Grüss Gott! (Greetings!) I'm Austrian Barbie and I live in Austria, an extraordinarily beautiful country in central Europe. The colors and landscapes of Austria include snow covered Alps (tall mountain range), green lush Wienerwald (Vienna Woods) and fields of cheerful Alpine flowers, including Edelweiss (out national flower).

If you like to have fun, we Austrians celebrate something wonderful every month of the year! Depending on the event, you might see Stelzentäzer (highly skilled dancers on stilts) Sternsigner (street singers) or Glockler (runners wearing elaborate and colorful hats).

One of my favorite celebrations is Christmas in December. You must come to Rathausplatz (City Hall Square) in Vienna and witness the magnificence of shimmering Christmas trees that light up the sky like magic!

More than anything else, Austria is most known for her music. In the 1800's Franz Schubert, a native Viennese, created a 'craze' known as 'Schubertiade' (musical evenings- which is still very popular today.

Perhaps the greatest Austrian musician of all time was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Born in Salzburg in 1756, he composed over 626 pieces, 40 concertos, 49 symphonies, 24 operas and numerous sonatas for piano and violin...all before the age of 35! The influence of Mozart is everywhere.

In Salzburg, there is Mozartplatz which its Mozart statue, the Mozarteum (music academy), Geburtshaus (his birthplace) and Wohnhaus (his residence). His music performed at formal festivals and in humble street performances as well.

I am wearing a typically Austrian floral printed dress with off-white bodice and rose colored scarf. My flannel jacket is trimmed in green and has beautifully embroidered pink flowers on the lapels.

I hope you enjoyed learning about Austria. Perhaps you will find books to read and learn more about my country. Auf Wiedersehen! (Good-bye!)

Boxed Austrian Barbie® Doll, contains: 11 1/2" Barbie doll, dress, jacket, scarf, socks, hair ribbon, jewelry, shoes, hairbrush, doll stand and reply card.
Produced in 1998