South Tyrolean Wedding Customs and Traditions

“Katzenmusik” & Waking the Bride 

The wedding magic in many parts of South Tyrol already begins a few days before the actual celebration. During the “Katzenmusik ” (lit. cat music, also known as “Schnellen” – lit. banging – in some places) or the waking of the in a wake-up call, the bride and groom are thrown out of bed with a loud roar by friends and acquaintances and have to welcome them in for food and drinks.

Roadblocks 

On the way from the wedding ceremony to the wedding banquet, the bride and groom still have to overcome a few obstacles. Clubs (sports, music etc.) and friends keep blocking their way and present them with tasks that they have to solve together.

Stealing the Bride

Wherever the bridal bouquet is, that’s where the bride must be. If someone manages to take the flower arrangement during the festivities, they have also stolen the bride. The groom and best man must now follow the thieves and recapture them. In doing so, they must pay for all the drinks consumed on the way through the local pubs.

 Goatdance

Particularly in the Ladin areas of South Tyrol, there is a custom in which the unmarried older siblings of the bride and groom are given a live goat to accompany them to the wedding ceremony. They used to have to take the goat with them for the entire celebration, but nowadays a stable is set up for the animal’s comfort and it only has to accompany the celebrations for a short time.

A Child’s Blessing

Typically, following a church wedding, the children in the wedding party greet the newlyweds with poems, rhymes and congratulations. They also often present the bride with flowers they have picked themselves.

Edible Confetti

Just as rice is traditionally thrown at wedding ceremonies in other countries, in Italy it is customary to give edible confetti as a gift. The pebble-like appearance of the white sugar-coated almonds is why they are also known as “Passersteine ” (stones from the River Passirio) in Merano and environs.

 

EverAmore – Unique Wedding Visuals

A wedding is a truly unique event. It is filled with emotions, unforgettable moments and genuine connections. These moments are captured by Vanessa, Valentina, and Philipp from Everamore through authentic photos and emotional videos. Let yourselves be enchanted by the following video.