As of: February 12, 2024, 11:02 a.m
By: Tobias Gehre
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At the ox race.
© Gehre
In Puchheim-Ort, a very special tradition was revived for the final spurt of Carnival.
For over 60 years, oxen have once again stormed down the village street on Saturdays.
Human oxen.
Puchheim-Ort – What a blast: the oxen were on the loose at the carnival in Puchheim-Ort on Saturday.
Several teams had to go through a course in cattle costumes.
Hundreds of visitors lined up and had a lot of fun.
The oxen race revived a tradition that was more than 60 years old.
At the ox race.
© Gehre
That was the preliminary report
The carnival final spurt is here.
Up and down the country, costumed fools celebrate in the streets, jackdaws in costumes jump over stages, decorated floats push through the crowd.
If you want to stand out, you have to come up with something special.
They did that in Puchheim-Ort.
There, on Carnival Saturday, the cattle are let loose for the big ox race.
The makers expect the race of the two-legged animals in cattle costumes to be a blast.
But here's the thing: Sending real four-legged friends that weigh almost a ton through a howling crowd of people might not be such a good idea.
Either they simply stand there like their famous counterparts in front of the mountain - or they make their own way through the crowd.
In both cases, the fun for the visitors would probably be limited.
And quite apart from that, real oxen are now in short supply even in the rural town of Puchheim.
Finally back for 60 years – “We wanted to revive tradition”
So they remembered an idea from the ancients.
More than 60 years ago, before the foolish days, they had hunkered down and painstakingly made original ox costumes - which were then driven through the village equipped with bipeds.
More than half a century ago, there were ox races with people in costumes during Carnival in Puchheim-Ort.
This tradition is now being revived.
© Private
“We wanted to revive this tradition,” says Ralf Geng from the Maypole Association, which organizes carnival fun around the maypole with other Puchheim clubs.
The concept is incredibly simple.
Two people in costume form an ox.
This chimera is driven by a guide from the Untern innkeeper to the former village shop.
There are also a few obstacles waiting for the teams over the approximately 100 meters.
The fastest human cattle can celebrate victory at the end.
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Eight cattle fight for victory - the most beautiful ox wins a prize
“We have eight oxen in total,” explains Geng.
Members of the clubs, the local fire department and also private individuals have made the costumes with a lot of love over the past few weeks.
“We based ourselves on old pictures,” reports Ralf Geng.
And because the preparation should also be rewarded, the most beautiful ox - chosen by a jury - receives a prize.
Of course, the audience can also feel like a winner.
Because the whole thing should be a blast for everyone – just like in the old days.
Afterwards everyone celebrates together at the racing party.
And of course the Ortlers also provided “normal” carnival fun for young and old.
There is face painting for the children and sweet delicacies as well as savory dishes from the grill and the goulash cannon are served.
And music is also provided.
So no one has to stand like an ox in front of the mountain on Saturday.
Here we go
Ortler carnival activities around the maypole on Saturday, February 10th, at 2 p.m.
The traditional ox race starts at 3 p.m.
TOBIAS GEHRE
Also interesting: Final spurt in carnival: Here you can celebrate again in a crazy way
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