Vienna Celebrates Community Spirit This Advent with Stories, Punch, and Cookies
Vienna is gearing up for the holiday season, with a special focus this year on commemorating the power of community.
For the fourth year in a row, wohnpartner’s heartwarming "Advent Calendar" returns, offering daily heartwarming tales of Viennese community spirit. Starting on December 1st, a new story will be revealed each day on the website wohnpartner-wien.at.
"These are stories that remind us of how valuable friendship, cohesion, and respectful interaction are," says Vice Mayor and Housing Counselor Kathrin Gaál.
Stories from the heart
Each day, a new window will be "opened” online, revealing inspiring narratives highlighting acts of kindness and neighborly connection.
These tales don’t just capture heartwarming moments; they speak to a deeper objective: strengthening the sense of community within Vienna. Kha
"We want to show how important it is to help each other and be there for each other," says Claudia Huemer. "This helping each other, it often begins right on the doorstep, on the stairs or in the community building yard."
Along with personal stories, the online Advent calendar will feature recipes, crafts, competitions, and a glimpse into upcoming wohnpartner activities planned for 2024. The goal is to encourage residents to connect with neighbors and build a stronger sense of belonging.
Sunset Days and Festive Gatherings
But the spirit of community goes beyond virtual connections. Throughout December, wohnpartner is organizing numerous events across Vienna, providing opportunities to connect face-to-face. Over free non-alcoholic punch and Christmas treats, people can connect with their neighbors and get to know their community better.
"We would like to give all Viennese the opportunity to get to know their neighborhood better, to start a conversation and to get support if things aren’t going well," says Huemer.
"We create a pre-Christmas atmosphere in which exchange and encounters are very important."
These events aim to combat loneliness and isolation by fostering a sense of belonging—a key element in maintaining a high quality of life in Vienna, especially during the holidays.
"With the Advent dates,
"With the new events, we seek to connect not only online, but also offline."
Selected Dates for Festive Encounters:
2nd district:
- Punch & chestnuts
December 12th, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m
2., Handelskai 214 between stairs 9 and 10
3rd district:
-
Punch & cookies
December 5th, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
3., Markhofgasse 12-18 - DiTreff concludes with St. Nicholas Day
December 10th, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m
3., wohnpartner Grätzl-Zentrum Mitten im Third, Lechnerstr. 2-4
10th district:
- Nikolausfeier
December 5th, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m
10., wohnpartner Grätzl-Zentrum Bassena 10 Ada-Christen-Gasse 2, 1100 Vienna
- Nicholas
December 6th, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
10., wohnpartner Grätzl-Zentrum Wienerberg, Neilreichgasse 113
11th district:
- Punch & cookies
December 5th, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
11., wohnpartner-Local, Albin Hirsch-Platz
22nd district:
- Bake cookies
December 20th, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m
22., wohnpartner Grätzl-Zentrum Kaisermühlen, Schüttaustraße 1-39
Let the spirit of community shine brightly throughout the season and beyond.
What are some examples of the heartwarming stories shared in the virtual Advent calendar?
## Vienna’s Advent Calendar: Celebrating Community with Stories, Punch and Cookies
**Announcer:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re talking about the holiday season in Vienna, which is shaping up to be a celebration of community spirit. Joining us to discuss this is Claudia Huemer from wohnpartner, the organization behind a special Advent calendar initiative. Welcome, Claudia!
**Claudia Huemer:** Thank you for having me.
**Announcer:** So Claudia, tell us about this unique Advent calendar. It’s not just about chocolates, is it?
**Claudia Huemer:** That’s right! Since 2020, wohnpartner has been creating a virtual Advent calendar filled with heartwarming stories about Viennese community spirit.
**Announcer:** I see. What kind of stories are we talking about?
**Claudia Huemer:** Every day, a new story is unveiled online at wohnpartner-win.at, showcasing acts of kindness, neighbourly support, and the strong bonds that connect Viennese people. We want to remind folks how valuable friendship, cohesion, and simply being there for each other truly are. [[1](https://events.wien.info/en/130e/the-musical-advent-calendar/)]
**Announcer:** That sounds lovely. But it doesn’t stop there, does it? Vienna is known for beautiful Christmas markets and festive gatherings. What else is happening?
**Claudia Huemer:** Absolutely! Throughout December, we’re hosting numerous events across Vienna, giving people a chance to connect face-to-face. Think free non-alcoholic punch, Christmas treats, and opportunities to socialize with neighbors. We want to create a welcoming atmosphere where people can get to know their communities better, maybe even spark new friendships.
**Announcer:** It seems like wohnpartner is really focused on addressing the rising issue of loneliness and isolation, especially during the holidays.
**Claudia Huemer:** Exactly! We believe that even small acts of kindness and a sense of belonging can make a big difference. Whether it’s sharing a story online or enjoying a cup of punch with your neighbor, these little moments can truly brighten someone’s day.
**Announcer:** Claudia Huemer from wohnpartner, thank you so much for sharing these heartwarming initiatives with us. It sounds like Vienna is truly embracing the spirit of the season.
**Claudia Huemer:** Thank you for having me.
