Glöcklerlauf and Epiphany singing in Gmunden

Visit the unforgettable Glöcklerlauf on January 5, 2027 at the Rathausplatz in Gmunden!

The custom of "Glöckeln" on the eve of Epiphany is an old pre-Christian custom of noise and lights to drive away the evil spirits of winter. This custom originated in the Salzkammergut. The Glöckler walk in their white clothes - which belong to the spirits - during the Rauhnacht from January 5th to 6th.

In some Salzkammergut towns such as Ebensee, Gmunden and Bad Ischl, groups of around twenty bell ringers, known as "Passen", walk certain figures such as circles, figure eights, spirals etc. under the leadership of a "spy". As the leader, the spy determines the figures that his "pass" runs. He makes his way with a long stick in his hand; in the past this was also used to knock ("klocken") on doors and shutters. The Glöckler's clothing is white; a bell is attached to a wide belt strap, which is made to ring by the running and dancing movement. The Glöckler wear light caps on their heads, so-called "Glöcklerkappen". These consist of a framework of thin rods covered with translucent paper onto which ornaments, symbols, figures, scenes or landscapes are glued. These often star-shaped, artistic structures - sometimes they are also a replica of a building, a ship or a coat of arms - can weigh up to 15 kg and are often made by the bell ringers themselves over the course of months of handicraft work.

Ernst Burgstaller describes the Glöcklerlaufen in his book published in 1948: "Lebendiges Jahresbrauchtum in Oberösterreich": " ... The sound of the bells can be heard for a long time over the dark, snow-covered streets, which are only sparsely lit by the few lanterns, until the "Spion" finally appears on the square, followed by a crowd of white-clad "Glöckler". With their huge, internally illuminated headdresses, the "Glöcklerkappen", they present a wonderful picture when they all walk in exactly the same step, their circles, spirals and figure eights calling out to the sun, when their hoods: stars, semicircles, pyramids and drums, shimmer and shine and light up the dark night with their magic. This is how they run their courses in Ebensee, Gmunden, Altmünster and Traunkirchen, carrying the new young light through the night to the fields and into people's homes. And it is generally believed that the more Glöckler pass through the town, the happier the coming year will be ..."

The name "Glöckler" is derived from the word "Klocken", which means to ring or knock. In front of courtyards or houses that they want to honor, the Glöcklerpassen run circles, spirals and other figures. According to old beliefs, their pounding and ringing is supposed to awaken the grain buried under thick snow and ice to germinate. As a traditional gift, the Glöckler receive the so-called "Glöcklerkrapfen" for their visit.

Schedule:
6.10 p.m. Tower blowing from the town hall
18.20 hrs Docking of the Three Wise Men arriving by boat
Kings with their entourage, parade through the town hall square and
Epiphany singing on the town hall loggia
18.45 hrs Arrival of the Glöcklerpassen, joint figure jumping and
figure jumping and singing