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CHRISTMAS

Nine festive foods and drinks that no Austrian Christmas is complete without

From the main Christmas meal to the traditional festive cookie selection and the street food favourites you can find at Christmas markets, here's everything you should eat and drink during the Austrian holiday season.

Published: 14 December 2021 10:09 CET
Updated: 22 December 2023 09:29 CET
Gingerbread at Austrian market
Lebkuchen and more: here are our recommendations of what to eat and drink in Austria during the holiday season. Photo: Joe Klamar/AFP

Punsch

You’ll find all different flavours of punsch on offer: cherry, raspberry, orange, elderflower and more, and don’t forget the alcoholic versions which might add rum, amaretto or even orange liqueur. 

A similar popular drink is Jagertee, especially in apres ski venues, which is made with black tea, rum (usually the Stroh brand) and spices.

READ ALSO: How to celebrate Christmas like an Austrian

Glühwein

A favourite in Austria as well as Germany, this mulled wine is usually spiced with cinnamon, cloves and citrus and served at Christmas markets in festive mugs (often shaped like a boot) for which you pay a deposit (Pfand). Either return your mug to get your deposit back, or keep it as a souvenir.

As with punsch, there are opportunities to branch out from the classics and experiment with white glühwein or fruity flavours.

And again, many bars and market stalls offer the option to add a Schuss or shot of rum or amaretto, for those times when you want an extra kick. Ever the masters of the literal, the translation of the German word “glowing wine” will add some colour to your cheeks.

Roast goose

Traditionally eaten with dumplings and red cabbage, roast goose is often the main event of the Austrian Christmas dinner, often following carp the previous day.

Goose is a popular dish throughout the whole winter, starting with the Martinigansl served around St Martin’s Day in mid-November.

READ ALSO: Where to find international food in Austria this Christmas

Bratkartoffel and Kartoffelpuffer

Two delicious ways of getting your potato fix this winter. Bratkartoffel are thin, crispy slices of fried potatoes are available through the winter at street food stalls in the Christmas markets as well as the roasted chestnut (maroni) stalls that pop up throughout Austria, while Kartoffelpuffer are potato pancakes usually made in a coal stove, which can be served with different toppings.

Raclette

A Swiss dish with a devoted fanbase in Austria, you’ll be able to taste this at Christmas market stalls. Melted cheese is used to top bread or potatoes, before adding extra fillings like meat, onions, and vegetables.

Lebkuchen

In the German-speaking world, gingerbread comes in several forms, though its often glazed with either a thin icing or chocolate. It’s less crispy than a gingerbread man and definitely more, well, bread like.

There’ll be no shortage of these during the festive season in Austria, as you’ll see hundreds of different designs hanging from stalls, often in heart shapes with festive messages iced on them. The perfect gift or edible souvenir.

Vanillekipferl

These delightful little crescent-shaped biscuits just melt in your mouth. They are normally made from ground almonds or hazelnuts, and then given a heavy dusting of vanilla sugar. These are a staple in the selections of Weihnachtskekse (Christmas cookies) that are available at most markets and stores selling food, and make great gifts, contributions to a holiday party, or just snack supplies for the holidays.

Recipe: Three seasonal twists on classic Kipferl cookies

Spekulatius

This is a Christmas cookie spiced with a combination of cinnamon and cloves. The biscuit is very thin, crunchy, slightly browned and usually has a Christmassy image or figure stamped on the front before baking. The bottom of the cookie is flat. Imagine a slimmed-down, spiced-up version of shortbread. Because they are so dry and brittle, they make a good companion to coffee.

Rumkugeln

Literally translated as ‘rum balls’, these are another fixture in the Austrian Christmas cookie box, small truffle-like chocolate balls with a hit of rum or brandy. They supposedly date back to the 19th century and are easy to make at home.

Useful links

Austrian Tourist Board – has recipes for several of these dishes including Lebkuchen, Vanillekipferl, Linzer Cookies and a boozy Punsch

Austrian Supermarket – order Austrian food with free shipping over a minimum spend throughout the EU

Austrian Food – order Austrian delicacies in the UK

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For members

AUSTRIAN TRADITIONS

The ten weirdest taboos you must never break in Austria

Blending in with the locals in a new country can be challenging. We will guide you through some Austrian taboos to keep in mind.

Published: 15 April 2024 12:44 CEST
The ten weirdest taboos you must never break in Austria

Don’t enter the office break room at lunchtime without saying “Mahlzeit”

While working in Austria, you will quickly get used to the word “Mahlzeit”, which translates to “bon appétit” or “enjoy your meal” in English. 

“Mahlzeit” is something common to say among Austrians during lunchtime at their workplace. It can be seen as rude if you pass by a colleague taking a bite of a lunch sandwich without greeting them with a “Mahlzeit”. 

