. ski travel : Tranquil Advent Season in Mayrhofen - 13 November 2012 - 08:32
Where the Zillertal Valley shows its traditional and peaceful side
Advent is a time at which hidden treasures are discovered in Mayrhofen. In the run-up to Christmas, the popular holiday resort in the Zillertal Valley fills with winter romance and age-old customs. Guests and locals immerse themselves in a marvellous world of time-honoured traditions at the Forest Festival Square. Relaxed skiing fun on perfect pistes awaits winter-sports lovers. Snow shoe hikes, toboggan runs and horse-drawn sleigh rides through the untouched winter landscape offer unforgettable natural experiences and are the perfect way to relieve stress.
In the Zillertal Valley, the Advent season is awaited with great anticipation. These are the weeks in which the first snow romantically covers the landscape. People are happy to wind down and enjoy the peace and anticipation of Christmas. It is also the time at which age-old customs and beloved traditions are fostered. And that is what makes Advent in Mayrhofen so special. In the run-up to Christmas, the usually lively destination shows off its tranquil and peaceful side. There are many stories to discover – and the romantic Forest Festival Square is the perfect place to do so.
THE FOREST FESTIVAL SQUARE BECOMES A WORLD OF WINTER ROMANCE
During Advent, age-old, local traditions and pure winter romance come together at the Forest Festival Square to mark the run-up to Christmas in the Zillertal Valley. Over the four-week Advent period, true enchantment is offered every Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The many candles and open fires adorn the square in an atmospheric light. Visitors are treated to the harmonious sound of the wind orchestra and the alluring fragrance of Christmas biscuits and mulled wine. Craftspeople present their tradition-filled work on numerous stalls: wooden carvings, classic Christmas cribs and even robust, comfy slippers known locally as Doggln, which are greatly popular in the winter months. There are theatre shows and performances by traditional choirs, offering musical best wishes for the New Year. Children particularly enjoy the elf bakery where they can bake their own cakes. Of course, the highlight is on 6 December when St. Nicholas arrives. The Forest Festival Square can be reached from the main street in Mayrhofen via a short, well-lit, signposted path through the romantic Scheulingwald Forest.
A marvellous Advent atmosphere can also be found in the centre of Mayrhofen. Many shops are already adorned with seasonal decorations.
To find out more about Advent in Mayrhofen and true pre-Christmas Tyrolean traditions, simply visit the website of the cooperation platform “Advent in Tyrol” (www.adventintirol.at). Mayrhofen is a member of this group of traditional and authentic Christmas markets in Tyrol.
‘SILENT NIGHT, HOLY NIGHT’: A WORLD-FAMOUS SONG FROM MAYRHOFEN
The story of the Strasser siblings from Laimach near Mayrhofen is so extraordinary it is almost like a fairy tale. In the early 19th century, the poor family earned a living as tradespeople. They were a thoroughly musical family, and that was to change their lives. In 1831, the Strasser siblings performed their version of ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ in Leipzig. The audience loved the folk song from the Zillertal Valley and the family became famous. The old farmhouse in which they once lived still stands today. If you want to find out more about this story, you can follow in the footsteps of the singers. The story of how the song ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’ came into being is told along a specially themed route.
ADVENT AND WINTER SPORT IN MAYRHOFEN: AN ATMOSPHERIC COMBINATION
For many winter-sports lovers, the run-up to Christmas in Mayrhofen is somewhat of a secret treasure. Winter has already sowed its seed – the perfect situation for stress-free days in the snow. Excellent snow conditions attract visitors to the Ahorn and Penken pistes, which stretch for 159 kilometres – from pleasant panoramic descents to the famous Harakiri run with an average gradient of 78 percent. Excursions through the winter landscape are also particularly attractive at this time of year. Head into the silence of the tributary valleys with snow shoes or a toboggan, take a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh or enjoy a torchlight hike after dark. Such great and diverse winter enjoyment can rarely be achieved as in the Advent season in Mayrhofen. Attractive Advent magic packages offer the perfect combination of Pre-Christmas romance and winter sport at reasonable prices.
Press Release
Mayrhofen-Hippach Tourist Board
12.11.2012
ADVENT IN MAYRHOFEN
Dates
Every Advent weekend on Friday and Saturday from 30 November from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Highlights
Friday 30 November 2012
5 p.m. Opening ‘3rd Mayrhofen Advent at the Forest Festival Square’
Thursday 06 December 2012
5.30 p.m. St. Nicholas procession
Saturday 22 December 2012
5.15 p.m. Christkindl procession
6 p.m. Auction event ‘Children decorate Christmas trees’
Find more at www.advent.mayrhofen.at
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