Salzkammergut traditional Christmas - with Peter Gillesberger

"Christmas traditions refined with real folk music"

On Monday, December 30, 2025, at 16:00 , the "Salzkammergut Brauchtumsweihnacht" will take place in the pilgrimage church "Maria im Schatten" in Lauffen .

In addition to the beautiful Christmas carol singing, the tradition from earlier times and how it is still practiced today around the turn of the year will also be shown by various traditional groups from the region.

Outstanding singers and musicians from the Alpine region will be on hand to provide musical accompaniment.
The Ischl dialect poet Christa Gschwandtner will recite appropriate thoughts from her pen in her heartfelt dialect.
Folk culture spokesman Peter Gillesberger will lead through the program.

We’re especially looking forward to the down-to-earth, humorous shepherds’ play, which will be performed this year by the Grundlsee shepherd children under the direction of Herbert Gasperl from the Ausseerland region.
Here at home in the Salzkammergut, the Glöckler are out and about at the start of the new year with their magnificent caps. The painstakingly crafted Glöckler caps are worn by the Sulzbach Brunnleit’n Glöckler from Lauffen.
The AGV Kohlröserl carolers from Ebensee bring the lively caroling tradition to life with their traditional costumes. In between, traditional caroling songs are sung and time-honored sayings are recited. Providing musical accompaniment are the Ischler Weisenbläser, the popular Gruber Zwoagsang from Tyrol, and the Gosinger Geigenmusi from the Salzkammergut.

“Shepherds, Tresterer, and Glöckler, come on up to the Salzkammergut!”

Participating folk groups:
Grundlseer Hirtenkinder from the Ausseerland
Sulzbach Brunnleit’n Glöckler from Lauffen
AGV Kohlröserl carolers from Ebensee
Dialect: Christa Gschwandtner from Bad Ischl

Participating folk music groups:
Ischler Weisenbläser
Gosinger Geigenmusi
Gruber Zwoagsang from Tyrol
Narrator: Peter Gillesberger