Ruqayyah Snyder
Christmas in Austria is a magical experience, full of customs and traditions that bring the country together in celebration. From the twinkling lights of the Christmas markets to the snowy slopes of the Austrian Alps, Austria is a winter wonderland during the festive season. The country is known for its unique and special Christmas atmosphere, with each town and city adorned with decorations and festive cheer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Christmas in Austria is celebrated on December 24th, Christmas Eve, and December 25th. |
| Gift-giver | Austrian children believe in the Christkind (Christ Child) who delivers presents. |
| Decorations | Christmas trees adorned with baubles, decorations, sweets, and candles. |
| Food | Traditional Austrian Christmas foods include gingerbread, sugar-roasted almonds, sauerkraut-flavored kiachln, and carp. |
| Drink | Glühwein (mulled wine) is a popular drink at Christmas markets. |
| Markets | Christmas markets are a quintessential part of the Austrian holiday season, offering crafts, decorations, and food and drink specialties. |
| Advent | Advent is a cherished time in Austria, with traditions like Advent wreaths, Advent calendars, and baking biscuits. |
| Krampus | Krampus is a beast-like figure in Austrian Christmas traditions who enforces discipline among misbehaving children. |
| St. Nicholas | St. Nicholas, also known as the Austrian equivalent of Santa Claus, visits households on December 6th to reward well-behaved children. |
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What You'll Learn
Christmas markets
Austrian Christmas markets are filled with stalls offering a variety of local crafts, decorations, and food and drink specialties. Visitors can indulge in comforting mugs of spiked punch and traditional Austrian dishes, both savoury and sweet. The markets are also known for their mulled wine, or Glühwein, a hot spiced red wine that is a popular drink after skiing or while browsing the markets. For those who prefer something non-alcoholic, there are roasted almonds and traditional Austrian Christmas cookies, such as Vanillekipferl, Spitzbuben, and gingerbread.
The Christmas markets in Vienna are particularly special, with their magical setting in the heart of the city. The lights of the market stalls twinkle against the backdrop of historic buildings, creating an unforgettable Christmas experience. The markets in front of Schönbrunn Palace are also not to be missed, with hundreds of lights illuminating the square in front of the palace, turning it into a fairy-tale setting.
In addition to the larger markets in the city centres, smaller markets can be found in quaint villages surrounded by snow-capped mountains and trees peeking out from white slopes. One such market is in Hallstatt, a charming village that takes on a fairy-tale ambiance during the festive season. Here, visitors can enjoy a life-size wooden nativity scene, traditional music, and the sights and sounds of the Christmas market.
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Advent traditions
Advent is a cherished time in Austria, with many traditions and rituals being observed throughout the season. One of the most well-known Advent traditions in Austria is the Advent wreath. On the first Sunday of Advent, nearly every Austrian home displays an Advent wreath adorned with four candles. Each Sunday, a new candle is lit until the fourth and last Sunday of Advent, indicating how much time is left until Christmas Eve. The wreaths are often accompanied by Advent calendars, with children opening a new window every day from December 1st to 24th.
Another beloved Advent tradition in Austria is the Krampus parade or run. Krampus is a beast-like figure, often described as the dark counterpart to St. Nicholas, who enforces discipline among misbehaving children. Krampus parades or runs are traditional processions where performers in goat hides and grotesque masks wreak havoc in the streets until St. Nicholas calls them back. These events are a unique part of Austrian Christmas celebrations and are often held at the beginning of Advent.
Baking biscuits and other traditional treats, such as gingerbread and Linzer Eyes, is also a popular Advent tradition in Austria. The delicious smells of baking and the taste of freshly baked goods are a key part of the festive season. Austrians also enjoy drinking Glühwein, a hot spiced red wine, during Advent, especially after skiing or at the Christmas markets.
Advent is also a time for decorating homes and streets with Christmas trees and lights. The provincial capitals, such as Graz and Vienna, are adorned with decorations, creating a magical and festive atmosphere. The Christmas markets, with their twinkling lights and stalls offering crafts, decorations, and food, add to the festive cheer. The markets are a great place to indulge in traditional Austrian Christmas cookies, such as Vanillekipferl, Spitzbuben, and gingerbread, as well as hot Glühwein to warm cold hands.
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Seasonal food and drink
Austria is known for its hearty traditional cuisine, which is especially delightful during the Christmas season. The country's Christmas markets, particularly those in Vienna, are filled with delicious treats and drinks.
Seasonal Food
Austria's Christmas markets offer a wide variety of traditional foods and delicacies. One such delicacy is the kletzenbrot, a traditional pastry filled with dried fruit, commonly including dried pears, figs, dates, and raisins. Another sweet treat is the linzer torte, a jammy dessert made with a dollop of sweet raspberry preserve sandwiched between two almond biscuits.
