Welcome Innsbruck - Winter 2015 / 2016

WELCOME

he “Fasnacht” Carnival traditions are celebrated in catholic

areas after Lenten season. Every area or village has their own

figure, which represents a different meaning. The Golden

Roof in the heart of Innsbruck, for instance, shows a fool, which is a

favourite symbol of Carnival. There are different reasons for the ma-

ny unusual customs, which are proudly celebrated by the local inhab-

itants. The belief that funny figures drive out winter, for example, leads

back into the 19th century to a school of thought. Although there was

no scientific proof for it, the belief was spread rapidly and became

an important part of the Tyrolean culture. Even the ORF (the Austri-

an Broadcasting Corporation) reports yearly on this topic. “Cannot be

proven,” so ethnologists. Yes, of course it cannot be proven, but exac-

tly those are the joys of Carnival: To be someone else, to have fun ac-

ting, to turn the world upside down… The child within all of us loves it.

The “Fasnacht” in Axams

The “Axamer Fasnacht” takes place yearly. Every four years, on Carni-

val Sunday, the parade is particularly pompous. There are hardly any

written sources related to the origin of the “Fasnacht”, but luckily the-

re were plenty of oral sources that have been passed on by the local

inhabitants until today. Sometimes, when the stories were being re-

told, little mistakes occurred, which has led to some changes in tradi-

tion every now and then. So that’s the reason why no one really knows

where this custom comes from or how it was celebrated in the olden

days. It was only in the year 1972, when an association for the “Fas-

nacht” was founded. Its members are responsible for preserving the

tradition.

The “Wampeler” (literally the “fat-bellied one”), who has a gigantic, for-

midable appearance, represents winter, whereas the so-called riders

symbolize spring. Their fascinating masks and costumes are made

by local artists. During the parade, the riders have to try to throw the

straw-stuffed “Wampeler” on their backs. The struggle between the

“Wampeler” and the riders, played by local men and boys, symbolises

the battle between the departing winter and the arriving spring. Not

everyone is allowed to participate in this peculiar, somewhat brutal

and yet fascinating custom. The selection criteria are very strict; the