Easter bonfire Easter customs in Schladming-Dachstein
When night falls on Holy Saturday and the stars begin to shine over Schladming-Dachstein, the Easter fires are lit in the Enns Valley. As soon as it gets dark, the fires blaze up, shining far into the valley and creating a unique atmosphere of contemplation and community.
When several points of light can be seen from mountain slope to mountain slope and valley floor to valley floor in the night from Holy Saturday to Easter Sunday, the people of the Enns Valley know that the Easter fires have been lit.
This traditional customary fire is often several meters high. In most cases, the lighting of the Easter bonfire is a good occasion for families or local clubs to get together. Most of the fires are lit as soon as it is dark enough on Holy Saturday. According to traditional customs, however, the fires are only lit on Easter night between two and half past three in the morning.
On the night from Good Friday to Holy Saturday, the prepared fire must also be well guarded. This is because the custom allows the fire to be lit by other groups or boys. And then the beautiful Easter bonfire on Holy Saturday is over. Or you have to go out into the forest again to collect branches, twigs and brushwood that need to be piled up again.
A little tip on the side: as soon as the fire has burned down and there is only a nice pile of embers left, it is perfect for roasting potatoes. Simply wrap the raw potatoes in aluminum foil and "bury" them in the embers with a stick. Take them out again after a while and enjoy.
