V is for Vienna

Starting at the end of November and lasting until Christmas Day you can find a Christkindlmärkte on nearly every street corner of the Austrian city of Vienna. Small huts provide you with all manner of Christmas gifts, food and - most importantly - hot punch, as well as Glühwein (heated sweetened wine).

RATHAUSPLATZ

The Christkindlmarkt on the square in front of the City Hall is Vienna's classic Christmas Market. Strolling among the elaborately decorated trees in the park, Viennese and visitors from all over the world can enjoy the wonderful Christmas atmosphere. The tree with seals, the "Kasperl tree", the "Herzerlbaum" (Hearts tree) as well as the "Post office in the clouds" offer a perfect setting for a souvenir photo.

SCHÖNBRUNN CASTLE
The festively illuminated Schoenbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Austrian Emperors, provides a spectacular backdrop for an idyllic Christmas village full of the scent of mulled wine and ginger bread. And almost every day, festive concerts spread Christmas mood!

SPITTELBERG
In this lovely historical quarter both traditional and original handicraft is sold on narrow paved alleyways, niches and courtyards. It's Vienna's most authentic Christmas market.

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You will find many other such tasty morsels of information in my book What is Myrrh Anyway?- and its American counterpart Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas.

Krampuslauf Graz 2010

If you were reading this blog last week, you'll know all about Krampus the anti-Santa already. Well here's a video of a parade of the terrifying beastmen.

G is for the Gävle Goat

The Gävle Goat, located at Slottstorget (a.k.a. 'Castle Square') in central Gävle, is a giant version of a traditional Swedish Yule Goat figure made of straw. The strange history of the Gävle Goat began in 1966. A gentleman by the name of Stig Gavlén came up with the idea of making a giant version of the traditional Swedish Christmas goat of straw. The aim was to attract customers to the the shops and restaurants in the southern part of the town centre.

On 2 December the 13-metre tall, 7-metre long, 3 tonne goat stood on the square. At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, the goat went up in smoke. The perpetrator was found and charged with vandalism. The Gävle Goat has been burned down 24 times since then.

The Gävle Goat turns 45 in 2011. In the last couple of years he has become a mascot goat as well. People buying the mascot goat, help contribute to the protection of the Gävle Goat. The inauguration of the Gavle Goat is always held on Advent Sunday. It is a popular event with all manner of performances and fireworks, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

You can follow the Gävle Goat via web cams, Twitter and a dedicated blog. To find out more, follow this link.

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Stop by again on Tuesday to see what's next in the A to Z of Christmas.

You'll find a host of other such fascinating festive facts in my book What is Myrrh Anyway? - and its American counterpart Christmas Miscellany: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Christmas.