Barbarafeierlichkeiten: Bergmännische Mettenschicht

Tradition, community, and the connection to mining are at the center of the miners' Mettenschicht, which will take place on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, at 6.00 p.m. in the Stadttheater Leoben. The festive event commemorates the history and the special customs of the mining profession and honors the cultural heritage of the region.

The Mettenschicht has its origins in the last shift of the miners before Christmas Eve. Traditionally, the miners gathered for a common devotion to give thanks for an accident-free working year. Miner’s songs and a communal meal were the conclusion of this special gathering. This tradition is still maintained today to keep the memory of the lives and work of the miners alive.

In Leoben, the miners' Mettenschicht also holds a fixed place in the event calendar. Together with the Bergkapelle Leoben-Seegraben, the Verein Steirerherzen Seegraben, the choir of Donawitz, and the children of the elementary school Leoben-Stadt, the traditional celebration is organized. A special highlight is the traditional leather jump, where esteemed individuals are ceremoniously inducted into the honorary miners' guild. This symbolic custom has been closely associated with the Mettenschicht for decades.

Another festive program point is the awarding of the culture prize to the Bergkapelle Leoben-Seegraben, honoring its cultural contributions.

The miners' Mettenschicht invites visitors to experience living traditions, musical heritage, and the special community of the mining profession in a festive setting.