feast of St. Nicholas on December 6 is the beginning of
Christmas, Austria's most important holiday of the year. When he
arrives, the saint is accompanied by the devil, and children are
expected to tell them about their good deeds and bad deeds.
Santa protects the children from the devil during their visit,
promising them fruit, nuts and candy if they will be good. The
Christmas tree is a popular custom in Austrian homes and
sometimes it is decorated by the parents and kept in a locked
room until Christmas Eve. Following a traditional family dinner
of fried carp, a bell is rung and the tree is exhibited in a
blaze of glory. Our Austrian tree is decorated with handpainted
balls from Austria. Shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve,
some churches have trumpeters or carolers climb to the bell
towers to either trumpet or sing Christmas music to serenade
families on their way to midnight church service. Rural families
may hold torches as they make their way down from the mountains,
quite a dramatic sight. It was