Alpine cattle drive in Silberregion Karwendel
Every year in autumn the return of the cattle to the valley is celebrated and makes for a special event. For tourist and locals alike the Alpine cattle drive is always worth seeing.
Cows, goats and sheep return from their summer holiday, in quasi-festive dress: ‘dickied up’ as they say in these parts – or rather bedecked with elaborate crowns made out of mountain pine, Alpine flowers, with all kinds of sayings, and often with ecclesiastical symbols on their heads - these Alpine animals move back to their home village. The bells tied around their necks signal the arrival of these four-legged milk suppliers from quite a distance. There are exceptions to this, since this jewellery is only donned when every single one of the animals return healthy from their summer spent on the Alpine meadow. Adorning these animals takes many hours of hard work and is only done before the last section of the long march across hills and mountain passes. When the convoy reaches their local village, the tinkling of bells, ‘Juchezer’ (yodellers), Alpine herdsmen and Alpine farmers gather, bottles of schnapps are circulated and there are kisses all round. The finale is a mostly traditional Alpine cattle drive and a party for the homecomers, where rustic treats such as doughnuts, bacon and Alpine cheese are served up. Apropos cow bells: in spring those on two legs march with the animals through the village and the meadows – the ‘Grasausläuter’, or rather boys wearing lederhosen and with a jaunty hat on their heads, drive out the winter with the cow bells tied around their waists, calling upon the grass to emerge.
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