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AUSTRIAN HABITS

The five signs that spring has really arrived in Austria

Many people in Austria have been waiting to dig up their shorts and shirts and enjoy warmer spring weather - but cold fronts have postponed the celebrations. So, when do we know when spring has finally arrived in Austria?

Published: 18 April 2023 16:36 CEST
Updated: 21 March 2024 13:18 CET
A couple sit in front of a tree
Beautiful spring weather in Austria. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

Spring in Austria is definitely a great time to visit the country, especially if you enjoy mild weather and sunny days. For those who live here and have endured long months of cold weather and darkness, it’s a time people start getting out of their shells and hitting the outdoors again. 

This happened on March 20th this year, the spring equinox and the astronomical start of spring in the northern hemisphere. However, anyone in Austria during late March would know that there have rarely been any mild or sunny days – some regions have even seen freezing temperatures. 

Another interesting way of marking the beginning of spring, which is mentioned often in Austrian newspapers, is by the blooming of typical plants and pollen. Beginning as early as February, people in Austria will start seeing stories about the pollen count – and warnings for those who are allergic.

READ ALSO: Discover Austria: 7 must-see destinations for a spring break

Later on, farmers will mark spring by the blooming of hazelnut, magnolia and apricot trees – tourists will also notice cherry blossoms. Those are followed by blooming pear trees and, finally, the flowering of apple trees. 

In the local media, people in Austria will also see stories about migratory animals, particularly storks, which come to cities such as Rust to famously build nests and lay eggs on top of historical buildings. 

The arrival of the storks is a sure sign of the coming spring in the Alpine country.

How do people know spring is coming in their day to day?

There are also some very Austrian signs that spring is finally arriving. Here are five that you can check out for and that might get your hopes up that springtime is coming even if temperatures are still closer to 0C than 20C.

  • People will seize any opportunity to dine outside

As winter comes to an end, cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating are eager to welcome customers back to enjoy their alfresco areas. 

Despite temperatures hovering just above freezing, many establishments are already setting up tables and chairs. Customers seem equally excited to take advantage of any opportunity to enjoy a drink or a meal outside. 

It seems that some are even willing to endure the chill in the air in the hopes of ushering in the warmer spring weather.

READ ALSO: The German language you need for spring in Austria

Austria’s Wachau region is one of the best places to visit in spring. (Photo by ALEX HALADA / AFP)
  • Ice cream shops reopen – and there are lines

Another sign that spring is on its way is that Austrians will quickly swap their warm meals and desserts for a cone (or several) of ice cream and gelatos. 

The shops are open again, and some of the most famous ones might still have lines outside. Kids will demand their ice cream, and teens and young students will be starting their part-time jobs or looking for positions for their summer break.

READ ALSO: Six of the best things to do in spring in Vienna

  • People’s whole diet changes

It’s not just the icy dessert that makes a comeback for the year, but people will start changing their entire diet as spring approaches.

Inside supermarkets and outside busy areas in small stalls, you will see Austrians selling huge and beautiful strawberry baskets and other local foods and jams. The love for the seasonal asparagus means that most traditional restaurants will offer a dish or two at least.

Red wine is quickly replaced by a refreshing spritzer, white wine with soda (or other drinks such as the Hugo or Aperol Spritz).

READ ALSO: Hugo, Almdudler and Radler: 5 drinks to try in Austria this summer

  • Spring cleaning is up and running

Austrians will start their spring cleaning, and you might see some furniture being moved around via the metro and other forms of public transportation. You will hear your neighbours moving things around and your Austrian friends will recommend you open your windows to lüften, bringing in the fresh air of spring (but not too much if the pollen count is already high).

You will see your neighbours more often as they head to the Keller to drop off their winter attire, pick up spring decorations, and even a barbecue grill.

The person in charge of your building bloc will put the plants outside again – they were kept inside during the winter to avoid freezing, perhaps despite fire hazard regulations. 

READ ALSO: What are the best things to do in spring in Austria?

  • Days are longer

Especially since daylight savings time is still being observed in Europe, days that used to end at 5 pm just a few months ago now last until 8 pm. 

If you are working in Austria and can see plenty of sunlight before and after your regular 9-5 working shift, then you know for sure that spring is here.

READ ALSO: Clocks go back in Austria again despite EU deal on scrapping hour change

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AUSTRIAN HABITS

‘Too many schnitzels’: Austrians called out for high meat consumption

Austrians are known for their love of meat dishes, such as the iconic Wiener Schnitzel. But a charity has called them out for consuming too much meat.

Published: 4 April 2024 11:55 CEST
'Too many schnitzels': Austrians called out for high meat consumption

When you visit a restaurant in Austria, you may struggle to find a lot of vegetarian options. 

That’s because Austria is a meat heavy country – and national dishes like the Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz – a boiled beef or veal in broth – attest to that. 

READ ALSO: The best and worst Austrian foods (as voted for by you)

But do people in Austria eat too much meat?

Yes, according to the animal protection NGO Vier Pfoten (Four Paws), who said Austria’s meat consumption is almost twice as high as the global average.

According to research the organisation compiled for the so-called ‘Meat Exhaustion Day’, the Austrian population will have eaten the recommended amount of meat for the whole year by April 7th. 

The calculation is based on the ‘Planetary Health Diet’, a scientifically based eating plan developed by the EAT-Lancet Commission, which takes into account the effects of nutrition on both the climate and human health.

Austria is ahead of its neighbours when it comes to consuming meat. In Germany, the ‘Meat Exhaustion Day’ deadline is April 21st, and in Switzerland, it’s May 6th.

People in Austria are eating “almost four times as much meat as recommended,” said Vier Pfoten campaign manager Veronika Weissenböck, adding that it is “alarming”.

READ ALSO: How did the Wiener Schnitzel become an Austrian icon?

‘More than seven schnitzels per week’

At 58.6 kilograms per capita per year, meat consumption in Austria is almost twice as high as the average global consumption (33 kilograms).

According to Vier Pfoten, each person eats 1.13 kilos per week, which is the equivalent of more than seven schnitzels per week.

The Schnitzel.

The Schnitzel is an Austrian classic. Photo by Lukas on Pexels.

The recommended amount of 301 grams of meat per week corresponds to no more than two schnitzels, said the NGO.

Weissenböck said countries like Austria needed to look into the problems related to excessive consumption.

“The truth is that cheap meat from factory farming costs us dearly,” she said. “The consequential costs of environmental pollution, climate pollution, the use of antibiotics, but also the rising costs in the health system due to a diet that is too heavy on meat – all of this has long been falling on our heads. Meat consumption must be reduced as quickly as possible.”

Vier Pfoten said that by eating two thirds less meat,  Austria could save 28 percent of greenhouse gases in the food sector.

They called on politicians to put forward measures to reduce meat consumption, such as ending discount campaigns on meat and making sure companies have transparent labelling on products detailing the way animals are reared. 

But is that a reality?

Probably not, or at least it isn’t high on the agenda in the political landscape in Austria. 

In fact, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, of the conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) last year came under fire for dismissing left-wing complaints that there are children in Austria going hungry by saying that everyone could afford cheap meat – namely a €1.70 Hamburger from McDonald’s.

He admitted that “it’s not healthy, but it’s cheap”.

READ ALSO: Austrian chancellor under fire for saying low-income families should eat at McDonalds

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