Tradition in Mölltal

Pork knuckle auction on New Year’s Eve

In Lainach, Franz Zlöbl auctions off around 40 pork knuckles on New Year's Eve.

(Bild: Richard Dabernig)

For "etla hundert Jåhr", delicious offerings have been auctioned off in front of the branch church in Lainach in Mölltagl: pork knuckles. The hope behind this is to defeat a terrible disease.

A hundred years ago, swine fever raged in the Mölltal valley. People vowed to sacrifice delicious pork knuckles to St. Sylvester, the patron saint of domestic animals, on his day of remembrance - and since the people of Lainach have been doing this, swine fever has not claimed any more victims.

A church service is celebrated in Lainach on New Year's Eve, after which Franz Zlöbl auctions off pork knuckles.

(Bild: Richard Dabernig)

For this unusual auction, a stone table for the knuckle of pork and a seat for the sacristan were even built next to the northern entrance to the church.

This year, former mayor Franz Zlöbl will once again auction off the 40 or so pork knuckles, sausages and bacon donated after the New Year's Eve service, which begins at 9 a.m. on December 31 in the Lainach branch church: "Då hama Feschtntåg!"

Up to 40 pork knuckles are auctioned off in Lainach on New Year's Eve.

(Bild: Pfarre)

The money - 30 to 100 euros per knuckle of pork, depending on the size and mood - will go towards the upkeep of the branch church. The church is dedicated to St. Margaret and St. Sylvester. Legends about the saints are depicted on the ceiling. It also reads "Saint Sylvester, after Mary the Comforter of Stall!", as the church in Lainach once belonged to the parish of Stall. Sylvester - the name is derived from the Latin Silva for forest and therefore means man of the forest - was Pope and died on December 31, 335.