intangible cultural heritage

Asking for blessings from above – Catching the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

area : Kulturpark Eisenstraße
category : social practices
“Catch the Spirit” refers to the gathering of the faithful in the early hours of Pentecost on a very high hill or mountain, usually with a shrine or a cross, to celebrate worship together. Since the Holy Spirit, according to the Bible, came down from heaven to the faithful, this time people go towards the sky to meet the “blessing from above.”
In Windhag near Waidhofen an der Ybbs, 20 to 30 believers from the village (including many farming families), start hiking at 4 in the morning with a prayer leader from the “Wirts”-chapel at the southern village limits to the Schober mountain chapel, the highest peak in the surroundings. A side- trip to the Eben-chapel is made, and all three chapels are beautifully decorated with flowers. Because of the darkness in the early morning hours, part of the trip is made with lanterns. During the walk, a rosary, the Holy Spirit litany and various prayers for good weather, a good harvest and for the deceased members of the Schober chapel are made. After dawn, it’s home again to do some housework and prepare for the musical event that is Pentecost high mass.

Catching the Holy Spirit proceeds differently in Reinsberg, where it is also called “Haubenbergblasen”. In the early hours of Pentecost, the local music ensemble along with some aReinsberger’s meet on a small hill in the early morning hours at the farmhouse “Haubenberg” to play hymens dedicated to the virgin Mary for about two hours. The tradition of the “Haubenbergblasen” began at the end of the 19th century under the great-grandfather of the current senior farmer of “Haubenberg”, Markus Daurer. Members of the band are likely to have started playing spontaneously. Subsequently, the meeting caught on and became an annual fixture on Pentecost Sunday morning.

Catching the Holy Spirit is in its different forms a beautiful custom that enhances the community and local camaraderie.
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