CULTURAL AWARENESS

AUSTRIAN CULTURE
As is common in many countries, you must register with the municipal authorities in Austria
within three working days of entering the country. You must also keep the local authorities up-
to-date whenever you change address, name or citizenship status. If you come from the EU/EEA
or are a Swiss national, you must also apply for a confirmation of registration
(Anmeldebescheinigung) once you’ve stayed in Austria for more than 3 months. It is a matter of
Austrian law - you must register with the authorities within three days of moving to a new
address. The residence registration is connected to postal services, voting and parking fines,
among other areas.

Required document ;

 A filled-in residence registration form (also available from a Registration Service Centre

in the city) with your landlord’s signature, if renting.
 Birth certificate.
 If you hold dual (or higher) citizenship you must submit documents proving your
identity, place of birth, and nationality (essentially all travel documents!).
 Foreign citizens must submit a passport or asylum certificate (called asylausweis)
There are multiple Registration Service Centres in the city, and you can attend any of these to
register. This is independent of the specific district in which you work or live. You will receive a
Residence Registration Certificate as proof of your having completed the registration
successfully. Registration is free of charge, however there are fees in place if you fail to produce
the correct certificates. If you are an EU citizen, you do not require a visa or permit to live and
work in Austria. However, if you plan to live here for more than 3 months you must apply for an
ID card; an EWR-Lichtbildausweis. Without being employment, you may stay for up to 6
months; if you are working, you may remain for up to 5 years.

If you are not an EU citizen, you will require a visa which must be submitted prior to visiting the
country. The relevant visas are all outlined below.

This visa allows you to study and travel within Austria for up to 90 days, which is sufficient
for some internships and degree programs. In order to successfully obtain this visa you will need:

 An in-date and valid passport

 A current passport photo
 Booking and travel confirmation
 Accommodation booking confirmation
 Proof of means (i.e. sufficient money in the bank)
  Proof of health insurance

Essentially a longer-term version of the C visa, this allows you to study or travel in
Austria for up to 180 days. This can permit short-term employment, but only in special
circumstances. To obtain this visa you will need:

 An in-date and valid passport

 A current passport photo
 Booking and travel confirmation
 Accommodation booking confirmation
 Proof of health insurance

To stay for more than 6 months, you will need to apply for a residence permit. This will allow
you to stay for a much longer duration than the class C and D visas.

Do not use your home contract here in Austria - it will cost an absolute fortune, or may not
work at all. It’s sometimes a good idea to get a prepaid SIM for the first couple of weeks, so you
can still call home or contact friends. Longer term, you’ll want an Austrian contract. In terms of
selecting a contract and provider, that’s really up to two things: your personal needs/preferences
and the best deals which are going around at the time. At the start of the academic year,
companies may run special promotions to reel you in, and you should definitely aim to take
advantage of these! The most reliable cell networks are:

 A1
 Orange
 Tele-ring
 T-Mobile
 Yesss
 Three

When choosing your deal, remember to pay attention to the minutes and texts provided, as well
as data - you’ll probably want at least a couple of GB for when you’re out of a Wi-Fi area. In
addition, you may wish to choose a contract which has low-price calls abroad (to friends and
family back home) or, if you generally call over Wi-Fi, a contract which is a little cheaper
without those perks.

