In an age-old tradition, the children of Lungau went from house to house on Thursday. “Kasmandlfoahn” was on the program.
The customs arose from ancient folk traditions. According to legend, small, ghostly creatures move into the alpine huts in winter: the Kasmandln. During the alpine summer they remain hidden and feed on herbs and roots. Even today, the alpine farmers leave cheese, bacon, bread and firewood for the little spirits. A gesture of gratitude, since the Kasmandl protect the cows in summer. It is also important to appease the little creatures for the coming season. Many children still follow the call of the resulting custom of the “Kasmandlfoahn”. At the farm of the Bliem family in St. Michael, for example, Marianne Bliem (95) was longingly waiting for the little ones, who were out and about as dairymaids, Kasmandl, Stier, Hoitabua and Co. “Without Kasmandln something would be missing. We were also on the road at the time. Only during the war the custom didn’t exist,” Bliem recalls. After a poem, the little visitors give the grown-ups the sweet Alm specialties Schnuraus and Rahmkoch. In return, the little ones collect a small fee. “Because it’s just a nice custom,” explains Johannes (11) from Tamsweg, why he moves from house to house. “Tonibauer” Hans Schitter, formerly Kasmandl himself, is happy: “After twelve years we finally have a group together again.”
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