Catch Up - Advent in Graz

submitted by Sue

Well, we tried really hard to keep things in chronological order, but sometimes things happen fast and there just isn't time to get things written up before something else happens. And when two people are submitting posts, it was bound to get mixed up anyway.

I've got a couple of posts about Advent that I've been writing in my mind but just haven't taken the time to put on paper or computer. Turns out sitting in a doctor's office (or specifically a CT scan office) is the perfect time to write things up. And magically, my iTouch was both with me and charged (this never happens).

Advent is a special time to be in Graz. The streets are decorated with lights and Christmas trees are hung from above. (Interestingly, on some streets trees are hung right side up and others upside down.) The Advent Markets open in mid-November, work begins on an ice sculpture of the Nativity, and a huge Christmas tree is put up on the town square.

Also called Christmas Markets, the Advent Markets are a little bit like a street fair or a craft fair that goes on until Christmas. The markets are scattered around the courtyards and plazas near the City Center. Each market has a theme - local products and crafts, fine arts, international crafts, kiddie rides. Some of the markets have activities for kids to do on Fridays -- like candle making or cookie decorating. Most of the markets have music playing. Sometimes it's the vendors, but some markets have live music scheduled for the weekend hours. The markets are open all day (starting at 10am or so) but busiest in the evenings as the sun goes down (by 4:30 or 5pm!). Also running through the markets is this little Christmas train.

The market booths vary from canvas tents to wooden boothes, some simple and some very ovally-modern-shaped (the fine arts market booths). Unfortunately, we failed to get any pictures of them. Each market has a couple of booths dedicated to food and drink. Drinks include apple ciders and rum punches and the local favorites Gluhwein (mulled wine with cinnamon, cloves and oranges) and Gluhschi (I think this is based on a local wine but I can't verify my source -- no match on google!). The drinks are THE social thing to do. You meet your friends at the markets to drink and hang out. It's all outside and about 32 degrees F. or less. One booth we visited was making Belgian waffles which you can get with marmalade or schokolade or zimt (cinnamon). Very yummy.

Many restaurants that have outdoor seating will have all their tables out and each chair has a blanket draped over it, and sure enough the next time you walk by, people will be sitting out having drinks. It's a very festive time of year and makes the early sunset much easier to take. And it's fun to see people out and about, bundled up and enjoying themselves, even in the cold.