Vienna is just one city in Austria that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day each year. This 2015, avid fans of this celebration donned their green and orange costumes and aimed for the Guinness Book of World Records.
This weekend, the Burgtheater and Riesenrad are going green for St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Meanwhile, the castle in Kaprun and a ski slope in Tyrol’s Soll village will also have green lights to commemorate the occasion.
The Schottenstift monastery was the starting point of the traditional Paddy’s Day parade in Vienna. Unknown to many, this monastery was founded by Irish monks, also known as Scoti, in the 12th century. It holds the yearly St. Patrick’s Day mass usually in the morning.
Around Vienna, there will be celebrations of Irish music and dance.
St. Patrick’s Day also provides an opportunity for the Irish Embassy in Austria to promote Ireland. Irish community groups across Austria are also actively taking part in organizing events.
It was in 1766 when St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in Vienna primarily for the Irish exiles back then. The Spanish Ambassador to the Court of Vienna made an effort to invite Irish residents for a get together on March 17 of that year. Among the invited guests who attended the event were Count Lacy, President of the Council of War, along with Generals named Browne, Maguire, McElligott, O’Donnell, O’Kelly, and Plunkett. The others were identified as four Chiefs of the Grand Cross, two Governors, several Knights Military, six Staff Officers and four Privy-Counsellors. Many were wearing Irish crosses during that time to honor the special day of St. Patrick.