Nicknames and nicknames of Tyrolean communities
In his work "Innsbrucker Karpfen, Bozner Seligkeiten" (Athesia, 1988), the now sadly deceased folklorist Friedrich Haider has painstakingly compiled a collection of nicknames, nicknames of derision and nicknames that neighbouring villages in Tyrol are said to have given each other long ago - and in some cases still do, often behind closed doors of course. In the foreword to his book, Haider emphasises that he did not want to offend anyone with this work, but only wanted to protect old folklore from being forgotten. So please don't take it personally! In any case, I had to smile a lot. I would like to present some of my personal favourites from the book here (mostly excerpts from the original text).
Bitzler
That was the Ischglers, because in Ischgl they say "a bitz" instead of "ein bißchen". The "das bißchen" was supposedly a reference to the sunshine, which is generally not abundant in the Paznaun Valley.
Gealrubeler
This was the name given to the inhabitants of the communities on the Arlberg. A particularly large number of yellow turnips (carrots) were once grown there.
Sunnaluahner
These were the people of Lermoos who supposedly preferred to lean in the sun rather than work.
Zipflkappa
Also the people of Lermoos. They were given the nickname "Zipflkappa" by the people of Ehrwald because they are said to have always worn thick woollen caps, even at the regulars' table.
Ofentürler
This is what the inhabitants of Bschlabs were called. There is also an explanation for this: A Bschlaber (not "Bschlabser"!) allegedly had a new oven door made. Since he didn't have a tape measure to hand, he measured it with his arms spread wide. So he walked two kilometres to the blacksmith. Of course, the "natural size" had changed in the meantime and the oven door didn't fit.
Ofenschliefer
Decades ago, the Arzler lads are said to have hidden in an oven during a brawl with the lads from the Wald district.
Krotnmelcher
Frogs and toads had made themselves at home in Polling's acidic and mossy meadows. Whether these were really milked by the people of Polling is rather doubtful in my opinion.
Talfer Hoa
This nickname goes back to the Telfer people's habit of often saying "hoa" to emphasise something, such as "Kimmsch heit no, hoa?" (Still coming today, are you?)
Schmuggler
Once the people of Scharnitz. No need to explain in detail.
Fischsinger
The Pettnauer. There's a story about this: before the various regulations, the Inn filled the entire valley at Pettnau. Many of its tributaries ran through the Pettnau meadows and formed ponds and pools. In addition to farming, fishing was therefore an additional source of income for the people of Pettnau. One day, a colourful trout was caught from one of these ponds. They had never seen such a splendid specimen before and after much deliberation they agreed: It was not a fish, but a bird. And so it had to be able to sing. But it couldn't, so they taught it. However, the "bird" succumbed to the agony of learning to sing, and one Pettnauer said regretfully: "But dear Vogl was so eager (docile), he had already opened his mouth wide, and before he could make the first notes, he died!" Not a good story for animal rights activists.
Innsbrucker Karpfen
Similar story to the Pettnau fish singers. A beautifully colourful carp was caught here. The mayor sentenced the supposed "bird", which refused to sing at all but only opened its mouth, to death by drowning. Which certainly pleased the carp.
Höttinger Nudelsetzer
There is a story about this. The (once) poor inhabitants of Hötting (which, incidentally, was a village in its own right until 1938, even the largest in Austria) thought that instead of always buying expensive flour for production, they could simply grow the pasta. It worked with peas too! Unfortunately, there was no pasta harvest. The carnival newspaper "Höttinger Nudl" still exists today and recalls this anecdote.
Haller Kübel
During an Ascension Day celebration in Hall's parish church, the rope used to pull the figure of the Saviour up into the air apparently broke. The statue fell to the ground and broke. The individual pieces were then collected in a bucket and pulled up again, true to the principle: "Aui muaß er!" You just have to know how to help yourself.
Yellow-bellied
It is not known whether the Weerbergers are so called because of the common yellowhammer (bird species) or because of the yellow breast patch in their costume. It is also said that "there are three kinds of people: Manderleut, Weiberleut and Weerberger". Whatever that may mean.
Weggalfresser
The people of Thierbach did not have their own bakery. When they came to the Inn Valley, they liked to buy a Weinbeerweggele and eat it with relish on the way home. Even today, the people of Thierbach still say "Wett ma a Weggal?"
Mattiger Kälber
The people of Lienz gave the people of Matrei the name "Mattiger Kälber", probably to express the fact that the Mattiger lifestyle was too coarse for a town.
Virger Drahle
The people of Virgen don't get off well with the people of Matrei, they are called the Virger Drahle. The Iseltal people understand Drahl to mean "being twisted", word twisters, insidious and false, also cunning, clever, gaining an advantage.