HISTORY

Like most European countries, Austria looks back on a very eventful history. Yet there are
some elements of the Austrian character that haven’t changed much over the centuries: the
partiality for indulgence, beauty, and cultivation have always been driving forces in the country’s
past and present. The area of today’s Austria, that is the fertile Danube Valley and the Alpine
valleys, were already settled in the Paleolithic Age (until approx. 8000 BC). Around 400 BC,
Celtic peoples from Western Europe settled in the eastern Alps. A Celtic state, Noricum,
developed around the region's ironworks in the second century BC. From the 7th century BC
onwards one of the main regions of Celtic occupation was in modern-day Austria, centered
around Hallstatt, a large prehistoric salt-mining area. The Hallstatt period, 750 - c.450 BC, is
named after this region. The Romans arrived 200 BC and by 15 BC they dominated the entire
area. The most important Roman settlement in Austria was Carnutum (capital of the Roman
province of Pannonia in today’s Lower Austria) which became the center of the Roman
fortifications along the Danube. Today there is an interesting Archeology Park with a museum
and an amphitheater. By the later half of the second century AD, various German tribes were
extending their territory making devastating incursions into Roman territories. By the mid-500s,
the Bavarians controlled the territory between the eastern Alps and the Wienerwald region.
Around 800 Charlemagne, the king of Franks and eventually Holy Roman Emperor, established
a territory in the Danube valley known as the Ostmark (Eastern March). In 996 the Ostmark was
first referred to as "Ostarrichi", a clear forerunner of the modern German word
"Österreich".Between 976, when Leopold von Babenberg became the margrave of the Ostmark,
and 1246, the Duchy of Austria was one of extensive feudal possessions of the Babenberg
family. The dynasty established their first residence in Pöchlarn before moving it to Melk in the
scenic Wachau region. In the 12th century Henry II moved his residence to Vienna which has
remained the capital of the country ever since. Also in the 12th century the Cathedral of Saint
Stephan was completed, which became a visible landmark of the city, showing its prominence.
Henry II also founded the Schottenstift monastary in Vienna, in the courtyard of which there is a
statue of him to this day. Some 100 years later Rudolf I emerged with the crown, beginning six
centuries of Habsburg rule in Austria. The centerpiece of their realm was the Imperial palace in
Vienna, today accommodating several museums (Treasury, Sisi Museum) providing a good
overview of the Habsburgs. The Habsburgs increased their influence and power through
strategic alliances ratified by marriages. Owing to premature deaths and/or childless marriages
within the Burgundian and Spanish dynasties into which his grandfather, Maximilian I (1493-
1519), and his father had married, Emperor Charles V (1519-56) inherited not only the
Hereditary Lands but also the Franche-Comté and the Netherlands (both of which were French
fiefs) and Spain and its empire in the Americas. The Turkish threat, which included unsuccessful
sieges of Vienna in 1529 and in 1683, prompted Poland, Venice, and Russia to join the Habsburg
Empire in repelling the Turks. In the late 1690s, command of the imperial forces was entrusted to
Prince Eugene of Savoy. Under his leadership, Habsburg forces won control of all but a small
portion of Hungary by 1699. The French revolution in 1789 and the rise of Napoleon, who
secured French possession of many Austrian territories, proved to be a major threat to the
Habsburgs. During the Congress of Vienna (1814/15), held with the purpose of redrawing the
continent's political map after Napolen’s defeat, Austrian Chancellor Metternich tried to
reconsolidate Austrian power. In 1848 the French philosophy of middle-class revolution reached
Austria, but the rebellion was promptly squashed, and Emperor Franz I and Metternich
responded by cutting down civil liberties and introducing a strict censorship. As a result the
people retreated to their houses, concentrated on the domestic and the non-political; social life
came to a halt. The second part of the Biedermeier period was marked by a growing urbanization
and industrialization that lead to a new urban middle class. People started to meet again, and the
arts were cherished. Artists of this time include painters like Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller and
Friedrich Gauermann, the composer Franz Schubert, and the poets Adalbert Stifter, Ferdinand
Raimund and Franz Grillparzer. In the end the Emperor Ferdinand I was eventually pressured to
abdicate in favor of his nephew Emperor Franz Joseph I, whose 68-year reign was one of
Austria's longest. Together with his wife Elisabeth, the legendary "Sisi", he shaped the image of
the Austrian imperial rule. Under his rule Vienna became of the Europe’s most important
metropolises and the center of a multinational state extending from Hungary to North Italy and
deep into southern Europe. Brimming with ethnic tensions and locked into a rigid system of
alliances from the 19th century wars, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was a catastrophe waiting
to happen. The necessary spark was the assassination of the Austrian archduke and heir to the
throne, Franz Ferdinand in June 1914 in Sarajevo. Austria’s declaration of war against Serbia
marked the beginning of World War I. Emperor Franz Joseph dies in 1916 and after the end of
the war in 1918 the first Republic of Austria was established, ending the 640-year old Habsburg
dynasty. The young republic suffered massive inflation, unemployment, and near economic
collapse. In 1933, the weak coalition government between the Christian-Social and the Social-
Democratic parties gave way when Engelbert Dollfuss became Chancellor in 1932 as head of a
right-wing coalition government, designed to tackle the problems caused by the Depression. In
May 1934 Doffluss declared martial law in order to protect Austria from Hitler. In July Dollfuss
was shot and killed by Nazis in an attempted coup. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched
into Austria and the country was incorporated into the German Reich ruled by Adolf Hitler. After
the end of World War II in 1945, Austria was restored to its 1937 frontiers and occupied by the
victorious allies – the USA, the Soviet Union, the UK, and France – for a decade. On May 15,
1955, the Austrian State Treaty was ratified, with Austria declaring its permanent neutrality.
Thanks to its location near the “Iron Curtain”, Austria soon developed into a nerve center
between the West and the East. After the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the 1968 Prague
Spring Invasion, Austria grants asylum to the refugees. Austria is also host country of many
international organizations (UNO, OPEC) as well as host of many important conference and
summit meetings. The Iron Curtain fell in 1989/90; in 1995 Austria becomes a member of the
European Union.

