Yappy Yapadu

The special good luck charm!

It's our pleasure to introduce Yappy Yapadu to you. Yappy is your good luck charm, best friend, our mascot and companion in the St. Johann in Tirol region of happines.

How Yappy came to us in the St. Johann in Tirol region of happiness…

Exactly thirteeneleventy years ago, a little yeti named Yappy was born in snowy Himalaya. He was a cute furball with long antennae, a beaming smile and known as a "Lucky Critter". Yappy is very special, because he always smiles. But actually, Yappy was quite sad.

Because as he grew older he often asked himself what exactly "happiness" means. Because he lived all by himself in his cave, even though he had many friends. Yappy often played with them and was happy to show anyone how great his antenna shone at night. Or that at daytime his tooth sparkled like the sun, and his blue fur was as soft and cuddly as cotton wool.

Yet Yappy's little heart remained sad, because he believed he was surely the loneliest yeti in the whole wide world. So soon enough his antenna hardly shone anymore and his tooth even lost its sunny sparkle. One day, Yappy was walking through a gorge and found a globe. He suddenly became excited, spun the globe around and discovered a place that is called "region of happiness". Now, if I don't find happiness there, Yappy thought, and decided nothing would stop him from going there. So Yappy set off to faraway Tirol with his red backpack. As soon as he set foot in the region of happiness, he moved into a cozy cave at the foot of Wilder Kaiser. Then he bought himself a shovel and dug up the snow.

"What are you doing?", someone suddenly asked him. Startled, Yappy turned around. A little boy stood before him: "I'm searching for happiness", replied Yappy. "In the snow?" The little boy scratched his head. "You won't find any happiness there." "Why not?", asked Yappy. "Because happiness is something you have to feel", the boy explained. Aha, Yappy thought, put the shovel aside and started poking around in the snow with his antennae. "But not like that!", said the boy. Yappy pulled his antennae out of the snow. "Then how?"

Instead of saying anything, the boy shook his hand. "I'm Rocky and I live in Moor & More adventure world", he said. "I'll be your friend if you want. And if you want even more, I'll show you great places such as Kaiserbach Valley." Yappy's little heart grew all warm and fuzzy. "That would be Yapadu!", he called out. And so it came that Yappy and Rocky set off together to explore the region of happiness. First they went skiing. Yappy was pretty excited to be standing on skis. But Rocky taught him everything you need to know about skiing. Do you know any rules as well? Exactly! Always stay on the secured pistes, don't speed and always look out for others. Yappy kept everything in mind. Soon the little blue yeti shouted with glee, because it was such a blast. In the evening he told Rocky too, before putting the lift pass into the backpack.

The next day Yappy got to meet Törfchen. The fairy was also at home in Moor & More and liked nothing more than showing off her magic. She also often went snowboarding. Yappy admired Törfchen for this. "I wouldn't dare", he admitted. "You're pretty brave". "You, too. Because it's very brave to admit that you don't dare to do something", Törfchen praised him. "But if you like I'll teach you snowboarding." Yappy didn't have to be told twice, and soon snowboarding also became great fun. Even though the little yeti still needs lots of practice. But Yappy learnt from Törfchen that you don't have to be the best at everything. It's much more important to enjoy everything you do. That's what Schneggi thought, too, whom Yappy also got to meet. He liked the smart snail right away.

Soon the four friends were well known in the "region of happiness". Especially Yappy with his red backpack, which became heavier and heavier. Because Yappy really collected everything! Be it leaves he found together with Rocky. A stone that Törfchen cast a spell on with glitter, a cloverleaf from Schneggi from Kaiserbach Valley and lots of photos Yappy took with his friends. He also liked taking photos of the mountains. And no one knows those better than Schneggi. Yappy's new friend may take a little longer to get where he is going, but that's completely okay. Besides, Yappy has never seen as much nature as together with Schneggie. Can you imagine why that is? Right! Because the two move about slowly they have enough time to look at everything along the way.

Since then, Yappy realises even more how beautiful nature is. That's why he also picks up a lot of trash, to protect the plants and animals. But after many weeks, Yappy was sitting in his cave again feeling sad. Because he remembered that he actually came here to find happiness. Unfortunately, that had not worked out for him yet. Yappy told his friends of this, who were slurping hot chocolate together with him. "Open your backpack", asked Rocky. Yappy did and looked at the many things he had collected. "Look, all this means happiness. The lift pass, the leaves, the stone, the cloverleaf and the photos." "You're right", Yappy exclaimed in surprise. "All this time I was looking for happiness, yet it was always with me the whole time!" Since then Yappy does not search for happiness anymore. Because it's right there in every beautiful memory.

Happiness also means having good friends. Or learning something new you didn't think you could do. Happiness also means doing something for others. Like picking up trash, because that makes nature very happy. And because Yappy smiles so much again, others smile back. "Everything that makes me or others happy, is happiness!", Yappy now realises and continues to stuff every "Yapadu-moment" into his red backpack. By the way, when you see Yappy, happiness is not far off. But even if you don't see the little yeti, happiness is with you. Because now we have learnt how to collect it. Since then, by the way, Yappy's antenna shine moonlit and his tooth is brilliantly sunny again.

And because Yappy has also learnt that sharing happiness is great, he has invited all his friends from the Himalayas to the "region of happiness". Because now it's clear as day to him that he had many great times with them, too. And hey, the more friends to play with the better, right? Oh yeah, and it would be "Yapadu" for Yappy if you, too, could pack your moments of happiness into the red backpack or a beautiful box, so that you, too, can always carry your happiness close to your heart.

Author: Bettina Reiter