The most distinctive masks are carved from Swiss stone pine

More than in almost any other region of Tyrol, Fasnacht in Hall-Wattens is at the heart of village life. Unlike other Tyrolean carnivals, which take place only every four or five years, the Hall-Wattens region hosts a grand parade every year – alternating between different villages. So it almost goes without saying that the carving of these ornate masks is also a long-standing tradition in the region. The most popular wood amongst many carvers is Swiss stone pine. An expert explains why the ‘Tree of the Year 2011’ is so well suited to this purpose…

It has long been known that Swiss stone pine wood possesses very special properties: perhaps it is the aromatic oils and balms stored within the wood that help people sleep significantly better in Swiss stone pine beds, thereby sparing the heart 3,500 beats a day. It is more resistant to bacteria and fungi than almost any other wood, and even the dreaded woodworm gives this tree – which thrives particularly well in alpine regions – a wide berth.

However, it is not only joiners and shingle-makers who appreciate the 2011 ‘Tree of the Year’ for these qualities: Selected Swiss stone pine timber, grown for example in the Tux Alps, is used in the Hall-Wattens region as the raw material for one of the most important costume elements worn by the ‘Fasnachtler’: Authentic, hand-carved Swiss stone pine masks are one of the hallmarks of the parades in the villages around Hall in Tyrol.

Christian Pittl explains how the masks are made and why Swiss stone pine – the ‘Queen of the Alps’ – is particularly well suited to mask carving. The Mils-based craftsman has been carving Fasnacht masks for almost 40 years. He started out at the age of just under 15, carving at his kitchen table at home, and, inspired by his father, gradually taught himself the technique. Back then, this knowledge was almost lost, before Fasnacht regained its importance in the recent past: “The soft Swiss stone pine does not splinter and is therefore ideal for carving. What’s more, even years later, the mask still smells of Swiss stone pine – and that also keeps woodworms at bay, thus contributing to its ‘durability’.” But it is not just the nature of the material that sets the wood apart: “Swiss stone pine gives the mask its character. Each mask represents, on the one hand, the type of character – Zottler, Klötzler, Kranewitter and so on – but, on the other hand, also the individual wearer.” Every ‘Maschgerer’ or ‘Muller’ recognises their mask immediately – regardless of whether there are 5 or 10 masks from the same character group lying side by side.

Pittl carves around 10 masks a year with great care: after carving, the masks are painted – or ‘finished’, as the expert puts it – and he takes plenty of time for this too. No wonder a mask costs around 300 euros. Like the carnival-goers’ satchels, it becomes a genuine family heirloom: “The masks are passed down from generation to generation. They are everyday objects. After around 10 or 15 years, the paint slowly wears off. That’s when the positive qualities of Swiss stone pine come to the fore once again: beneath the paint, the smooth, oily wood is revealed, which then lends the mask a special charm for years to come.”

More on Fasnacht in the Hall-Wattens region: http://www.hall-wattens.at/de/fasnachtsbraeuche.html