In Prad am Stilfser Joch winter ends on a very special and fun note – with the traditional Zussl race!
Celebrate the Zussl with us!
Do you already have plans for Carnival Thursday? If not, we have a special suggestion for you that you’ll remember fondly for a long time to come: the Zussl race in Prad am Stilfser Joch in Val Venosta/Vinschgau. It looks like a simple Carnival parade, but is actually a ritual with precise choreography and lots of noise. The aim: to drive out the winter.
How does the Zussl race work?
This year, Carnival Thursday is on 27 February 2025. In Prad am Stilfser Joch this is the greatest day of all. It starts at 2 p.m. on the village square: young boys dress up in white robes covered with colourful paper flowers. They also wear huge cowbells around their waist, some of which weigh up to 20kg. So you’ll need to have a strong chore! They’re accompanied by six other boys, the Six White Horses. They’re driven by a carter with a whip – called a “Goaßl” in South Tyrol – who skilfully snaps it through the air, creating a loud crack. This sound is known as “Goaßlschnelln”. The parade that follows has a very specific order: the sower (who throws sawdust into the crowd), the farmer and his wife, the farm labourer and maid, and finally the “Zoch” and the “Pfott”, i.e. the Merry Couple.
The reason behind it?
The answer is simple: to drive out the winter, which can be very harsh and snowy in Prad. The big bells and colourful flowers on the white costumes are intended to chase away winter once and for all and welcome spring.
More carnival highlights in Prad
The Zussl race isn’t the only event of the Carnival season. On Shrove Sunday and Shrove Tuesday, the so-called “Maschger” perform at the traditional Maschger dance, led by a “Bajaz”. Eight couples (in exact constellations and traditional costumes) parade from inn to inn and perform the traditional dance in rows of two. By the way, the exact origin of the Maschgertanz is not known – It was probably a kind of wedding procession or dance of death. What do you think? Be sure to watch it!