{"id":7193,"date":"2020-12-15T05:59:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T04:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=7193"},"modified":"2025-10-11T19:34:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T18:34:41","slug":"christmas-market-glossary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/christmas-market-glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas market glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/punschglossary.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"151\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/punschglossary.jpg\" alt=\"Words for punch\" class=\"wp-image-29236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/punschglossary.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/punschglossary-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vienna has long gone international. And most Christmas markets booths have followed suit. But while English appears ever more often on signs and menu displays, the following explanations of common German terms should help, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Xmas\" rel=\"sponsored\">concert experience<\/a>* for your Vienna trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/christmas-markets\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1680\">List of Christmas markets in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/coffee-glossary\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1863\">Viennese coffee glossary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/vienna-cakes\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22533\">Viennese cake guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/sausages\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1200\">Viennese sausage guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">One market, several words<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/altwienerchristkindlmarkt.jpg\" alt=\"Entrance to the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt\" class=\"wp-image-46026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/altwienerchristkindlmarkt.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/altwienerchristkindlmarkt-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on the Freyung)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fun begins with the words used to mean one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/christmas-markets\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1680\">Christmas markets<\/a>. The German for Christmas is <em>Weihnachten<\/em> and the word for market is <em>Markt<\/em>. So a <em>Weihnachtsmarkt<\/em> is a Christmas market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But other terms might make an appearance, too. <em>Christkindlmarkt<\/em>, for example. In Vienna, though, most people use this to refer specifically to the city&#8217;s popular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/rathausplatz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"222\">market on the Rathausplatz square<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(The <em>Christkind<\/em>, <em>Christkindl <\/em>or Christ child does <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/christkind\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"212\">Santa&#8217;s job in Austria<\/a>: the traditional bringer of presents for children.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also come across two other terms for Christmas market, but both still refer to the same concept: <em>Weihnachtsdorf<\/em> (literally &#8220;Christmas village&#8221;) or <em>Adventmarkt<\/em> (I&#8217;ll let you work that one out).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A little later in the year, you might see references to a <em>Neujahrsmarkt<\/em> or <em>Silvestermarkt<\/em> (both mean <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/new-year-markets\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"7465\">New Year market<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key market delights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Certain elements appear on stalls across all markets, beginning with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Punsch, H\u00e4ferl, and Getr\u00e4nke<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/punchstand.jpg\" alt=\"Punsch and Gl\u00fchwein stand\" class=\"wp-image-46325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/punchstand.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/punchstand-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Many stands sell hot Christmas beverages)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Getr\u00e4nke<\/em> are drinks, and the mainstay of any Christmas market in Vienna is the <em>Punschstand<\/em> (punch booth), which serves piping hot <em>Weihnachtspunsch<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/weihnachtspunsch-christmas-punch\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"233\">Christmas punch<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The precise contents of this alcoholic hot beverage remain a mystery to me. (I continue to research the issue in more depth.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A couple of important variations are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Kinderpunsch <\/em>(children&#8217;s punch): punch that contains no alcohol, which may also be described as <em>alkoholfrei<\/em> (alcohol free)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Gl\u00fchwein<\/em> (similar to the British concept of mulled wine). Look for <em>Uhudlergl\u00fchwein<\/em> (my preference), made from a special regional wine variety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Boards above and around the Punschstand list the various varieties for sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"exp206741,exp205287\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_Christmas\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As with most aspects of modern life, we&#8217;re no longer content with a handful of basic options; the market air carries the aroma of dozens of punch varieties, mostly based around some kind of fruit (<em>Obst<\/em>) or berries (<em>Beeren<\/em>). Common examples are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Apfelpunsch<\/em>: apple<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Beerenpunsch<\/em>: a mix of berries<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Erdbeerpunsch<\/em>: strawberry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Himbeerpunsch<\/em>: raspberry<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Orangenpunsch<\/em>: no prizes for guessing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your punch comes in a <em>H\u00e4ferl<\/em> (mug) and you may have to pay an <em>Einsatz<\/em> (returnable deposit). The mugs often serve as collectible souvenirs: simply abandon your deposit and keep the mug or buy one from a suitable stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other alcoholic drinks available might include <em>Bier<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/beer\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"32\">beer<\/a>), <em>Wein<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/vienna-wine\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2414\">wine<\/a>), <em>Lik\u00f6r<\/em> and <em>Schnaps<\/em> (liquor and schnapps), and <em>Sekt <\/em>(sparkling wine).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/christmaspunch2024.jpg\" alt=\"Mugs of punch with a Xmas market and gothic cathedral behind\" class=\"wp-image-77481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/christmaspunch2024.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/christmaspunch2024-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(H\u00e4ferl for punch)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the sake of completion, words for those non-alcoholic drinks not taking a brand name (like Pepsi) include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Kaffee<\/em> (coffee) in its various manifestations. