The spring season is painted differently in every country, and through this article, Viktoria Neumayer will take you all the way to Austria. From the enchanting apricot blossoms of the Wachau to the cheerful daisies brightening city streets, discover the beauty and charm of spring in Austria like never before.
Dear reader, when you think about the term spring, which flower do you think describes the overall mood and period best for you? Asking this question to a person living in Austria, Europe, their answer is very likely to be "apricot blossom.” Maybe you have heard of this flower before, or you are googling it right now; whatever the case, explore with me the beauty of spring's awakening in Austria in the next few lines.
Springtime, or rather one of the four seasons is called Frühling in German, which is the standard language both in Austria and Germany, denoting the renewed start of growth. My grandmother's generation as well as my parents were taught the term Lenz, indicating with the saying "the Lenz is coming"* that spring in all its glory is about to take place. I encountered this term while preparing for this column and had some great conversations about this word's origin with my family. These days, you might come across this term in literary pieces only.
The days are starting to get longer, and all around us, lots of flowers have started to bloom. In Austria, daisies, called Gänseblümchen are blooming in German, next to the pavements or within parks, the yellow rapeseed found on the agricultural fields, or the apricot trees in the Wachau - a region along the Danube River. The daisies are often one of the first flowers to be spotted, and I consider them spring's ambassador.
The literal translation of the German term would be something like "goose cutesy flower," which I find adorable.
The apricot blossom in Austria can be compared to South Korea's cherry blossoms. This spectacle around March to April is a major event in Austria. Generally, referenced as Blütenmeer, roughly translating to “sea of flowers,” a great number of tourists and locals alike flock to this region to marvel at the blooming buds, ranging from white to having a light pink tint. The blooming period lasts for roughly ten days to two weeks, and during this period people also enjoy going hiking, sitting outside, and visiting traditional markets offering crafted products, food, and wine. The trees' bright orange fruits are harvested around July and are often used for making apricot jam, delicious desserts, such as Marillenknödel - "apricot dumplings," - or various other dishes.
Lenz has finally arrived again, and with it the time when we are trying to capture its beauty with our smartphones, eyes, and hearts.
Dear reader, I hope you can enjoy the seemingly small but precious moments in you daily routine this spring term: whether in Seoul, South Korea, Wachau, Austria. I hope the Lenz's welcome has been a joyous occasion.
P.s. To all my fellow students: For the upcoming midterms, I am cheering you on. Fighting!