News The Unterstell cable car  will be out of service from 08.01.2025 to 28.02.2025.

The Krampus Run:

Alpine Nightmare?

With villages throughout South Tyrol bracing themselves for the annual Krampus invasion, it feels like a set of a horror movie. Interestingly, this age-old custom is currently seeing a revival in popularity.

Before sweeping into the villages, the tension on the streets on the night of 5th December is palpable, any little sound rattling the nerves. This event is also commemorated in Naturns/Naturno, when hordes of terrifying ‘devils’ descend on the village. With cattle horns mounted on their heads, their faces covered in grimacing animal masks, the shaggy-cloaked Krampus menacingly rattle chains and clang cowbells as they sweep through the streets chasing terrified youngsters. Those unfortunate enough to find themselves on the streets at that time flee home along the backstreets. Only the Tuifeltratzer (or ‘devil-baiters’ – brazen young males) dare to confront the Krampus. The taunting goes on for a while, and the outcome depends on whether the youthful challenger is able to outrun the “devil”. Most often it ends with a sooty face and a few bruises here and there.

Drawn from old Alpine folklore, the Krampus are demonic figures that precede the arrival of St. Nicholas during the Advent season. While St. Nicholas rewards good children, the Krampus (also known as Tuifl), are there to punish those that misbehave. Although this old tradition has acquired religious overtones, the old custom probably originated in pre-Christian times, representing the purging of the harsh Alpine winters.
The Krampus punishes misbehaving children.
While not as widespread, the Krampus tradition has been gaining in popularity, and is now more popular than ever in the Alpine regions. Following the re-formation in 2006, the Krampus Association in Naturns currently numbers 70 members. But even joining the club comes at a significant cost, with costumes that can cost up to € 2000.

Krampus are usually men dressed up in shaggy outfits, their faces covered by scary masks. While it used to be the preserve of single males, nowadays women may also be a Krampus. During the world wars of the 20th Century, when most of the menfolk were away, women not only kept the farms going, but also donned the Krampus costumes – without any fuss being made!
Being a Krampus is expensive: the price of a costume with fur and mask can amount to several thousand euros.
Even though Krampus night might sometimes still get a little out of hand, Krampus devils nowadays are more constrained in what they can get up to. While the old Krampus runs were a bit of a free for all, and one didn’t quite know who had just doled out a beating, the event has been toned down considerably. Supported by local municipal authorities, this old custom has evolved into a folk spectacle, and is subject to strict rules. The anonymity of the Krampus is also something of the past. Nowadays, each ‘devil’ has to wear an ID number, allowing traceability in the event of malpractice.

Watching the event unfold from a safe distance, those erstwhile scary nights seem just a distant childhood memory, when the unbridled Krampus rampaged through Naturns. With groups of young boys confronting the Krampus before fleeing, this one-time scary event can be experienced as a bonding rite of passage.
Follow us on Social Media
Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno 5 days ago
Naturns  I  Naturno

🇩🇪: Eine Wanderung zum Orenknott (2.258 m) ist auch im Winter möglich.❄️Diese traumhaften Bilder vom Sonnenaufgang, hat unsere Arbeitskollegin bei ihrer letzten Wanderung zum Orenknott gemacht.🌤
Einfach wunderschön oder?😍

⏰Dauer: ca. 2 Stunden

📸: Tourismusgenossenschaft Naturns

------

🇮🇹: Un'escursione al Orenknott (2.258 m) è possibile anche in inverno.❄️Queste splendide foto dell'alba sono state scattate dalla nostra collega durante la sua ultima escursione al Orenknott.🌤
Davvero magnifiche, vero?😍

⏰Durata: circa 2 ore

📸: Ufficio turistico Naturno

0
Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno 8 days ago
Naturns  I  Naturno

🇩🇪: Ihr plant euren Urlaub nach Naturns oder Plaus mit dem Flugzeug✈️ und sucht dafür einen bequemen Flughafentransfer der euch von Bozen nach Naturns oder Plaus bringt?☺️ Dann haben wir genau das richtige für euch!
Unser Flughafentransfer🚖 bietet eine komfortable Möglichkeit, vom Bozner Flughafen direkt zu eurer Unterkunft nach Naturns oder Plaus zu gelangen. Somit steht eurem Urlaub nichts mehr im Wege!🧡

Jetzt ganz einfach online auf unserer Homepage buchen: https://www.merano-suedtirol.it/de/naturns/info-events/informationen/lage-anreise/anreise-mit-dem-flugzeug.html

📸: SkyAlps/Zulupictures & Kottersteger

-----

🇮🇹:State pianificando le vostre vacanze a Naturno o Plaus in aereo ✈️ e cercate un comodo transfer dall'aeroporto di Bolzano a Naturno o Plaus? ☺️ Allora abbiamo proprio ciò che fa per voi!
Il nostro servizio di transfer🚖 dall'aeroporto offre un modo comodo per raggiungere direttamente la vostra sistemazione a Naturno o Plaus dall'aeroporto di Bolzano. Così, nulla potrà ostacolare le vostre vacanze! 🧡

Prenotate ora comodamente online sul nostro sito: https://www.merano-suedtirol.it/it/naturno/informazioni-eventi/informazioni/come-arrivare/arrivare-in-aereo.html

📸: SkyAlps/Zulupictures & Kottersteger

0
Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno 11 days ago
Naturns  I  Naturno

🇩🇪: Wer von euch, freut sich auch schon auf den Frühling in Naturns?🌸

Wir haben wieder einige Highlights für euch:
30.03.2025 - Bergfrühling am Naturnser Sonnenberg☀️
05.04.2025 - Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun - Wir feiern 5 Jahre!🎊
12.04.2025 - Frühlingsfest in Naturns🌷

-----

🇮🇹: Chi di voi non vede l'ora che arrivi la primavera a Naturno?🌸

Anche quest'anno abbiamo una varietá di eventi primaverili:
30.03.2025 - Primavera in montagna al monte sole di Naturno☀️
05.04.2025 - Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun - Festeggiamo 5 anni!🎊
12.04.2025 - Festa di primavera a Naturno🌷

2
Naturns  I  Naturno Naturns I Naturno 16 days ago
Naturns  I  Naturno

🇩🇪: Wo ist der Schnee geblieben?❄️
Wer von euch weiß, auf welche Stadt wir schauen?🤔

📸: Kurverwaltung Meran/Tommy Hetzel

-----

🇮🇹: Dov'é rimasta la neve?❄️
Chi di voi sa quale cittá stiamo ammirando?🤔

6
nextleft-arrowclose facebookinstagram liketalk