Tis the Season

Why is there a pile of soggy tissues on the floor? The answer is simple. A movie. Gerard Butler: the Phantom and the Stranger not plays the Dead Husband in this new movie that I won't accept as the coffee-table romance that it might possibly be. Anyway, the movie brought James Blunt back out of the closet:



But what about Austria? For one thing, there's a beautiful layer of snow on the ground. For another, it's nearly Christmas!

Christmas season in Austria:
1.) the Glühwein Stand: a little wooden hutch that sells a motley of hot alcoholic beverages: Glühwein, Punsch, and Glühmost. This time of year, the police are on "special" alert! I think nearly 200 people a week are arrested for drunk driving in my province. Merry Christmas! Stands for mulled wine are usually found in Christkindlmarkts or Weihnachtmarkts. At these places, all manner of food and nick-nackery can be purchased. Usually, there is music and a lively atmosphere. Quite the place to be and they're all over Germany and Austria (I'm not sure about other European countries).

2.)the Weihnachts Feier: the Christmas party! I've had four: archery club, two with teachers, one with the other TAs. Each one was extremely fun. We went to pub restaurants and ate giant meals together. I had spaetzle, bratl in the round, duck, and schnitzle. The thing is, my stomach sorta revolted against all the rich food last night resulting in quite a sick Katie.

3.) the Christkind: Santa Clause doesn't exist over here. There is a St. Nicholaus, who I mentioned earlier. He comes on the 5th of December with the Krampus. But presents are delivered by the Christkind who is, in theory, the Christ child. The only fuzzy logic to this is that the Chrirstkind is a he/she/it. Some of my students argue that it's a girl and others that it's a boy. Either way, it's a slightly angelic creature that delivers the presents, WHICH the children open on the eve of the 24th. Lucky little sods don't have to suffer through that last night of anticipation. ;)

Other than those little bits, I haven't noticed many obvious differences. The Austrians love their real Christmas trees but not the gaudy, tacky bits of Christmas like inflatable Santas and Snowmen. Christmas here seems just a bit more natural, less bought. The snow certainly helps although it's likely to melt within the next few days. Austrians also love their Christmas cookies: cooking 10 varieties in one day and not cooking anymore for the rest of the season - sorta like a burnout.

I'll try and send off one last post before I leave for Berlin. Happy Holidays!