Winter is just around the corner. So it’s high time to expand your vocabulary with some really important winter words. There are also helpful links that will provide you with information and tips. This is how we ensure your winter fun – indoors & outdoors.
1. der Adventkalender
From December 1st we open a door of the “Adventkalender” every day (regardless of whether we are religious or not, the tradition is just great). This makes getting up in the morning easier. For some time now there have also been really creative Advent calendars , for example with beer or muesli. By the way: In Germany compound words with “Advent” are written with an “-s” in the middle, e.g. “Adventskalender”.
2. das Après-Ski
Some love it, others hate it: After a sporty day on the ski slopes, people celebrate with plenty of alcohol at the “Après-Ski” events in the bars. You also need alcohol to be able to tolerate the music. You can prepare yourself with this YouTube mix , but we have warned you!
3. die Feuerzangenbowle
You’re probably already familiar with mulled wine and punch. An alternative to this is “Feuerzangenbowle”, a rather spectacular punch. A pair of tongs is placed on the vessel. A piece of sugar soaked in rum is placed on top of this and then slowly dripped into the punch. If you don’t feel like going to the Christmas market, you’ll find lots of classic and innovative recipes to make at home here .
4. das Kunsthandwerk
As the name suggests, “Kunsthandwerk” is handmade art: jewelry, wooden objects, Christmas cards, ceramics, leather goods and much more. The Advent market at Karlsplatz is famous for its great arts and crafts stalls. Of course, the other markets also offer a lot of them. You can find all of them here , including opening times.
5. die Pudelhaube
It is an important winter accessory. Of course we have to protect our heads from the cold. The “Pudelhaube” differs from a normal hat because of the “pompom” that is sewn on top, making it a bit funnier. You can find a large selection here . In Germany, the hat is called a Mütze.
6. die Schlittschuhe (Pl.)
What do we do when the Christmas markets close? One great option is ice skating. All we need is a bit of motivation – and of course “Schlittschuhe”, which you can also borrow from the ice rinks. You can find the ice dream on the town hall square and its alternatives here .
7. die Schneeballschlacht
Usually a battle takes place during a war, eg the famous “Schlacht von Waterloo”. But don’t worry! A “Schneeballschlacht” is fun: we throw snowballs at each other and can let our inner child out. Hopefully there will be enough snow in Vienna this year.
8. die Schneekanone
There is no need to be afraid of the “Schneekanone” either. It is a machine that makes snow from water and air and ensures that we can ski even when there is little snowfall. The snow cannon is of course not environmentally friendly. Here you will find the most popular ski areas in Austria, where it hopefully does not have to be used excessively so often.
9. das Vanillekipferl
During Advent, it is very popular to bake with friends over mulled wine. Store-bought cookies are taboo! The “Vanillekipferl” is one of the classic Austrian Christmas cookies. You can find recipes for this and other classics here . The word “Kipferl” is often used: almost every crescent-shaped pastry is called that.
10. die Wärmflasche
What do we do when we are really cold and the warm sweater and blanket are not enough? We fill a “plastic bag” with hot water, close it tightly and put it on our stomach. Wonderful! This “bag” is called “Wärmflasche” in German . A natural alternative is a cherry stone pillow, for example .
