Nassereither Schellerlaufen

While the last veils of mist shroud the valley in silence, a soft chime can be heard. Bells that herald the tender beginnings of a new day. They herald the start of a custom as legendary, varied and lively as the history of the Gurgltal and the wooden masks that Nassereither artist Franz Josef Kranewitter makes especially for the men of the carnival. Larvae with deep furrows from forehead to chin, marked by a difficult and fateful life. With crooked noses and long moustaches that symbolise the wild side of carnival. And lovely masks in traditional costume with red cheeks and golden hair, representing purity and beauty. Incomparably expressive wooden masks, carved from a single piece and perfected by hand over many hours. Passion determines the way right from the start, no word describes this carnival more aptly than: craftsmanship. The Nassereither Schellerlaufen, with its handmade wooden larvae and colourful costumes, shimmers through the wintry alleyways of the village like no other custom. As multifaceted and full of character as spring, which challenges winter to battle. As mystical as the place that bears them. And as unmistakable in form and style as the living commitment to a tradition that still fascinates people today. When Roller and Scheller dare to dance and spring triumphs over winter in the form of the bear driver. The strikingly colourful silk costumes, which lend meaning and recognition value to the beautiful procession and the most colourful of all Tyrolean carnivals, parade through snow-covered landscapes. In this close-up, we lose ourselves in the now of life. In the small and large gestures, the expression of a special way of feeling that takes us into a world of past and present. Of art and gift. Unforgettable stories and rituals that are passed down through generations.