A fun corpse (funeral celebration) “A lustige Leich”
Much of what is commonly perceived as tradition and long-standing customs—such as the colorful Glöcklerlauf on Epiphany—is not as old and traditional as many believe. The fact that the locals themselves take great joy in any communal celebration, no matter how absurd the occasion, is likely the secret of its success. Take, for instance, the nearly majestic Beer Reception: At this spectacle, which occurs three (!) weeks before the Altaussee Kirtag, beer is delivered for the actual beer tent in front of around 2,000 spectators.
Carnival is not just an event but is celebrated as a kind of "fifth season," and many traditions, such as the Narzissenfest, are also organized for tourism. However, despite outward appearances, the locals primarily aim to celebrate and have fun together, even if the occasion is unusual.
The writer Alfred Komarek describes the phenomenon of the "Three Holy Carnival Days" accordingly:
"On the Carnival days—Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday—fittingly but inappropriately referred to as 'holy,' especially in the Ausseerland and in Ebensee, everything is turned upside down. The careful yet determined disruption begins already on Saturday, with no intention of stopping soon. Bourgeois necessities, like sleep before and after midnight, are immediately dispensed with."
Wit and irony were and still are essential aspects of social interaction. Especially in the Ausseerland, there is a tradition of "saying things quite harshly to each other—throwing half-joking bold remarks at each other." It is thus all the more surprising that there is little brawling in Ausseerland. In contrast, in the Upper Austrian Salzkammergut, people are more inclined toward physical altercations.
The linguistic eloquence and affinity for music and joking around have historical reasons. The workers had regulated working hours, relatively good social security, and spent the entire workweek together, far from their families.
They passed the time playing music, singing, and engaging in various pranks. Many amusing anecdotes have been passed down. Especially in the state-run salt mining industry, miners often took delight in teasing each other, and even more so, their superiors.
Even sad events, like funerals, provide an opportunity for exuberant celebration. For example, the Saline Band plays a cheerful march instead of a funeral march after the burial of its members.
"It's a wedding," answered the innkeepers at the Schneiderwirt to curious tourists asking why there was such merriment with music, dance, and singing. The innkeepers didn't dare tell the "strangers" that the Saline Band members had just buried their long-time fellow musician—who himself was never one for sadness.
More information and a few tips:
https://www.bierzelt-altaussee.at/home/
https://www.narzissenfest.at/de/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4tVS11CFuI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m777-bnRZfo
TRADICE JAKO SAMOZŘEJMOST!
Mnohé, co je obecně vnímáno jako tradice a zažité zvyklosti - například pestrobarevný Glöcklerlauf o svátku Tří králů - není tak staré a tradiční, jak si mnozí myslí. To, že místní obyvatelé sami mají největší radost při jakékoliv společné slavnosti, je pravděpodobně tajemstvím úspěchu.
Masopust není jen událostí, ale slaví se jako „páté roční období“, a mnoho tradic, například narcisový festival, je také organizováno pro turismus. Přesto však jde místním především o to, společně se bavit a mít radost. Vtip a ironie byly a stále jsou základním faktorem.
Jazyková výmluvnost a náklonnost k hudbě a šprýmům mají historické důvody. Dělníci měli pevnou pracovní dobu, dobrou sociální jistotu a trávili pracovní týden společně – daleko od svých rodin. Čas si krátili hudbou, zpěvem a různými žerty. Dokonce i smutné události, jako jsou pohřby, nabízejí možnost k veselým oslavám. Například Salinová hudba po pohřbu svých členů nehraje smuteční pochod, ale veselý pochod.