Discover the Magic: Top 7 Unique and Entertaining Christmas Fun Facts in Austria

1. Krampus Parade: Scary Christmas!

Forget checking the naughty list twice – Krampus is coming to town and the Austrians love it: In Austria, during the Advent period, the Krampus, a traditional figure associated with St. Nicholas, is known to roam the streets on December 5th, wearing animal skins, carved wooden masks, and carrying sticks and bells. Originally intended to scare misbehaving children, contemporary processions are now quite orderly, even having the Krampus costumes numbered to monitor their conduct.
Source => christmasmarketsaustria.com

2. Santa's Whip-Wielding Sidekick

Watch out, kids! Santa's got a not-so-jolly sidekick in Austria: Introducing Krampus, a goat-demon that might just give you a whipping if you've been naughty. The serious reveal: While Austrians still celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th, it's on the 5th that naughty children may receive a visit from Krampus, a creature from dark folklore who whips and scares children into behaving, creating a unique and slightly terrifying holiday atmosphere.
Source => guide-collective.com

Did you know that in Germany, St. Nicholas has a wild sidekick, Knecht Ruprecht, who carries a kid-sized sack not for punishing naughty children but to serve as a helper during Christmas? Find out more about this intriguing tradition!

=> Fun Facts about Christmas-In-Germany

3. Krampus Punishing the Naughty

Hold onto your stockings, kids, because Santa’s sinister sidekick is coming to town: In Austria, the terrifying Krampus takes center stage on December 5th, scouring neighborhoods for misbehaving children, armed with chains and sticks, to either punish them or kidnap them to the underworld. But fear not, good little boys and girls - St. Nicholas arrives on December 6th to reward the survivors with presents and treats.
Source => billyheromans.com

4. Christkind: Austria's Angel Gifts

Move over Santa, there's a new kid in town - quite literally: In Austria, the Christkind, a sprite-like child with angel wings and blonde hair, is the main traditional gift-bringer of Christmas, secretly delivering presents and flying away before anyone enters the room on Christmas Eve.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Handmade Christmas Market in Austria

Ready to swap your Santa hats for berets and indulge in some yuletide craftsmanship à la Austriana? You'll find a cornucopia of festive finery and drool-worthy treats at a quaint little market in the land where Krampus roams free: This Austrian Christmas gem resides in the Salzkammergut region, specifically the Advent Market in Hand.Werk.Haus, Bad Goisern. Over 20 skilled artisans showcase their masterpieces, from hats and clocks to carpentry, tailored dresses, and goldsmithery. Alongside these delectable creations, you'll discover scrumptious food specialties like mulled wine, grilled sausages, smoked fish, coffee, cakes, and roasted chestnuts. To cap off the excursion, check out the Exhibition of Cribs by a group from Bad Goisern housed in the Old People's Home.
Source => im-salzkammergut.at

6. Scrumptious Austrian Christmas Dishes

Move over Rudolph, the geese are in town with a scrumptious twist: In Austria, one of the most popular Christmas dishes is the Christmas goose, stuffed with apples, baked chestnuts, and cloves, and seasoned with salt, pepper, marjoram, and shallots. Other festive Austrian delights include Weihnachtskarpfen (baked carp), traditional Christmas cookies like Vanillekipferl, cinnamon stars, Nussecken, hot chestnuts (maroni), and the much-beloved Glühwein, a hot, festive drink made from tea, sugar, red wine, cinnamon, and strong liquor.
Source => chefspencil.com

7. Wise Men Protection in Austria

Who needs a security system when you've got Kaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar on your side? Austria's got your back, or rather, your door frame: During the Epiphany holiday, Austrians write the initials of the Three Wise Men in chalk above doorways for good luck and protection, celebrating the occasion with singing and charity donations. Catholic children even dress up as these celestial bouncers, with one even donning blackface – considered a religious tradition rather than anything offensive.
Source => thelocal.at