Austrians honour the celebration of Advent, keep the old customs and want to preserve their traditions.
Because the Czech lands and Austria were one country for a long time, many Christmas traditions are similar.
Young and old Austrians also receive their gifts from the Christ Child on the evening of 24 December.
Even though they resist the American Santa Claus, they have their own version, which they call Weinachtsmann
(the man of Christmas), who is something between Santa and St Nicholas.
We can say that in Austria, or perhaps rather in Vienna, the Christmas season starts as early as 18 November, when the Viennese Advent markets open. The best known one is right in front of the city hall on the square Rathausplatz.
Austrians call these markets Christkindlmärkte, and they never miss their annual visit and one, two or even three mugs of punch, which is sold at every second stall, each year in a different original mug.
At the Christkindlmärkte you are met by the wonderful smell of freshly roasted almonds, Linzer pastry, roasted chestnuts and other treats; toffee apples and pancakes are very popular. For those who are not fond of sweets, we recommend tasting a sausage, a potato cake or a pretzel.
Children have plenty of fun on the ice rink shaped like winding paths. In the city hall, whose windows turn into an Advent calendar at Christmas time, there are Christmas workshops for children with the making of traditional decorations, the baking of Christmas biscuits and so on.
Another tradition is the so-called Krampuslauf, a parade of fearsome devils. But BEWARE, do not confuse them with the sooty little devil who accompanies St Nicholas and the angel at home; this is a completely different league, these devils wear huge shaggy furs, cow bells around the waist, wigs and frightening carved masks.
They are so frightening that they are even banned from entering nursery schools.
If you would like to see such a parade, you do not have to give up the St Nicholas rounds at home in Czechia at all. Krampus parades take place throughout Advent. Keep away from their birch rods so that you do not get a smack on the backside.
Ah, we are back to food. The oldest sweet baked for Christmas is Kletzenbrot, in translation a fruit loaf. To picture it even better, it is a bread with dried apple slices. Not to be missed is apfelstrudel (apple strudel) and vánočka. On the Christmas Eve table we find basically everything…from carp (which most Austrian families have), through duck and schnitzel, to venison or other game.
And woe betide any Austrian housewife who has not cooked and baked enough, she would very quickly be found by Perchta - a witch who is ready to catch the unprepared lady of the house, cut her open, stuff her with pea straw and sew her up again. The Moravian Lucky are nowhere near; next to Perchta they are complete little angels.
As already mentioned - Austrians love music, so they very often go to Christmas concerts or midnight mass. Their favourite carol is “Silent Night, Holy Night”, in the original “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht”. It is certainly playing during the giving of presents, where originality matters most.
Try baking the oldest Austrian Christmas sweet yourself this year Kletzenbrot – you will find the recipe here