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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

How to celebrate Easter like an Austrian

From cakes in the shape of a baby lamb to 'Green Thursday', Easter in Austria can feel a little different. Here's your guide to the festivities.

Published: 26 March 2021 13:33 CET
Updated: 6 April 2023 17:24 CEST
Easter egg decorations
ALEXANDER KLEIN / AFP

Easter traditions begin in Austria in the weeks leading up to the big day, as shops and bakeries start to fill up with seasonal goods such as Osterpinzen (a kind of sweet bread roll), Schinken im Brotteig (ham in a bread crust), colourful hardboiled eggs and cakes in the shape of a baby lamb (Osterlamm). 

Here are some examples of what the Osterlamm might look like – and one of a pretty sad looking little lamb. 

For those unsure why a lamb-shaped cake should take centre stage this time of year, here is a brief explanation of its history and purpose during Easter time.

As well as looking cute, delighting children, and tasting nice, Osterlamm has a serious side.

There are lots of different Osterlamm recipes available online – most requiring a lamb-shaped cake form – but the ready-made version is also easy to pick up from certain shops in Austria.

The following link breaks down the Osterlamm and at least tries to answer why it is so important for Austrians. 

READ MORE: ‘Osterlamm’ and what it means to Austria

Decorations

Many people decorate their homes with an Easter centrepiece arrangements of Palmkätzchen (also known as Palmbuschen, Palmkatzln, Palmkatzerl or pussy willow in English) and decorated wooden eggs, though some people add other foliage to the decoration. 

Palmsonntag (Palm Sunday) is celebrated in Austria by the blessing of Palmkätzchen rather than palms.

An Austrian folk custom says that if you bury these blessed Palmkätzchen, they protect your fields from bad weather during the year.

Green Thursday

Maundy Thursday follows or Gründonnerstag (Green Thursday), as it is known in Austria. It is traditional to eat spinach and other green foods such as kale, herbs or salads on this day, hence the name.

On this day in much of Austria and also in Catholic areas of Germany it is said the church bells fall silent and “fly to Rome”, so children are tasked with making a noise with wooden rattles to announce the times of day and call for church services.

READ MORE: What does Gründonnerstag mean in Austria?

In some parts of Austria, groups of boys walk from house to house with baskets and their ratchets to collect eggs.

Good Friday

Karfreitag (Good Friday) is not really celebrated by Catholics and is no longer a public holiday for Protestants living in Austria.

Easter fires

The most elaborate Easter rituals in Austria are said to be in Styria and Carinthia, where   on the Saturday before Easter (Holy Saturday or Karsamstag) it is common to have a bonfire or Osterfeuer outside together with family and friends.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic this year, there will be restrictions on traditional Easter bonfires. In Carinthia they will only be allowed in public between 6am and 8pm in Carinthia.

The number of participants will also be limited.

Traditional Easter bonfires will be restricted this year in Austria. Image: AFP

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday in Austria, children enjoy Easter egg hunts and a large Saturday dinner and/or Sunday breakfast with ham, coloured eggs, Osterpinzen bread and special cakes. Church bells ring out, having returned from Rome.

A popular game is Eierpecken (egg pecking), in which people bang coloured eggs together until they break. Then the winner has to eat the eggs. 

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DISCOVER AUSTRIA

Five unforgettable locations for camping in Austria

Summer is soon here and if you plan to spend your vacation in the nature, camping is a great idea. Here are some of Austria's best camping locations.

Published: 8 May 2024 13:45 CEST
Five unforgettable locations for camping in Austria

Austrian summers are usually hot, and for many, they offer a great opportunity to camp in the country’s beautiful nature, whether this means close to a lake, a historical town or maybe in the mountains.

Even though wild camping is generally illegal in Austria, there are plenty of beautiful camping sites where you can pitch your tent and at the same time enjoy some comfortable facilities such as showers.

Austria offers many great locations to choose from, and here we list five of the most beautiful and interesting. 

Lake Neusiedl

Located in Burgenland, in the eastern part of Austria, Lake Neusiedl is a great place for camping with many different camping sites surrounding the lake.

The lake is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a famous destination for cycling, swimming, windsurfing, sailing, or just relaxing.

If you want to enjoy some culture during your stay, you can visit Burgenland’s capital, Eisenstadt, known for its charm and historic sites, such as Esterházy Palace and the Haydn House, the former residence of the famous composer Joseph Haydn.

Some of the most beautiful camping sites in the area are Strandcamping Podersdorf and Storchencamp Camping Rust, both located directly on the lake’s shore.

Lake Neusiedl. Photo by Ciocan Ciprian on Unsplash

Salzkammergut

The Salzkammergut region in Salzburg is famous for its beautiful nature, especially for its many crystal-clear lakes surrounded by mountains.

The region also has many cute and historical villages worth a visit, such as the famous Hallstatt or maybe the lesser-known but equally beautiful Strobl or Traunkirchen.

Salzkammergut is a great destination for spending your holiday if you want to cycle around, go on a boat ride, swim, hike, climb, or learn about the historical villages.

Two camping sites worth checking out are Berau am Wolfgangsee and Camp MondSeeLand, both located at two of the region’s most beautiful lakes.

Salzkammergut is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Photo by Uta Scholl on Unsplash

Tyrol 

The state of Tyrol, located in the western part of Austria, is an ideal destination for those who love mountains, lakes, and nature. In this region, you will find some of Austria’s highest mountains, such as Grossglockner, standing at 3,798 meters.

Tyrol is a great destination for mountain sports such as climbing, hiking, and biking. You can also explore the region’s historical villages or relax in one of the many spas.

Additionally, you can try some of the region’s typical dishes, such as Tiroler Gröstl, a traditional dish made with pan-fried potatoes, onions, and leftover meat.

Some camping sites worth exploring are Camping Aufenfeld in Zillertal Valley and Terassencamping Schlossberg Itter at the foot of the Hohe Salve mountain.

Tyrol is home to some of Austria’s tallest mountains. Photo by Uta Scholl on Unsplash
 

Carinthia

The state of Carinthia in the south of Austria offers many different camping sites among mountains and crystal-clear lakes, such as Lake Wörthersee and Lake Millstätter See. The region is also close to Slovenia and Italy if you would like to go there for a day trip.

Carinthia is a great location if you are an outdoor enthusiast who wants to enjoy swimming, hiking, climbing, and cycling.

Klagenfurt is the capital of the region and a beautiful city that offers a lot of culture, with different museums, markets, restaurants, and coffee places. 

While camping in Carinthia, it could be a great idea to choose a camping site with direct access to a lake, such as Camping Anderwald at Lake Fakker or Camping Wörthersee/Klagenfurt if you want to enjoy both the lake and the city. 

Lake Wörthersee, in Carinthia, Austria. (Photo by Branislav Knappek on Unsplash)

Styria

Styria is located in the south-eastern part of Austria and is a great place to enjoy camping in beautiful nature.

Areas like Gesäuse National Park and Schladming-Dachstein offer camping sites surrounded by high mountains and lakes, where you can enjoy hiking, climbing, biking, swimming, or just relaxing. 

The region is famous for its many bike paths, pumpkin oil and wines, especially white wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Gelber Muskateller.

Some camping sites in the region worth checking out are Campingplatz Forstgarten in Gesäuse National Park and Camping Rothenfels in Oberwoelz.

Gesäuse National Park. Photo by Joachim Pressl on Unsplash
 
 
Did we miss your favourite spot? Let us know where you like to go camping in Austria in the comments below.
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