CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRIA
Here in Austria we celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December at night. We believe that “Christkind” brings a Christmastree and presents for us. Children never happen to see Christkind, because it brings the tree and the presents when no children are watching and disappears when a child comes. This usually happens around the time when it gets dark on December 24th, although the living room, where the tree usually is placed, is locked all day long on the 24th. The whole family gathers and then suddenly a little bell is being rung next to the tree and that means that we can go and see our beautifully decorated Christmas tree. We sing “Silent Night” and then we open our presents !
By the way, you might not know that the original lyrics of the song “Silent Night” were written in German by the Austrian priest Father Josef Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber.
Andrea Ploc’s Class
Volksschule Liebhartsgasse
Wien, AUSTRIA
Our teacher found this picture on the Internet. This is what we think Christkind looks like:
