Honoring Classic Easter in Vienna

I have been to Vienna a lot of times already to see varying places and festivities, but I still have not witnessed how Austrians celebrate this one famous event---Easter. That is why when a close cohort invited me to celebrate Easter with his family last year, I was zealous to drop all my works and fly.

In Vienna, Easter is honored in two procedures: through the Easter fires and passion plays. Austrians hold bonfires on mountains once the sun has set on the Holy Saturday while musicians stay everywhere in the towns and play sacred hymns. The fires are named Judas fires since the followers of the celebrated traitor, Judas Iscariot, were used to be burned using these big bonfires; though, some say that these fires signal the beginning of spring.

Meanwhile, Austrians also hold varying passion plays during the Easter Day celebration, and the most celebrated plays focus from the crucifixion to the resurrection of Christ. Since the Medieval Ages, these plays have been popular in Austria -- the most historic of which is presented every six years in the famous Erl in Tyrol, Thiersee, and for two hundred years in Burgenland exceptionally in Saint Margarethen. At present, you can travel to the three renowned Passion theaters, which have survived since the 18th century.