Have you ever heard of Faschen and Vetteln - whom you’ll encounter during carnival - or the awesome Krampus and the terrifying Habergeiß? Murtal is home to a wealth of customs and rituals just waiting to be discovered. According to an old rule of thumb: the higher and smaller the village, the purer and more lively the customs.

Smoking out houses and pens is “obligatory” for those who live on mountain farms – this custom, carried out during the terrifying Twelve Nights, is said to ward off evil powers and make sure that animals and land thrive and flourish. To this day countrywomen do not dry their laundry outside after dusk as they are afraid of attracting ghosts into the house. 

But it is also in the valleys that traditional customs are still observed, above all in winter. People come together to bake sweet delicacies, do handicrafts, sing and play instruments.

On St. Nicholas Day many a Krampus (St. Nicholas’s evil companion) is seen during the numerous processions.  Myths, legends and winter fairy tales are told during the advent celebrations in Farrach.

The many Christmas markets - where you can buy home-made rural delicacies and local handicraft while choirs, wind instrument musicians and small traditional bands create a festive atmosphere - are not to be missed. The carnival processions on Shrove Monday are one of the oldest customs of the Krakau region and are meant to scare off the winter demons with noise and bluster.
From Advent Sunday to the carnival season a wide range of events and customs is the recipe for lively winter days in snow-covered Murtal.