100 VIRGIN AUSTRALIA DECEMBER 2017
PHOTOGRAPHYALAMY, GETTY IMAGEST
HERE’S A LOTto love about Christmas in Salzburg,
not least the music. The hottest ticket in town is for
Salzburger Adventsingen, a program of seasonal songs
held at the city’s Großes Festspielhaus (‘large festival
hall’) and a tradition ongoing since 1946. Carol recitals take
place in churches around the city, most of which house
impressivekrippen(nativity scenes) of carved wooden figures.
Concerts also celebrate local lad Mozart, despite the fact the
composer chose to spend most of his adult life in Vienna. The
finest are held at the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which dominates
the skyline from its perch on a rocky outcrop. From the castle
ramparts, visitors can enjoy marvellous views across the
Salzach river and the snow-capped roofs of the Old Town.
Salzburg’s historic centre features winding streets lined
with old merchant’s townhouses and wrought-iron signs.
Christmas markets erupt in the city’s squares — the best one
is on Domplatz, beside the 17th-century cathedral, where you’ll
hearOh Christmas Treesung in its original German and can join
a singalong choir every Tuesday evening.
Joseph Mohr, who wrote the lyrics toSilent Night, was born
on Steingasse, a cobbled laneway near the Salzach. The music
was composed by Franz Gruber, an organist in Oberndorf bei
Salzburg, 20 kilometres north
of the city. Every year, this
town holds a Christmas Eve
procession to the Silent Night
Chapel, built on the site where
this most famous of seasonal
songs was performed in public
for the first time in 1818. Visitors
and locals gather to sing —
surely there’s no lovelier way
to welcome Christmas.IF YOU’RE KEENto avoid snow,
Hong Kong is Asia’s best Christmas
destination. WinterFest brings
spectacular illumination to Central
streets, and the nightly Symphony
of Lights laser display at Victoria
Harbour is revamped with added
fireworks and neon Christmas trees.
Statue Square in Central
always has the most impressive
centrepiece, usually a tree —
previous years have seen
decorations by Tifany, Bulgari and
Swarovski. Shopping centres try to
outdo each other with their displays;
find the best at Harbour City,
Elements, IFC and Langham Place
malls. European-style Christmasmarkets are small and oten indoors,
but a lovely alfresco example glows
under red canvas roofing at
colonial-era Hullett House.
For the kids, Hong Kong
Disneyland turns up the Christmas-
themed activities with festive
lighting and characters in Santa
suits. Ocean Park also gets
a seasonal makeover.
Enjoy a dose of culture with
The Nutcracker by the Hong
Kong Ballet or the Hong Kong
Philaharmonic’s carols and Messiah.
Come New Year’s Eve, the harbour
makes a spectacular setting for
fireworks that rival Sydney’s as
the world’s grandest.Salzburg, Austria
FROM TOP The
Silent Night Chapel in
Oberndorf bei Salzburg
stands on the site of the
church where the carol
was first performed
in 1818; a traditional
Austrian krippe (carved
wooden nativity scene,
named ater the crib
containing baby Jesus);
Hong Kong lights up
at night for Christmas.HONG KONG