Damon Mcknight
Christmas in Austria is a magical experience that brings the whole country together in celebration. Austrians celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December, with families gathering to reflect and exchange gifts. The day often begins with decorating the Christmas tree, followed by preparations for a special dinner, which typically features dishes like baked carp and Christmas cookies.
The Advent season is also an important part of the Christmas celebration in Austria, with many families lighting an Advent wreath and opening Advent calendars. Christmas markets, known as Christkindlmarkt, are popular attractions, offering crafts, decorations, and festive foods like roasted chestnuts, gingerbread, and mulled wine.
One unique aspect of Austrian Christmas is the dual tradition of St. Nicholas and Krampus, representing the balance between reward and discipline. While St. Nicholas rewards well-behaved children, Krampus, a horned monster, playfully scares and punishes those who have been bad.
Other Austrian Christmas traditions include nativity scenes, known as Krippen, and the Anklöpfler custom, where locals re-enact Mary and Joseph's journey by going door-to-door and singing carols. The Three Magi also play a significant role, with children dressing up as the wise men and collecting money for charity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Christmas Eve (24 December) and Christmas Day |
| Main celebration | Christmas Eve |
| Typical food | Sweets and treats, gingerbread, stollen, Krapfen, roasted chestnuts, apple strudel, marzipan sweets, chocolate and apricot cake, Christmas cookies, raclette, sausage soup, fried carp, veal sausages with sauerkraut, roast goose, turkey |
| Drink | Hot spiced wine, hot chocolate, Glühwein (sweet, warm mulled wine) |
| Activities | Skiing, visiting Christmas markets, making Advent wreaths, opening Advent calendars, singing carols, lighting candles, exchanging gifts |
| Figures | St. Nicholas, Krampus, Perchta, Christ Child (Christkind) |
| Customs | The Anklöpfler custom, children dress up as the Three Magi and go door-to-door collecting money for charity, the Feast of Saint Barbara, nativity scenes, St. Nicholas Day celebrations |
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What You'll Learn
Christmas Eve celebrations
Christmas Eve, or 'Heilige Abend', is the main day of Christmas celebrations in Austria. It falls on December 24th, and families gather to spend the evening together. Each family has its own unique rituals, but the traditional Christmas carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night", is almost always present. The song was first performed in Austria in 1818 and has become synonymous with Christmas in the country.
In the lead-up to Christmas Eve, Austrians will have been enjoying the Christmas markets, or 'Christkindlmarkt', that spring up in towns and cities across the country. Here, they can buy decorations, food, and drink, including gingerbread, Glühwein (sweet, warm mulled wine), and spiked punch. The biggest market is in front of Vienna's city hall, where there is also an ice rink.
On Christmas Eve itself, families gather around a decorated Christmas tree, adorned with candles and surrounded by gifts. The tree is lit for the first time at around 4 pm, and people come together to sing carols. The main Christmas meal is also eaten on Christmas Eve. It is often 'Gebackener Karpfen' (fried carp), as this was considered a 'fasting' day by many Catholics, so no meat could be eaten. However, 'Weihnachtsgans' (roast goose) and roast turkey are becoming more popular. Dessert can be chocolate and apricot cake, 'Sachertorte', and Austrian Christmas cookies, 'Weihnachtsbaeckerei', like 'Lebkuchen' (honey gingerbread).
In the Salzburg region, there are processions of 'Schönperchten' (beautiful Perchten) and 'Schiachperchten' (ugly Perchten), where people wear beautiful or ugly/scary masks. In the lead-up to Christmas, St Nicholas is often accompanied by the Krampus, a big horned monster clothed in rags and carrying chains, who is meant to punish children who have been bad. Krampus runs through the streets of alpine villages, banging cowbells and rattling chains, trying to scare children into behaving.
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Christmas markets
The Christkindlmarkt in Salzburg is an enchanting winter wonderland nestled in the heart of the city's historic centre. With the stunning Hohensalzburg Fortress as its backdrop, the market is filled with the sounds of Christmas carols, the aroma of roasted chestnuts, and beautifully decorated stalls selling traditional handicrafts and delicacies. The city of Linz also boasts a festive wonderland with its Christkindlmarkt in the baroque main square. The market's most famous treat is the world-renowned Linzer Torte, a delicious pastry that has been savoured by locals and visitors for generations.
The Christmas markets in Vienna, Innsbruck, and Hallstatt are also worth mentioning. Vienna's Rathausplatz Market, set against the magnificent backdrop of the City Hall, is widely considered the most famous in Austria. The Belvedere Palace in Vienna offers a whole Christmas village in a baroque setting, full of creative gift ideas and culinary delights. Innsbruck's market, surrounded by towering alpine peaks, provides a unique and picturesque setting. The charming market town of Hallstatt, located in the Salzkammergut Region of the Austrian Alps, offers a breathtaking backdrop of a serene lake and alpine peaks.
In addition to the well-known markets, Austria boasts charming Advent markets in rural areas that showcase regional traditions and authentic handicrafts. One such market is in St. Wolfgang, where visitors can admire the floating red Advent candle on Lake Wolfgang. The Salzburg Mountain Advent in the Großarl Valley offers a rustic charm with handcrafted nativity scenes displayed by torchlight and candlelight. These markets, surrounded by snow-covered landscapes, create a magical experience that brings the whole country together in celebration.
