Living traditions in Partschins

Customs and traditions in Partschins are closely bound up with the Christian faith and the Catholic Church in particular, with solemn religious processions taking place throughout the year. In the run-up to Easter, palm branches are braided and on Easter Sunday children receive a platted cake shaped in the form of a chicken or rabbit from their godparents, known as a Fochaz.

On the third Sunday after Pentecost the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated throughout South Tyrol. Visible from a distance, fires are ignited on the hills commemorating the local resistance against the historic invasion by the French army. In the third week of September the annual transhumance of sheeps from the Zieltal Valley is a traditional event of note.

The Tradition of “Kiniweihe”

An old tradition which is celebrated on 6th. January – the “Dreikönigsweihe” - when the Three Wise Men come to bless your home. The whole family walks through the rooms of the house, praying and sprinkling holy water on their way, and incense, the dried resin from the so-called Incense Tree, is lit in the hope of keeping harmful spirits and danger away from the family and their home. Farmers’ fields and meadows are also blessed and the sign of the “Kini”, the Three Wise Men who are locally referred to as the “Three Kings”, is chalked on the door lintel together with the year and the letters CMB standing for Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, as in 20 CMB 13, for example. At the end of the ceremony, everyone present recites the Rosary or “Rosenkranz” prayer together.

The Tradition of “Herz Jesu Sonntag”

This very popular religious ceremony is particularly important in South Tyrol and is connected to a strong patriotic feeling for the Fatherland. It is celebrated on the second Sunday after the feast of Corpus Christi. Bonfires are lit in the shape of the Cross or a heart on the surrounding mountain sides and outline the peaks after dark and a very special atmosphere can be felt everywhere. This tradition dates back to the XIX century, to the year 1796, when the leaders of Tyrol met in Bolzano to discuss how to push Napoleon’s invading troops out of the country. Sebastian Stöckl, abbot of Stams monastery in present-day Austria, suggested appealing to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to save South Tyrol from the hands of the French. Fires are lit every year on this day in remembrance of the event.

The Transhumance of the returning sheep herds in Partschins

Autumn in Partschins is not only renowned for the various events relating to the Törggelen (tasting the young wine along with roast chestnuts and seasonal dishes), but also for the transhumance of the returning sheep herds, from the Zieltal Valley to their shelters. In september, some 1,300 head of sheep will be expected to descend on the Schutzhütte Nasereit / rifugio Nasereit. Some of the sheep, which have been marked in color, will later be separated for shearing, known here as "Schofschur". The return of the herds from summer pastures from the Zieltal Valley is appropriately celebrated at the Nasereit Alpine shelter, in accordance with the old farming tradition.

The Traditional Procession of St. Nicholas and the Tuifltog, the Day of the Devil

The processions of St. Nicholas are held annually on 5th December, St. Nicholas’s Day and are a longstanding tradition in South Tyrol. Escorted by his entourage of ‘angels’, the procession of the holy bishop is preceded by an uproar that already started in the preceding days. This is when, on the 5th December, the so-called Krampus, or devils (Tuifl in the local German dialect), wreak havoc in the inhabited centers. Dressed in animal skins, their faces covered with scary masks, they run amok in the streets, rattling their chains and ringing heavy iron bells. Back in the old days, these ‘devils’ used to frighten people and scare the ‘naughty’ children. Nowadays, there is nothing more to be afraid of, since the processions are choreographed to perfection and every year provide great entertainment for spectators of all ages. At the end of the procession, St. Nicholas hands out surprise gifts to the ‘good’ kids.

The Krampus and Tuifltog recall the ancient pagan rituals and traditional Celtic customs.In the age when man still lived out in the open, there were the old beliefs in numerous spirits in nature, including that of the harsh winter, which had to be expelled forcefully. The evil winter spirits were exorcised scary monsters to the noisy accompaniment and the clanging of bells. At the same time, the beating of the rods was meant to promote fertility.

Every valley and each inhabited locality in South Tyrol has its own special way of celebrating this raucous, ancient tradition. During the procession in Partschins, the Höllentol Tuifl (the devils of the valley of hell), provide an escort to St. Nicholas.

Traditional Costumes in Partschins

The “Tracht” is the traditional attire of the South Tyrolean people. South Tyrol has a wide variety of different costumes that are unique in the alpine region. Every valley, almost every village even, has its own costume that differs from that of its neighbours when it comes to colour, style and decoration.

The traditional costume is the people’s grandest outfit, worn for festivities and special occasions in South Tyrol. It is also seen during performances and appearances by bands, riflemen or folk dancing groups. The wearing of “tracht” is very closely connected to the idea of homeland and is representative of people’s appreciation of a centuries’ old folk culture. The tradition is carefully and reverentially perpetuated and cultivated by every generation.

Our traditional costume is a priceless asset. Its roots stretch back well into the 18th century. It was during this time that the typical everyday and feast day clothing of the predominantly rural population that is known as “tracht” today came into being.

Only high-quality materials are used by genuine craftspeople to make the traditional attire. Lovingly sewn and timeless: “tracht” was and still is the best and most prized clothing of South Tyroleans.

You can read here which different types of "Trachten" are worn in Partschins:

Religious Processions as a Ritual in the Course of the Year

During certain religious festivities and feast days, religious processions are held in Partschins and Rabland. The entire village, along with its relative unions and clubs, such as the local band, the Schützen and volunteer fire brigade, choirs, and local inhabitants all participate at the event. Thus, processions are a popular and colorful public spectacle, as well as a firmly rooted religious ritual! The traditional and colorful rogations lead through the village and stop at several stations, where the partakers pray and sing. The priest walks along under a baldachin while the partakers carry relevant flags, statues, and other Christian symbols.

The important and most spectacular processions in our community are:

• the Josefi procession (in March)

• the Corpus Christi procession (in June)

• the Sacred Heart procession (in June)

• the Thanksgiving procession (in October)

South Tyrolean Cuisinean Alpine-Mediterranean lovestory

The South Tyrolean cuisine takes the best from the world of Italian classics such as pasta and from hearty dishes such as dumplings. South Tyrolean cuisine has its origins in the traditional cooking in the mountain farms. Traditionally, the dishes that came to the table were made mainly from ingredients produced right there on the farm. Over time, however, the hearty cuisine has combined with a more refined and diverse Italian cuisine. The result is a culinary mix that has made the South Tyrolean cuisine well known far beyond the borders of South Tyrol.

The quality gastronomy in Partschins, Rabland and Töll can best be described as rich and varied, ranging from sophisticated upmarket restaurants to typical local pubs serving hearty South Tyrolean dishes.

The restaurants and other establishments in Partschins go to great lengths to serve only the best quality dishes accompanied by an impeccable level of service, with a bias in favor of local platters and ingredients. The single-most characteristic South Tyrolean trait is that of hospitality, which begins as soon as patrons enter the door.

Opening hours

Take a look on our homepage to see the opening hours of restaurants and bars.