Maschkera
Maschkera is a traditional cladding with large wooden larvae , which arises from the custom of driving away winter. Sometimes the mask wearers or masks are also referred to as Maschkera. Tradition dictates that only men go to Maschkera. They disguise their voices when they wear the masks; The aim is to actually make the person unrecognizable. This custom has been common for centuries between the Sunday after Heilig Dreikönig and Shrove Tuesday in Mittenwald and other places in Werdenfelser Land , such as B. Garmisch-Partenkirchen , Farchant and Grainau . This time is called "Fosnocht".
Maschkera days
The time of the Maschkera begins on the first Sunday after Heilig Dreikönig. You go to so-called Gungln on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the past, people danced to music in rooms where women came together to spin . Today this takes place in the inns in Mittenwald. There the young women in traditional costumes sit on chairs and benches and hope to be asked to dance to the music by Maschkera groups that keep coming in.
From the nonsensical Thursday, the hustle and bustle also takes place on the streets of Mittenwald, which continues on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
There are also exceptions when no one is allowed to go Maschkera. These are Candlemas , the Blasiustag and Agatentag. On the day of the agates, the sub-market once burned down completely.
The different characters
Usually the disguise was already worn by ancestors and still serves the same purposes today. They often remind of the life and work of yore.
At the nonsensical "Pfinsta" after the last beat of the 12 o'clock ringing of the parish church of St. Peter and Paul, the bells begin the festive procession. These are dressed in mountain clothing with a white shirt, green hat with fluff and leather pants. They carry bells on their backs that they ring in time. The 12 stirrers should illustrate the 12 months. These are followed by many other figures from the Werdenfels Fosnocht. Further examples are the bear driver, which is supposed to remind of the time when the trade route to Bozen went through Mittenwald, the Muiradl, on which two dancing couples squat on wheels that turn quickly because they are pulled by "Resslan". The Moors are especially in Mittenwald, as this is also part of the coat of arms. Jacklschutzers throw a fabric doll into the air with mockery, Untersberger Mandln remind of the time when mining was carried out in Mittenwald and smaller people were needed for it. There are also many other characters, and new ones are always being invented. On Shrove Tuesday, the anglers go around hanging on long hazelnut sticks with hemp rope, rolls, chocolate bars and much more, and then let the children catch them.
literature
- Bauer-Peissenberg, Therese: Mittenwald - history, walk through the market, customs and traditions throughout the year . Arthur Nemayer, Mittenwald
- Rehm, Adolf and Hildegard: Living customs in Werdenfels . Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1995.
- Zerling, Clemens; Schweiger, Christian: Masks in the Alpine region . Perchten, Tresterer, Wilde Leut '… Graz 2005
- Rehm, Biwi: Customs in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Werdenfelser Land . Edition Bavaria No. 4, 2010, publisher. House of Bavarian History: Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Werdenfelser Land.