Impressive solstice fires in Bad Goisern, Gosau, Hallstatt and Obertraun

At the summer solstice big fires are lit in the Dachstein Salzkammergut to drive away evil spirits and to welcome the summer! On the days before and after the solstice, you can discover numerous large campfires on the mountains and in the valleys.

Where does the solstice fire come from?

This custom of the solstice fire has existed since the 14th century. According to popular belief, the fire was supposed to ward off demons that cause disease, cattle damage or hail damage. In the middle of the 16th century, however, the Johannis fires, as they are also called, were banned for about a century. One reason for this was that several major fires were caused by these fires and the other was that they were dismissed as "unnecessary superstitions" by increasingly influential enlightenment philosophers.

How is the solstice celebrated today?

Nowadays the "Sunnawendln", as it is called by the locals, offers an opportunity for a nice get-together with friends and family. After the winter, wood waste is collected for weeks. This creates a great campfire, both in the valley and on the peaks, that welcome the summer.