A Christmas guide
Christmas in Austria
Traditions, food and holiday customs
Main date
December 25 (main celebration on December 24)
Gift bringer
Christkind
Signature flavour
Common dishes include fried carp, roast goose, Wiener Schnitzel and Bratwurst.
Austria celebrates a quiet, family-focused Christmas. Cities and alpine villages alike fill with Adventmärkte, brass music and the scent of roasted chestnuts.
Christmas in Austria is celebrated on December 25 (main celebration on December 24). The main festive figure is Christkind.
When is Christmas celebrated in Austria?
Christmas in Austria falls on December 25 (main celebration on December 24). For many families the celebration stretches across several days, with quieter moments at home alongside the busier public events.
Main traditions
Advent begins with the first lit candle on the wreath. On December 5 children meet Krampus parades in many regions. Christmas Eve is the heart of the holiday: families gather, the tree is lit, and Silent Night is often sung in memory of its 1818 Austrian origin.
Christmas food
Common dishes include fried carp, roast goose, Wiener Schnitzel and Bratwurst. Vanillekipferl, Lebkuchen and Linzer cookies are baked throughout Advent.
Gift giving customs
Presents appear under the tree on Christmas Eve, said to be brought by the Christkind. A bell signals that children may enter the room.
Santa or local Christmas figure
The festive figure most associated with Christmas in Austria is Christkind. Names, costumes and gift giving dates can vary from family to family and from region to region.
Fun fact
Silent Night was first performed in Oberndorf bei Salzburg on Christmas Eve 1818 and is now sung in hundreds of languages worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Christmas celebrated in Austria?
- Christmas in Austria is celebrated on December 25 (main celebration on December 24).
- Who brings gifts to children in Austria?
- In Austria children traditionally receive gifts from Christkind.
- What do families eat for Christmas in Austria?
- Common dishes include fried carp, roast goose, Wiener Schnitzel and Bratwurst. Vanillekipferl, Lebkuchen and Linzer cookies are baked throughout Advent.
Sources
More countries
Christmas in Germany
Christmas in Germany is a season-long celebration that centres on Heiligabend (Christmas Eve), open-air Christmas markets and the four Sundays of Advent.
Christmas in Slovenia
Slovenia blends Alpine, Mediterranean and Slavic Christmas customs into a long festive season that runs from early December through Epiphany on January 6.
Christmas in United Kingdom
Christmas in the United Kingdom is centred on Christmas Day at home with family, followed by Boxing Day on December 26.
Last updated Friday, June 19, 2026