Things to do in Auer on the wine route

The figure of Krampus is known throughout the Alpine region and has a long cultural tradition in the South Tyrol Unterland. On 5th December "Krampusses" would rampage through the villages causing havoc, punishing the children and bringing fear into people's homes to ensure that families would be kept in good order and behave for the rest of the year. These dark creatures would be accompanied by Santa Claus, for if bad children need punishing, the good ones also need their rewards.
This tradition lives on in Auer: here the Krampusses dress up in billy-goat horns, carved pinewood masks, sheepskin cloaks and carry huge bells. Every second November there is a great Krampus parade with over 500 Krampusses from across the whole Alpine region! back