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AUGUST
August like September sweetens the lives of Austrians, as well as foreigners with markets, fairs, kermises and all kinds of popular feasts.
Highlights in this month are the Portiuncula-Market, the second rag-fair of the year in Graz (Styria), Villach (Carinthia) holds its annual fair as part of the folkloristic week, wine growers of the former village of Neustift organize the “Neustift Kirtag mit Winzerumzug” (kermis and wine-growers procession, carrying a big crown adorned with gilt nuts).
The big date, however, in the month of August is the 15th, the Great Day of our Lady i.e. Assumption of the Virgin. The celebrations are started on the eve of the feast – a ship procession sails on the Wörthersee (Carinthia). In the west Austrians celebrate with particular magnificent “Kräuterweihen” (benediction of herbs) while everywhere else it is performed in a more modest way. The blessed herbs bunches serve as aversion of disease, thunderstorm and for protecting house and life-stock.
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