Christmas trees and wreaths in churches throughout the state are still only discreetly decorated – but it gets really festive on Christmas Eve.
Since the first Sunday in Advent on November 27th, Salzburg’s churches and chapels have presented themselves in pre-Christmas costumes this year. It announces the birth of Jesus, the feast day in his honor. December 24th is holy for Christians – but this fact is not expressed in exaggeratedly pompous decorations in the churches beforehand. From Kaprun in the Pinzgau to St. Maragerethen in the Lungau up to the Salzburg Fortress and the St. George’s Church: Less is more, the motto seems to be: “It’s best not to wear any jewelry at all during this time,” says Dietmar Koisser It only gets more colorful and festive on Christmas Eve, as the head of the cathedral sacristy explains: “The liturgical color changes from violet to white and gold. This can be seen, for example, in the chasubles. New carpets are also coming. Christmas Eve begins in our cathedral at 3 p.m. with the first vespers with the archbishop. People are also ready for the celebrations in the pretty St. George’s Church in Hohensalzburg Fortress: for the first time since 2019, there will be a mass during Christmas week for everyone: on Christmas Eve at 2 p.m., accompanied by the bel canto choir. V. Snob
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