A panoramic view

Tyrol starts Holy Week in a colorful and traditional way

A big day for the little ones and their colorful palm bushes.(Bild: Birbaumer Johanna)

Palm Sunday was celebrated throughout Tyrol with many traditional customs. The "Krone" was out and about in the region and captured atmospheric images. Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week. This is particularly rich in traditions and rituals. 

Palm Sunday was celebrated in April weather with snowfall and sunshine. A colorful prelude to Holy Week, as Holy Week is also known. Strictly speaking, since the Second Vatican Council, Holy Week actually extends from Palm Sunday to Vespers on Maundy Thursday. After that, we speak of the Triduum Sacrum, the "holy three days".

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In Imst, the palm laths grew into the sky again
Palm Sunday is celebrated spectacularly in Imst. Once again this year, the palm laths of the individual groups measured 35 meters and more. A peaceful competition, in which participants and spectators alike are thrilled. Not all the palm slats were able to withstand the strain, but the spectacle delighted everyone. 

Processions with and without palm donkeys
Palm processions are also a tradition in Tyrol. A very special one is the one in Thaur. It is the last surviving palm procession of its kind in Tyrol. The life-size figure of Christ, which is privately owned, sits on a donkey and is pulled from the parish church to Romedius Church by altar boys on a cart, accompanied by many praying worshippers. The procession then continues to Rum and back to Thaur. 

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The palm procession in Thaur took place in sunshine. In other places in Tyrol, the celebrations were held in snowfall. This was the case in Wildschönau, where many believers took part in the palm procession despite the precipitation. 

Around 2000 Tyrolean bells fly to Rome
Easter is not only the highest festival in the Christian church, but also one of those celebrations for which the churches are well attended. The next important date is Maundy Thursday, when, according to legend, the bells fly to Rome. In the diocese of Innsbruck alone, 1700 church bells will fall silent. Across Tyrol there are around 2000.

Innsbruck Cathedral is home to the largest carillon in Austria.(Bild: Claudia Thurner)

Tyrol is rich in important bells: The oldest is considered to be the one in the branch church of St. Helena in the parish of Oberlienz in East Tyrol. It is said to date from around 1300. According to the Diocese of Innsbruck, the oldest dated bell in North Tyrol hangs in the parish church of Lermoos and the largest surviving Gothic bell in Austria is in the parish church of Maria Himmelfahrt in Schwaz. Innsbruck Cathedral is also home to a special Austria-wide feature. The largest carillon in the country is installed there. It comprises 48 bells with a range of four octaves.

Lenten nativity scenes can once again be seen in many churches.(Bild: Daum Hubert)

Many opportunities to get in the mood for Easter
Holy Week in Tyrol offers many opportunities to get in the mood for Easter. Lenten nativity scenes, Easter graves and numerous customs surrounding the church services enrich the Holy Week, which culminates in the Easter Vigil with the resurrection.

By the way: Easter lasts far longer in the Catholic Church than most people realize. Since the second century, the celebration of Easter has extended over a period of no less than 50 days and ends with Pentecost, the feast of the Holy Spirit.