The Garden Gate on the Village Square
Did you know that Whitsun theft is a tradition in many rural regions in Austria? On the night before Whitsun, young people go through the village and “steal” loose or unsecured objects from yards and gardens - such as garden gates, flower pots, benches or wheelbarrows. The objects are then placed in highly visible locations, for example on the village square or at a crossroads.
But don't worry: Pentecost stealing is not theft in the criminal sense, but a harmless joke with a tongue-in-cheek educational effect. The custom is intended to playfully point out carelessness - for example, that a gate was left unlocked or a bench unsecured.
On Whit Sunday or Whit Monday, the participants usually return the objects intact. The custom promotes cohesion in the village, provides a topic of conversation and is an integral part of Whitsun celebrations in many places. Even if Whitsun stealing is no longer practised everywhere today, it is a fine example of a living, humorous tradition in rural areas.