Three Tyrolean Easter customs

Tyrol is home to a variety of fascinating and amusing Easter traditions. Keep reading to learn about our favourites!

At the Hotel Post and throughout Tyrol, Easter is not only a time of celebration but also a season filled with amusing and peculiar traditions. From playful morning rituals and boisterous customs to competitive egg duels, Easter in Tyrol is full of surprises!

Not for late risers
Palm Sunday, one week before Easter, marks the official start of the Easter season in Tyrol – and its first playful tradition. The last person to get out of bed on this morning is affectionately called the “Palmesel” (palm donkey) by family and friends. This light-hearted teasing is a beloved pre-Easter ritual that is guaranteed to bring a smile to all who participate.

When the bells “fly to Rome”
During Holy Week, from Maundy Thursday until the Easter Vigil, the church bells traditionally fall silent. But that doesn’t mean Tyrol is silent – quite the contrary! In fact, children parade through the streets with wooden ratchets, filling the air with their distinctive clattering sound. This custom, which replaces the bells during church services, was recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2015. The church bells are not rung again until the Easter Vigil.

A special kind of duel
In Tyrol, colourful Easter eggs are not just for eating – they’re also part of an exciting game! In the traditional “Eierpecken” contest, two people face off with hard-boiled eggs. First, they tap the tips of their eggs together, then the bases. The egg that doesn’t crack wins, and the winner gets to keep their opponent’s broken egg. Here are our insider tips for winners: smaller eggs are more stable, pointed eggs are more powerful, and the right grip often decides between victory and defeat. You must enclose the egg with your hand, leaving only the tip exposed.
With that, we wish you a fun and festive Easter from Vent!