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/coffee-glossary\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1863\">this glossary<\/a>. Many markets now have standalone mobile coffee stations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Saft<\/em> (juice) with your fruits and berries as above as prefixes. So <em>Orangensaft<\/em> is orange juice. <em>Apfelsaft<\/em> is apple juice. Often available as a fizzy <em>gespritzt<\/em> version (juice with added soda water or similar)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Tee<\/em> (tea), which is mainly fruit and herbal tea in Austria, identified through the prefix. So <em>Kamillentee<\/em> is chamomile tea, <em>Pfefferminztee<\/em> is peppermint tea, <em>Fr\u00fcchtetee<\/em> is a general fruit tea. Brit-style tea is <em>Schwarztee<\/em> (literally black tea and often taken without milk. Blasphemy!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Wasser<\/em> (water) with mineral water as <em>Mineralwasser<\/em>: either <em>still<\/em> (bubble free) or <em>prickelnd<\/em> (fizzy)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/lebkuchenhearts.jpg\" alt=\"Lebkuchen hearts\" class=\"wp-image-47321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/lebkuchenhearts.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/lebkuchenhearts-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Lebkuchen in various shapes and sizes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need to experience the sugary snack side of life, then the markets offer many such opportunities. Traditional market treats include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Baumkuchen<\/em>:  a special batter baked on a spit to form a series of rings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Bratapfel<\/em>: toffee apple<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Brezel<\/em>: pretzels, though normally sold in a number of soft varieties<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Buchtel<\/em>: a kind of sweet roll<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Gebrannte N\u00fcsse<\/em>: roasted and caramelised nuts with <em>Mandel <\/em>(almonds) the most popular option<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Krapfen<\/em>: jam doughnuts (usually features either apricot jam or a nougat filling)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Lebkuchen<\/em>: a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/lebkuchen-gingerbread\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"798\">gingerbread-like food<\/a> that also comes in bullet-proof forms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Schaumrolle<\/em>: a cream puffed pastry, with the emphasis very much on the cream-like filling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Schokofr\u00fcchte<\/em>: a skewer of fruit coated in chocolate<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Zuckerwatte<\/em>: candy floss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Special mention goes to the <em>Maronistand<\/em>: a small standalone stand featuring an oven that sells <em>Maroni<\/em> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/roastchestnuts\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"63\">roast chestnuts<\/a>) but usually also potato snacks like <em>Wedges<\/em> (um, wedges), <em>Bratkartoffel<\/em> (baked potato slices), <em>Kartoffelpuffer<\/em> (potato fritters?), and <em>Spiralkartoffel<\/em> (tornado crisps\/fries).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/maronistand.jpg\" alt=\"A Maronistand\" class=\"wp-image-44133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/maronistand.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/maronistand-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Roast chestnuts are known as Maroni)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also find some stalls selling &#8220;proper&#8221; food. The possibilities are endless, so I shall simply point you to the articles on Viennese <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/main-courses\/\">main courses<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/sausages\/\">sausages<\/a> (always popular at Christmas markets), and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/pastries-desserts\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"25982\">pastries and desserts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expect to see plenty of <em>Leberk\u00e4se<\/em> (like meatloaf), too, often with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/leberkase\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7203\">varieties<\/a> that rarely see the light of day, such as <em>Wildschwein<\/em> (wild boar) <em>Leberk\u00e4se<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another popular dish at the markets in recent years has been <em>Suppe in Brot<\/em> or <em>Suppe in Brotlaibchen<\/em> (soup served in a hollowed-out small loaf of bread). And yet another dish largely exclusive to markets is <em>Ofenkartoffel<\/em> (baked potatoes) with various fillings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, you might get open dark bread sandwiches featuring various toppings, but particularly <em>Speckbrot<\/em> (bread with cured ham) served with <em>Kren<\/em> (horse radish).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the food is not intended for immediate consumption but for taking home or using as gifts. Look, especially, for prettily-designed jars and bottles of <em>Honig<\/em> (honey), <em>Marmelade<\/em> (careful: not marmelade but jam), <em>Senf<\/em> (mustard), <em>Essig<\/em> (vinegar), and <em>Schnaps<\/em> and <em>Edelbr\u00e4nde <\/em>(schnapps and refined spirits).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Arts and Crafts<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/christmasdecorations.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas decorations\" class=\"wp-image-46078\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/christmasdecorations.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/christmasdecorations-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Many market stalls sell decorations, art &amp; crafts)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each market also sells the work of artists and artisans. Most of these should be <em>handgemacht<\/em> or <em>handgefertigt<\/em> (made by hand). This is where you pick up your <em>Weihnachtsdekorationen<\/em> (Christmas decorations) and <em>Baumbehang<\/em> or <em>Baumschmuck<\/em> (decorations for hanging on the tree).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every market should at least also offer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Kerzen<\/em>: candles<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Krippenfiguren<\/em>: wooden figurines and other items that form part of a nativity scene<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Schneekugel<\/em>: snow globes (which, incidentally, were invented in Vienna)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As far as materials go:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Glass<\/em>: glas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Holz<\/em>: wood, often with the tree as a prefix (<em>Zirbe<\/em> is Swiss pine, <em>Olivenbaum<\/em> is olive tree)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Papier<\/em>: paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Wolle<\/em>: wool<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Zinn<\/em>: tin<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you&#8217;re armed with the vocabulary, discover which markets are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/best-christmas-markets\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1167\">best for your particular needs<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vienna has long gone international. And most Christmas markets booths have followed suit. But while English appears ever more often on signs and menu displays, the following explanations of common German terms should help, too. One market, several words (The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on the Freyung) The fun begins with the words used to mean one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29236,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-christmasmarkets","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7193"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86407,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7193\/revisions\/86407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}