National Day of Austria on Oct 26
Whispers from the alps: a tale of a timeless bloom
TINA KHATRI
Beneath the vast and velvet sky,
Where silent peaks in grandeur lie,
The edelweiss blooms pure and bright,
A talisman of love and light.
The rhyme talks about the beautiful, peaceful alpine land of Austria. The small, kind country celebrating their freedom on Oct 26.
For Indians, who share a history of struggle for independence and peace, Austria’s post-war journey offers a powerful example of rebuilding a nation from the shadows of conflict.
Celebrating together, let’s start by making edelweiss flower. It is considered to bring luck and symbolizes eternal love and fidelity. Alpine legends say that those who find an edelweiss on the mountains are destined to live a long and prosperous life, and the flower serves as a talisman against bad luck. Inspired by this, try making a delicate edelweiss flower using paper!
Let’s say Gemma—come on, let’s go! In Austrian German, Gemma means “Let’s go!” To mountains high or valleys low, say Gemma loud, and off we’ll flow!
And when hunger calls, Kaiserschmarrn—a fluffy pancake torn into pieces and sprinkled with powdered sugar—is a beloved dish that warms hearts and fills stomachs across Austria..
Petals of luck — edelweiss craft
Materials:
• White paper or cardstock
• Scissors
• Glue
• Green paper (for stem and leaves)
• Pencil
Instructions:
1. Draw a simple star shape with 5-6 pointed petals on white paper.
2. Cut out the star shape carefully.
3. Cut smaller star shapes to layer on top for a 3D effect.
4. Glue the smaller stars on top of the larger one, slightly offset for depth.
5. Cut a green strip for the stem and small leaf shapes. Glue them to the back of the flower.
6. Optionally, decorate the petals with glitter or dots for detail.
Fluffy dreams on a plate — kaiserschmarrn delight
Ingredients:
• 4 eggs (separated)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• Pinch of salt
• Butter for frying
• Powdered sugar and fruit compote (for serving)
Instructions:
1. Whisk egg yolks, milk, flour, sugar, and salt until smooth.
2. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
3. Gently fold egg whites into the batter.
4. Heat butter in a pan. Pour batter and cook on medium heat until golden on the bottom.
5. Use a spatula to tear the pancake into pieces, flip and cook through.
6. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top and serve with fruit compote.
Gemma! let’s journey
Learn a simple Austrian German word that invites adventure and togetherness. Say Gemma and set off on your own exciting journey!
Gemma means “Let’s go!” in Austrian German.
To mountains high or valleys low,
Say Gemma loud, and off we’ll flow!
Quiz the alps
1. National flower
2. Capital city
3. Famous composer
4. Mountain range
5. Traditional dress
6. National dish
7. Official language
8. Currency (before Euro)
9. Famous physicist
10. Popular sport
11. River through Vienna
12. Iconic pastry
13. Austrian Emperor
14. Famous artist
15. National bird
16. Famous artist?
17. National bird?
Answer key
1. Edelweiss 2. Vienna 3. Mozart 4. Alps 5. Dirndl 6. Wiener 7. German 8. Schilling 9. Schrödinger 10. Skiing 11. Danube 12. Strudel 13. Franz 14. Klimt 15. Goldeneye
Where silent peaks in grandeur lie,
The edelweiss blooms pure and bright,
A talisman of love and light.
The rhyme talks about the beautiful, peaceful alpine land of Austria. The small, kind country celebrating their freedom on Oct 26.
For Indians, who share a history of struggle for independence and peace, Austria’s post-war journey offers a powerful example of rebuilding a nation from the shadows of conflict.
Celebrating together, let’s start by making edelweiss flower. It is considered to bring luck and symbolizes eternal love and fidelity. Alpine legends say that those who find an edelweiss on the mountains are destined to live a long and prosperous life, and the flower serves as a talisman against bad luck. Inspired by this, try making a delicate edelweiss flower using paper!
Let’s say Gemma—come on, let’s go! In Austrian German, Gemma means “Let’s go!” To mountains high or valleys low, say Gemma loud, and off we’ll flow!
And when hunger calls, Kaiserschmarrn—a fluffy pancake torn into pieces and sprinkled with powdered sugar—is a beloved dish that warms hearts and fills stomachs across Austria..
Petals of luck — edelweiss craft
Materials:
• White paper or cardstock
• Scissors
• Glue
• Green paper (for stem and leaves)
• Pencil
Instructions:
1. Draw a simple star shape with 5-6 pointed petals on white paper.
2. Cut out the star shape carefully.
3. Cut smaller star shapes to layer on top for a 3D effect.
4. Glue the smaller stars on top of the larger one, slightly offset for depth.
5. Cut a green strip for the stem and small leaf shapes. Glue them to the back of the flower.
6. Optionally, decorate the petals with glitter or dots for detail.
Fluffy dreams on a plate — kaiserschmarrn delight
Ingredients:
• 4 eggs (separated)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 2 tbsp sugar
• Pinch of salt
• Butter for frying
• Powdered sugar and fruit compote (for serving)
Instructions:
1. Whisk egg yolks, milk, flour, sugar, and salt until smooth.
2. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
3. Gently fold egg whites into the batter.
4. Heat butter in a pan. Pour batter and cook on medium heat until golden on the bottom.
5. Use a spatula to tear the pancake into pieces, flip and cook through.
6. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top and serve with fruit compote.
Gemma! let’s journey
Learn a simple Austrian German word that invites adventure and togetherness. Say Gemma and set off on your own exciting journey!
Gemma means “Let’s go!” in Austrian German.
To mountains high or valleys low,
Say Gemma loud, and off we’ll flow!
Quiz the alps
1. National flower
2. Capital city
3. Famous composer
4. Mountain range
5. Traditional dress
6. National dish
7. Official language
8. Currency (before Euro)
9. Famous physicist
10. Popular sport
11. River through Vienna
12. Iconic pastry
13. Austrian Emperor
14. Famous artist
15. National bird
16. Famous artist?
17. National bird?
Answer key
1. Edelweiss 2. Vienna 3. Mozart 4. Alps 5. Dirndl 6. Wiener 7. German 8. Schilling 9. Schrödinger 10. Skiing 11. Danube 12. Strudel 13. Franz 14. Klimt 15. Goldeneye