Education

Kindergarten is the traditional form of pre-primary education for children aged three to six
in Austria. However, kindergartens and creches are not part of the school system. The provinces
are responsible for legislation  and implementation and about 60% of childcare facilities are
maintained by municipalities . However, there is also a large private sector (operated by
associations, religious communities and private individuals). From ages 0-5 kindergartens and
crèches are optional and children attend at their parents’ initiative. From the age of 5,
kindergarten is obligatory and free of charge for a minimum of 20 hours over a minimum of 4
days per week (agreement pursuant to Art. § 15a of the Federal Constitutional Law 2018/19-
2021/22). As of 2013 the federal government in cooperation with the provinces has been
investing in new day car places for children under the age of three. In addition there is an effort
to expand opening hours and to boost quality (by setting minimum standards).

General compulsory schooling starts for all children on September, 1st following the child’s

sixth birthday and comprises nine years. For most children (90%) aged 6-15 residing in Austria
(regardless of their nationality) this means regular attendance at a fully publicly funded school. It
can also mean attendance at a fee-paying private school or homeschooling.
Children who are of statutory school age can also be taught at home in Austria. Home schooling must be
notified to the board of education and is laid down in the national Compulsory Schooling act. It may be
started if it is not disallowed within one month of notification. Children being taught by home schooling
must take exams at the end of the school year to demonstrate that they have attained the educational
goals of the school they would have to attend. The teaching person does not require a certificate of
proficiency. Under similar conditions, children of statutory school age may attend private schools which
do not enjoy public law status. Again, the equivalence of teaching will be tested in subsequent
examinations held at public schools.

Primary schools  have to provide a common basic education for all students in the first four
grades, taking into account integration of children with special needs. A pre - school year can be
included in the lower levels (grades 1 and 2) of primary schooling; the pre-school year is part of
the school system and is designed to foster the development of children of compulsory
schooling age who are not yet mature enough for year 1.

The post-secondary non-tertiary sector (ISCED 4) comprises:

 Schools and other education and training programmes in the advanced-level healthcare

professions
 Preparation courses (Vorbereitungslehrgänge) for apprenticeship graduates .

