Customs of the time were not that different from ours today. Let’s dive in and discover the contemporary Vienna!
How Beethoven celebrated Christmas? Apart from a short recollection from his childhood years, including holiday wurst, wine, punch, coffee, singing and playing, we do not know how Beethoven celebrated Christmas. We do know, however, that he was baptized as a Catholic, he lived in Bonn and later in Vienna, both cities belonging mainly to the domain of Roman Catholicism. So, how did people, Beethoven’s contemporaries, celebrate Christmas in Vienna?
It all began with the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This is the start of the advent season, a period of reflection and anticipation. As the holiday steadily approached sure signs, such nativity scenes and Christmas markets, appeared on the busy streets of Vienna.
Vienna’s Christmas market tradition stretches back centuries, with records indicating its existence as early as 1296. The most renowned of these markets, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt, is set up yearly before the City Hall, even today. This attractive marketplace showcases countless stalls offering handcrafted items, festive decorations, and delicious holiday treats.
Music played an important part in the advent season. Beethoven premiered many of his works in December. Yearly, charity concerts were held for all kinds of noble purposes. During the holiday season, churches would have held special services filled with festive music. Beethoven himself was involved in many of these musical performances, either as a performer or composer.
While gift-giving was a part of Christmas traditions, it was not as commercialized as it is today. Gifts were often simple and homemade, reflecting the spirit of giving and sharing rather than the emphasis on material possessions. In Vienna, Christmas Eve had a unique tradition: the arrival of the Christkind, or Christ Child. Rather than Santa Claus, it’s the Christkind who delivers gifts to children on this special night, making the Viennese Christmas distinct from other cultures.
The culinary traditions of the time were not that different from today’s. Roasted chestnuts, a wintertime essential, were a common sight and smell during the festive season. The practice of roasting them over an open fire was a beloved custom, and their warm, smoky aroma filled the air at markets and homes alike.
Gingerbread, also known as Lebkuchen, has a rich history in Europe. Various forms of this spiced treat were sold at markets. Market-goers could enjoy a hearty and warming meal with a variety of roasted meats, including sausages, also other sweet treats like nuts, dried fruits, and some pastries.
Hot drinks were crucial for warmth during the cold winter months. Mulled wine, a spiced and heated wine, was a popular choice and remains a festive favorite at Christmas markets even today. Punches, warm alcoholic beverages infused with fruits and spices, were another common option to keep spirits up and bodies warm.
There is no Christmas without a tree! The Christmas tree tradition has a rich and complex history, rooted in various cultural and religious influences over centuries. Long before Christianity, numerous ancient cultures recognized the winter solstice, the year’s shortest day, as a significant moment. Evergreen plants, which retained their vibrant green even during the bare winter months, were kept as symbols of life, renewal, and the promise of spring’s return. This symbolism resonated with early Christians, who embraced evergreens as representations of eternal life. The triangular form of the fir tree was further interpreted as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. It is widely accepted that the custom of decorating an entire evergreen tree indoors emerged in 16th-century Germany.
Feasting, drinks, Christmas markets, gifts, music, family and games. Not much has changed since then and we should do our best to keep and preserve this beautiful tradition, this special period of the year, as it was, as it is!
Friends, Happy Holidays!
