The wreath riding in Weitensfeld and the Kufenstechen in the Gailtal are traditional Whitsun customs that can now be held once more following a two-year break due to the pandemic. The Kufenstechen is cultivated in the lower Gailtal on the church day. The local boys try their hand at a wooden barrel, which is supposed to be smashed with clubs while galloping on horseback.
Pandemic slowed down customs a bit
Most things have already been prepared by the residents, as in the Wiesflecker house in Unterfeistritz. There, on Whit Monday, three girls will go to the church day in the traditional and elaborate Untergailtal costume. Paula Wiesflecker will help her three granddaughters to put on the wide, multi-part costume. It takes regarding an hour to do this.
“Anna, Laura and Christina are going to the dance under the linden trees this year. Christina is there for the first time because there was a two-year break due to the corona virus. ”This break slowed down the tradition a bit, says Paula Wiesflecker, especially among the very young girls who would have been there for the first time.
Milka Binter 1952 gefilmt
One who wants to come with her granddaughter on Monday is Milka Binter, née Millonig. She was already there in 1952 when she was 18 years old in front of Otto Aichbichler’s camera. Films by the filmmaker, who died 25 years ago, only recently reappeared. Aichbichler reported on Carinthian events and traditional events – more on that in Everyday memories in colour (13.5.2022; kaernten.ORF.at).
The purpose of the film was to present the unique Untergailtal costume. Milka Binter was filmed by Aichbichler together with a local boy.
Filming 70 years ago: “Please smile and talk”
Milka Binter still clearly remembers the 1950s, the church day and filming with Otto Aichbichler: “He simply took us with him, up the hill, to rest, to church. We always had to go back and forth. Not so stiff, he always said, please smile and talk.”
Milka Binter: There was a lot of dancing back then
Hardly anything has changed in the course of the customs over the decades. Back then, the stabbing itself was not without its dangers and was a spectacular custom in a very small part of the country. The event of the year was filmed in color for the first time.
The dance under the linden tree took place, 70 years ago you might hear even more Slovene here than today. But people liked to dance at all times. Binter: “You didn’t just dance with your partner, you danced with anyone who asked you to. It wasn’t like today, when the poor girls stand around and the men don’t dance.”
Parts of the costume are well over 100 years old
Milka Binter still has the costume from back then, parts of which are well over a hundred years old. The linen petticoat has also survived. “It’s huge, I don’t know how many meters of fabric are in there. And it is old and very heavy.”
The shoes from back then have seen many church days and dance floors. And this time Milka Binter will be there at the Feistritzer Kirchtag with runner jousting.