Marriage and Family

Couples often decide to live together before or instead of marriage. Many people marry in church, but a civil ceremony must also be performed for a marriage to be legal.

In urban areas, families tend to be small, but rural families are often a bit larger. Both parents generally work outside the home, so couples tend to share duties related to the household and children. The government gives families financial allowances for each child. Children who are not in school and whose parents both work are cared for privately or in day-care centers. Most urban Austrians live in apartments, whereas in rural areas people more often live in single-family houses. About one-fifth of all housing is publicly owned.

Eating

Austrian cuisine is drawn from the various cultures that once composed the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Specialties vary by region, but include traditional dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet), Knödel (moist potato dumplings), and goulash. Pastries and cakes, such as Sachertorte (a rich chocolate cake with apricot jam and chocolate icing), are also extremely popular. Beer and wine are both produced in Austria.

A typical day begins with a light breakfast of coffee or hot chocolate, rolls, bread, and jam or marmalade. There are numerous sausage stands in cities, and shoppers may buy sausages to eat as a snack between meals, often in the late morning. Traditionally the main meal is in the middle of the day, but for families in which both parents work outside the home, the evening meal is often the main one. Families try to eat at least one meal together each day. Whether at midday or in the evening, the main meal may include soup, meat with potatoes or pasta, vegetables, a salad, and often dessert (such as a homemade pastry). Austrians eat a wide variety of meat, including Rindfleisch (beef), Schweinefleisch (pork), Huhn (chicken), Wurst (sausage), Kalbfleisch (veal), and Wild (venison).

Jause (afternoon tea), which is less common today, might include sandwiches, pastries, and coffee. If the main meal is eaten at midday, families have Nachtmahl (supper) in the evening. This generally includes cold cuts of meat, eggs, cheese, rye or another type of bread, and a salad. Goulash or hot sausages may be eaten at the midday or evening meal.

Austrians, like other Europeans, eat with the fork in their left hand and knife in their right, both when cutting food and eating. Guests will almost always be offered second helpings, but no offense will be caused by declining with a polite Danke, nein (“Thank you, no”).

Socializing

A handshake is usual on greeting, coupled with any of a number of phrases such as Guten Morgen (“Good morning”), Guten Tag (“Good day”), Guten Abend (“Good evening”), or Grüb Gott! (“May God greet you!”). Popular casual greetings include Servus! (“Hi!”) and Grüb Dich! (“Greetings to you!”). Austrians do not ask Wie geht es Ihnen? (“How are you?”) unless they wish to hear a detailed account.

Professional titles are important among the adult population and are used whenever known. Otherwise, titles such as Herr (“Mr.”) and Frau (“Mrs.” or “Ms.”) are combined with family names when addressing acquaintances and strangers. Close friends and young people use first names. As a general rule, one does not use someone’s first name unless invited to do so.

Austrians enjoy entertaining in the home, but unless one knows someone very well it is considered impolite to drop by unannounced. It is important to be punctual, and in some homes guests are expected to remove their shoes upon entering; guest slippers are usually visible near the door. A Gasthaus, or bar, is a popular spot for socializing outside the home. Friends may also get together at a Kaffeehaus (coffeehouse) or park.

Recreation

Winter and summer are the most active sporting seasons in Austria, due to the country's mountainous terrain. In the mountains, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, and skating are popular winter sports. In summer, mountaineering, hiking, and biking prevail in these areas. Water sports, such as swimming and boating, are also popular summer sports. In cities, taking a walk (ein Spaziergang) is a well-established tradition. Soccer is the most popular team sport.

Holidays and Celebrations

New Year’s Eve in Austria is also referred to as Sylvester’s Eve. By tradition, Austrians melt a small piece of lead over a lit candle or other flame and quickly pour it into cold water. The lead figure that is produced is seen as a symbol of the coming year. People also exchange lucky charms, such as marzipan pigs, horseshoes, and chocolate coins.

The Epiphany (6 January) shares the same date as a special day called the Perchtenlauf. Fasching is the Austrian equivalent to Mardi Gras, Carnival, or Fastnacht. Fasching, which immediately precedes Lent, offers opportunity for an indulgent celebration before the fasting and solemnity associated with Lent.

Austrians celebrate Easter Sunday and Monday, and usher in springtime with Walpurgisnacht on 30 April, lighting bonfires and enjoying other festive activities, at one time meant to scare off evil spirits and the darkness of the passing winter.

Austrians observe Labor Day on 1 May. Ascension Day commemorates the day Jesus Christ is said to have ascended into Heaven. Whitmonday is observed the day after Whitsunday (the Pentecost, 50 days after Easter). Corpus Christi, the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (in May or June), honors the Eucharist. Assumption Day (15 August) marks the day Mary’s body is said to have been “assumed” into Heaven.

Austrians celebrate their National Holiday or Flag Day on 26 October, All Saints’ Day on 1 November, and the Immaculate Conception on 8 December. Immaculate Conception Day celebrates the Roman Catholic belief that Mary’s soul was free from original sin.

On Christmas Eve (24 December), called Heiliger Abend (“Holy Evening”), a festive meal is eaten and celebrants open gifts from the Christkindl (“Christ child”). Christmas carols are also sung. Christmas Day (25 December) is reserved for family visits.

Most families vacation in July or August, while children are on school vacation.

Source: Encarta Interactive World Atlas

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