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St. Nicholas and Krampus
On the other hand, Krampus is a beast-like creature with frightening fur, bulging eyes, and a long red tongue. He is known for running through the streets of alpine villages, creating a chaotic and playful atmosphere. Krampus chases and teases, aiming to scare children into being good. His costume typically includes fur, large horns, a demonic mask, and a bundle of sticks. The contrast between St. Nicholas and Krampus serves as a reminder to children about the importance of good behaviour and kindness during the festive season.
The tradition of St. Nicholas and Krampus has deep roots in Austrian folklore, especially in the Alpine region. In the 17th century, Krampus was paired with St. Nicholas as his helper. Since St. Nicholas is a saint, it wasn't considered appropriate for him to deliver punishments. Thus, Krampus took on the role of punishing the wicked, becoming known as St. Nicholas' evil companion. Krampus is believed to have originated from pre-Christian or pagan celebrations of the winter solstice and has been a part of Austrian traditions for hundreds of years.
The Krampus procession, known as the Krampuslauf or "Krampus run," is a popular spectacle in Austria. It involves hundreds of people dressed as Krampus parading through the streets, ringing cowbells, and brandishing sticks or chains. The intensity of the performance can be alarming, especially for those witnessing it for the first time, but it is done in good fun, and no real harm is caused. The Krampuslauf tradition provides an outlet for adults to let loose while maintaining the playful element of scaring children into good behaviour.
The dual tradition of St. Nicholas and Krampus is a unique aspect of Austrian Christmas celebrations, blending Christian traditions with folkloric elements. While St. Nicholas embodies the spirit of giving and compassion, Krampus serves as a light-hearted reminder of the consequences of misbehaviour, adding a touch of mischief to the festive season in Austria.
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Christmas dinner
Christmas in Austria is a family-oriented celebration, with multiple generations gathering around a decorated Christmas tree, adorned with candles and surrounded by gifts. The traditional Christmas carol "Silent Night, Holy Night" is almost always present.
In addition to the main course, Austrians enjoy an array of sweets and treats during the Christmas season. Viennoiseries, or Viennese-style treats, grace the tables during this festive time. These include flaky pastries and intricately decorated cookies, such as Lebkuchen, which are biscuits flavoured with spices like cloves, cinnamon, or gingerbread. Vanilla crescents, or Vanillekipferl, are another classic Christmas biscuit found in Austrian markets and bakeries.
To drink, Austrians indulge in copious amounts of hot glühwein, a festive blend of wine, cinnamon, and sugar. Christmas markets also offer a variety of other hot drinks, such as glühmost (hot mulled cider), kinderpunsch (non-alcoholic punch), and Weihnachtspunsch (Christmas punch). These drinks are often served in festive mugs, sometimes designed in the shape of a boot or heart.
For those looking for a restaurant dining experience on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day in Austria, there are many options. Restaurants such as Anna Sacher, Brasserie at The Guesthouse Vienna, and Das Bootshaus offer special Christmas menus featuring traditional Austrian dishes alongside international favourites. These restaurants provide a festive and cosy atmosphere, perfect for a Christmas celebration.
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Christmas carols
Christmas in Austria is a magical experience, with unique traditions, twinkling lights, festive markets, and carols. The carol "Silent Night, Holy Night" is a traditional Christmas carol that is almost always present during Christmas celebrations in Austria. "Silent Night" is the most famous Christmas carol in Austria, written in the small Austrian village of Oberndorf in 1818 by Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber. The song's powerful message of heavenly peace has crossed all borders and language barriers, capturing the hearts of Christmas celebrators worldwide.
In the lead-up to Christmas, Advent wreaths are lit, and carols are sung. The Advent wreath, featuring four candles, acts as a calendar, with one candle lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve. The lighting of the wreath and the singing of carols are part of the Advent traditions in Austria, marking the countdown to Christmas.
The Anklöpfler custom is a Tirolean tradition where locals re-enact Mary and Joseph's journey by going door-to-door singing carols. Groups of singers, known as Anklöpfler, spread festive joy and goodwill through their music and remind people of the true meaning of Christmas: love, compassion, and the importance of providing shelter.
Another unique aspect of Austrian Christmas celebrations is the dual tradition of St. Nicholas and Krampus, which highlights the balance between reward and discipline. St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, is widely honoured in Austria, with his feast day on December 6. He is often accompanied by Krampus, a horned devil who runs through the streets, banging cowbells and rattling chains to tease and scare children. Despite its frightening appearance, the Krampus tradition is done in good fun and serves as a lighthearted reminder for children to behave well during the holiday season.
Christmas in Austria is a magical and enchanting experience, with carols and unique traditions that bring communities together and capture the spirit of the holiday season.
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Frequently asked questions
The main event in Austria is Christmas Eve, or December 24, when families gather to reflect and spend time together.
Austrians' typical Christmas dinner varies from state to state. In the Salzburg region, it is typical to eat sausage soup, carp, or veal sausages with sauerkraut. Other dishes include roast goose and turkey.
Austrians are proud of their wide variety of Christmas cookies.
St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, is widely honoured throughout Austria. He is often accompanied by Krampus, a big horned monster clothed in rags and carrying chains, who punishes badly-behaved children.
The Alpine goddess Perchta, who punishes bad children and rewards good ones, is also important. In the Salzburg region, there are processions of people wearing either beautiful or ugly masks to represent Perchta.
