Not everyone will be able to describe all the customs of their native country. How do you present things that have been familiar since childhood? Many things have become so familiar that we don't notice them at all. Austria's Christmas traditions are too striking to ignore. The cosy and touching little things that Austrians have cherished since ancient times cannot really be overlooked or forgotten.

Father Christmas

Is there Father Christmas in Austria?

The old man from the North Pole does not come to children in Austria. He doesn't appear at night from a chimney covered in soot. The imaginary American traditions and gloomy images from Northern European tales are not favoured here at all.

Instead of a New Year's Eve Santa, Christkind - the Christ Child - comes down from heaven to the Austrians. It is the little Christ who is the heart of the Christmas holiday. He takes care of children and gives them long-awaited presents. The image of the baby does not provoke questions in children, which are often generated by the illogical behaviour of Father Christmas. For example, children do not have to explain how a baby can almost simultaneously give gifts to children and adults all over the world. The divine hero can perform any miracle - and people willingly believe in miracles. They just need to open a window and gifts will appear by themselves. Even if adults have forgotten about this "technical" thing, there will still be presents under the tree!

Another familiar question does not arise - why are Father Frosts all around, and why are there so many of them? They are found all over the streets and shops for weeks!

No one can be dressed up as the Christ Child. He cannot be portrayed with clothes and make-up. Therefore there is only one Christkind. He comes on the 24th of December, on Holy Night. The American Santa has not become popular in Austria, despite the best efforts of advertising firms. The popular custom is to give presents only on Holy Night. They are placed under the Christmas tree, not in their Christmas socks. The Austrian Christ Child has his own style. His image is not as striking as Santa's and is not well suited to advertising. A sincere child's imagination is enough for him.

Unique Advent atmosphere

In Austria, on Christmas Eve, people put up an Advent wreath. People light a candle on this wreath on each of the four Sundays before Christmas. This is not piety, but a typical Austrian trait: slowness and tranquillity. The Austrians do not feel the Christmas rush of a common European fuss - they take a special emotional approach.

The words for the trappings of Christmas are spelt differently in Austria than in Germany. Not "Adventszeit" but Adventzeit - Advent time; not "Adventskranz" but Adventkranz - Advent wreath; not Adventskalender but Adventkalender - Advent calendar. The Christmas market is called the Adventsmarkt in Germany and the Christkindlmarkt in Austria.

An important event takes place during the evening of 5 December, the eve of St Nicholas' Day. This saint from Myra in Austria has not been renamed and reincarnated as a fat little Father Christmas. He remains a bishop in a robe and mitre, with a cane in his hand. He is a tall and thin old man. Such a Father Christmas is usually depicted in the Far North. However, Nikolaus von Myra is not Father Christmas at all! He appears at the start of Advent and makes sure the children are obedient. He's accompanied by Krampus - a friendly devil with a bucket full of twigs. It is believed that he can carry off mischievous children in his bucket - or hit them with a twig as a warning.

Obedient children get sweets from Nicholas: nuts, dates, figs, dried plums - Dorrzwetschken, apples or pears - Kletzen. Old Austrians recall the once-popular sweet pods of the carob tree - Buxhorndeln. These Mediterranean fruits are now called Johannisbrot. Children in Austria prepare for Christmas in advance. They make a gift list - Wunschzettel. The list is placed on the windowsill in the evening and biscuits can be placed next to it - a treat for guests. By morning it is picked up by the Christ Child. Since 1950, Austrian children can write a letter to Christkind. The post office in the town of Christkind in Upper Austria has been accepting children's letters for decades. During this time, more than 70 million letters have already been received.

Austrians don't buy Christmas presents only in big shops. Christmas markets are extremely popular all over the country. They may not offer the most fashionable items, but they always offer something unusual, unexpected and original. And the special atmosphere of the Christkindlmarkt keeps things festive.

Holy Christmas Eve

The evening of December 24 is the evening when Austrians celebrate 'der Heilige Abend' - Holy Evening. Children should be kept away from the tree for a whole day - it is the time when the infant Christ decorates the fir-tree! Before dinner, the Bescherung (gift-giving) starts. A bell rings to signal that everything is ready. Only then does the family enter the room with the fir-tree.

The famous Christmas carol "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" is played intermittently on the radio. It is sung by the Vienna Boys' Choir and the Austrians gather around the family Christmas trees and sing along. Other well-known Christmas carols such as "Jingle Bells" and "O'Tannenbaum" are unpopular here. On Christmas Day, "Silent Night" becomes the Austrian national hymn. Presents are already lying under the tree next to the traditional wooden manger. Bengal lights are lit. After that you can open the presents and enjoy the sweets from the fir-tree.

Carp is considered a traditional festive dish. Roast goose is also popular. But the main decoration of the table is pastries. Housewives make many kinds of biscuits, but vanilla bagels take the lead. To bake a true vanilla bagel is a special art. Austrians are extremely demanding when it comes to the quality and taste of their baked goods. Good bagels cannot crumble in your hands, they have to melt in your mouth.

Midnight

All-Night Vigil on Christmas Eve is an important tradition for Austrians. They are not as devout as other European nations; many Austrians only go to church on Christmas Day. But it's a custom that Austrians hold sacred. It's been that way since ancient times. It is particularly beautiful in the villages and mountain valleys. Torchlit wagons come to the local churches from all around. In the darkness, the midnight procession of lights looks incredibly impressive. All Austrian Christmas traditions come from the Christian faith, but most people's attitudes have nothing to do with religiosity.

The Christmas traditions of the Austrian people are different from those of the world. Once in a lifetime, it is worth celebrating Christmas in Austria. And of course, you'll get the full effect of the holiday if you get to sing 'Silent Night' with the hosts, taste carp and see the mysterious lights of the all-night vigil outside the city.

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