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A Viennese Winter


It was in 2009 that I experienced snow for the first time. To us, born and raised in a tropical climate, having winters with snow has always been a dream. So was it for me! Unfortunately last year there was very little snow.  However the city seemed to have sensed my disappointment and this year Vienna is living a white Christmas!
It’s amazing how different the city looks in every season. Nonetheless it never seems to lose its class or charm! The grand architecture of the Staatsoper(Opera House), expansive parks, the central church with its statuesque dome, live on with the same if not more grandeur.  The much talked about Viennese Coffee culture comes to one’s notice a lot more during cold winters. People journeying through snow-covered streets holding piping hot coffee from Aida (one of the famous coffee houses here) is a common spectacle. Also, all resentment for that cup of green tea seems to evaporate as you sit cuddled in blankets sipping some boiling tea.
No Santa Claus this time for Christmas! No not because I was bad but because in Austria we have the Chriskind instead. Yes, it came as a surprise to me when I found out that it’s not Santa Claus but Chriskind who brings gifts. Therefore we have here the Chriskindl Markts. They are markets with stalls that sell goodies like candy, pretzels, donuts among other things like clothes, Christmas tree decorations etc. Weihnachten as Christmas is called in Vienna is incomplete without the Punsch and Glühwein- traditional drinks served hot, blissful in the cold weather!  And the so many Punsch stalls in every nook and corner make it very difficult to ignore! Something I just simply can’t resist is this spicy potato pancake type thing called Kartoffel Puffer. Agree it’s a lot of fat but one’s got to eat to battle the cold J!
On the first of December the children in the family get what is called the Advents calendar. It is in the form of a thin rectangular box with windows on it. These windows have written on them the dates from the 1st of December till the 24th. Each day the kid gets to open a window and inside would be a surprise like chocolates or a small toy etc.  Traditionally, for Christmas, the children in the family bake cakes with the grandmother. The Christmas tree is decorated only on the 24th and the children are not allowed to see it until in the evening when they also get their presents.  
Many new interesting traditions and customs learnt, so many more unheard and unseen. As I sit here on this graceful winter afternoon I wonder how one cannot appreciate the ways of mankind that adds hues galore to this conundrum that’s life.
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Comments

Unknown said…
Hey upload karna pics.....
...especially Christmas celebrations...
December 30, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Unknown said…
hey i will send you the pics of the celebs soon :)
January 3, 2011 at 5:52 AM
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