Trommelweiber | © Steiermark Tourismus | photo-austria.at Trommelweiber | © Steiermark Tourismus | photo-austria.at

Carnival in Ausseerland Salzkammergut

Colourful costumes and hearty laughter - Each and every year the Ausseer carnival takes place. From Carnival Sunday to Carnival Tuesday, the revelers get dressed up, march through the villages and enjoy the social gathering.

The birth of the Aussee carnival

The origin of the colourful carnival in Ausseerland was the salt industry. On the one hand, the salt trade in Bad Aussee led to the development of a well-situated middle class, and on the other hand, many workers found a profession in the field of salt mining. Every year around carnival time, the hard-working workers had the opportunity to make their opinions and thoughts known to the authorities. Even today, critical remarks but also funny events are presented in the form of carnival letters.

This tradition has spread from Bad Aussee to the surrounding villages of Altaussee, Grundlsee, Pichl-Kainisch and Knoppen. And this already happened a long time ago: some of the individual carnival groups have been performing for more than 200 years.

The action starts on carnival Sunday. Music and singing groups perform the above-mentioned carnival letters at the start in various pubs. Their contents range from anecdotes and political satire on current events to the recounting of local events from ancient times. Hand-drawn pictures further illustrate the anecdotes.

 

The main protagonists at the Aussee carnival.

Anything goes when it comes to costumes. However, there are three main characters who have played an essential role since the early days in the 18th century: Trommelweiber, Flinserl and Pless.

Parade of the Trommelweiber

The Trommelweiber represent the gender swap, that often occurs in carnival. What does it look like? Men swap shirts and trousers for white nightdresses with sleeping caps and masks. Their goal: to march through Bad Aussee on Shrove Monday to the sounds of the traditional Aussee Carnival March to drive out winter.

Trumpets and clarinets play and drums are beaten. The catchy rhythm of the noisy drummers can be heard from far away.

By the way: In addition to the bourgeois Trommelweibern from Bad Aussee, there are also the "workers' Trommelweiber" from Bad Aussee and Grundlsee as well as the " Trommelweiber from Altaussee". The former are actually female!

Trommelweiber | © Steiermark Tourismus | photo-austria.at
so-called Beigl, pastry | © Steiermark Tourismus | Gery Wolf

Spring awakening with the magnificent Flinserl

On Carnival Tuesday, the Flinserl, the harbingers of spring, take centre stage. The colourful and cheerful costumes are based on the Commedia dell' arte and provide a good mood. They give sweets to the children as they wander through Bad Aussee. Their constant companion on their way is the traditional Flinserl music. Their destination: The Kurhausplatz in the town centre. Once arrived, they gather and listen to the Flinserl phrases spoken by the children. These are traditional quatrains with rough wording in some cases. As a reward, the Flinserl distribute nuts and sweets to the children.

With a careful eye, the figure of "Zacherl" watches over the correct course of the procession. Equipped with a stick on which "Saublasen" are attached, it makes sure that the sweets really reach the children and that the Flinserl can move freely.

The Pless as the last appearance of winter

While the colourful costumes of the Flinserl make you excited about spring, the Pless represent winter. They usually parade through the streets, dressed in old clothes with an upturned beehive on their heads. The stick with the wet rag, they hold in their hands may not signal good things to come. Anyone who is not careful can expect a wet surprise after shouting "Pless Pless".

The brave children at the carnival procession try to drive out Pless and winter out of the village with snowballs.

Other carnival characters in Ausseerland

In addition to the three predominant carnival figures, other groups have been founded in recent decades. These include, for example, the Worker-flinserl. They wear blue work robes decorated with beer capsules and with felt. Or the Altausseer Knopferl, who decorate their linen robes with buttons and wear elaborate wooden masks made from local linden.

Ausseer Fasching - participating is everything

 

The best way to get a picture of the colourful happenings is to attend one of the numerous carnival events, to experience your own unforgettable carnival moment in Ausseerland.

Osterbrunch mit Livemusik beim Zloam Wirt | © Narzissendorf Zloam, www.zloam.at

ZLOAM WIRT OSTERBRUNCH mit der FLIEDERSTAUDNMUSI

Grundlsee
31 Mar. 2024
from 11:00 o'clock
More information
TVB Forschercamp(2)

3-tägiges Forschercamp für Kinder von 10 bis 14 Jahren

Grundlsee
29 - 31 Mar. 2024
from 09:00 o'clock
More information
Church Bad Mitterndorf

Church Service on Easter Sunday

Bad Mitterndorf
31 Mar. 2024
from 10:15 o'clock
As every year, a festive service is held on the holiday.
More information
Church Bad Mitterndorf

Church Service on Easter Sunday

Bad Mitterndorf
31 Mar. 2024
from 09:00 o'clock
As every year, a festive service is held on the holiday.
More information
LIVIN YOGA | © Sonja Neukirchen

YOGA - Dynamic Yoga Course

Bad Mitterndorf
05 Feb. - 18 May. 2024
from 18:45 o'clock
For Sonja, yoga is a collection of techniques, concepts and attitudes to life that help us to go through life healthy,...
More information
Pfarrkirche, Altaussee, Kirche Altar | © Stephanie Bor

Solemn High Mass on Easter Sunday

Altaussee
31 Mar. 2024
from 10:30 o'clock
The church choir and the church music arrange this mass.
More information
Bad Aussee parish church | © TVB Ausseerland Salzkammergut/Lechner Viola

Solemn High Mass on Easter Sunday

Bad Aussee
31 Mar. 2024
from 09:15 o'clock
Solemn High Mass with musical accompaniment.
More information
Festive church service, Tauplitz, parish church | © TVB Ausseerland Salzkammergut_Kolb

Festive service

Tauplitz
31 Mar. 2024
from 09:00 o'clock
Let's celebrate the Holy Mass together with the Tauplitz Church Choir.
More information
Genuss am See, Osterbuffet | © Genuss am See GmbH

Easter brunch at Ödensee

Bad Mitterndorf
31 Mar. 2024
from 10:00 o'clock
Spend Easter Sunday in a relaxed atmosphere? At the Easter brunch you can enjoy culinary delights.The brunch is from 10...
More information
Church Bad Mitterndorf | © Johanna Provatopoulos

Church Service on Easter Monday

Bad Mitterndorf
01 Apr. 2024
from 10:15 o'clock
As every year, a festive service is held on the holiday.
More information
Genuss am See Kohlröserlhütte | © Genuss am See_Dieter Sajovic

Easter Monday brunch at Lake Ödensee

Bad Mitterndorf
01 Apr. 2024
from 10:00 o'clock
Enjoy a cozy Easter Monday brunch and indulge in culinary delights between breakfast and lunch.
More information
Church Bad Mitterndorf

Church Service on Easter Monday

Bad Mitterndorf
01 Apr. 2024
from 09:00 o'clock
As every year, a festive service is held on the holiday.
More information