Despite the biting cold on this December 5th 2004, the atmosphere was set fair for the opening of the 13th Christmas in Europe in Bad Ischl, which followed the programme put together by Hans Russegger’s team: high mass in the parish church followed by the parade, the inauguration, the speeches and the visit of the exhibition stands.
On the church steps just before the church service there was quite a stir caused by the variety of traditional costumes worn by members of the 17 European delegations and the inhabitants of Bad Ischl who quite naturally wear their traditional costumes with pride.
Before the Sunday high mass celebrated by the priest Johann Hammerl, Klaus Enengl, director of the Bad Ischl hotel and tourism school, greeted in German, French and English the delegations and the parishioners present, expressing in well-turned phrases his joy, and that of his school, at welcoming this concentration of European citizens; and somewhat early, he wished everyone a happy Christmas.
The delegations attend high mass with reverence.
The church service was accompanied by the ‘Hochtraxlegger Sprungschanzenmusi’ band, and gave the priest the opportunity in his sermon to emphasise the strong symbolism of the variety of languages being spoken in the church – a diversity which also had the function of understanding and welcoming others.
After the mass, the parade got under way amid much hilarity in the street where the curious inhabitants of Bad Ischl were obviously delighted by this unexpected spectacle. The parade moved off accompanied by music provided courtesy of the ‘Salinen Kapelle Bad Ischl’. The open carriage drawn by two stout horses carried the dignitaries, and was followed by the delegations preceded by their flags, striding out to cover the few hundred metres separating them from the Kongresshaus.
The dignitaries travel in the open carriage.
Led by the ‘Salinen Kapelle’, the colourful parade moves off!
Carried by the Bad Ischl students, the AEHT flag
leads the parade.
The delegates smile despite the cold.
A little later, after the ‘family photo’ on the steps of the Kongresshaus, it was time for the very formal part of the event, with the cutting of the ribbon for the official opening of the 18-stand exhibition, and especially with the speeches. In his speech Klaus Enengl greeted the dignitaries, especially Josef Steinkögler, the Member of Parliament, Helmuth Haas the mayor of Bad Ischl, Christiane Keller ‘Mother Christmas’ and Adolph Steindl, AEHT vice-president and a colleague from the Bad Leonfelden school. He thanked all those taking part in this ‘13th Christmas in Europe’ and wished all the delegations an unforgettable stay in Bad Ischl.
It is the solemn but relaxed moment of the ‘cutting of the ribbon’ by
Christiane Keller and Klaus Enengl, surrounded by dignitaries.
Klaus Enengl makes his speech.
Josef Steinkögler said that he was delighted to be able to be present at this event, and made no effort to conceal his delight. ‘It is Europe of peace, a true mosaic of peace which we see represented here’ he said, while thanking the organisers for this fine initiative. And Helmuth Haas, the mayor of Bad Ischl, said that he was very curious to find out how Christmas was celebrated in all these countries from across Europe. He also thanked the Bad Ischl school for organising Christmas in Europe, and wished the delegations an excellent stay in Bad Ischl and in the Salzkammergut region.
MP Josef Steinkögler sees Europe at peace.
Mayor Helmuth Haas is impressed!
Finally Christiane Keller, founder of Christmas in Europe, said how happy she was to be here in Bad Ischl, and to see how that event has now become a traditional part of the AEHT calendar. ‘To show the wealth of our differences – that is the aim of this Christmas in Europe event’, she said before going on to congratulate the organisers on behalf of Alfonso Benvenuto, the AEHT president who had been unable to be present for health reasons.
Christiane Keller, founder of Christmas in Europe,
tells the participants of her joy at being in Bad Ischl.
Before inviting the dignitaries and the numerous members of the public to discover the 18 exhibition stands, Klaus Enengl made a point of singling out for thanks the heart and soul of this Christmas in Europe event: Hans Russegger, a teacher and colleague, but also AEHT Treasurer, together with his entire supporting team. The thanks were well deserved, and everyone joined in the applause.
Hans Russegger and Klaus Enengl: excellent work!
Hans Russegger and Klaus Enengl: excellent work!
