CARNIVAL IN TELFS

Traditions since 1830

Having been a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage since 2010, the Telfer Schleicherlaufen is probably one of the most magnificent carnival processions in Tyrol. The current form of the tradition has been around since 1830 and attracts around 20,000 spectators in the Tyrolean Inn Valley these days. The carnival procession, which was originally intended to herald the arrival of spring, is made up of a total of 14 groups. These include Wilde, Bären, Musibanda, Vogler, Bachouf'n and, of course, the eponymous Schleicher. With colourful costumes, hats weighing up to eight kilograms and large bells that are only allowed to sound during the mythical circle dance, the exclusively male carnival revellers parade through the streets of the Tyrolean market town on the big day. They perform traditional sayings, songs and dance as well as satirical performances on topical and political issues.

The Naz excavation takes place on 6 January to kick off the Schleicherlauf. The ‘liabste Kind’ of the Laninger group is a 100-year-old puppet and the symbolic figure of the entire Telfer Fasnacht. To ensure that Naz, carnival revellers and spectators are not left out in the rain on the big day, the group of the same name pray to the sun for good weather in the morning before the official start of the Schleicherlauf. And the morning supplication seems to have an effect - since the introduction of this custom, there has demonstrably never been a rainy carnival. With this in mind, may the sun also shine over Telfs on Sunday, 2 February 2025, when the colourful hustle and bustle returns to the alleyways - at least until the bell ringing at 18:00, which officially ends the Schleicherlaufen. After that, the wistful carnival revellers only come together once more, to symbolically bury the carnival on Shrove Tuesday with a great howl.