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Spring

Although the old Tirolean tradition of “Aperschnalzen” has nothing to do with the “official” start of spring on March 23 it still signals the coming of spring. With the rhythmic cracking of the whip winter is driven out and spring welcomed.

Every year at the end of winter (young) men gather for the traditional “Aperschnalzen” or whip cracking. “Aper” means free of snow and “schnalzen” is the cracking of the whip. Notes from the 19th century describe “Aperschnalzen” as the “festive welcoming of the snow-melting spring in the foothills”.

The whip consists of a short handle (often made from ash) and a three to four meter long braided and greased thong or body. The cracker (popper) can be made from waxed cotton, nylon twine and in the old days horse hair.

It's quite a feat to swing the shortly-handled, long whips overhead and then, by suddenly reversing the motion, create the pistol-sharp crack. The crack actually comes from the loop traveling along the whip, gaining speed until it reaches the speed of sound and creates a sonic boom.

The “Aperschnalzer” usually perform in groups. The whips, which have different lengths to give off different sounds, are cracked in a staccato-like rhythm. Each round is fairly short since schnalzen is physically demanding.

Over the years this tradition has developed into a popular sports. Every year the best “Schnalzer” meet to compete against each other. For the competition, each group appears before a jury and is judged on the acoustical effect of its "schnalzen".