Austrians speak German, so "Merry Christmas" is Frohe Weihnachten – but a few phrases are especially typical here, with pronounciation in brackets:

- Frohe Weihnachten (FROH-uh VYE-nahkh-ten)

- Gesegnete Weihnachten (geh-ZAYG-neh-tuh VYE-nahkh-ten)

- Frohes Fest (FROH-us FEST)

- Schöne Feiertage (SHUR-nuh FYE-er-tah-guh)

- Guten Rutsch (GOO-ten ROOTCH)

- Prosit Neujahr (PROH-zit NOY-yahr)

• Christkind – the Christ Child, who brings presents in Austria instead of Father Christmas
• Christbaum – the Austrian word for Christmas tree (Germans often say Weihnachtsbaum)
• Packerl – a little present or parcel
• Kekse – Christmas biscuits (Germans say Plätzchen)
• Bussi – a kiss, as in "ein Bussi zu Weihnachten"
• heuer – this year, a typically Austrian word
• Jänner – January in Austria (Januar in Germany)

Christmas in Austria stretches over several weeks, from the first Sunday of Advent to Epiphany. These are the traditions worth knowing – and mentioning in a card.

Advent and the Christmas markets

From late November, towns across Austria light up with Christkindlmärkte, Christmas markets where people meet for a mug of Punsch or Glühwein. At home, an Adventkranz (Advent wreath) gets a new candle lit each Sunday until Christmas.

Barbara branches on 4 December

On St Barbara's Day, many Austrians cut a branch from a cherry tree and put it in water. If it blossoms by Christmas Eve, it's said to bring luck in the year ahead – a lovely flower tradition to mention in a card.

Krampus and Nikolo

On the evening of 5 December, Krampus – a horned, furry figure – roams the streets in parades known as Krampusläufe. The next day, 6 December, the kinder Nikolo (St Nicholas) visits children with nuts, mandarins and chocolate.

Christmas Eve and the Christkind

The main celebration is on Heiliger Abend, the evening of 24 December. In Austria, presents aren't brought by Father Christmas but by the Christkind, the Christ Child. A small bell rings when it has "been", and the family gathers around the Christbaum to open presents. Many then go to midnight mass, the Christmette.

25 December is Christtag and 26 December is Stefanitag (St Stephen's Day) – both public holidays.

Silent Night – an Austrian carol

"Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht" ("Silent Night") was first performed on Christmas Eve 1818 in Oberndorf near Salzburg. Today it's sung around the world, but in Austria it still has a special place on Christmas Eve.

Austrian Christmas food

Christmas baking is a big deal: Vanillekipferl (crescent-shaped vanilla biscuits) and Linzer Augen (jam-filled biscuits) are classics. On Christmas Eve, many families eat fish such as carp, while roast goose is popular on Christtag.

Christmas flowers in Austria

Poinsettias (Weihnachtssterne), Christmas roses (Christrosen) and Barbara branches are the typical Christmas flowers.

German Christmas wishes for your card

These wishes are written the way Austrians would say them. Each comes with an English translation, so you know exactly what you're sending. All use the informal "du" – see the next section for formal versions.

Short wishes

• Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr! – Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
• Gesegnete Weihnachten und einen guten Rutsch! – A blessed Christmas and a happy New Year!
• Ein frohes Fest und viele schöne Stunden unterm Christbaum. – A happy Christmas and many lovely hours around the tree.
• Lass dich vom Christkind reich beschenken! – I hope the Christkind brings you lots of presents!
• Herzliche Weihnachtsgrüße und ein dickes Bussi! – Warm Christmas wishes and a big kiss!
• Schöne Feiertage im Kreis deiner Liebsten! – Happy holidays surrounded by your loved ones!

