Every year on the weekend after Corpus Christi, the mountains of Tyrol and South Tyrol light up with the breathtaking Sacred Heart fires (Herz-Jesu-Feuer). This impressive custom dates back to a solemn pledge made in 1796, when the region was threatened by the advancing troops of Napoleon. Faced with this crisis, a council of war was formed, and on the initiative of the Abbot of Stams, the people sought divine intervention. The Tyroleans made a solemn vow to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus every year with a high mass and sermon if God would assist them in defending their homeland. Following the victorious Battle of Bergisel in 1809, the famous freedom fighter Andreas Hofer renewed this oath and elevated the day to an official holiday. Despite the subsequent political division of the region, this tradition is still kept alive today in both Austrian Tyrol and Italian South Tyrol, accompanied by solemn processions and traditional gun salutes.

However, the roots of this practice reach back much further into medieval and pre-Christian times, when people celebrated the summer solstice in mid-June. At this time of year, the sun reaches its highest point, and fire, as its earthly symbol, was believed to bring healing, fertility, and blessings to humans, animals, and nature. With the spread of Christianity, these ancient solstice fires were initially repurposed to honor Christian saints. Through the historical events of 1796, this ancient, nature-bound custom of mountain fires finally merged with the Sacred Heart pledge, transforming into the powerful and widely visible symbol of regional identity and heritage that we know today.

Look up and admire the countless fires on the mountains, this year on 14.06.2026.