Christmas is different in every culture around the world, and while many of
America's Christmas traditions come from Germany and Austria, that doesn't mean
it's the same thing. For one, in Austria, it's the Christ Child himself
who delivers the gifts to good little children, not some bearded, Nordic fat
man in a red suit. And we were lucky – not only did the Christ Child
bring a gift or two for us while we stayed in Innsbruck, but we got a chance to
see the lighted procession on Christmas Eve.
We lined up down town along the parade route under thousands and thousands of
hung lights, warming our hands around mugs of mulled wine and stamping our feet
to avoid catching a chill. Austria is lovely in the summer, I'm told, but it
seemed to me the winter is when Austria really struts its stuff, and the cheer
and fellowship that surrounded the whole event of the Christ Child ("Krist
Kind") coming down to greet everyone were lovely to experience. As
for me, the Krist Kind brought me a woolen hat – much appreciated by my
chilly ears and head! Also appreciated were these pastries. Can't remember
how they're called, but imagine a jelly doughnut with the jelly on the outside.
Now imagine eating one outside, standing around heated drums in the cool night
air. Delicious.
