The custom of lighting fires around the summer solstice actually dates back to ancient times: Solstice or St. John's fires have been documented in writing as early as the 12th century. In the 18th century, the custom was reinterpreted: In 1796, in the face of the looming threat from Napoleon's invading troops, the Tyrolean estates solemnly promised to entrust the land to the "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus" and to commemorate this annually.
After the surprising victory of the Tyrolean troops over the French, the so-called Sacred Heart Sunday was celebrated on the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost. Andreas Hofer renewed the vow before the Battle of Bergisel against the French and Bavarians as a unifying bond among the Tyroleans: Hofer's troops were victorious, and this made Sacred Heart Sunday a high holiday.
The Sacred Heart Fires are an expression of popular piety and a connection to home, and in South Tyrol, they are shaped as a community project by young and old. Preparations for the fires, such as collecting wood and decorating the wooden structures with brushwood, flowers, and lights, often begin weeks before the event. On the evening of Sacred Heart Sunday, the fires are lit, illuminating the sky over South Tyrol. This tradition is also still alive in North Tyrol. Traditionally, Christian symbols such as crosses, the Heart of Jesus, or the inscription INRI or IHS can be seen on the mountain slopes.
Look up and admire the countless fires on the mountains, this year on 29.06.2025.