Leslie Massey
Christmas in Austria is a magical experience that brings the whole country together in celebration. Austrians are known for their love of traditions, rituals, and customs, and this is especially true during the Christmas season. The country is filled with Christmas markets, festive treats, and decorations, creating a unique and enchanting atmosphere. The Advent season is celebrated with wreaths, calendars, and candles, and Austrians enjoy partaking in various mystical traditions, such as Krampus parades and the Anklöpfler custom. Christmas Eve is a time for families to gather and celebrate, often with a decorated tree and gifts. Austrians also have their own unique Christmas dinner traditions and desserts, making the season a delightful blend of authenticity and cheer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Christmas tree | Decorated with candles and surrounded by gifts |
| Christmas carols | "Silent Night" and "Silent Night, Holy Night" are popular |
| Advent | The four Sundays before Christmas, celebrated with wreaths and candles |
| Advent calendar | Children open a new window each day |
| Christmas markets | Temporary markets with crafts, decorations, food, and drink |
| St. Nicholas | The Austrian equivalent of Santa Claus, who rewards well-behaved children |
| Krampus | A beast-like figure who punishes misbehaving children |
| Anklöpfler custom | Locals re-enact Mary and Joseph's journey, going door-to-door and singing carols |
| Christmas dinner | Varies by region, but may include sausage soup, carp, or veal sausages |
| Christmas cookies | A source of pride for Austrians, with many varieties |
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What You'll Learn
Advent wreaths and Advent calendars
Advent Wreaths
Advent wreaths, featuring four candles, are a popular symbol of Christmas in Austria. The wreaths are made from fir branches decorated with ribbons, Christmas tree cones, and four candles. They are usually placed on kitchen or living room tables or hung as decorations. The tradition is believed to have originated in Germany in 1839 by the Evangelical Lutheran theologian Johann Hinrich Wiechern, who wanted to decrease the waiting time for children from poorer backgrounds. The initial advent wreath had four large candles and 20 small candles on a wagon wheel that was hung from the ceiling. Later, pine branches were used, and the Catholic Church adopted the tradition. Since 1930, the Advent wreath has been an important tradition in Austria.
Advent Calendars
Advent calendars are another Austrian Christmas tradition, acting as a countdown to Christmas. The first "door" is opened on December 1st, and each day, another "window" is opened until Christmas Eve arrives. The first Advent calendar is believed to have been created in 1851, with the first printed version appearing in 1902. Homemade Advent calendars are very popular in Austria, and there are endless creative designs.
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Christmas markets
Austria's nine provinces offer a vibrant variety of Christmas markets, where tradition meets originality. From mid-November until the end of the year, the cities and rural areas are filled with light and fragrance, creating a magical experience.
The Christmas markets in Austria's cities and rural areas are full of festive cheer, with the scent of mulled wine and roasted almonds filling the decorated streets. In the cities, the markets twinkle with lights, while in the countryside, you can savour authentic specialties and feel the warmth of the people. These markets offer more than just a pleasant stroll; they create special experiences and a chance to discover handcrafted gifts and traditional decorations.
The Culture and Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is a popular choice, exuding imperial flair with its elegant crafts, nostalgic toys, and charming decorative items. Vienna is known for its magical Christmas markets, with the traditional "Vienna Magic of Advent" turning the City Hall Square into a shining fairytale land. The city's Christmas markets offer gifts, tree decorations, sweets, warming drinks, and fun workshops for children.
Salzburg is another top destination for Christmas markets, with the Salzburger Christkindlmarkt located next to the city's main cathedral, filled with twinkling lights and carolers. The Hellbrunn Advent Magic in Salzburg is also a magical experience, with a fairy-tale forest of 700 fir trees adorned with 10,000 red baubles and fairy lights. The Christmas market in Graz, known for its castles, is another famous option, with the oldest market taking place around the Franciscan church, offering Styrian arts and crafts, regional farm products, and hot punch.
For a charming Advent market experience, St. Wolfgang is a great choice, where you can immerse yourself in regional traditions and authentic handicrafts, with the floating red Advent candle on Lake Wolfgang in view. The Salzburg Mountain Advent in the Großarl Valley offers a rustic charm, with handcrafted nativity scenes displayed by torchlight and candlelight.
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St. Nicholas and Krampus
Christmas in Austria is a unique and magical celebration full of interesting customs, symbolic flames of hope, mythical performances, and classical music. Austrians start early, go slow, and touch all the holiday bases. The season is filled with Christmas markets, festive treats, and wreaths that bring warm anticipation to the most wonderful and tradition-filled time.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Austrian Christmas is the dual tradition of St. Nicholas and Krampus, highlighting the balance between reward and discipline in the holiday celebrations. St. Nicholas, the Austrian equivalent of Santa Claus, plays a significant role in the country's Christmas traditions. On December 6, he visits households to reward well-behaved children with small treats.
However, accompanying St. Nicholas is his dark counterpart, Krampus, a beast-like figure who enforces discipline among misbehaving children with his rod. Krampus is said to be a half-man, half-goat who comes around every year to chase naughty children and even drag them to hell. Krampus appears in the folklore of several European countries, including Austria, and has been a part of folklore in Austria's Alpine region for hundreds of years.
