Austrian Folk 45beckoning at the doorstep makes it the natural sport of
choice. Children put on skis as soon as they learn to walk.
By the age of seven or eight, they start resembling speeding
bullets going down the ski slopes.
Getting to Know Everyone in the Family
The children grow up knowing each member of the extended
family, including their grandmother and grandfather, or Oma
and Opa. Oma, especially, takes on an important role. She
is the one who babysits the children, takes them for walks,
and, of course, spoils them silly. On Sunday afternoons, most
families get together at Oma and Opa’s in the afternoon for
an early dinner followed by cake and coffee a little later on.
This is a good time to catch up on the past week’s happenings,
but more importantly, it is a time to relax and enjoy each
other’s company.
The Weekends
The weekends are sacred to the average Austrian family.
They value spending their time off with their family and
don’t believe in working after hours. That is why you will
often find all stores closed on Sundays, and it is only in
the last couple of years that stores have stayed open until
Austrians love outdoor activities and take advantage of their free time
on weekends.