Traditional and modern conventions come together during Christmas celebrations in Austria, where baking cookies, putting up decorations, and singing Christmas songs characterize the Advent season. Christmas in Austria is renowned for being the most serene time of the year. Krampus, the naughty sidekick of St. Nicholas, makes house calls on December 5th and 6th to provide candy, peanuts, and tangerines to good children. “Christkind” (the Christ Child, Baby Jesus) gives gifts in this country, unlike in many others. A highlight, especially in Vienna, are the Christmas markets, where one may find artisanal items, tasty snacks, and piping hot beverages. The vast cultural variety of Austria is reflected in these customs, which differ by location.
-> See also: Sinterklaas: The Real Santa Claus in the Netherlands
Christmas Traditions in Austria
Christmas customs in Austria have strong historical and cultural roots. One of the most famous Christmas carols, “Silent Night,” was written in Austria in 1818. Originally played on Christmas Eve in the town of Oberndorf, the hymn was penned by priest Joseph Mohr and schoolteacher Franz Xaver Gruber. From 1971 to 2021, the percentage of Austrians who identified as Christians dropped from 94% to 68%. But the Austrian Christmas customs are still widely cherished:
- Lighting the Advent Wreath: Austrian households burn an Advent wreath—a festive arrangement of evergreen branches and ribbons. A song or two may be sung on each of the four Sundays of Advent.
- Visiting the Christmas Markets: Beginning in late November or early December, you will find a “Christkindlmarkt” (Christmas market) in almost every Austrian town. There will be vendors offering stuff from Christmas decorations and food to Glühwein, a warm mulled wine. The marketplaces in Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Vienna draw shoppers from across Europe.
- Baking Christmas Cookies: Austrian families prepare traditional Christmas cookies for the holidays since they all love pastries and cookies.
- Seeing the Krampus: The beast-like Krampus, who helps Saint Nicholas chastise youngsters with his rod, is seen by many visitors. People dress as Krampus and march around town on the evening of December 5 to create a commotion.
- Getting Gifts from the Christkind: On Christmas Eve (December 24th), the Christkind gives the gifts and there is no depiction of the Christkind since he is a fictional figure who is said to be invisible. So, the Austrian custom states that as the family gathers around the Christmas tree, they must depart from the room in which it is located. Everyone arrives to begin unpacking as soon as the Christmas bell rings, signaling that Christkind has finished placing presents.
History of the Christmas Tree in Austria
From the 18th Century
In the 18th and 19th centuries, small spruce trees (Picea), unlike fir trees (Abies), remained abundant in many parts of Central Europe. As a result, the spruce was primarily chosen as a Christmas tree for the poorer segments of the population, in contrast to fir trees. However, this new custom initially remained limited to the affluent urban bourgeoisie in southern Germany and Austria. The less affluent urban population initially used branches and available greenery. It was only in the second half of the 19th century, as more trees were provided by landowners, that a larger urban demand could be met. Despite the Catholic Church traditionally assigning greater symbolic significance to the Christmas crib, it eventually adopted the tradition of setting up a Christmas tree.
The presence of Christmas trees was documented in the Catholic regions of Germany and Austria until the end of the 19th century. The first documented Christmas tree in Vienna dates back to 1814 and was set up by Fanny von Arnstein, a respected Jewish socialite or salon holder from Berlin. However, it is likely that Christmas trees were already present in well-to-do Viennese living rooms by then. The new tradition of the urban bourgeoisie seemingly led to issues in the forests around Vienna: In October 1815, the government of Lower Austria explicitly prohibited “the felling and digging up of trees for processions, church festivals, Christmas trees, and the like.”
The term “the like” might have referred to Nikolaus trees, described in 1782 as a “green tree adorned with burning candles, on which some pounds of candied sugar pastries shine just as the cherry tree candied by frost shimmers in winter.” Already in 1816, or according to other sources, in 1823 at the Albertina, this tradition was embraced by Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg, Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria’s wife, and spread across all social classes in Austria from then on. From around 1800 until the mid-20th century, the secretly adorned Christmas tree, lit for the first time on Christmas Eve with gifts underneath, was the centerpiece of Austrian Christmas celebrations.
Until the end of the 19th century, it was customary in some regions to hang the Christmas tree from the ceiling, sometimes upside down. In Lower Austria’s Waldviertel, you can still find hooks on the ceiling in the parlors and living rooms of older buildings for attaching the Christmas tree.
20th and 21st centuries
Towards the end of the 20th century, it became a tradition in Austria to present Christmas trees as gifts to various institutions and organizations abroad. Since joining the EU, an Austrian evergreen has stood in the European Parliament in Brussels. The entire process, including cutting, special road transport, installation, and lighting in a capital city, is staged as a spectacle of the urban Advent market. An example is the 98-foot-tall, 140-year-old spruce tree erected in Graz in 2011. Similarly, at the start of the Christmas market each year, a fir tree is placed on Hamburg’s Rathausmarkt. This tree serves as a gift from a Nordic state to the city-state. Currently, there is a trend towards having “second and third trees” in gardens or in front of houses.
