Advent at Admont Abbey unfortunately cancelled

Advent at Admont Abbey unfortunately cancelled

Wednesday, 24 November 2021

As in the previous year, the "Advent at Admont Abbey" event cannot take place this year due to the coronavirus. Letters to the Christ Child can still be posted. They will be answered individually.

Organiser Silvia Schnepfleitner and her deputy Sylvia Hofbauer were expecting 127 exhibitors on the third weekend of Advent in Admont. This year, the traditional Advent market should have taken place over five days, but the lockdown makes it impossible to hold it. "We have really endeavoured to do everything we can to ensure that the Christmas market can take place this time. Of course, our hearts are bleeding and we hope that we will succeed next year," says Schnepfleitner. Since February, the chairwoman of the "Advent im Stift Admont" association has spent countless hours planning the programme, infrastructure and location. "Despite the cancellation, we want to create a Christmassy atmosphere," says Schnepfleitner. As in the previous year, strollers will be able to enjoy this. To this end, the entire inner courtyard of the Benedictine monastery will be decorated for Christmas and lit up. "However, this is only possible thanks to the good cooperation with the Benedictine Abbey, for which I would particularly like to thank Abbot Gerhard Hafner, Economic Director Franz Pichler and the entire cultural department," emphasises the organiser of the Advent market.

The letter to the Christ Child

Just in time for the start of Advent on 1 December, 35 festively decorated Christmas trees will adorn the Rosarium, the forecourt of the Stiftsgärtnerei and the church square. The windows facing the inner courtyard will also be decorated with wooden hearts, bells and stars to create a pre-Christmas atmosphere. As in the previous year, a golden postbox will be installed in front of the administration building. "Children can post their wishes to the Christ Child here," says Schnepfleitner. Last year, organiser Silvia Schnepfleitner and her team received around 250 letters. The younger ones draw, the older ones write. The answers are as individual as the letters themselves. There is no template, but there are many volunteers who respond to each individual request. After all, "every letter really is answered," emphasises Schnepfleitner.

The chairwoman has planned a very special surprise for ten children this year: "Each of these ten children can decorate one of our Christmas trees together with their family." The traditional Christmas tree decorating takes place outdoors, with each family being separated. At the end, the tree is decorated with a small plaque bearing the first name of the child who decorated it.