Uroltar Vosching — Carnival of Timau

A carnival that comes from afar

In Timau — Tischlbong in the local dialect — carnival is not a festival of confetti and allegorical floats, but an ancient rite rooted in the traditions of the neighboring German-speaking lands. A hamlet of Paluzza nestled in the upper Val But, Timau is a Carinthian linguistic island, and its Uroltar Vosching — the "old carnival" — is one of the most evocative archaic masks in the Alps.

The beautiful masks and the ugly masks

The carnival of Timau revolves around two opposing figures. The Jutalan are the beautiful and silent masks: they wear a hat with a veil that completely hides their face, a white shirt, skirt, and stockings with the typical scarpets, and they dance through the village streets to the sound of the accordion. The Maschkars min Kloukn, on the other hand, are the ugly and noisy masks: with bells (kloukn) tied around their waists, faces blackened with soot, and dirty hands, they move boisterously through the village, trying to surprise passers-by with sudden pranks.

A heritage to protect

This carnival is part of a precious ethnographic heritage: the Archaic Dolomite Masked Traditions, of which Timau's Vosching is a part, are nominated for intangible UNESCO heritage status. Rites like this preserve agricultural and pastoral memories and symbologies related to the cycle of the seasons, fertility, and the transition from winter to spring.

Experiencing the rite

Witnessing the Uroltar Vosching means coming into contact with a secret and profound Italy, where language, masks, and gestures tell centuries of mountain history. Amidst the sound of bells, the silent dances of the Jutalan, and the atmosphere of the upper Val But, the carnival of Timau is an authentic experience, far from clichés, to be lived immersed in the Tischlbongara community.