Hi Hans, if you would be so kind as to tell the readers who you are.

Hello, my name is Hans Zeiringer, I’m 64 years old and I live in Passering.

When did you go to the four-mountain-walk for the first time?

The first time I joined in was in 1970, when I was 30 years old.

And why did you decide to take part in the four-mountain-walk, was there a special reason?

The main reason was curiosity but also the challenge. For the first march my friends and I trained, like people train for a marathon.

Could you tell me something about the background of the four-mountain-walk.

Essentially, the four-mountain walk has been and it still is a rogation procession.
At the beginning only farmers from the Krappfeld took part in the event, to pray for a good harvest, because the soil at the Krappfeld was not very fertile. Some experts are of the opinion that this walk goes back to the Celts, because celtic places of worship were found on each of the four mountains. 

Could you please tell us a bit about the route and the order of events.

Well, the walk starts at 11 o’clock with the so-called “Kreuzweg”, the “way of the cross” on the Magdalensberg. The official beginning is the mass that takes place at midnight. After that we head for Pörtschach am Berg were the morning-mass takes place at half past four. Then we climb the Ulrichsberg were we hold a devotion and after that we go to Karnberg. There the bishop says mass in an open field. After this we head for Zweikirchen where there is another mass at 8 o’clock. Then you walk a long distance across the Glan valley via Kulm until Liemberg. At 10:45 there is another mass, which is the last one, because they can only take place from early morning until midday.The next mountain is the Veitsberg. Between the Veitsberg and the Lorenziberg, which is the last mountain, there are two devotions. You ought to be at your final destination before 5 o’clock pm, otherwise people say  the devil will get you.

What or who are the most important factors on the four-mountain-walk?

I think the most important thing is the footwear. Your shoes should be comfortable. The weather and the so-called “Kreuzträger” or cross-bearers, people who carry the crosses throughout the whole walk, play a great role, because they decide how fast the others will go. 

Would you say that the four-mountain-walk has changed a lot?

The greatest difference is the number of participants. In 1970 there were only 150 people and today there are about 3-4 thousand. Some time ago it was nearly a duty to take part in every mass. Nowadays most people take part in the four-mountain-walk to keep fit. I am a person who takes part in every mass and devotion.

Which customs can you tell us about?

At first there is the position of the cross. Those people who carry the crosses have to point them to the rear, because the people are expected to pray the rosary continuously.  
Other traditions are the “cross-embrace” and the so-called “Berglerlaub” (pilgrims'’ leaves).
For the cross-embrace the bearers of the crosses assemble in front of a church and the sexton or the priest welcomes them while the crosses “embrace” each other.
Every mountain has typical platns. You can put them onto your hat.
In Zweikirchen you can ring the church bell. While you are doing that you can have a wish.
In Zweikirchen you also get grains for a bit of money. You mix them with your own grains to make them more fertile.
Another custom is to give the “begging children” sweets or some money.

You are a cross-bearer yourself. How long have you been doing this?

I ordered our “Passering Cross” in 1981. From 1982 onwards I carried it every single year. Only once I had a ligament injury and couldn’t take part and last year I passed the cross on to my nephew Karl as I am no longer able to carry the cross with my pacemaker.

Do you train for the four-mountain-walk?

Every year I go to Maria Hilf on Easter Monday to make my shoes smooth, so I get used to walking. Otherwise I do not train a lot.

What is so special about this tradition?

I think it is so special because there is no organization behind it. Once they wanted to award me with a medal, but I refused. It would have seemed organized and I tried to avoid this. 

How long would you like to continue in the four-mountain-walk?

I never thought about how often I would participate. I would like to go as often as I can. It will depend on my health.

Thank you for this interview!

You are welcome. It was a pleasure to pass on my knowledge and experience.