Advent at Admont Abbey celebrates anniversary
Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The year 2024 offers three reasons for the Benedictine Abbey of Admont to celebrate: in addition to the 950th anniversary of the monastery and the 380th anniversary of the abbey grammar school, the traditional Christmas market "Advent in Admont" is celebrating its 25th birthday.
Just in time for the first weekend of Advent, the Benedictine Abbey of Admont is festively decorated, as one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Central Europe opens its doors again from 13 to 15 December: Advent in Admont. Among other things, 37 Christmas trees decorated by children provide the perfect ambience. All children who come to the Rosarium of the monastery on 30 November at 1 pm can take part. The appropriate tree decorations will be provided and registration is not necessary. The idea for this activity came from Silvia Schnepfleitner, who has been organising Advent in Admont for 14 years now and always incorporates new ideas into the tried and tested concept. The fact that these ideas can also be realised is thanks to "Abbot Gerhard Hafner, Economic Director Franz Pichler and Tourism and Marketing Manager Mario Brandmüller, who are fully behind this event", she emphasises.
Advent market with a social touch
Schnepfleitner pays particular attention to genuine craftsmanship, which is offered by around 110 exhibitors. These include genuine rarities such as home-made traditional costume buttons. The show forging of two regional companies has also become a fixed item on the programme. The cuisine is also regional. In addition to homemade sausages, Gesäuse burgers, angel curls and locally produced rye doughnuts with Steirerkas cheese, hot chocolate with real whipped cream is also an annual highlight. The sweet hot drink is served at the stand of the Admont Hospice Association. The charitable organisation is one of several social institutions represented at Advent in Admont and invests the proceeds in projects for the common good. For Silvia Schnepfleitner, Advent in Admont also has an important social function, as she says: "With the Christmas market, we have created a meeting place where families and friends can come together to spend a harmonious time together." Even class reunions are not uncommon at the Advent market, as the organiser knows.
Great offer for children
To mark the anniversary, the opening of the Christmas market is celebrated with a church service in the collegiate church. Founder Regina Ahlgrimm-Siess is also invited to attend. After all, it was she who launched Advent in Admont 25 years ago with the support of Helmuth Neuner, then Director of Economic Affairs at the Benedictine Abbey. Over the years, it has developed into a real visitor magnet and attracts around 20,000 guests from all Austrian provinces, southern Germany and northern Italy every year. A unique feature of the event is the Christkindl Post Office, which receives hundreds of letters from children every year. What do they want? "The Christmas tree is still in first place," reveals Schnepfleitner. Particularly praiseworthy: "The modesty of the children. It's usually small things that they want from the bottom of their hearts. Often not even for themselves, but for family members," says the Christmas market organiser. Every single one of these letters is answered. To do this, Schnepfleitner gathers a small team of volunteers around her, who respond to each of the children's requests in a personalised letter. In addition to the Christkindlpostamt, there is an annual children's programme at Advent in Admont, this time in the vicarage. Schnepfleitner also makes sure that "long benches are set up in front of the huts so that not only adults but also children can see the beautiful crafts on offer at the stalls", says the organiser. Just how actively children are involved in Advent in Admont can also be seen at this year's opening ceremony. This will be accompanied by music from the Admont kindergarten.
Abbey businesses present themselves
This year, for the first time, all of the abbey's businesses will have their own stand. This allows "an insight into the wide range of activities in which the Benedictine monastery is economically active", says Schnepfleitner. The Abbey Museum with its baroque monastery library and the nativity scene, which can only be viewed during the Christmas period and is on display in the abbey church, will also be open.
