Christmas has long been more than a religious festival. And so people of other faiths also adopt the tradition, often in a slightly modified form.
In Austria, Christmas traditions include a decorated tree with presents underneath, a feast with carp or geese and an atmospheric evening with loved ones. But especially in a big city like Vienna, different cultures with their own customs come together. So how does a Syrian family celebrate and how does a Chinese family celebrate?
Families visited
The Alshater family fled Syria to Vienna in 2015. They are Muslim and therefore do not celebrate Christmas on December 24. At school the children come into contact with Austrian traditions and this year they put up a Christmas tree for the first time, because that is what 7-year-old Meret wants. But Victoria Lim, who is Roman Catholic, also brought customs from her home country, the Philippines.
“Adapt us”
Catey Zhou runs several restaurants in the city with her husband. However, they are closed on December 24 when the emphasis is on spending time with the family, including the three children. As usual with restaurateurs, the banquet is of course particularly important.
They all have one thing in common: they will spend a wonderful evening with their family.
Catey Zhou and her husband’s parents are from China. You yourself have no religious faith, but there are also Christians and Buddhists in the family. And everyone celebrates Christmas together. The menu features hotpot, a type of Chinese fondue that is prepared from noon onwards: “Fish and seafood are very important.”
Abdulkeem Alshater fled Syria to Vienna with his family in 2015. He completed his internship, took a job and learned German. Only German is spoken at home. The Muslim family does not celebrate Christmas, but seven-year-old Meret really wants a tree too.
Victoria Lim (front left) came to Vienna as a nursing guest worker in 1973 and is now retired. The Filipina native spends a lot of time in retirement clubs and will celebrate Christmas with her children in Vienna this year according to Austrian tradition. “We are adapting,” says Lim. Due to the climate, there is no Christmas tree in her hometown, but she puts one up in her apartment in the 7th district. But the traditional Filipino feast of pancit and custard cake is a must.
Mykola, Yana and their four-year-old daughter Rimma fled Ukraine for Vienna two months ago. They found shelter in the Margaretenhuis. Since the father is a Ukrainian Orthodox priest, Christmas has a special meaning. The celebration is not like us on December 24, but on January 7. The traditional dish Kutja is served, which is prepared only once a year. For the rest, the customs from Christmas trees to singing Christmas carols are very similar to ours.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
