10 October 2020

UNESCO included play of Nikolo and Krampus 'Nikolospiel' performed in Bad Mitterndorf, Styria into 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' list of Austria

Nikolo, Krampus are controversial figures of Austrian tradition. The perspective on the figures makes the difference. The two can be seen positively as a mixture of old Nature religion with the Christian belief system or negatively, as a relic from former times. Who would ever forbid Santa Claus? And even the pre-Christian Krampus has a fan community. (Krampus-like figures appear for example in Woodkid's music video 'Run Boy Run'.) For the application of the theatrical ritual 'Nikolospiel' (Nikolo Play) performed in Bad Mitterndorf (Ausseerland, Salzkammergut, Styria) to the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' list of UNESCO Austria, scientists from the fields culture, economic and social history researched on the roots of the play (turn of the 17th/18th century) and the elements such as the roles or costumes; especially named are the regionally signature arts & crafts of the wooden Krampus masks. At the expert statements at nikolospiel.at, the Nikolo Play is also compared to Hugo von Hofmannsthal's 'Jedermann. Das Spiel vom Sterben des reichen Mannes' (Everyman. The play of the rich man's death) how it's performed prominently each year since 1920 at the Salzburg Festival. Jedermann is inspired by Middle Ages mystery plays; roles like the death or the belief aren't personifications of individuals but representations of the nature of life and values of society. The Nikolospiel is a rural theatre which happens as a procession each year on 5 December at various locations in Bad Mitterndorf.

Image: More than 120 people perform at the traditional procession in Bad Mitterndorf, Styria. Since 7 October 2020, the Nikolospiel is part of the UNESCO Austria Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Photo: © Nikolospiel, Bad Mitterndorf / photographer: Johann Aster.