Austria's Christmas Eve: A Country's Unique Holiday Tradition

Christmas in Austria is a time full of customs and traditions, with celebrations lasting from the start of Advent to the arrival of the Christkind (or baby Jesus) on December 24th. The Christkind, or Christ Child, is believed to bring gifts to children all over the world, and in Austria, families gather on Christmas Eve to exchange presents and sing carols. The day is also marked by a big feast, with traditional dishes varying from region to region.

Christmas Eve traditions

Christmas Eve, or Heiliger Abend (Holy Evening), is the main day of Christmas celebrations in Austria. Austrians observe a variety of traditions to mark the occasion.

Advent Wreaths

On the first Sunday of Advent, many Austrian homes display an Advent wreath, or Adventskranz, with four candles. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas, another candle is lit, until all four are shining on Christmas Eve. The wreath serves as a calendar, indicating how much time is left until Christmas Eve.

Christmas Markets

In the lead-up to Christmas, Austrians visit Christmas markets, or Christkindlmärkte, to get into the festive spirit. These markets offer mulled wine, or Glühwein, sweet treats like gingerbread and sugar-roasted almonds, and handcrafted goods. Some notable markets include those in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Graz.

Baking Cookies

Baking Christmas cookies is a beloved tradition in Austria. Popular varieties include Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent cookies), Spitzbuben (rascals), Linzer Eyes, and gingerbread.

Christmas Tree and Presents

On Christmas Eve, families gather around a decorated Christmas tree, adorned with candles and sweets. They sing "Silent Night, Holy Night" and exchange gifts.

Midnight Mass

After the festivities, many Austrians attend a traditional Christmas Mass in church.

Christmas markets

Austria is known for its Christmas markets, which spring up in cities and rural areas from mid-November until the end of the year. The markets are full of light and fragrance, with the scent of mulled wine and roasted almonds filling the decorated streets.

In Vienna, the Rathausplatz is transformed into a festival of Christmas fantasy, with countless stalls offering handicrafts and culinary delights, while a tree full of hearts stands in front of the illuminated town hall. The city also has Christmas markets at the Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, Stephansplatz, and Spittelberg, among others.

Salzburg's Christmas markets include the historic market on Cathedral Square, which dates back to 1491, and the traditional huts in the heart of the baroque old town on Dom and Residenzplatz.

Innsbruck's old town hosts another romantic Christmas market, accompanied by the sounds of tower brass players from the Golden Roof and the scent of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.

Graz has several Christmas markets, including the oldest one around the Franciscan church, and another in front of the City Hall with a giant Christmas tree.

Linz's Christmas market, located in the heart of Austria's Upper Austria region, combines traditional Austrian customs with the city's artistic and cultural heritage. Local delicacies include the famous Linzertorte, a delicious almond pastry with a lattice crust.

Other Christmas markets in Austria include:

• St. Wolfgang: A charming Advent market with regional traditions and authentic handicrafts.
• Johannesbach Gorge near Würflach: Features Austria's tallest decorated Christmas tree, standing over 20 metres high, along with glassblowers, blacksmiths, regional delicacies, and punch.
• Salzburg Mountain Advent in the Großarl Valley: Features handcrafted nativity scenes ranging from tiny to life-sized, displayed by torchlight and candlelight.
• Hellbrunn Palace in Salzburg: Home to the Christmas Angel, an eight-metre-tall figure that towers over the palace pond. The Hellbrunn Advent Magic features a fairy-tale forest of 700 fir trees adorned with 10,000 red baubles and fairy lights.

Christmas food and drink

Austria's Christmas food and drink are typically hearty and warming, and rich in meat and cheese. The country's snowy Alps and Christmas markets make it a perfect winter holiday destination, and its cuisine is well-equipped to warm you up during the cold season.

Main Dishes

A traditional Christmas dinner in Austria often includes meat, with roast goose being a popular choice. The goose is typically filled with apples, baked chestnuts, and cloves, and seasoned with salt, pepper, marjoram, and shallots. It is usually served with potatoes, red cabbage, or dumplings. Another common alternative is roasted pork belly, or Schweinsbraten, and some families opt for baked carp.

For those who prefer something other than meat, there's Raclette, a small tabletop grill placed in the middle of the dinner table. It usually involves grilling vegetables, bread, and various toppings like mushrooms, potatoes, and ham, along with a slice of Raclette cheese to melt over the ingredients. A similar option is fondue, where people use long forks to cook and melt various ingredients in a communal pot of soup, oil, or cheese.

Desserts and Sweets

When it comes to Christmas sweets, Austrians have a variety of options. Apple strudel with vanilla sauce is a famous Austrian dessert, featuring spiced apples, cinnamon, and raisins in a flaky crust, topped with powdered sugar and vanilla sauce. Another traditional dessert is Schaumrollen, crumbly pastries filled with sweet, foamy cream.

Baked apples, or Backapfel, are also a simple yet delicious option. Apples are cut open and filled with a mixture of chocolate, hazelnuts, cinnamon, and cardamom, then baked in the oven. Austrians often enjoy this dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Christmas cookies are a must-have during the festive season. Families spend weeks leading up to Christmas baking different types of cookies, such as vanilla crescents, rum balls, gingerbread, and coconut macaroons.

Drinks

Glühwein, or mulled wine, is a traditional Austrian drink during the Christmas season. It is made by adding oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and sugar to red wine and simmering the mixture. Weihnachtspunsch, or Christmas punch, is another popular choice, typically consisting of tea, sugar, red wine, cinnamon, and a strong liquor, sometimes with added fruits.

Advent calendars

In Austria, the Advent calendar is just one of many traditions that make the Christmas season so special. The country is known for its festive Christmas markets, where people gather to drink mulled wine, eat sweet treats, and shop for handcrafted goods. The smell of freshly baked Vanillekipferl cookies fills the air, and the glow of candles in windows adds a cosy touch to the darkening days.

Austrian families also often create their own Advent wreaths, lighting one candle on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. This tradition is said to date back to the first Advent wreath, which had 24 candles, one for each day of December leading up to Christmas Eve. Today, the four candles are usually the same colour, though traditionally, three were lilac and one was pink, marking the third Advent Sunday.

In addition to the Advent calendar and Advent wreath, Austrians have many other unique Christmas traditions. They celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, when children receive sweets from St. Nicholas and his beast-like helper, Krampus. They also believe that the Christkind, or Christ Child, delivers presents on Christmas Eve, rather than Santa Claus.

Overall, the Advent calendar is a fun and exciting way to count down the days until Christmas, and it is a tradition that is enjoyed by people of all ages in Austria and beyond.

Christmas Day

In the lead-up to Christmas Day, Austrians celebrate Advent, which is a cosy and reflective time. This period includes Christmas markets, festive treats, and wreaths. The four Sundays before Christmas are known as Advent Sundays, and each week, another candle is lit on the Advent wreath until the fourth and final Sunday. The lighting of the candles signifies the countdown to Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve, families gather to exchange gifts and share a meal. The traditional Christmas dinner varies across Austria, but it is often a festive occasion with extended families coming together. Many families also attend a traditional Christmas Mass in church after exchanging gifts.

The Christmas period in Austria is filled with unique traditions, such as the Krampus, a beast-like creature that accompanies Saint Nicholas on December 6th. Saint Nicholas rewards well-behaved children with treats, while the Krampus punishes the misbehaved. Another Austrian tradition is the Advent calendar, which is used to count down the days until Christmas Eve, with a small gift or treat for each day.

Overall, Christmas Day in Austria is a joyous occasion filled with family, food, and festivities, continuing the celebrations that begin on Christmas Eve.

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