Special Occasions in an Austrian Community

Austrian celebrations are all about Gemütlichkeit — that warm, cozy feeling of togetherness, good food, music, and tradition.

1. Christmas (Weihnachten) — The Biggest Celebration

• We start with Advent — every Sunday we light another candle on the Advent wreath.
• On December 24th (Heiliger Abend), the family gathers for a special dinner (usually carp or roast goose).
• After dinner, we sing Christmas carols around the beautifully decorated tree, exchange gifts (brought by the Christkind), and enjoy homemade cookies (Vanillekipferl, Linzer Augen, etc.).
• Christmas Day is for visiting relatives and eating lots of cake.

2. Birthdays & Name Days

• Austrians celebrate both birthdays and name days (your saint’s day).
• Classic tradition: Breakfast in bed with flowers, followed by Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) in the afternoon.
• The birthday person gets to choose their favorite cake — usually Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel, or Dobos Torte.
• In the evening, there’s often a big family meal with Schnitzel or Schweinebraten.

3. Weddings

As I mentioned before — Polterabend, church ceremony, bride kidnapping, Viennese waltz, and tree sawing. Very joyful and full of customs.

4. Easter (Ostern)

• We paint and decorate eggs together.
• On Easter Sunday morning, children search for hidden chocolate eggs and sweets brought by the Easter Bunny (Osterhase).
• Big family lunch with lamb, ham, and horseradish.

5. Fasching (Carnival)

• Before Lent, we have big parades, costumes, and parties.
• Children and adults dress up, and there are balls and street celebrations, especially in Vienna and smaller Alpine villages.

6. General Family Gatherings

For any special occasion (graduations, anniversaries, promotions), we always do the same things:

• Lots of delicious food (Schnitzel, Gulasch, dumplings, strudel)
• Music — someone always plays the accordion or guitar
• Long tables, storytelling, and laughter late into the night
• A glass of local wine or beer for the adults

Austrians believe celebrations should be warm, generous, and unhurried. We love spending many hours at the table talking, eating, and enjoying each other’s company.