Geography Final Project

     The climate in Austria is temperate, with cold winters and cool summers with occasional showers. The location of Austria is Central Europe, North of Italy and Slovenia. The terrain is mostly flat in the east and north, with mountains in the west and south. Onto human characteristics. Most traditional customs (with the exception of purely religious actions) actively welcome international visitors/tourists. The new year in Austria starts with what they call "Neujahrsschießen" or, in english, the New Year's Salute. This has squads of historical rifle associations (at least refering to historicaal assosications with their uniforms) that gather in traditional costumes in many of the cities all over the country. The people line up in rows and shoot, this often happens with massive, 17th-century style guns. The relgion in Austria has been "thoroughly" Catholic for centuries now. In February, Easter takes place. On Palm Sunday, people in rural communities take bouquets made of seven different weeds, each with its own symbolism, that are attached to a stick, to church. Together with foods the bouquets, called Palmbuschen, recieve good blessings. These are meant to symbolise Christ's arrival in Jerusalem. Afterwards, they are placed on fields to protect the crops, this is where they normally stay until they rot (as blessed items are traditionally not thrown away in Austria). There are many different customs with regional significance held in Austria in the week that follows. Where, passion plays are organised in some communities, eggs are painted and decorated, and branches of fruit tress -mostly cherry- or bushes are cut and decorated with eggs or Easter ornaments. However, most families paint or stain eggs -after painted the are then knocked against each other in a competitive manner. The church bells are not in use from Green Thursday until the resurrection serive on Easter night (Saturday). Also, traditionally, children are told that they have flown to Rome. During this time, minister boys walk door to door and make noises with wooden instuments called "Ratschen" instead. Then during Easter Night, many communities burn large stacks of wood in bonfires, this is from pagan traditions. I believe that -like any other place- their are individual characteristics withing the cultural group of Austria. One famous person from Austria is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a body builder and a actor, among other things.