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| Fall in Austria |
This week schools are closed on Thursday and the university officially recognizes Friday as a holiday as well. What holiday is it this time you may ask?
A. Halloween
B. Thanksgiving
C. St. Nicholas Day
D. Independence Day
E. Memorial Day
If your answer was:
A. Cool Austrians celebrate Halloween too! The most common outfit to dress up in is the traditional Lederhose/leather pants for men and Dirndl dress for women. No, this holiday is still not widely celebrated but it is slowly catching on.
B. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving at the beginning of Nov. Americans celebrate at the end of Nov. So maybe the Europeans just start earlier at the end of Oct. This weekend I cooked Thanksgiving Dinner for my old roommates and some new friends (see photo) True it is earlier, but even sooner in mid- to late-September.
C. It snowed this weekend in Austria giving the feel of Christmastime to come. And it's true St. Nicholas comes with Krampus to give good children fruit and nuts weeks before Santa Claus jumps down your chimney. But not yet. We'll save that holiday for December. And beware of the Krampus who take care of the bad children.
D. As Americans the ideal time for Independence Day is when it is still warm enough to grill outside, have a parade and sit comfortable under the stars and watch fireworks. An Independence Day in Austria looks exactly opposite. The cold weather has set in and grills have been packed away and fireworks are being stored up for New Years Eve. If you guessed D. you are close. Independence Day is October 26, so we also had schools closed last Friday.
E. If I say E. is wrong then it was an unfair multiple choice and NONE OF THE ABOVE should have been included. Technically there isn't a Memorial Day, but I will accept E. as the correct answer because it is a good way to describe what takes place. The actual religious title is All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. Austrians will go to the cemetery and decorate the graves of their loved ones who have passed away.
Do you also celebrate All Saints' or All Souls' Day?
