Damon Mcknight
Easter in Vienna, Austria, is a colourful affair, with handcrafted products, culinary delights, and traditional games. Decorated eggs are a key part of the Easter tradition in Vienna, with markets across the city selling hand-painted eggs, and offering the chance to buy your own to hang up at home. The Old Vienna Easter Market at Freyung Square, for example, has thousands of hand-painted eggs for sale. The Am Hof Easter Market also offers skilfully decorated eggs, alongside flower arrangements and handicrafts. In the Lungau region, locals decorate eggs using a special method called Grawirlacheier, which involves placing a boiled egg on a linen cloth layered with Grawirlach (chervil), Kasbleamen (crocus), and onion skins, before dipping it into dye.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Vienna, Austria |
| Market Name | Am Hof Easter Market, Traditional Easter Market, Old-Vienna Easter Market |
| Market Location | Freyung Square, Schönbrunn Palace |
| Dates | March 27 – April 21 |
| Timing | 10 am – 7 pm (10 am – 9 pm on Easter Friday, Saturday & Sunday) |
| Tickets | Classic Pass: €38, Classic Pass Plus: €71, Sisi Pass: €46 |
| Decorations | Hand-painted, Grawirlacheier |
| Other Attractions | Flower arrangements, handicrafts, food, music, a straw maze, two boules courses, a carousel, a Ferris wheel, a children’s train |
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What You'll Learn
- Decorated eggs are a common sight at Vienna's Easter markets
- Austrians have been dyeing Easter eggs since the 12th or 13th century
- In the Lungau region, locals decorate eggs using a unique method called Grawirlacheier
- In the Middle Ages, eggs were used as rent payments to landlords
- The Old Vienna Easter Market at Freyung Square sells thousands of hand-painted Easter eggs
Decorated eggs are a common sight at Vienna's Easter markets
In Vienna, the Easter Market in front of Schönbrunn Palace is regarded as one of the most romantic Easter markets. Exhibitors offer culinary delights, Easter decorations, and handicrafts against the baroque backdrop of the Palace. There is also plenty of fun for children, including a straw maze, two boules courses, a carousel, a Ferris wheel, and a children's train.
The Am Hof Easter Market is another popular destination for those seeking skilfully decorated eggs and flower arrangements. This market offers a variety of wares, including handicrafts and hearty food, while also allowing visitors to enjoy the flair of Vienna's city centre.
The Old Vienna Easter Market at Freyung Square is also known for its hand-painted Easter eggs. This outdoor market, held around the Austria Fountain, features thousands of beautifully decorated eggs, attracting locals and tourists alike.
While the British might delight in a large chocolate egg for Easter, Austrian children tend to receive a large chocolate rabbit. These chocolate treats often appear at the meal table during family gatherings for an Easter feast on Sunday lunchtime.
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Austrians have been dyeing Easter eggs since the 12th or 13th century
Decorated eggs are a common sight at Vienna's Easter markets, which spring up in locations such as Schönbrunn Palace, Am Hof, and Freyung Square. These markets offer a variety of handcrafted goods, including skilfully decorated eggs, alongside culinary treats and entertainment for children.
Dyeing and decorating Easter eggs is a long-standing tradition in Austria, with the practice dating back to the 12th or 13th century. The act of decorating eggs symbolises resurrection, new life, and fertility. In the Middle Ages, eggs were also used as a form of payment to landlords or as rent.
While the tradition of dyeing Easter eggs is widespread in Austria, each region has its own unique techniques and customs. In the Lungau region, for example, locals create beautifully patterned eggs using a technique called Grawirlacheier. This method involves placing a boiled egg on a linen cloth layered with Grawirlach (chervil), Kasbleamen (crocus), and onion skins. The egg is then wrapped in the cloth, tied at both ends, and dipped into dye, resulting in delicate and unique patterns.
In addition to decorating eggs, Austrians also engage in various Easter traditions and games. One popular game is "egg tapping" or "Eierpecken," where two people tap their eggs against each other, with the goal of cracking the opponent's egg while keeping their own intact. Another tradition is the blessing of decorated Palmbuschen (small bouquets) in churches on Palm Sunday.
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In the Lungau region, locals decorate eggs using a unique method called Grawirlacheier
In the Lungau region of Austria, locals decorate eggs using a unique method called Grawirlacheier. This technique dates back to the 12th or 13th century and results in beautifully patterned eggs with delicate, one-of-a-kind designs.
To create these works of art, locals start by placing a boiled egg on a linen cloth layered with Grawirlach (chervil), Kasbleamen (crocus), and onion skins. The cloth is then carefully wrapped around the egg, tied at both ends, and dipped into dye for a few minutes. The natural dyes create unique patterns on the eggs, and the process is a skilled traditional craft.
