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Christmas in Austria.

Christmas in Austria is such a magical time. The snow has started to fall and cover the country in a blanket of white. The Christmas markets are bustling with happy people sharing a joke and a gluwein.

The decoration that are for sale are not those of the plastic types from the far east! Most are hand made in Austria by local craftsmen. In fact everyone should try a Christmas in Austria at least once in their lives.

For children the magic is everywhere, from the little Santa Claus’s that can been seen climbing on the outside of shops to the decorated Christmas trees at every corner of the local villages. For Austrian children, Christmas is celebrated on 24th December! Not as we celebrate on the 25th December!

The most famous Christmas carol of all time ‘Silent Night’ was written as a poem in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. The story behind this is magica itself. The St Nicholas chruch organ at Oberndorf had broken a few days before Christmas, so the priest after considering the options decided to give the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody for Silent Night was composed and it was composed on a guitar!!

Of course most carols are written for Organ/Piano, so he had to write a song for guitar. He went and sat on the hillside not far from his church and whether by luck or divine intervention, he penned the music to this most famous carol. Stille Nacht or as we know it in English....Silent Night.

Silent Night

The words to the carol are so well known, well at least the first verse is! We have put here all the verses.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

 

 

  


Here are some links for you to find out more about the different areas of Austria and their own way of celebrating Christmas.

Advent and  Christmas in Tirol.

Christmas in Vienna.

Advent Salzkammergut & Lakes.

Treat yourself and the children to a pre-Christmas break
and enjoy the magic of the Christkindl Markt.
Special offers for rental apartments during Advent
20th November - 19th December
check our rentals page to view all apartments
3 nights from only Euro 150 - sleeps 2 -4 people
7 nights from only Euro 295 - sleeps 2 -4 people

No time to take the children for an Austrian Christmas this year? Then send a Santa letter to them.  
     
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Christmas in Austria

Christmas commences with the feast of St Nicholas on 6th December. St. Nicholas along with the devil Knect Ruprecht visit children and enquire about their conduct through the past year. Based on their behaviour the Saint gives the children presents which are opened after the Christmas Eve Dinner.

Carol singers go from door to door playing brass musical instruments and carrying flaming torches. It is also said that on 24th December the farmers mark the initials of the Magi CMB (C-Caspar, M - Melchior and B-Balthazar respectively) on their stable doors to guard their cattle from ill health for the coming year.

“Silent Night”, one of the most famous Christmas carol was conceived in 1818 in a small Austrian village of Oberndorf, near to Salzburg. It is believed that on the Christmas Eve pastor Joseph Mohr found that organ used for the Christmas hymns was damaged by the mice.

In order to handle the situation Mohr consulted organist Franz Gruber who played the lyrics of the song that the priest had written on his guitar. The tune pleased everyone in the village and thus the popular “Silent Night” came into being. Even now it is heard on Austrian radio and trumpeters play the melody from church towers after midnight mass on 24th December.

A typical Austrian Christmas Dinner may include baked carp, sacher torte(a famous chocolate cake from Vienna), goose, ham, and different chocolate delicacies served as a dessert.

Christmas Markets in Austria

The Wolfgangsee Advent, which has been elected as being one of the most beautiful Advent markets of Austria has been in full swing now since 20th November, the aromas of roasting chestnuts and hot Glu-wein wafting in the villages. It has attracted visitors from far and wide...all over Europe. The car parks are full each day as people decide they want to enjoy the best of the Christmas feeling, that only comes with the Advent markets. Particularly now that the snow has started to fall in the low lying villages.

It has been an immediate success, what with the new floating candle on the lake and the addition of more horse drawn sleigh carriages,and the Ferry schiffs on the lake, it can now boast one of the most magical Christmas's experiences. You can visit three Christmas markets in one day!! The ships go from St Gilgen to St Wolfgang to Strobl. The weather has been perfect for all the Advent markts, from Salzburg to Vienna Christmas markets. Blue skies and sunshine....what more could one ask for?

Contemplation has always to do with the senses. To stimulate and seduce the senses with small and big stimuli requires a particular sensitiveness, which is again impressively proven with this year’s production. The Advent markets of the villages of St. Gilgen, Strobl and St. Wolfgang with their unique decorations excel in authenticity and quality.

A matching event program ranges from nativity plays with children to a visit of the Christ Child of the “Licht ins Dunkel” charity. To get comfortably from one village to the next you can use the Ferry boats of Wolfgangsschiffahrt. This makes it so easy to enjoy the advents in all the villages around the lake, without the need to drive.

Each village has it's own speciality cafes' serving excellent coffee and hot chocolate....or you can taste the local Gluwein...but take care it can be quite a heady mix!!

Advent Market

Opening weekend: Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, 2009
1. Weekend: Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29, 2009
2. Weekend: Thursday, December 03 to Tuesday, December 08, 2009
3. Weekend: Thursday, December 10 to Sunday, December 13, 2009
4. Weekend: Thursday, December 17 to Sunday, December 20, 2009

Thursday and Friday: from 12:00 p.m. till 7.30 p.m.
Friday, Sunday and bank holiday: from 10:00 p.m. till 7:30 p.m.

Events
From Thursday till Sunday there are advent events on the Wolfgangsee.

There are flights to Austria with British Airways, Easyjet, Austrian Airlines, Ryanair and of course many of the Holiday companies such as Thomson and Tui, charter their own planes.

The Twelve Days of Christmas the “song”:

This popular song was created in England to make the young children learn about the basics of Christianity. According to few historians this song was first published in a book “Mirth without Mischief” around late 1700. It was originated in France and there it was sung by children to play games. However with time the song became an integral part of the Yuletide. The song has different hidden meanings like the “true love” was none other than the God Himself. Here goes the song with its derivations:

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 A Partridge in a Pear Tree: This signifies Jesus Christ, The God’s Son.

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Two Turtle Doves: The Old and the New Testament.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Three French Hens: The theological virtues Hope, Love and Faith.

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Four Calling Birds: The four Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke and John)
Or the four Revivalists.

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Five Gold Rings: The first five books of the Old Testament also
Known as the “Torah” or "Pentateuch" that cites the
histories of Man’s fall from Grace.

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six Geese A-laying: The six days of Creation.


On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Seven Swans A-swimming: The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit or the
seven rituals (Ministry, Prophecy, Giving,
Leading, Teaching, Exhortation and Pity).

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Eight Maids A-milking: The eight beatitudes (Blessed are the poor in
spirit, Those who mourn, the meek, Those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, The merciful,
The pure in heart, The peacemakers, Those who
persecuted for righteousness’ sake).

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Nine Ladies Dancing: The nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (Love, Peace, Joy,
Kindness, Self control, Faithfulness, Patience,
Generosity, Gentleness).

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Ten Lords A-leaping: The Ten Commandments (Do not make an idol,
Remember the Sabbath Day; You shall have no
other Gods before me, Honor your father and
mother, Do not murder, Do not commit adultery,
Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not
covet, Do not take God’s name in vain).

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Eleven Pipers Piping: The eleven faithful Apostles (Andrew, James,
John, Philip, Simon Peter, Judas bar James,
Bartholomew, Simon the Zealot, Thomas,
Matthew, James bar Alphaeus).

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

 Twelve Drummers Drumming: The Twelve points in Apostle’s Creed.