Assembly
The assembly of the bonfire requires a lot of work – an average of 700 to 800 hours of work. The carefully layered wood pile is filled with brushwood, straw and old Christmas trees. On the bonfire, the workers assemble the bonfire pine on which the flame-witch sits. The witch filled with gunpowder is expected to ward off the winter with a loud bang.
Bonfire guard
During the night of the Sunday, a bonfire guard ensures that the wooden construction is not lit prematurely by the boys from the neighbouring villages. However, this traditional prank is more than just a trivial offence and is even liable to prosecution today.
Burning
At nightfall the bonfire is finally lit under the watchful eyes of the village inhabitants. If the bonfire falls before the witch explodes, it is generally considered to be a bad sign. In such cases, the bonfire guild buries the witch on the following Sunday as part of a ceremony.
Locations in the Montafon
Saturday "Riederhof" Bartholomäberg, Gantschier, Brunnafeld Silbertal, Feuerwehrhaus Silbertal, Hofner Funka St. Gallenkirch
Sunday Ortszentrum Tschagguns, Funkenplatz beim Schwimmbad Vandans, Rainweg Schruns, Gamplaschg Schruns, St. Anton im Montafon, Widum, Innerberg, Glän, Fritztobel Bartholomäberg, Panoramagasthof Kristberg Silbertal, Jetzmunt Bartholomäberg, Bronnahus Kristberg Silbertal, Krista Tschagguns, Latschau Tschagguns, Gamprätz Schruns, Schattenort Gortipohl, Ortszentrum St. Gallenkrich, Ortszentrum Partenen, Gaschurn, Äussere Mauren Tschagguns, Gargellen