When the days get shorter and the nights get colder and only the warm parlour is brightly lit, the contemplative time of the year begins. A familiar scent of cinnamon, mulled wine and pastries pervades the rooms. The farmhouse is filled with a harmonious atmosphere. The Christmas season has always been an important part of the farming calendar. Nature says goodbye and begins to hibernate, and things are getting quieter on the farm. At dusk, the farm family retreats to the crackling wood stove and enjoys the evening together. A time where traditions are alive and stories are told. The guests in the holiday apartments and rooms on the farm can also take part.

Candlelight and winter blossoms

The weeks before Christmas on the farm in South Tyrol are accompanied by the light of the traditional advent wreath. This is tied from fresh fir twigs and decorated with four candles. Each of them represents a Sunday in Advent and gradually fills the farmhouse parlour with warm candlelight. Not only the Advent wreath, but also the so-called Barbara twigs adorn the farmhouse. On December 4th, the day of St. Barbara, cherry, forsythia or peach twigs are cut at the farm. The twigs full of buds are freshened up in a vase and placed on the light-drenched windowsill. Just in time for Christmas, the Barbara branches bloom in fresh white and pink and bring colour to the cold season.

Sweet messengers before Christmas

Spitzbuben, gingerbread, vanilla crescents and cinnamon stars: during the Advent season, the farmer's kitchen is transformed into a bakery. The farmers knead the dough with great skill, cut out shapes and lovingly decorate the biscuits. A colourful variety of traditional Christmas biscuits are created according to grandmother's recipes that have been handed down. With mulled wine and herbal tea, not only the farm family, but also the guests can enjoy the sweet treats. A special South Tyrolean Christmas pastry is the Zelten. The spiced fruit bread, which has a long shelf life, is made from various nuts, dried pears, figs, plums and sultanas.

Rural traditions

A richly decorated Christmas tree is also important on the farms in South Tyrol. The key difference lies in the decorations. These are handcrafted on the farms in many places. The handmade straw stars are particularly popular. To make them, pieces of straw are crossed and tied together with a thread to form artistic shapes. On Christmas Eve, the beautiful stars decorate the Christmas tree and make children's eyes light up. The customs and traditions of Advent on the farms continue into the New Year. Around Epiphany, the entire farm is blessed with incense and holy water during the twelve nights of Christmas. The new year and the letters C+M+B (Christ bless this house) are written on the doors with consecrated chalk. This ritual is intended to drive away evil on the farm and ask for protection and a good harvest for the coming year. During the farmer's Advent, guests at the farm experience authentic traditions and a piece of South Tyrolean cultural history.