traditions - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 2004 - 55 Euro Cent

The "barrel slide" is a custom that is practiced in Klosterneuburg on a barrel from the year 1704. The so-called "Thousand Bucket" with 56,000 liters of content, almost 5 m in length and 3.84 m in height, stands in a vault of the bindery ("Binderstadl"). The first reliable news about the barrel slide dates back to 1814. Originally, the barrel was probably used to hold the toe teaspoon of the tenant farmers of Klosterneuburg Abbey. Since the French completely emptied it in 1809, it was no longer filled. Every year at Leopoldi's celebrations (from 13 to 16 November), visitors climb on one side of the barrel and slide down the staves on the other. The Babenberger Leopold was Margrave of Austria and died on November 15, 1136. In 1485 he was canonised by Pope Innocent VIII and 1663 named patron saint of Austria. The custom has its roots in fruitful gliding over the "Mother Earth" in the hope of blessing children. Similar customs also exist in the Wachau and in Switzerland. According to legend, the custom was of course different: the monastery owner was duped by his wife. In a happy round he had denied that he would even slip over the big barrel if his young wife demanded of him. When he denied this because he felt lordly in the house, his wife heard that. She moved him to slip at night without a spectator. Secretly she had hidden all her friends in the basement. As they watched the landlord slipping, they were so pleased that everyone tried.