Here in Vienna New Years Eve is known as "Sylvester Abend" in honor of the Catholic feast day of St. Sylvester (31 December). According to the story, Saint Sylvester was bishop of Rome when Christian persecution ended and a new era of peace was beginning; this neatly ties his feast day to today's new years themes of endings and new beginnings. On Sylvester Abend stages for live music are set up throughout Vienna's historic center, as are stands selling food and drink and lucky trinkets for the new year. These lucky trinkets include little pigs, mushrooms, and chimney-sweeps. Piggy banks are another popular item. The drink of choice is the sekt (sparkling wine), Hochriegl, a nice little bubbly produced locally since the days of the Habsburg empire. During the evening people stroll about, braving the freezing temps, to listen to the music at the various stages. Fireworks are another feature. Austria apparently does not have the strict fireworks laws that you'll find elsewhere and, by midnight, the sky above the city is like WWIII with people launching all manner of rockets. On New Years Day the big event is the famous annual New Year Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Happy New Year 2010! Let the Ball Season begin!
What is New Years like in your favorite corner of the world?
Posted by
Atlanta
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Greetings Thomas!
I think that Vienna would be the perfect place to be on New Years eve. The music, the bubbly, and strolling in a beautiful city! Thank you for the wonderful description!
I've been in several other European cities on NYE and confess that I'm not fond of the fireworks going off every which way! It does feel a bit like WW III!
Hopefully, one day, I'll celebrate in Vienna! Enjoy the festivities and best wishes for 2010!