Colors of Vienna - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

The nature and culture of the locals are rather contradictory. There are really many jokes about the 'dissatisfaction with life’, which is so common for Austrians. Locals often make fun of themselves because of their eternal "moaning". Nevertheless, local people love life and are able to enjoy it in all its forms. Tourists, who came to Vienna, are captured by the unique festive atmosphere right from the arrival.

Besides public holidays Vienna is full of various national celebrations. As a rule, they are accompanied by magnificent balls and colorful fireworks. Among the national celebrations there are many religious holidays, during which locals usually visit friends and give gifts to each other. During the memorial days of saints people usually give each other beautiful editions of the Bible, prayer beads and other religious attributes, as well as decorations for home. Pastries and chocolate are considered traditional gifts. During the days of celebrations the city’s streets are turned into great fairs. Perhaps, Catholic Epiphany, which is celebrated annually on January 6, is the most famous religious holiday. The National Day of the Republic of Austria is a favorite national holiday, which is celebrated with grand scale on October 26.

The indifferent attitude of locals to coffee has also become a notable feature of Vienna. You will surely see numerous coffee shops during your walk on the streets of Vienna. They have long become the most favorite place of rest for the local people. On evenings and during the lunchtime the locals gather on terraces of cozy cafes and enjoy the flavorful drink. Some coffee shops have nothing similar with the establishments that can be seen in other cities. These are unique "oases of comfort" with soft chairs and elegant marble tables. You can easily spend hours in these peaceful and cozy cafes. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Austria is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in early winter. The majority of travelers prefer to spend a week or so and celebrate New Year and Christmas here. From the middle of November, numerous Christmas markets and fairs start to work on the main squares, all the streets are decorated with bright illuminations, adorable Christmas trees, and Advent wreaths. If you are looking for some souvenirs or festive decorations, do your best to visit the Christmas fair, where you will have the chance to purchase unique souvenirs, gifts, and handicrafts. Moreover, those who feel cold or hungry can taste national dishes and drinks here. Locals celebrate New Year with dances, music, and positive resolutions towards the coming year. However, the choice of cultural events in Austria is very impressive at any time of the year. Music festivals in Vienna will please all the music lovers with the variety of genres and free outdoor performances. Those who are interested in jazz will pay attention to the Jazz Festival in Vienna, which has become one of the key events of its kind. The free music festival on the Danube Island attracts the audience and performers of different directions.

In May-June, every tourist to Vienna will have the opportunity to visit the largest cultural event in whole Europe - the Vienna Festival. The ceremony solemnly opens on the Town Hall Square accompanied by free performances in the open-air format. The Vienna Festival lasts for five to six weeks. Some of the events are traditionally held in one of the Vienna's oldest theaters - Theater an der Wien. The program of the festival includes video installations, film screenings, meetings with artists, lectures, concerts and theatrical performances by international artistic groups. Each year, within the framework of the festival, a series of master classes are held. The festival was founded in 1951 in still occupied Vienna as a symbol of the country's surviving the devastating consequences of the war. One of the missions of the festival is the demonstration of the diversity of modern cultures, so all the performances are often presented in the original language.

If you are traveling with the gastronomic purposes, in order to fully experience and absorb the local flavor, we certainly recommend visiting the Beer Festival, or how locals call it - Wiener Wiesen-Fest. This is the open-air festival, which since 2011 has been held in late September - early October for almost three weeks. During this time period, the local breweries install the tents with all kind of beer and national snacks. The main venue of the celebration is the Prater park, located almost in the center of the capital. Moreover, if you are not the great fan of beer, on the territory of the park you will also find the tents installed by the winemaking companies. As a rule, from 11:00 to 18:00, the entrance to the festival village is free. But after 18:30, when a live music concert starts in the park, you should purchase the tickets directly at the entrance. Many participants and guests of the festival dress in national Austrian clothes: for women - wide skirts in the assembly of Dirndl, for men - short leather pants Lederhosen.