7 out of 10 Viennese give a gift for St. Nicholas – the average spend is 50 euros – trade manager Gumprecht: “The approximately 60 Viennese confectionery retailers offer individually hand-made St. Nicholas & Krampi”
Vienna (OTS) – “Traditions are there to be cherished and maintained. For many Viennese, St. Nicholas Day is a cherished and cross-generational tradition. On this occasion they give out small gifts. A lot of chocolate Santa Clauses go over the counter of the confectionery dealer, and for some people there will probably also be a Krampus,” says Margarete Gumprecht, chairwoman of the trade division of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. According to a current survey by KMU Research Austria, 7 out of 10 Viennese want to give away at least a little something. Children under 10 years of age (43%) and their own partner (32%) are particularly among the recipients. Only 28 percent of Viennese say they don’t want to give gifts to anyone. On average, donors spend 50 euros on St. Nicholas Day in Vienna.
Mainly the Viennese Nikolo brings chocolate and other sweets (72 percent). Hardly any bag would be without a chocolate Christmas or Krampus, but you can also find fruit such as apples or tangerines, dried fruits and nuts – especially hazelnuts, walnuts or peanuts. Cash (18 percent) and toys (16 percent) are also given away.
Viennese people do Nikolo shopping in stationary stores
The survey shows: Viennese prefer to do Nikolo errands in brick-and-mortar stores (80 percent) – one in four also buys something online. 26 percent of Viennese look forward to sharing a meal with their loved ones on St. Nicholas Day. 20 percent practice the tradition of filling boots and at least for every 10 Viennese someone dresses up as Santa Claus and pays a visit to the children.
60 Viennese confectionery retailers offer a wide selection
“We still have around 60 confectionery retailers in Vienna. They offer regional, sustainable and high-quality products for the Nikolo festival. A visit to traditional shops is a special experience: you can get inspiration and advice, see the goods and of course try them out,” says Gumprecht, recommending conscious purchases in stationary stores. When you look through the shelves you can see everything your taste buds, heart and soul need: handmade Santa Clauses, but also cola crackers, licorice, cracked almonds, special hollow figures made of dark or white chocolate, traditional candies, pralines and much more.
Questions & Contact:
Vienna Chamber of Commerce
Head of Services
T +43 1 514 50-1320
E cvd@wkw.at
W wko.at/wien/news