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What an exciting way to await
Christmas Eve – the arrival of the Christ Child! The
Magic of Advent in front of City Hall is hailed as
Vienna’s first, largest and most traditional Christmas
market is open daily as of 17 November, from 9 am.
Europe’s most child-friendly Christmas market delivers
seasonal magic to old and young alike, and children
start baking the first Christmas cookies in the
Christmas Workshop. The more than 1000 lights of the
huge Christmas tree will be turned on for the first time
this year on the eve of 17 November.
A firm favourite and one of the traditional attractions
of the Vienna Christmas Market is the crib display
beneath the arcades of City Hall, with a total of eight
nativity scenes inviting Christmas contemplation. The
choir concerts and brass music performances are also
part and parcel of the event. The choir concerts inside
City Hall begin in the first week of Advent, featuring
Christmas carols by choirs from all over the globe.
Brass music is also performed beneath the giant
Christmas tree in front of City Hall from the first
weekend of Advent onwards daily from 8 to 8.30 pm.
Rathauspark turned into a fairytale
Rathauspark on both sides of the Christmas market, has
been part of the Magic of Advent for over 20 years and
has become a gathering point for visitors and Viennese
alike, who wish to indulge in Advent magic. There is no
other place to deliver such seasonal magic, a place
where adults too can stroll through a fairytale-like
park — past the Advent studio, the Post Office in the
Clouds and talking fairytale characters, or beneath the
Heart Tree.
Being the most child-friendly Advent event in Europe
also involves constantly devising new attractions for
youngsters. No effort is spared to ensure that there is
plenty of surprise and excitement at the Magic of
Advent. The “classics” such as the old-Viennese
merry-go-round, pony riding and the Christmas Express
are this year joined by Frosti, the talking tree, which
springs to life at the press of a button and
entertainingly tells a tale and sings in his icy home.
In the snug and warm “Grandma’s Christmas tales”
pavilion young and old alike will listen to Christmas
and Advent tales (in German only), and in the Advent
studio, adorned with a gigantic Advent ring, visitors
will be welcomed and invited to participate in the
performance and ask questions. Perhaps some of the
guests will then be able to hear their questions on the
radio.
The Vienna Christ Child
With a little bit of luck you could be around at the
right time to watch the Christ Child at work or have
your picture taken with the Christ Child. Introduced two
years ago, the Vienna Christ Child now plays a key role
at Europe’s most child-friendly Christmas market,
bringing about the satisfaction of seeing hundreds of
beaming young faces. Tiny tots’ Christmas letters can
also be handed to the Christ Child in person.
The Christ Child will be visiting the Magic of Advent
every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until
Christmas Eve between 4 and 7 pm. A welcome will be
extended to visitors to the Christmas market and
Christmas tales read by the crib at 5 pm.
Starting the first weekend of Advent, the Vienna Christ
Child will act as an “Advent messenger”, calling by on a
kindergarten, hospital or home for the elderly to bring
the Christmas atmosphere also to those who cannot visit
the Christmas market themselves (anymore). She will
distribute small gifts from the Vienna Christmas market
and read out Christmas stories.
Post Office in the Clouds
The Post Office in the Clouds is one of the most popular
visitor attractions in Rathauspark. Personalised
Christmas postage stamps costing EUR 1 are available, as
are three special Magic of Advent postmarks. The Post
Office in the Clouds is open every day from 18 November
to 23 December from 2 pm to 7 pm. On Saturdays, Sundays
and 8 December it opens at 10 am, while on 24 December
it is open from 10 am to 4 pm.
The Christmas Workshop
As in previous years, the Christmas Workshop in
Volkshalle inside City Hall, right behind the Christmas
tree, attracts youngsters with ideas and instructions
for crafting their own Christmas gifts and bake
Christmas cookies.
Every year, more than 70,000 Christmas gifts are
crafted, wrapped and proudly given to family or friends
by nimble-fingered youngsters. The cookies of children’s
own making however rarely make it home – it’s just too
tempting to taste them …
The Christmas Workshop is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm.
On 24 December young artist can still craft last minute
gifts until 5 pm.
Vienna Christmas Market
Surrounded by the enchanting seasonal flair of the Magic
of Advent and brightly illuminated by the gigantic
Christmas tree, the 140 stalls of the market provide
inspiring gift ideas. Eager-eyed youngsters jostle for
position at the toy stalls while adults stroll along an
amazing variety of traditional handicraft, Christmas
decoration and a large selection of gift articles.
Especially in the cold season candles, scented lights
and decoration ornaments create a cosy flair in homes
and offices. For lovers of gingerbread, candied sugars
and more Viennese delicacies the market leaves nothing
to desire. Viennese and visitors from abroad gather at
the stalls to enjoy a mug of hot mulled wine (with or
without alcohol) and become friends easily. |
