Category Archives: christmas

Frohe Weihnachten!

Posted on 24/12/2011 by

(costume and boy Jesus from Poulenc “Dialogues of the Carmelites”, Innsbruck 2011-2012) ‘Le petit roi’ and I wish you all a very happy holiday — celebrate well, but don’t go losing your heads… Season’s Greetings and Best Wishes for a … Continue reading →

Posted in christmas, holidays, opera, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Baby Jesus’ Grog House

Posted on 23/12/2011 by

Courtesy of my friend H, who sings up in dark northern Germany these days. Hamburg has the answer to “What Would Jesus Do About ‘The War On Christmas’?”: Why, he’d open a Glühwein stand and cash in on the holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in christmas, food, Frivolity, Germany, holidays | 2 Comments

You Know It’s Christmas…

Posted on 22/12/2011 by

…when “Sissi” airs several times on various stations. Karlheinz Böhm and Romi Schneider as Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Copyright SRF/Kineos) Every country surely has their perennial holiday favorites. Austria has the much beloved “Sissi — The Young Empress”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, christmas, culture, history, lives of others, media

Christmas Cookies

Posted on 06/12/2011 by

My first attempt at traditional Austrian Vanillekipferln. The crescent shape is allegedly in commemoration of the 1683 Battle of Vienna, in which the Viennese held off the Turks for a few years (at least until the Guest Worker Program went … Continue reading →

Posted in assimilation, Austria, christmas, food, history | 3 Comments

Our Perpetual Right-Wing Problem

Posted on 03/06/2011 by

Americans, be happy you have Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann, those endless sources of media entertainment and amusement. In Austria, the nearest equivalent is one Barbara Rosenkranz (remember her? The Über-mother who ran for Austrian President last year?), one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, christmas, current events, history, media, Mountains, politics