Students can choose between the following tertiary educational institutions:

 Universities, public and private
 Universities of applied sciences
 University colleges of teacher education

Military staff

The Austrian Armed Forces form the armed power of the Republic of Austria. Their
Commander-in-Chief is the Austrian Federal President, while the Minister of Defence exercises
his power of supreme command by way of his offices and subordinated commanders. In times of
peace, the Army comprises professional soldiers, further employees and conscripts. The task
force organisation also includes militia soldiers. The Armed Forces are divided into the air force,
landbased and special forces. After having reached its final overhauled structure in 2010,
personnel is expected to be of the following strength:

 14,000 soldiers
 8,000 civilan employees
 25,000 militia soldiers
 Officer Training Founded in 1751 by Maria Theresia as a "cadet school" with the intent of
providing an excellent military education to the most able young men, the Theresan Military
Academy remains a world leading institution to this day. The combination of a heart of tradition
with modern education on a college level is mainly responsible for the internationally recognised
high level of qualification of Austrian officers. The Military Leadership course focuses on
communication, teamwork and organisational skills as well as problem analysis and autonomous
development of solution methodologies. This provides the academy's students with a funded
background in leadership and crisis management and qualifies them as expert managers in both a
military and civilian context. Upon completion of the course, the students graduate with the rank
of Lieutenant and a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Military Leadership. While civilian students
receive the same degree as military students, they do not receive a military rank. The Non-
Commissioned Officers Academy is responsible for the basic, advanced and further training of
the Austrian NCOs in order to develop their leadership techniques. Training is carried out in
accordance with the defence doctrine of the Austrian Armed Forces (AAF) and takes into
consideration the principles of adult education. The focus is not only on professional but also on
social competence.

Traditional staff

1. Easter Egg battle (‘Eierpecken’) -A common Easter tradition in Austria is the Easter egg
battle during the family Easter breakfast or brunch. Coloured hard-boiled eggs are served
along with a cake in the shape of a lamb . Before people at the table eat their eggs, a
battle ensues. Each player holds their egg with the tip pointing up and prepares for battle.
The first player to start hits another egg tip with his own egg, with the goal of breaking
the shell of the other egg. The winner then goes around the table and tries his luck with
the other players. The winner of the battle is whoever is left with an egg that is still intact.
2. Autumn Cow train (‘Almabtried’)- his event is held annually in the Alpine regions in
Austria. Every summer, around 500,000 cows in Austria are led high up into the
mountains so they can feed on pastures in the Alps. Around October, there is usually one
specific day where all the cows are brought down in the form of a cow train from the
mountain to the stables in the valley. Many of the cows are decorated and the cow train is
celebrated with music and dance, if there were no accidents on the mountain during the
summer. Each cow is returned to their owner once the cows get back into the valley.
These days it has evolved into a festival-like event in most alpine towns where artisan
and agricultural products are sold.
3.  First day of school cone (Schultüte)- An Austrian tradition, with roots in German
history, is the cone of goodies handed to children on the first day of school. When six-
year-olds start school for the first time, usually in first grade, they are given a big
cardboard cone. Either parents or grandparents are tasked with giving the child a
decorated cone filled with candy, toys and school supplies. Originally the cone would be
 brought to the school and it would be hung up on a cone tree marked with their name.
Kids would be told a story that at school a tree is growing with cones and when it is ripe,
the kids are old enough and need to go to school. This is supposed to make the first day
of school, which can often be a stressful time for a child, a little more fun.

4. Stealing the Bride (‘Brautraub’)- Stealing the bride is a very old Austrian tradition when
it comes to weddings. The tradition is seen as both entertaining but also has the symbolic
meaning that the bride is leaving her family home and starting a whole new portion of her
life with her husband. Friends of the bride and groom interrupt the wedding by crashing
the party to kidnap or steal the bride. For a certain amount of time no one at the wedding
should notice that the bride has gone missing, so the kidnappings are elaborately planned
out. The kidnappers then take the bride and go from bar to bar in the local area, buying
drinks along the way. Then the groom has to go find the bride. Once the groom finds his
bride, he needs to pay a ransom to get her back; this usually involves him buying a round
of drinks.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.thelocal.at/20160620/six-unique-traditions-that-austrians-love-to-love

https://www.bundesheer.at/english/forces/adta/index.shtml

https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/national-policies/eurydice/content/organisation-education-system-and-

its-structure-1_en

https://housinganywhere.com/Austria/practical-info-for-living