A centuries-old winter folk custom has gone viral after TikTok user @lisazimmermann51 shared a clip of the Perchtenlauf, which has now reached over 5 million views.

The Perchtenlauf features masked figures known as Perchten, dressed in terrifying furred costumes with horns and bells. The parades, often held around St. Nicholas’ Day in December, are meant to drive out winter spirits and darkness. Traditionally, groups make loud noises and sometimes symbolically punish bad children with birch switches. Though often associated with Krampus, the Perchten are distinct in origin and meaning.

Zimmermann told Newsflare: “We are a club from, we make everything you see here on the video ourselves! The clothes are made from dried cornfield leaves, which are all individually sorted and sewn on. The custom is to spread blessings in the houses by drumming and to ward off disaster. This custom is only drawn in three days in Tyrol.”

We are a club from Tyrol, we make everything you see here on the video ourselves!
The clothes consist of dried cornfield leaves which are all individually sorted and sewn on!
The custom is to spread the blessing in the houses by drumming and to keep disaster.
This custom is only drawn in 3 days in Tyrol,