Carnival every day
Fasnacht Tarrenz
In addition to Imst and Nassereith, the towns with probably the biggest and most fascinating carnival events, Tarrenz should not be forgotten. The witches' village and the carnival there are no less magnificent and the rivalry between the Roller and Scheller also takes place here. Numerous masks characteristic of Tarrenz accompany the couple. The witches, how could it be otherwise in this place, stand out in particular. Sackner, Waldmandln and the violin painters are other traditional masks that make the people of Tarrenz beam with pride at "their" carnival.
The next carnival in Hexendorf Tarrenz will take place in 2029.
A special feature of the Tarrenzer Fasnacht is the traditional carnival beer, which is the envy of many carnivals near and far. This has been brewed especially for the parade by the local traditional brewery Starkenberger since 1993. The beer is traditionally tapped on 11 November in the historic Knights' Hall of the Starkenberg brewery, where the carnival beer can be tasted for the first time. Afterwards, the very special brew is offered during the carnival period in the Tarrenz catering trade, directly in the Starkenberg brewery and at the carnival itself.
The carnival is banned!
An imperial decree from 1774 considerably restricted public celebrations, with masked balls and disguises only permitted in capital cities under strict conditions. The following year, the Innsbruck Gubernium interpreted this as a ban on all carnival processions in the countryside. In Tarrenz, the Schemenlaufen was finally stopped for good in 1797. The community leaders justified the decision with the continuing difficult times and the hope of averting danger by abandoning the custom, which was labelled "indecent abuse". Under the influence of moral condemnations - both from the pulpit and from the parish fathers - the old custom was presented not only as outmoded, but also as sinful. The ban was pronounced for "eternity" and those who defied it were threatened with severe punishment. Nevertheless, it can be assumed that not all inhabitants agreed with this radical step.
A little historical background information to help you better understand the situation at the time: The decision to ban the carnival came at a time of great challenges: Napoleon had conquered northern Italy and Tyrol was under threat of attack. The economic hardship also made the elaborate carnival seem like an unnecessary waste of money.
