--- title: Solstice fires in Bad Goisern, Gosau, Hallstatt and Obertrau url: "https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/sommerveranstaltungen/artikel/detail/3608/solstice-fires-bad-goisern-gosau-hallstatt-obertraun.html" description: Here you can find out why the solstice is celebrated at all and where you can take part in such a celebration in Bad Goisern, Gosau, Hallstatt and Obertraun. date: 2012-07-17 modified: 2020-01-16 --- # Solstice fires in Bad Goisern, Gosau, Hallstatt and Obertrau 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. © Open copyright © Solstice fire in Gosau at Dachstein (photo: Elisabeth Grill) Close copyright [ ![The solstice is celebrated in Gosau at Dachstein, Bad Goisern at Lake Hallstatt, Hallstatt and Obertraun both in the valley and on the mountain. The summer is thus welcomed and the evil spirits are expelled. (photo: Elisabeth Grill)](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/8/4/csm_Sonnwendfeuer-Gablonzer-H%C3%BCtte-Gosau-Foto-Grill-Elisabeth_f4440f968a.jpg "Solstice fire in Gosau at Dachstein (photo: Elisabeth Grill)") ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin//user_upload/dachstein-salzkammergut/ra/Veranstaltungen/Sonnwendfeuer/Sonnwendfeuer-Gablonzer-Hütte-Gosau-Foto-Grill-Elisabeth.JPG "Solstice fire in Gosau at Dachstein (photo: Elisabeth Grill)") ### Contact & Service **Salzkammergut Tourismus - Destination Dachstein** Kirchengasse 4 4822 Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee Phone [+43 6132 26909 400](tel:+43613226909400) E-Mail