Liebstatt Sunday in Bad Goisern at Lake Hallstatt
"That your love is no joke, confirm it with a heart of love."
As is the case with a real custom, some outward appearances change, but the essential remains unchanged. Whereas about 300 years ago, at the time of the pious Brotherhood, on this fourth Sunday of Lent, the focus was still on the hospitality of the poor, today the gifting of gingerbread hearts gives the feast its external character. For many years this beautiful custom of the "Liebstattln" is maintained in the interior Salzkammergut.
A day of joy ...
The arrival of spring and summer, after long, cold winters, is a time of celebration. In the past, winter was much harder than it is today as the people who lived in the valleys of the Salzkammergut had poor transport connections, and often had to clear vast amounts of snow by hand. And so this is a day of great celebration.
Throughout the centuries the „Lieb b`statten“ has become a chance to declare your love by presenting loved ones with these lovely gingerbread hearts. A very festive Sunday for which the ladies would always dress in traditional dirndl skirts and receive lots of „love hearts“ from the men! „Lovers‘ Sunday“ - a fun and festive occasion.
Every year ...
... invites the Heimatverein and the "Goldhauben- und Kopftuchfrauen" to the Liebstattsonntag - celebration. In Bad Goisern innumerable hearts are baked by many diligent women themselves, decorated and carried out in the Goiser Valley. The voluntary donations they receive in return benefit the Goiserer museums for renovation work, charitable purposes such as the Lebenshilfe or families in need.
"Off to the Goiserer Liebstattsunday"
At the end of March it's off again to the Goiserer Festsaal with lots of music and a colourful programme. The old, sick and lonely will also receive presents on this day. On this Sunday we should not miss the opportunity of "giving joy" and "receiving joy".
Gold bonnet & headscarf women
Local group Bad Goisern
Mittendorfer Brigitte
goisern@goldhauben.info