When greeted with ‘”Mahlzeit”, you should (as a sign of politeness) respond with the same word, even if the other person is not eating.

Don’t use German words instead of Austrian ones

In general, the German spoken in Austria is not like the one spoken in Germany. Many words are completely different, and in Austria, locals tend to prefer using the Austrian versions of the words.

Some examples of the differences come with the words tomato and potato. In Austria, tomatoes are called “Paradeiser,” while in Germany, they go by “Tomaten.” In addition, potatoes in Austria are called “Erdäpfeln,” whereas people refer to them as “Kartoffeln” in Germany.

Paradeiser or Tomaten? Photo by Alex Ghizila on Unsplash

Don’t be late

 In Austria, arriving late is considered bad manners, whether for work or a casual meet-up with friends. You do best if you always try to arrive a few minutes before the agreed-upon time. Arriving late can be seen as a lack of respect for those kept waiting.

To maintain good relations with the locals, sending a text saying “Sorry” if you are about to be late could be a good idea, as well as arriving with a valid excuse. 

Don’t forget to use the titles

It is often important to refer to people correctly according to Austrian standards, especially in formal settings.

When you talk to strangers in more formal settings, you are often expected to refer to them by their titles, such as “Doktor”, “Herr” (Mr.), or “Frau” (Mrs./Ms.), along with their last name. In Austria, this is seen as a sign of respect and good manners.

The titles are also very important when communicating in writing, such as in emails, where it can be important to know what the person studied to be able to refer to them in the correct way, such as “MSC” and the last name if the person completed a Master of Science.

Don’t insult the Austrian food such as Leberkäse

Some things from the Austrian cuisine might not look that tempting to you, such as Leberkäse with its pink colour, soft consistent and dripping fat. But even if they do not, try not to criticise the dish too much in front of a local. Austrians are generally proud of their cuisine, and it is a bad idea to express negative opinions about the less “attractive” options.

A good idea is to talk about the dishes you actually like and avoid showing too much surprise if you are served dishes like brain with egg (Hirn mit Ei).

In Austria, Leberkäse is a fast and convenient option when you are hungry. Photo by Allen Rad on Unsplash
 

Don’t ask people to speak High German

Austrians take pride in their dialects, and even though most of them also speak what is known as “High German,” they sometimes prefer not to do so.

As a foreigner who has learned more standardised German, it can sometimes be challenging to understand the various dialects, and tempting to ask if they can change their way of speaking. But even if most of them would do so, it is something they prefer not to continue doing for a longer period of time. 

Therefore, while living in Austria, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the dialect spoken in the area where you live. However, most Austrians will pick up on your difficulty if you don’t understand their dialect and try to “tone it down” so you can talk. 

Don’t miss out on bureaucratic procedures

To become a successful and legal resident of Austria, you must get involved with quite a bit of paperwork. Make sure to always check what you need to do when you, for example, arrive in Austria, change addresses, or file your taxes as a freelancer.

There are many specific rules in Austria for how to do things, and if you do not submit certain papers on time, you might have to pay a fee. For example, if you do not change your address on time (within three days of moving), or if you do not cancel it when going abroad for some months, it could become expensive

Don’t ignore the traffic rules as a cyclist and pedestrian

You cannot cross the street if the light is red in Austria. Even if there are no cars visible, you have to stay put on your side of the street until the light changes to green. If you fail to do so, you will receive some angry comments from other pedestrians and might also have to pay a high fine.

Also, for cyclists, you have to follow a lot of written and unwritten rules, such as putting reflectors on your wheels and only using the bike path if you do not want angry locals to scream at you.

Parked bikes in Vienna. Photo by aestelle on Unsplash
 

Don’t call people “Du” in a formal setting

Using “Du” to address someone in a formal setting is a big no-no in Austria and often seen as a lack of respect towards the person. In certain settings, such as at universities, government offices, medical appointments, and business meetings, using “Du” is considered especially rude and inappropriate.

To make sure that you do not offend anyone, when you are unsure or when the setting is formal, address people with “Sie” instead of “Du”. Calling people “Du” in Austria is something you do when you are familiar with someone or in an informal setting.

Don’t forget to tip

When you visit a restaurant or café in Austria, it is considered good manners to leave a bit of a tip. If you do not, you might receive disapproving looks from the staff.

Most people in Austria tend to tip, either by rounding up the bill or leaving a small tip of 5-10%. However, if you did not like the service, you can express it by choosing not to tip. Or if you really liked it, you can choose to add a higher percentage of tip to the bill.

Woman paying for her consumption. Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash
 

Do you agree with our tips? Do you have any other unspoken rules to add? Leave a comment below!

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