Funny wishes

• Liebes Christkind, ich war heuer brav. Meistens. – Dear Christkind, I've been good this year. Mostly.
• Eigentlich hätte der Krampus vorbeischauen sollen. Ich schick dir lieber Blumen. – Krampus was supposed to pay you a visit. I'm sending you flowers instead.
• Diät-Tipp zum Fest: Vanillekipferl, die keiner sieht, zählen nicht. – Festive diet tip: vanilla biscuits nobody sees don't count.
• Frohe Weihnachten von jemandem, der die Packerl wieder am 23. besorgt hat. – Merry Christmas from someone who bought the presents on the 23rd again.
• Möge dein Christbaum gerader stehen als meine Neujahrsvorsätze. – May your tree stand straighter than my New Year's resolutions.

Heartfelt wishes

• Ich denk an dich – auch wenn wir heuer nicht zusammen feiern können. – I'm thinking of you, even though we can't celebrate together this year.
• Diese Blumen sollen dir sagen, wie sehr ich dich vermisse. Frohe Weihnachten! – These flowers are here to tell you how much I miss you. Merry Christmas!
• Liebe Grüße aus England und frohe Weihnachten! – Love from England and Merry Christmas!
• Danke für alles in diesem Jahr. Frohe Weihnachten! – Thank you for everything this year. Merry Christmas!
• Möge der Zauber der Weihnacht dein Herz erwärmen. – May the magic of Christmas warm your heart.

Religious wishes

• Gesegnete Weihnachten und Gottes Segen für das neue Jahr. – A blessed Christmas and God's blessing for the New Year.
• Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht – ich wünsch dir Frieden und Freude. – Silent night, holy night – I wish you peace and joy.
• Möge das Licht von Bethlehem dein Zuhause erhellen. – May the light of Bethlehem brighten your home.
• Ich wünsch dir eine gesegnete Heilige Nacht. – Wishing you a blessed Christmas Eve.

German has two ways of saying "you": the informal du for family, friends and most colleagues, and the formal Sie for clients and people you'd address formally. When in doubt in a business card, use Sie.

For family

• Frohe Weihnachten, liebe Familie! Ich freu mich auf jeden Moment mit euch. – Merry Christmas, dear family! I'm looking forward to every moment with you.
• Für Oma und Opa: Eure Liebe ist das schönste Packerl unterm Christbaum. – For Gran and Grandad: your love is the best present under the tree.
• Auch wenn wir weit weg sind: Diese Blumen bringen euch ein Stück von uns. – Even though we're far away, these flowers bring you a little piece of us.

For friends and your partner

• Freunde wie dich findet man nicht unterm Christbaum. – You can't find friends like you under the tree.
• Auf dich, auf uns und auf viele weitere Punsch-Abende! – Here's to you, to us and to many more evenings of punch together!
• Frohe Weihnachten, mein Schatz. Ich liebe dich. – Merry Christmas, darling. I love you.

For colleagues (du)

• Danke für die tolle Zusammenarbeit. Frohe Weihnachten und erholsame Feiertage! – Thanks for working so well together. Merry Christmas and enjoy the break!
• Wir sehen uns erholt im Jänner! – See you refreshed in January!

For clients and business partners (Sie)

• Vielen Dank für Ihr Vertrauen. Wir wünschen Ihnen frohe Weihnachten und ein erfolgreiches neues Jahr. – Thank you for your trust. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a successful New Year.
• Wir wünschen Ihnen und Ihrem Team besinnliche Feiertage und einen guten Start ins Jahr 2027. – We wish you and your team a peaceful festive season and a good start to 2027.

Austrians ring in the New Year with fireworks, a toast of Prosit Neujahr at midnight and, often, a waltz to "The Blue Danube". On 1 January, the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert is broadcast around the world. Small lucky charms – a chimney sweep, a four-leaf clover, a pig or a horseshoe – are given as gifts for luck in the year ahead.

• Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! – Happy New Year! (until 31 December)
• Prosit Neujahr! – Cheers to the New Year! (at midnight)
• Ein glückliches und gesundes neues Jahr! – A happy and healthy New Year!
• Viel Glück im Jahr 2027! – Lots of luck in 2027!

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