Like so many other cities around the world, Graz has an annual Christmas Lighting ceremony but this year they have more.
Thousands of people came to witness the lighting of 25,000 light bulbs in Graz but more than that, the city in Southeastern Austria has another unique attraction: the Nativity scene ice sculpture.
The ice artwork can be seen in the arcades of Landhaus, a landmark where Styrian state parliament meets.
the Nativity has man-sized figures sculpted from 50 tonnes of ice with replacement structures kept near in case it melts. The event opened with a live music concert.
The most wonderful time of the year
Every December, the entire city and its narrow alleys, hidden back courtyards and the Schlossberg castle is a glittering display.
The windows of the shops all over the city are also in a Christmas high with sumptuously decorated Christmas trees
In the past, farmers in Graz would only have simple decorations on their Christmas trees including a few apples, and perhaps some handmade stars made from straw.
Because many farmhouses were too small for a big Christmas tree, the farmers would hang the trees from the ceilings - upside down.
It is precisely this idea that Graz, now the Unesco City of Design, has extended to its Herrengasse street, where dozens of trees hang down above the heads of the Christmas shoppers every year.
"Falling Xmas trees" is the name of this installation.
Graz's Christmas markets are also a musical affair, with live music being performed everywhere, ranging from pop Christmastime songs to trombone concerts to traditional Christmas songs from the region.
If a visitor is searching for a Christmas song, the city also has an Office of Christmas Songs, established in 1991, and has a file of thousands of songs, texts, poems, melodies, and season regarding the Christmas season.
Graz is Austria's second largest city and is also dubbed as the most relaxed.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
