Preisguffen on Easter Sunday (Bauernjugend Niederdorf)

The Preisguffen: An Easter Ritual in the Upper Puster Valley

The Preisguffen am Ostersonntag is one of the most deeply rooted Easter customs in the municipality of Villabassa (Niederdorf), located in the province of Bolzano in the heart of the Upper Puster Valley in Trentino-Alto Adige. Every Easter Sunday, once Holy Mass has concluded, the local community gathers in the central Piazza Von Kurz (Von-Kurz-Platz) to witness and participate in this ancient egg-tapping challenge, also known as Osterpecken.

How the Challenge Works

The rule is simple and summarized by the motto «Spitz auf Spitz, Guff auf Guff» (point to point, shell to shell). Two competitors face off by tapping their hard-boiled eggs against each other: first the pointed ends, then the rounded sides. Whoever keeps their shell intact wins and advances in the competition, until the egg with the most resilient shell is crowned the winner.

• Official Eggs: To ensure fairness, the Bauernjugend Niederdorf colors and sells the eggs on-site, marking them with the «SBJ» stamp to prevent the use of tampered eggs.
• Prizes: Winners are awarded charming natural prizes (Sachpreise).
• For Children: Once the competition concludes, the little ones head off to hunt for the Easter Bunny's nests hidden in the local gardens.

A Living Tradition

Today, the Preisguffen is primarily a symbolic and convivial moment, yet it remains an authentic testament to the people's attachment to their traditions. The event is carried out year after year by the Bauernjugend Niederdorf, the local rural youth organization, with the support of the town's tourist board. The eggs are colored according to custom starting on Maundy Thursday.

Villabassa and the Upper Puster Valley

Villabassa/Niederdorf is a picturesque village in the Upper Puster Valley, renowned for its Tyrolean atmosphere and its proximity to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the Sesto Dolomites. The Easter festival in Piazza Von Kurz offers residents and visitors the chance to experience a centuries-old rural tradition firsthand within a stunning alpine setting.