Christmas in Wien

Winter in Wien would be almost unbearable without Christkindlmärkte. The little wooden stands seemed to sprout up on every sidewalk, Hof, and otherwise empty square inch of space in the city at the end of November. 

Christkindlmarkt am Alten AKH (near the Central College Office)

Most of the stands sell jewelry, wooden figures, and other knick-knacks, but what keeps Austrians coming back to the Christkindlmärkte (I’ve been to a Christkindlmarkt at least once a week since they’ve opened) is, of course, drinking. Hot drinks in the Christkindlmärkte come in two varieties (both of which are delicious): Glühwein and Punsch (made with rum, and other types of alcohol like amaretto too, depending on what you order*). They both have a spicy flavor, and they really do warm you up to the bones as you stand at one of the little wooden tables outside the Punschstandl. 

Punschstand at the Christkindlmarkt am Alten AKH

Enjoying Punsch

It’s not uncommon to bundle yourself up and brave the cold for a few hours just to enjoy the Christmas cheer of the Christkindlmarkt. When the Punschstandl is located in the courtyard of your dorm, like it happened to be last Tuesday, when Haus Salzburg had its annual charity Punschstand, and all of your friends are there, it's even better.

Not too shabby for a tent covered in Christmas decorations

Alex and Philipp pouring Punsch. If Haus Salzburg had a HoCo, they would lead it. Instead, they camp out in various kitchens and provide comic relief.

Jakob and Johanna. They're both super nice, but have really thick dialects, so I have no idea what they're saying half the time.

Fifth floor represent: Pamina and her friend, Marc, Marco, Julia, Bernhard, Matthias, and me

Simon, Sandra, Jakob and his girlfriend, and Bernhard

Simon and Johannes by the Punschstand

Julia, Pjeter, Matthias, and me

I don’t know what I’m going to do in January, when it will be just as cold, but there won’t be any more Glühwein to warm my spirits. I guess I'll just simply have to enjoy the company of the people I've met here even more.

* And then, of course, there's Turbopunsch, which is like the hot Christmasy version of a Long Island iced tea. The WU makes the best Turbopunsch around, from what I hear.