144 CultureShock! Austria
In addition to the usual fruit, vegetables, fresh meat and
seafood, the Naschmarkt is the place to go for special items
such as sweet potatoes, tropical fruit, exotic spices, cheeses,
nuts, olives and halal meat (ritually cut and blessed by an
Islamic cleric). Other stalls sell flowers and clothing.
There are additional indoor markets on the Landstrasser
Hauptstrasse near the Wien Mitte train station in the
3rd district, at the Sonnbergplatz in the 19th district,
at the Nussdorfer Halle in the 9th district and at the
Karmelitermarkt in the 2nd district. A free shuttle bus runs
between Rotenturmstrasse in the city centre and the latter.Holiday Meals
Fasching and Lent
Fasching begins on 11 November and continues until Ash
Wednesday. Fasching is a time to eat, drink and be merry
before Lent arrives on Ash Wednesday. It is a festive season
when deep-fried pastries and Krapfen (donuts filled with
apricot jam or vanilla cream) are especially common.
For Roman Catholics, Lent is a time of sacrifice and fasting
as they prepare for Easter. In fact, the German word for Lent
is Fastenzeit, or ‘a time of fasting’. Ash Wednesday begins
the Lenten season when Catholics are not allowed to eat
meat. In keeping with the rules, but somewhat contrary to
the spirit of the order, many Austrians begin Lent by enjoying
Heringsschmaus, a huge herring feast.Easter
The days preceding Easter Sunday have religious significance.
On Gründonnerstag, Maundy Thursday, some people eat
spinach and green coloured eggs. Grün stems from an old
German word for ‘weeping’, but also means green, hence
the green food. On Good Friday, a holy day, many people
fast. On Easter, a day of celebration, Austrians indulge in
food and sweets.
Coloured hardboiled eggs representing life and fertility
are identified with Easter, but their use predates Easter
to pagan festivals honouring spring. Osterstriezel (braided
white bread) and Pinze (sweet white bread) are also eaten at