The giant Samson - a living cultural treasure

Experience the impressive Samson parades and immerse yourself in a centuries-old tradition that enchants the Lungau region with its gigantic figures and fascinating stories.

Parade in Salzburg Lungau region with a large soldier puppet, decorated buildings, and people in traditional costumes marching on the street.

The Samson has been documented since 1635 and symbolizes an Old Testament figure with superhuman powers - lying in his long hair. He represents the battle of the Jews against the Philistines, after which he slew 1000 Philistines with a donkey's jawbone near Lehi. Most of the figures carry such a jawbone with them as a symbol of strength. Many myths, legends and conjectures surround the giant figure from Salzburg Lungau region. The Samson Carrying was entered in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria back in 2010.

There are twelve of these Samson figures in the inner Alpine region, ten of them in Salzburg's Lungau region (Mariapfarr, Mauterndorf, Muhr, Ramingstein, St. Andrä, St. Margarethen, St. Michael, Tamsweg, Unternberg and Wölting) and two in neighboring Styria (Krakaudorf and Murau).

A special highlight

The Samson parades take place between June and September as part of the Lungau Alpine Summer and the Harvest Festival. Accompanied by a band and two dwarves, Samson dances the energy-sapping Samson Waltz at these events. It is an unforgettable experience that is a cultural event of the highest importance for both the spectators and the bearer of Samson.

A parade in Salzburg Lungau region features people in traditional costumes and large, colorful masks on a street with buildings.

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