The feast of St. Nicholas marks the beginning of Christmas in Austria. It is one of the most important festivals in Austria and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy. There is a tradition that follows the celebration of Christmas in Austria, where the saint accompanied by the devil asks children for a list of their good and bad deeds. The good children are given sweets, nuts and toys. The gifts that are placed under the tree are opened after dinner on the eve of Christmas. The Children wait enthusiastically all the year round to get the gifts.
The carol singers carrying blazing torches sing Christmas carols and in that way welcome Christmas in Austria. Silent Night was first sung in 1818, in the village church of Oberndorf. There is a story told of how Christmas was almost spoiled for the villagers that year. On the Christmas Eve, the priest went into the church and found that the organ was not working. The leather bellows that are used to pump the air through the pipes were full of holes. Christmas without music would not have the same charm and so the priest showed the organist Franz Bauer a new Christmas hymn. Franz quickly composed a tune for it that could be played on a guitar.
Christmas in Austria is celebrated by serving baked carp which makes for the traditional Christmas dinner. December 6 in Austria is when Heiliger Nikolaus or St. Nicholas, rewards good children with sweets, nuts and apples. On the 24th of December, the Christ Child brings gifts and the Christmas tree for the children. The children wait until they hear a bell tinkling. Then they enter a special room where the Christmas tree is waiting all decorated with candles, gifts, ornaments and candies. The whole family sings Christmas carols and wishes each other merry Christmas.
The main highlights of the Christmas in Austria include the smell of gingerbread, cotton-candy, sugar apples, bratwurst and roasted chestnuts. All this is combined with the sight of sparkling lights in the trees and treasures displayed in endless rows of stalls. Early in December the Christmas markets open up in small villages and cities all over Austria. The various items on display range from handicrafts, hand-carved toys, home-baked gingerbread and Christmas cookies, hand-made beeswax candles and many other unique items.
Travel.mapsofworld.com brings you detailed information on Christmas in Austria.
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