178 CultureShock! Austria
Balls (Bälle)
In January, Vienna celebrates the New Year with lavish
balls. This time of the year is called Fasching. In essence,
the name refers to Fat Tuesday, the eve of Ash Wednesday
(Aschermittwoch), but it is also a general term describing
the period beginning on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the
11th month, and ending with Ash Wednesday.
Balls abound, hosted by various organisations. There
are balls held for members of certain professions, for
example: Rot Kreuz Ball (Red Cross Ball), Ball der Pfarre
Floridsdorf (Clergymen’s Ball), Installateurball (Plumbers’
Ball), Technikerball (Technicians’ Ball), Ärzteball (Doctors’
Ball), Ball der Zollwache (Customs Guards’ Ball), Zuckerbäcker
Ball (Confectioners’ Ball) and Kanalwerkmeister Ball (Sewer
Managers’ Ball). Some ethnic groups put on lively cultural
dances at their balls, examples being Ball der burgenländischen
Kroaten (Burgenland’s Croatian Ball), Russische Ballnacht
(Russian Ball Night) and Ball der Griechen (Greeks’ Ball). A
ball with a twist is the Rudolfina Redoute Ball. Here, single
women enter wearing masks, which they take off at midnight
to reveal their identities to their dancing partners. Another
noteworthy event is the Life Ball, which raises money for