Economic Significance
Austria sets up approximately 2.4 million Christmas trees annually, with 85 percent sourced from domestic forests. The primary supplier is Lower Austria, catering to the Vienna market. In recent years, imports from Denmark have seen a decline. In contrast, in various other countries, metal or plastic artificial Christmas trees are frequently employed. These trees are typically collapsible and reusable.
Austrian Christmas Foods and Drinks
Austrian Christmas meals and beverages display the country’s customs and tastes. Among the traditional Christmas delicacies and beverages enjoyed across Austria are:
- Weihnachtsgans (Christmas Goose): Austrian Christmas dishes include roasted geese, apples, baked chestnuts, and cloves, and the name of this meal is Weihnachtsgans.
- Weihnachtskarpfen (Christmas Carp): Another traditional Austrian holiday meal, it is accompanied with roasted vegetables and potatoes.
- Maroni (Hot Chestnuts): A traditional delicacy in Austrian Christmas markets, roasted chestnuts are called Maroni and are a sight to see.
- Glühwein (Mulled Wine): “Glühwein” means “mulled wine” and is a hot alcoholic drink prepared with red wine, sugar, cinnamon, and strong liquor. People like it during the Christmas season, and it is a mainstay at Christmas markets.
- Punsch: The classic Austrian holiday punch is a blend of sugar, cinnamon, and wine. Austria is home to punsch in a variety of tastes (elderflower, orange, raspberry, cherry, and raspberry).
- Backapfel (Baked Apple): The Austrian Christmas staple Backapfel, literally “baked apple,” is a combination of chocolate, hazelnuts, cinnamon, and cardamom baked into the apple.
- Nussecken (Nut-Corners): One traditional Christmas cookie from Austria is the nut-cornered Nussecken, which is filled with marzipan or another nut paste.
- Vanillekipferl: A traditional Christmas dessert, Vanillekipferl are crescent-shaped almond biscuits adorned with seasonal icing.
Austrian Christmas Decorations
Austrians celebrate Christmas with a mix of ancient and contemporary traditions. The traditional Austrian décor known as Rauhnächte is a blend of fires, incense, sacred herbs, and palm branches from Easter, and the aroma is dispersed throughout the home. It is said that by following this tradition, one might ward off bad luck and malevolent spirits.
Originally seen in Germany in 1839, the Advent wreath eventually made its way to Austria as a holiday decoration. There has always been a calendar component for the wreath with its four candles. To keep track of the days before Christmas Eve, a fresh candle is lit each Sunday throughout Advent.
The Advent calendar has been a part of Christian tradition since the nineteenth century. It, too, counts down the days until Christmas, much like the Advent wreath. The first “door” opens on December 1st. These days, it’s also not uncommon to see electric candles and sparklers as decorations in the country.
St. Barbara’s twigs are a classic ornament for the Christmas tree in Austria. On December 4th, the twigs are chopped and soaked. An indication of good fortune would be if the twigs blossom before Christmas Eve.
For kids, sweets like jelly rings, miniature chocolate bottles filled with liquor, a variety of chocolates, and “Windbäckerei” (meringue shaped like rings, stars, etc.) are key decorations. The Christmas markets, especially in Vienna, are a sight to see, selling handmade gifts, snacks, and hot beverages.
Christmas Markets in Austria
Austria is renowned for its Christmas markets, offering a cozy atmosphere and delights. They stay open from late November until Christmas day.
Vienna: The Vienna Magic of Advent is a well-known Christmas market that transforms City Hall Square into a winterland. The market features stalls offering crafts, gifts, and treats, as well as a program of events and activities. The market at Schönbrunn Palace is a grand affair.
Linz: As we near Christmas Eve, the aroma of gingerbread and Linzer Torte wafts from the city’s Christmas markets, the city skyline’s lights blend old and modern, and the allure of shopping beckons.
Innsbruck: The Old Town and Hungerburg Christmas markets in Innsbruck are open for holiday visitors, offering stalls selling traditional Austrian treats. The markets in this capital of Tyrol are known for the mountain view in the background. Picture this: Christmas lights competing with the shiny tiles of the Golden Roof, baking “Kiachln” (hot doughnuts stuffed with sauerkraut), and holiday music filling the air.
Salzburg: The Christmas Market on Cathedral Square in Salzburg is one of the oldest of its kind. With a history dating back to 1491, it features traditional crafts, delicacies, choral performances, and nativity displays. Enjoy gazing over the city’s domes, spires, and roofs blanketed in snow.
Graz: The Christmas market in Graz is a hidden gem, offering a more intimate aura. The market is set against the backdrop of historic architecture and features stalls selling handmade gifts. Take in Graz’s Advent highlights, the ice crib, the enormous Rathaus Advent calendar, and the romantic lighting.
