib. The Percht is supposed to represent Fate herself (oracular customs), she accompanies souls of the dead (unchristened babies belong to her attendants), her influence dominates people's lives and their interaction, she watches over orderly conduct and metes out punishment. This is how she was described in Antiquity, when she appeared at the end of the old year / beginning of the New Year; during the Middle Ages, the "domina Berchta" (originating from the Old High German term "peraht" meaning bright, shining) was the allegory of sin (vainglory). From the 16th century her name was also given to the evil figures accompanying her, during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Catholic church tried to ban their wild activities. During the 19th century the general attitude towards this custom changed and the customs of Perchtenlaufen and Perchtenspringen became popular again. Today, in a popular revival of Perchten customs, modern grotesque masks are also worn. The evil companions of St. Nicholas, the Krampuses, are also turned into Perchten.


Today there are numerous Perchten customs in Austria. In the Pongau region (Gastein, Altenmarkt, St. Johann and Bischofshofen), every year great Perchten processions with elaborately decorated masks of the "Schoenperchten" (beautiful Perchten) and the evil "Schiachperchten" (ugly Perchten) take place. Other Perchten customs: in the Pinzgau region "Tresterer", in Unken the stilt dancers, in Rauris "Schnabelbercht", in the Unterinntal region (Lower Inntal Valley) "Perschtln" (on December 5), in the Ausseer Land region "Berigln", in Unterwart (Burgenland) "Lutzln" (on December 13), in eastern Styria "Pudelmuatta" and in lower Carinthia the custom of chasing "Bechtrababa". The custom of Gloecklerlaufen on the day of Epiphany in the Salzkammergut district is also one of the Perchten customs.

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