Funkaküachle, burning sparks and chasing away winter
With "Funka, Funka ho..." the winter is driven away every year. Burning off the sparks is a tradition that is practised and cultivated throughout Vorarlberg.
Funken Living tradition: Funken.
The burning of sparks is an old fire custom that is still widespread in the Swabian-Alemannic region - including Vorarlberg. The custom dates back to pre-Christian times.
The spark weekend always falls on the first weekend after carnival. The burning of the spark witch is intended to drive away the demons of winter and welcome the rising light. This Alemannic custom is also upheld by the spark guilds in all districts of Feldkirch. The traditional burning of the sparks is accompanied by entertainment and bands. A firework display often forms the crowning finale. During the children's spark building in the afternoon, the potential next generation of sparklers can get to work and try their hand at the typical nailing of wooden planks.
Spark weekend: 8/9 March 2025
Saturday, 8 March 2025
Gisig'r Funka at the Oberauplatz
from 2 pm building children's sparks & refreshments
5 pm burning of children's sparks
19.30 o'clock spark burning with fire show
Spark burning in Tisis
3 p.m. Setting up children's sparks
4 pm Free sausages for all helping children
5 p.m. Burning down of children's sparks
From 18.30 Entertainment with the Guggamusig Chaos Tätscher from Rankweil & the Harmoniemusik Tisis-Tosters
followed by the burning down of the sparks and the finale in the Funkenbar
Funken Altenstadt
Altenstadt fairground (Tafernstraße)
4 pm Children's sparks.
7 pm Torchlight procession from the church square to the Funkenplatz.
Followed by fireworks and spark burning.
Musical accompaniment by the MV Altenstadt.
Sunday, 9 March 2025
Sparks in Nofels
Funkaküachle & drinks in the afternoon
from 4.30 pm lighting of children's sparks
6 pm Torch distribution at the fire station
approx. 6.30 pm Torchlight procession accompanied by the Nofels Music Association to the sparking site
7 pm Lighting of the spark
Spark Sunday in the Hub
from 5 pm catering
Torch distribution for children at the Funkenplatz
6 pm Burning of the children's spark
7 pm Burning of the spark with fireworks
Tostner spark at the Montikel
from 2 p.m. Catering & setting up children's sparks
17.30 o'clock torch distribution
18.30 o'clock burning of the spark
Ardetzenberg sparks
Children's sparks: start of construction 15:00, burning 15:30
Big spark burning: from approx. 19:30 hrs
