Austrian Cuisine: Mahlzeit 147dipped marshmallow confections), red candy apples and
cotton candy.
Blattlstock, from Tyrol, is a cake with layers of filling made
out of stewed pears, ground poppy seeds, sugar, lemon peel,
cinnamon and cloves. Also called Stephansstock, a piece of
this cake is eaten at the end of every meal starting on Saint
Stephen’s Day on 26 December. As children eat a bit of the
cake on 1 January, they make a wish for the coming year.
New Year’s Eve/Silvester
As in many other countries, the New Year is rung in with
Sekt (sparkling wine). Because many people celebrate
midnight outside in freezing temperatures, Glühwein, a hot
spiced wine sold at outdoor markets throughout the winter
season, and Punsch are very popular. Little marzipan pigs,
mushrooms, clovers and chimneysweeps are given to friends
and family as good luck charms for the coming year; they
also decorate pastries and cakes. Superstition has it that
lobster and crayfish are not to be eaten, because they walk
backwards, making them counter to the New Year spirit of
looking to the future.