!!!Early Christianity !!''Maschta-procession in Hitzendor'' %%columns-fill [{Image src='Wissenssammlungen/Musik-Lexikon/Maschta-Einzug_in_Hitzendorf/030102a.jpg' height='250' alt='Maschta-procession' caption='Maschta-procession\\© Josef Stieber, 8151 Hitzendorf' width='375'}] ---- [{Image src='Wissenssammlungen/Musik-Lexikon/Maschta-Einzug_in_Hitzendorf/030102b.jpg' height='250' alt='Maschta-procession' caption='Maschta-procession\\© Josef Stieber, 8151 Hitzendorf' width='375'}] %% According to a custom that originated in the days when an epidemic of bubonic plague devastated large parts of Styria, the people of the village of Attendorf participate in a procession to the neighboring town of Hitzendorf. The Madonna is called upon in traditional prayers and songs to help them. At the border of Hitzendorf, a brass band meets the praying Christians and leads them to the parish church while playing marches used in processions. Once they arrive at the church, a mass is held. The word ''Maschta'' actually comes from the Austrian expression for a wayside altar, "Marter". The West styrian dialect however turns an ''r'' before ''t'' to ''sch''. (E. Stadler) [{Metadata Suchbegriff='' Kontrolle='Nein'}] %%language [Back to the Austrian Version|Wissenssammlungen/Musik-Lexikon/Maschta-Einzug_in_Hitzendorf|class='wikipage austrian'] %%