Krampus parades, known as Krampuslauf or "Krampus run," are a common sight in Austria during the Christmas season. Individuals dress up as Krampus, donning costumes of fur, large horns, demonic masks, and sticks, and march through towns, creating a cacophony of noise and intimidating onlookers. The Krampusse run through the streets, banging cowbells and rattling chains wildly, trying to frighten, chase, and even flog passersby.
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Traditional Christmas meals
Christmas in Austria is a unique and magical celebration full of interesting customs, symbolic flames of hope, mythical performances, and classical music, and delicious food. Traditional Christmas meals in Austria are typically hearty, with lots of meat and cheese, warming up the insides during the cold season. Here are some of the traditional Christmas meals and treats enjoyed in Austria:
Christmas Markets
Austria's Christmas markets offer an array of crafts, decorations, and food and drink to celebrate the holiday season. The markets in the cities and rural areas are full of light and fragrance, with the aroma of pretzels, sausages, roasted chestnuts in paper cones, and hot spiced wine. Booths sell Christmas candies and cookies, and inviting cafes offer a cosy hot chocolate and strudel break.
Christmas Punch
The famous Christmas punch, a hot alcoholic beverage, is a must-try during the Austrian Christmas season. It usually consists of a combination of tea, sugar, red wine, cinnamon, and a strong liquor. It is served at Christmas markets and pop-up stands across Austria during the winter, providing the perfect warm-up drink.
Baked Carp
Baked carp, or Weihnachtskarpfen, is a traditional Austrian Christmas dish. It is seasoned with lemon juice, white wine, pepper, and salt, and served with potatoes. Some Austrians buy the carp alive and keep it in their bathtub until Christmas Day to guarantee maximum freshness.
Christmas Goose
The Christmas goose is one of the most popular dishes served in Austria on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It is filled with apples, baked chestnuts, and cloves, and seasoned with salt, pepper, marjoram, and shallots. It is typically served with potatoes, red cabbage, or dumplings.
Roasted Pork Belly
For those who choose not to eat goose, roasted pork belly, or Schweinsbraten, is a popular alternative. It is often served with red cabbage and dumplings.
Wiener Schnitzel
The Wiener Schnitzel, a thin slice of veal, turkey, or pork covered in breadcrumbs and fried, is a famous Austrian dish that is enjoyed during the Christmas season.
Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce
Apple strudel with vanilla sauce is a classic Austrian dessert that is often enjoyed during the Christmas season.
Christmas Cookies
Baking Christmas cookies is a beloved tradition in Austria, with families spending the four weeks leading up to Christmas preparing various types of cookies. The cookies are stored until Christmas Eve, when they are enjoyed by the family and gifted to visiting friends. Popular varieties include Linzer Eyes, Gingerbread, and Vanillekipferl (vanilla-flavoured cookies in a half-moon shape).
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Carols and classical music
"Silent Night" is almost always present during Christmas celebrations in Austria, and its popularity has spread worldwide. It has been translated into over 300 languages and is recorded in numerous genres annually. The carol is so revered in Austria that there are Silent Night museums, memorials, and markers in several charming Alpine villages with connections to the song, including Salzburg, Oberndorf, and Arnsdorf.
During the Advent season, groups of singers known as Anklöpfler go door-to-door, singing carols and re-enacting Mary and Joseph's journey in search of shelter. This custom, particularly respected in the Zillertal Valley, brings communities together and embodies the spirit of Christmas—spreading joy, goodwill, love, and compassion.
In addition to carols, classical music is also a key element of Christmas in Austria. The compositions of Austrian musicians such as Leopold Mozart, Schubert, and Strauss often feature winter themes and are performed by orchestras and artists throughout the festive season. The traditional "Strauss and Mozart" concerts are a highlight of the celebrations. Vienna, the capital of music, is renowned for its musical institutions, including the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Vienna Boys Choir.
Overall, the music of the Christmas season in Austria, from carols to classical compositions, captures the essence of the holiday and unites the country in joyous celebration.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrians are known for their love of Christmas traditions and rituals. The Christmas season in Austria is filled with festive markets, delicious treats, and unique customs. Families gather around a decorated Christmas tree, adorned with candles and surrounded by gifts. The traditional Christmas carol, "Silent Night, Holy Night", is almost always present. Austrians also celebrate Advent, where candles light up the evenings and the smell of freshly baked cookies fills the air.
St. Nicholas, the Austrian equivalent of Santa Claus, plays a significant role in the country's Christmas traditions. On December 6, he visits households to reward well-behaved children with small treats. He is often accompanied by his dark counterpart, Krampus, a beast-like figure who enforces discipline among misbehaving children.
Austrians have several unique Christmas traditions, including the Krampus parades, where individuals dress up as the beast-like Krampus and march through towns, creating a cacophony of noise and intimidating onlookers. Another tradition is the Anklöpfler custom, where locals re-enact Mary and Joseph's journey by going door-to-door and singing carols. Austrians also celebrate "Barbaratag" on December 4, where cherry branches are brought into homes, and if they blossom by Christmas Eve, it is considered good luck.
