As winter sets in and the Pustertal/Val Pusteria valley transforms into an enchanting wonderland, a very special atmosphere emerges, one shaped by ancient customs and celebrations. Traditions that are far more than mere nostalgic memories as they represent a living cultural heritage, handed down from generation to generation, expressing community, faith and a deep bond with the territory.
In and around Kiens/Chienes, as in all of South Tyrol, the Christmas season is one of the most magical times of the year. It all begins on the first Advent Sunday, when the first candle is lit on the Advent wreath and Christmas tales are told.
On December 5th and 6th, first the frightening Krampus and then St. Nicholas walk through the streets of our towns. While the saint hands out small gifts to the children, the sound of the Krampus' clanking chains and ringing bells conjures up an eerie and suspenseful atmosphere.
Christmas Eve begins with the Christmas Mass, followed by the evocative ritual of the Twelve Days of Christmas. In this mystical period, families diffuse the aromas of incense and blessed herbs in their homes, seeking protection and good fortune for the year to come.
On New Year's Day, children go from house to house offering blessings and wishes for happiness for the year ahead, receiving sweets and small donations. Christmas traditions reach their peak with the Star Singers, who, until Epiphany, bring their blessings to people's homes through traditional chants and ancient proverbs.
Over generations, as the icy winter halted work on the fields, farmers and craftspeople spent the colder months carving, turning, felting and weaving. Among these traditions, the carving of nativity scenes holds a particularly long history. With patience and skill, fine figures are meticulously crafted, adorning homes throughout the Christmas season. Likewise, the making of Advent wreaths, embroidery and the felting of fabrics are traditional handicrafts that are still alive in the Pustertal valley.
In addition to handicrafts, there are also regional delicacies that lend a special touch to winter. Bakeries fill the air with the scent of freshly baked Christmas biscuits, flavoursome Zelten fruit bread, South Tyrolean funnel cake and jam-filled fritters. Then there are the cool cellars of the farmsteads where tasty alpine cheeses and air-dried speck mature to perfection, while at the well-known Bergila distillery essential oils of mountain pine and stone pine are produced according to an ancient tradition - soothing fragrances that evoke the peacefulness of snow-covered forests.
In the middle of the mountains, surrounded by greenery, near the shimmering Issinger Weiher, thousands of herbs scent the wide, well-tended and cultivated areas.
At Bergila, high-quality products are made from local mountain and meadow herbs and mountain pine oil is also distilled. Healing ointments and tinctures, teas and natural cosmetics, essential oils and schnapps - all of these are produced from controlled organic cultivation. But this is just one of the producers of local products in Kiens and the surrounding area.
