Since time began, people have settled in the Passeiertal Valley, and over the centuries, it has been a strategic border location. Bridle paths once led here over the Timmelsjoch pass into Ötztal Valley, and over Jaufenpass pass to Sterzing/ Vipiteno and on to Innsbruck. More recently, the uprisings of 1809 represented a milestone in the history of the Passeiertal Valley. These were led by Andreas Hofer, who was born in Sandwirt in St.Leonhard/ S.Leonardo and became a freedom fighter and symbol of the resistance movement against Napoleon. The turbulent history of Passeiertal Valley can be seen not only in the
museums, castles and churches in the area, but is also reflected in Psairer traditions. These include not only church feast days, public festivals and marching bands, but also customs such as Goaslschnelln and Rangglen, or the traditional Sacred Heart bonfires on the third Sunday after Whitsun.