Miglotog in Ausseerland (Krampus Day / St. Nicholas Eve)

Miglotog im Ausseerland

Miglotog is the Ausseerland local name for Krampustag (Krampus Day) on 5 December, the eve of St. Nicholas Day. On this evening, the Miglon (the Ausseerland word for Krampusse) — fearsome masked figures with bells, chains, and whips (called 'Goassln' locally) — accompany Saint Nicholas through the villages. In Altaussee, Bad Aussee, and Grundlsee, Nikolaus and Krampus groups go from house to house visiting children; in Bad Mitterndorf, Tauplitz, and Pichl-Kainisch, traditional Nikolospiele (farmers' Jedermann plays with over 100 participants) are performed. Additional figures include the Habergeiß (symbol of winter), Miglomandl & Migloweibl (Heischefiguren), Grasteufel, Miasteufel, Pelzteufel, Ganggerl, Schab, Luzifer, and others. The hand-carved wooden masks, straw costumes, and ritual texts have been transmitted for over 150 years; the Nikolospiel in Bad Mitterndorf was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020.