Austria Holidays - 2002

New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1. At the stroke of midnight all church bells throughout Austria ring in the New Year. In major cities people dance in the streets into the New Year to the tunes of the famous danube waltz. All throughout Austria, you will experience fire works,brass band parades and evening fanfares in the Old Town at New Year's; Graz and other smaller cities also stage a string of events to celebrate.

Many Christians around the world annually celebrate Epiphany on January 6. It is a public holiday in many countries and marks two events in Jesus Christ’s life, according to the Christian Bible. January 6, which is 12 days after Christmas in the Gregorian calendar, marks not only the end of the Christmas holidays.Epiphany is one of the oldest Christian feasts. It was celebrated since the end of the second century, before the Christmas holiday was established.

Easter is one of the most important annual religious feasts in the Christian liturgical year. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. Some Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday and three days after Maundy Thursday. Traditional Easter brunch with sweet bread ('Osterpinze'), cold meat, coloured eggs and horseradish. As a tradition for kids, colourful Easter eggs, sweets and small presents are hidden in the house or - if the weather allows - in the garden by a mythological Easter bunny. There's also a delicious pastry in the form of a lamb ('Osterlamm'), which is traditionally given to the kids by their godfather or godmother.

Labor Day in Austria is also often called International Workers' Day. It is a commemoration of the execution of the Haymarket martyrs who were arrested after the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, Illinois, which occurred on May 4 but was the culmination of labor unrest that had begun on May 1. In Austria and many parts of Germany, especially in Bavaria, the tradition of raising a Maypole (Maibaum) on May 1 still serves to welcome spring—as it has since ancient times. Similar Maypole festivities also can be found in England, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.

Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter. It occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven according to Christian belief. Ascension Day is officially celebrated on a Thursday on the 40th day of Easter (or 39 days after Easter Sunday).

Whit Monday, or Pentecost Monday, is a Christian holiday. It is the day after Pentecost, also known as Whit Sunday or Whitsunday, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament of the Bible.Whit Monday is a public holiday in Austria.

Corpus Christi is a Christian observance that honors the Holy Eucharist. It is also known as the Feast of the Most Holy Body of Christ, as well as the Day of Wreaths. Corpus Christi is a public holiday in Austria.It is a moveable feast that is celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or on the Sunday after Holy Trinity in some countries such as the United States. This event commemorates the Last Supper on the day before Jesus’ crucifixion, as described in the Bible. Corpus Christi is primarily celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church but it is also included in the calendar of some Anglican churches.

The feast day of the Assumption of Mary, also known as Assumption Day, celebrates the day that the Virgin Mary ascended into Heaven following her death, according to popular Christian belief. It is the principal feast day of the Virgin Mother. It is celebrated annually on or around August 15 by many countries, particularly in parts of Europe and South America.

Every year, on October 26th, Austria celebrates her national holiday. The holiday marks the sign of the State Treaty that established the Constitutional Laws of the country. This is a complete rest day. The streets are decorated with national flags and colored lights. Colorful parades and dance calling are held. In the evening garish fireworks are shot to the sky.

All Saints' Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in many Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches. In many western churches it is annually held November 1 and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated on 8 December, nine months before the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated on 8 September. It is the patronal feast day of the United States. It is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church as well as a few other closely related Christian churches.It is a public holiday in Austria.

Christmas is undoubtedly the most important holiday in Austria. In Austria, Christmas begins with the feast of St Nicholas or Heiliger Nikolaus on 6th of December.Following church services, families return home for their more intimate celebrating. Christmas markets are a long-standing and typically Austrian tradition.The Christmas tree plays a very important part. Every town sets up its own huge tree on the main square and frequently there will be an extra one, adorned with bread crumbs, for the birds. In families the tree is decorated with gold and silver ornaments or stars made our of straw, sweets and candy wrapped in tinfoil, gilded nuts, etc.

St. Stephen’s Day is a Christian saint’s day which is celebrated on 26th of December in the Western Church.