Heritage & Tradition

Traditions and culture play a big role in the Lungau region, here in the sunny south of SalzburgerLand: Aside from museums, pilgrimage churches, old castles and palaces, the Lungau is home to unique folk customs that are an expression of deeply rooted and essentially unchanged traditions, but traditions that are also very much alive and well.

In the Lungau region, dialect and folk costume are also a vibrant part of our lives. And the entire annual calendar is punctuated by ancient traditions that are nurtured and revered with an abundance of love and care.

The Giant "Samson"

Samson is a figure from the Old Testament and represents the struggle of the Jews against the Philistines. Especially during the Romantic era, Samson was regarded as a living expression of folk culture. Even then, the sight of dwarves, ceremonial militia and bands was very much as it is today.  Many myths, legends and rumors are interwoven with the giant figure from the Lungau. And over the years, groups and clubs have been founded in our towns and villages, their sole purpose being to keep this old tradition alive. Today there exist 12 such giant figures in the inner alpine region, ten in the Lungau and two more in neighboring Styria. This heroic biblical figure is the symbol of the Lungau, which is why he is proudly displayed at local festivals. The bearer, always a young bachelor, is required to demonstrate quite a feat of strength with the heavy, 80 kg Samson figure, especially when he has to perform the Samson Dance with the two dwarves.

› Samson parades in the Lungau
› Big Samson event on 11/12 September 2010 in St. Michael