Auskehren - Historical

The origins of the Auskehren are similar to the time it is held at; in the dark. Understandably, the authorities in olden times were even more rigorously against processions held in the dark; they were particularly hard to keep control of. The fear of excesses and outbursts was even greater than it was during the Fasnacht held during the day. On the other hand, on the ”Fasnachtserchtig”, the 40-hour long prayer, which forbade the citizens of Imst to hold a Fasnacht in the days prior was an even greater invitation to defy the authorities and put on the mask for one last time. The history of Auskehren comes with a lot of highs and lows – there were times were barely any masked figures were seen on Fat Tuesday. Hard to believe when one sees the crowds and costumes nowadays: more than 300 participants, thousands of spectators on the streets and in the inns of Imst – an event by night which takes up especially large dimensions in the year prior to a “big” Fasnacht. After all, it is well known that anticipation is the greatest form of joy!