For those seeking a more savoury option, the knödel (bread dumplings) and roasted chestnuts (maroni) are popular choices. If you're looking for something more substantial, Wiener Schnitzel, a classic Austrian dish of breaded and fried veal or pork cutlets, is a common Christmas dish. Roast goose, typically seasoned with spices and herbs and accompanied by red cabbage and dumplings, is another rich and flavourful option.
On Christmas Eve, Austrians often enjoy a feast centred around fried or baked carp, a tradition dating back to when Christmas was a day of fasting for Catholics, making meat off the menu. Other popular Christmas Eve dishes include rouladen (beef or pork rolls filled with bacon, onions, and pickles, served with dumplings) and baked ham, often glazed with a sweet and savoury mixture.
Of course, no Austrian Christmas is complete without an abundance of cookies and biscuits, such as Lebkuchen (spiced) gingerbread and Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescents).
Seasonal Drinks
When it comes to drinks, Glühwein (mulled wine) is a must-try during the Austrian Christmas season. This traditional drink is made with wine, cinnamon, and sugar, creating a festive and warming beverage. The Christmas markets offer various Glühwein variations, including Schilcher-Glühwein and versions made with rosé wine. For those who prefer non-alcoholic options, there are also virgin varieties of Glühwein, as well as kinderpunsch (non-alcoholic punch).
In addition to Glühwein, the Christmas markets feature a range of punches, including berry punch, orange punch, and Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas punch). These hot drinks are usually served in festive mugs, sometimes shaped like boots or hearts, adding to the holiday cheer.
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Christmas Eve celebrations
Christmas Eve, or 'Heilige Abend', is a magical time in Austria. The day starts with families gathering to decorate the Christmas tree, with candles, sparklers, sweets, and stars made from straw. In the evening, they gather again around the illuminated tree to sing carols and enjoy Christmas music. Presents are exchanged, brought by the Christkind (Christ Child), who is pictured as a child with blonde locks, wings, and a halo.
The Christmas tree is often the focal point of Christmas Eve celebrations, and the lighting of the tree marks the start of Christmas at around 4 pm. People come together to sing carols around the tree, and children listen out for a bell, which signals that they can enter the room and discover their gifts.
Christmas Eve is also a day for families to attend a Christmas mass, and to open a window to let the Christkind bring presents. It is considered a 'fasting' day by many Catholics, so the main meal often consists of 'Gebackener Karpfen' (fried carp). However, roast goose and turkey are becoming more popular. Dessert is often chocolate and apricot cake, and Austrian Christmas cookies.
Christmas markets are a quintessential part of the festive season in Austria, and many remain open until Christmas Eve. They offer a festive atmosphere with delicious food, drinks, and crafts.
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St. Nicholas and Krampus
Krampus, on the other hand, is St. Nicholas's devilish companion and counterpart. He is a half-man, half-goat monster that punishes misbehaving children at Christmastime. Krampus scares, beats, and in some legends, even eats naughty children or takes them to hell. His name derives from the German word "krampen", meaning "claw". This legendary beast is said to be the son of Hel, the Norse god of the underworld.
The tradition of St. Nicholas and Krampus is deeply rooted in Central European folklore, particularly in the regions of the Eastern Alps. In Austria, the Krampuslauf in Salzburg is a popular event where 1500-2000 people dress up as Krampus and run through the town on the last Saturday in November, a week before St. Nicholas Day. While the Krampuslauf can be a frightening experience for children, it has also become a festive and amusing part of Austrian Christmas traditions, with many Krampus runs taking place in various parts of the country.
The origins of Krampus are unclear, but it is believed that he originated in pre-Christian times and became associated with Christmas and St. Nicholas with the spread of Christianity. In the 17th century, Krampus was officially paired with St. Nicholas as his helper, as it was not deemed saintly for Nicholas to deliver punishments. Despite efforts by the Catholic Church to ban him, Krampus has become an integral part of Austrian Christmas traditions, with vintage Krampus greeting cards ("Krampuskarten") and festivals dedicated to the character.
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Frequently asked questions
Christmas in Austria is a magical experience that brings the whole country together in celebration. It is a time full of customs and traditions.
Austrians have Advent wreaths in their homes, lighting a new candle each Sunday of Advent. They also have Advent calendars, opening a new window each day of December. Christmas markets are also a quintessential part of the holiday season in Austria, with stalls offering crafts, decorations, and food and drink.
Austrians indulge in traditional Christmas foods like sauerkraut-flavoured kiachln, and carp, which is popular in Eastern Austria. They also drink mulled wine, or Glühwein, and eat biscuits and gingerbread.
Austrian Christmas markets are filled with stalls offering crafts, decorations, and food and drink. The biggest market is in front of Vienna's city hall, surrounded by an ice skating rink.
