Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

the eternal predicament we feel between staying in the moment, being present, Carpe Diem, stop to smell the roses, ... however you want to express this sentiment .. and dreaming of and planning your next trip to Austria (or anywhere else for that matter) ... this predicament becomes especially palpable as we approach the busy winter holiday season. 

Personally, we love witchy spooky Halloween, cherish a good Thanksgiving meal (which for many Austrians actually resembles their Christmas Day dinner) .. but here we are - getting you excited about what Austria has to offer during Advent and Christmas season.  Enjoy this excursion into the Christmas traditions of Austria as well as a visit to a very special new venue and experience dedicated to Waltz King Johann Strauss in Vienna.

But in the meantime, have a Spooky and Sweet Halloween!

Sigrid Pichler & Helen Bitschnau

Managers of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info 
helen.bitschnau@austria.info  
tel 212 575 7723 x 119 or x 112
www.austria.info 

   

The Advent period in Austria is a time of old customs: Baking biscuits, putting up Christmas decorations, singing Christmas carols and many other much-loved traditions are shared by families in the weeks leading up to Christmas. While Advent officially starts roughly four weeks before December 24 to include four Advent Sundays, preparations and decorations for Christmas are well underway by mid-November, Christmas markets open their stalls, and a festive and fragrant air blankets the entire country. 

Many consider the arrival of St. Nikolaus and his devilish companion Krampus the first highlight of the Advent season. It has been around for several years at this point, but I think nobody explains Krampus better than award winning German-Austrian actor Christoph Waltz in this interview with Jimmy Fallon. 

Austria's big cities have a dizzying number of Christmas Markets to choose from, but there are also numerous fairy-tale like markets in rural areas, from the Alps to the steppe-like regions of the Neusiedlersee. Culture lovers will enjoy the spectacular setting for Christmas Markets in the historic city centers of Vienna, Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. There are also numerous castles and palaces which hold popular Christmas Markets in their courtyard, such as Schloss Hof in Lower Austria or Hellbrunn Castle in Salzburg. Some markets have a special focus on art and local crafts or culinary specialties. To avoid crowds, look for Christmas Markets away from the main squares, or in smaller towns and villages. If you are spending your Christmas Holiday in the mountains, you won't miss out on the Christmas Market experience either. Some of the most famous markets are held in villages such as Seefeld in Tirol, the Salzburg Mountain Advent in the Grossarl Valley (pictured), or in the charming towns of rural Vorarlberg. 

And if you cannot make it to Austria this year to soak up the Christmas spirit in person, how about you hum or sing along to a selection of our favorite Austrian Christmas songs while baking some traditional Austrian Christmas cookies?

  

Let segue from the kitchen into the arts: Snow and ice in landscapes and their effect on people are among the great themes in the fine arts. The grey, wintry light, which is sometimes mixed with blue and turquoise tones, inspired great artists from Austria and elsewhere to veritable masterpieces, many of which can be enjoyed in Austrian museums.

Alfons Walde, often nicknamed "The Painter of Snow", called one of Austria's foremost ski resorts, Kitzbühel, his home and his legacy lives on today: Kitzbühel's colorful old townhouses are attributed to his influence as the town's building commissioner, and as an architect he was also responsible for the design of the Hahnenkamm - yes, that famous downhill ski race! - cable car mountain station.

And as a special treat, you can admire some of Alfons Walde's works at our Winter Stories Untold. An Austrian Pop Up Experience in NYC next week! Scroll down (or better yet, read all the way down!) for more information. And no, we are not exhibiting Walde originals!

  

Moving on to the performing arts, one of the most beloved and influential Austrian composers is undeniably Johann Strauss. Johann (also called „Schani“) Strauss composed his first waltz at the age of six, and once he took over his father’s post as leader of his own band, he rapidly gained fame at home and abroad. As of 1863, he was leading all court balls, and a new era in Vienna’s dance history began. As the „Walzerkönig,“ or Waltz King, Johann Strauss toured all over Europe and introduced an enthusiastic international audience to his lively melodies. The Viennese Waltz was declared an Intangible World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2017.  

Over 300 balls are listed in Vienna’s ball calendar every season and Vienna‘s dance schools teach their students to waltz over the parquet floors in three-quarter time as if „Schani“ himself were holding the baton.

Just a few days ago, Vienna unveiled its last cultural gem - dedicated to the Waltz King - the House of Strauss, an interactive museum that pays tribute to the illustrious Strauss family. This unique museum seamlessly combines historic original rooms of the Strauss dynasty with cutting-edge technologies, including 3D avatars, animated visuals, and LED walls.
The moment you step into the historic halls, you are transported back in time. Black and white checkered marble floors, antique wallpaper lithographs, carefully restored ceiling frescoes adorned with opulent crystal chandeliers, and velvet-draped futons enhance the ambiance. The building - Casino Zögernitz in Vienna's Döbling district - once a gathering place for Viennese society, has been lovingly restored to its former glory, all in honor of Johann Strauss and the Strauss dynasty. The life's work of the Strauss family is presented in a multi-sensory experience spanning approximately 20,000 square feet. Unlike traditional music exhibits, visitors actively become part of the scenery, participating in operettas digitally, experimenting with digital music stands, and engaging with interactive stations to develop a new appreciation for music.

Attention ski lovers: Kick off your winter season at our multi-faceted pop-up exhibition in New York City! Austria is hosting a special four-day event called Winter Stories Untold. An Austrian Pop-Up Experience in New York City from November 9-12. We will bring a slice of Austria’s rich winter and ski culture to New York City. Our multimedia displays will highlight Austria’s top winter resorts with a focus on their sustainability efforts, showcase art, design, and winter fashion, and place a spotlight on our 130-year ski legacy and its impact in the United States. 

Mark your calendars for this exceptional event with many highlights such as the chance to win an unforgettable 5-day ski trip to Austria and a pair of brand-new HEAD skis!

When: November 9 -12, 2023 / open daily from 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Project Farmhouse, 76 East 13th Street (near Union Square), New York, NY 10003

Join the Opening Event on November 9th at 6 pm and explore Austria’s 130-year-old history of skiing. RSVP here