There are beautiful Christmas markets on the town’s principal squares, offering local artisanal wares, mulled wine and punch. But while in Budapest we can see a nativity scene with the Holy Family in the middle of every Christmas market, in Vienna the real meaning of Christmas seems to be missing.

Search as you will, posters or pictures of the nativity scene are nowhere to be found. You cannot buy a cross or a Christmas-tree decoration that depicts the baby Jesus.

You can choose however from among hundreds of charming ornaments, in the shape of reindeers, snowmen, penguins, polar bears and of course —Santa Claus.

Christmas has now become a happy, cute, fancy winter happening complete with snow, ice skating, hot chocolate and elegant gifts. Alas, many people in Western Europe celebrate the birth of God’s Son without once mentioning the name of Jesus in the whole Advent Season.

The other unexpected sight in the centre of Vienna was the illuminated St Stephen’s Cathedral, known locally as Stephansdom. The church is being renovated, and there are enormous Coca-Cola campaign posters on the outside of the building. 

In the 1930’s Coca-Cola began portraying Santa Claus, in the spirit of gift bearing Saint Nicholas, as the plump red gentleman we are now all familiar with. We are well accustomed to seeing this type of promotion on the outside of public buildings, but is it too much to ask that the house of God, and especially the famous Christian churches of the world, be exempt from this type of commercial advertisement? 

My only consolation, while observing the shocking scene, was that, at least, the posters did not advertise the rainbow-coloured version of Coca-Cola’s products.

Photo: Instawas