Every year for St. Nicholas, the Klosn tradition erupts in this small town in the South Tyrol mountains of Italy. Characters include “Esel” (the donkeys) carrying huge clanging bells and eye-popping colorful costumes, “Klaubaufs” wearing rags and huge devil masks with chains grabbing anyone who is watching, and the procession of St. Nicholas and his acolytes. Each character makes specific gestures which are traditionally handed down: there are no written records of this practice. The clanging and chaos creates a true trance and time stops for one day, to ensure the correct beginning of the winter Carnaval season.