The Lungau region is not the only area in Austria with special Easter traditions. In Salzburg, for example, the Palmesel processions take place in the week before Easter. This involves carrying wooden donkeys (Palmesel) with a Christ figure on their backs through the town, re-enacting Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
Across Austria, dyeing and decorating Easter eggs is a long-standing tradition. Eggs are often boiled and dyed red to distinguish them from raw eggs, a practice that dates back to the Middle Ages when eggs were forbidden during Lent. In modern times, supermarkets sell ready-coloured eggs, but many Austrians still make their own at home, using food colouring.
In Vienna, the Easter markets are a popular attraction, with the market in front of Schönbrunn Palace considered one of the most romantic. Visitors can find skilfully decorated eggs, along with other handcrafted goods, culinary treats, and entertainment for children. The Am Hof Easter Market is another popular destination, offering decorated eggs, flower arrangements, handicrafts, and food in the heart of Vienna's city centre.
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In the Middle Ages, eggs were used as rent payments to landlords
Vienna, Austria, is known for its Easter markets, which offer traditional decorations, artistically decorated eggs, and culinary treats. The Am Hof Easter Market, for example, features skilfully decorated eggs, flower arrangements, handicrafts, and food. Another notable Easter market is held in front of Schönbrunn Palace, where exhibitors showcase Easter decorations, handicrafts, and culinary delights against the baroque backdrop of the Palace.
In the Middle Ages, before the widespread use of coinage, eggs were indeed used as a form of rent payment to landlords. This practice was common in early medieval England (1000-1300), where landlords accepted "in-kind" rents, which could include eggs, ale, grain, and especially eels. Eels were highly valued by landlords and were considered a de facto currency. They were plentiful, accounting for 25-50% of fish in England's rivers, and landlords across the country demanded their share. The 1086 Domesday survey recorded more rents of eels than of corn, and some of the quantities were impressive. For example, the residents of Harmston, Lincolnshire, owed the Earl Hugh of Chester 75,000 eels annually.
The monks of Ramsey Abbey in Huntingdonshire provide another example of eel rents. In 1194, they needed a way to cross a local fen, and they agreed to pay landowner Ralph Tuberville a yearly rent of 1,000 eels, along with spices and a pair of scarlet trousers, in exchange for using his elevated causeway. The abbey later renegotiated the deal with Ralph's widow, who requested half a mark in coins, 60 cartloads of firewood, and still, 1,000 eels.
While eggs were used as rent payments, they were not the most common form of payment during the Middle Ages. In the 12th and 13th centuries, labor services were often commuted into money payments. Villeins, who were tenants of farmland, had various obligations to their lords, including additional liabilities such as merchet (a fee paid when a daughter got married) and heriot (usually the best beast of the deceased's flock). However, by the 13th century, most in-kind rents had disappeared, and landlords preferred money payments.
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The Old Vienna Easter Market at Freyung Square sells thousands of hand-painted Easter eggs
Vienna, Austria, is known for its Easter markets, which offer traditional decorations, artistically decorated eggs, culinary treats, and entertainment for children.
One notable market is the Old Vienna Easter Market, located at Freyung Square. This market boasts thousands of hand-painted Easter eggs, which are a highlight for many visitors. The tradition of decorating Easter eggs in Austria dates back to the 12th or 13th century, and the eggs are often beautifully and intricately patterned.
At the Old Vienna Easter Market, visitors can browse the colourful selection of hand-painted eggs and purchase them as souvenirs or decorations. The market is usually open daily during the Easter period, from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, providing ample opportunity for locals and tourists to experience this unique tradition.
In addition to the eggs, the market also offers other Easter-themed products and activities. Visitors can enjoy culinary delights, such as traditional Easter treats, and browse handicrafts, including traditional Easter decorations. The market creates a festive atmosphere with music and other entertainment, making it a popular destination for families and those looking to immerse themselves in Austrian Easter traditions.
The Easter Market at Freyung Square is a testament to the importance of handcrafted products in Austrian culture. Quality materials, traditional techniques, and innovation come together to create these exquisite hand-painted eggs, making them a beloved part of the Easter celebration in Vienna.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy decorated Easter eggs at Vienna's Easter markets. The Am Hof Easter Market, the Easter Market in front of Schönbrunn Palace, and the Old-Vienna Easter Market at Freyung Square are some of the markets that sell hand-painted and skilfully decorated Easter eggs.
Decorated Easter eggs are typically made from boiled eggs.
There are several ways to decorate Easter eggs. One method is to boil an egg, place it on a linen cloth layered with Grawirlach (chervil), Kasbleamen (crocus), and onion skins, wrap the cloth around the egg, tie it at both ends, and dip it into dye. Another method is to boil eggs in food colouring.
Decorated Easter eggs symbolise resurrection, new life, and fertility.
