Lighting of Vienna town hall Christmas tree marks start of Yuletide season in Austrian capital

A man takes photographs of the illuminations at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

Illuminations of the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

Tramways pass by the illuminated Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

People look at the illuminations at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

People look at Christmas baubles at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

People look at Christmas baubles at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

People crowd the Christmas market in front of Schoenbrunn castle in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

Gingerbread hearts displayed at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

People crowd the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

People look at Christmas baubles at the Wiener Chritkindlmarkt in front of Vienna's city hall, one of Vienna's most popular Christmas markets, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Christian Bruna)

The cross is presented to the faithful during the Way of Cross ceremony to mark Good Friday, outside the Sacre Coeur basilica, Friday, April 3, 2026 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Catholic sisters participate in the the distribution of Holy Communion during a service marking Good Friday at the Saint Charles church on Goree Island, Senegal, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A devotee dressed as a Roman soldier places his foot on the face of a penitent depicting the role of Jesus Christ during a Way of the Cross reenactment as part of Holy Week celebrations in the Petare neighborhood in Caracas, Venezuela, Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A boy watches a Way of the Cross reenactment as part of Holy Week celebrations in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

A devotee dressed as townsperson takes part in a Way of the Cross reenactment in Arraijan, Panama, Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Faithful gather to watch a Way of the Cross reenactment as part of Holy Week celebrations in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Hooded penitents participate in a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Devotees dressed as Roman soldiers perform in a Way of the Cross reenactment in Arraijan, Panama, Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Penitents depicting the apostles march during a Holy Week procession of the "Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno" brothergood in Puente Genil, southern Spain, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A woman playing the role of Mary stands before David Sanchez, playing the role of Jesus Christ, after he was taken down from the cross during a Way of the Cross reenactment as part of Holy Week celebrations, in Colina, Chile, on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

A poster promoting a Passion of Christ reenactment is displayed in the courtyard of Saint Charles church on Goree Island, Senegal, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Luiz Henrique, playing the role of Jesus Christ, hangs on a cross during a Way of the Cross reenactment as part of Holy Week celebrations, at the Complexo do Alemao favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Christians take part in a Way of the Cross re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday during Holy Week in Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)

A devotee dressed as a Roman soldier assaults a penitent playing the role of one of two thieves sentenced to be crucified alongside Jesus Christ, during a Way of the Cross reenactment in Arraijan, Panama, Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Christians take part in a Way of the Cross re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday during Holy Week in Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)

Devotees dressed as townspeople prepare to enter the stage to perform in a Way of the Cross reenactment in Arraijan, Panama, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Roman soldiers dress David Sanchez, playing the role of Jesus Christ, with a crown and scarlet cloak to mock his claim as "King of the Jews", during a Way of the Cross reenactment as part of Holy Week celebrations, in Colina, Chile, on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

Devotees dressed as Roman soldiers perform in a Way of the Cross reenactment in Arraijan, Panama, Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

A pilgrim makes the Good Friday journey to Chimayó, New Mexico, on Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

Pope Leo XIV lies prostrate at the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Catholic Good Friday, Friday, April 3, 2026 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Christians reenact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Guwahati, India, on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A devotee holds a cross during a Good Friday procession in the Ciudad Bolivar neighborhood of Bogota, Colombia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Members of the Resurrection Church walk by a street vendor as they perform during The Stations of the Cross procession through the Boyle Heights neighborhood on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Faithful carry a cross to the Tree of Life during a Good Friday procession in the Ciudad Bolivar neighborhood of Bogota, Colombia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

A priest celebrates a service marking Good Friday at the Saint Charles church on Goree Island, Senegal, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

A penitents known as a "Veronica" takes part in the Jesus del Gran Poder procession in Quito, Ecuador, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa).

A devotee in an angel costume prepares for the Way of the Cross procession on Good Friday during Holy Week in Arraijan, Panama, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

A hooded penitent, wearing prickly cactus thorns on his head, prepares to walk in a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Atlixco, Mexico, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Pope Leo XIV carries a lightweight, 1.5-meter (5-foot) wooden cross during the Via Crucis, the torchlit Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A giant cross is set up in front of the Colosseum in Rome ahead of the Via Crucis, the torchlit Catholic Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession attended by Pope Leo XIV, Friday, April 3, 2026, which symbolically retraces Jesus Christ's steps to his crucifixion on Calvary in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

A man carries a cross during the "Way of the Cross" over the Brooklyn Bridge on Good Friday, Friday, April 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

Musicians dressed as Roman soldiers take part in La Merced church's Good Friday procession during Holy Week in Antigua, Guatemala, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

People take part in a Way of the Cross procession in Montreal, Friday, April 3, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Pope Leo XIV attends the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Catholic Good Friday, Friday, April 3, 2026 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Parishioners walk in a procession after a Good Friday Mass at St. Anthony Church, which was devoted to expressing solidarity with Christian villagers in southern Lebanon displaced by the war in Jdeideh, a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Christians take part in a Way of the Cross re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday during Holy Week in Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)

Young women and girls carry jeweled hearts representing the Virgin Mary at a Good Friday procession during Holy Week in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, carries the cross during the Way of Cross ceremony to mark Good Friday, outside the Sacre Coeur basilica, in Paris, Friday, April 3, 2026 . (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A Christian woman kisses a Jesus Christ cross during Good Friday service at Sacred Heart Cathedral, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Members of the St Francis Catholic Church take part in a Way of the Cross re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday during Holy Week in Lagos, Nigeria, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

A flagellant walks the streets during Good Friday rituals in San Pedro Cutud village, Pampanga province, northern Philippines, Friday April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

A penitent depicting an apostle marches holding a rooster during a Holy Week procession of the "Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno" brotherhood in Puente Genil, southern Spain, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

A nail is pierced on the feet of Arnold Manaigo during the reenactment of Jesus Christ's sufferings as part of Good Friday rituals in the San Pedro Cutud village, Pampanga province, northern Philippines April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

An amateur actor performing as Jesus carries the cross during the traditional Good Friday procession organised by the Italian community in Bensheim, Germany, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Indian Christian devotees pray during a procession to mark Good Friday in Jammu, India, Friday, April 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Performers bring down Heron Aquino after he was nailed to the cross during a reenactment of Jesus Christ's sufferings as part of Good Friday rituals in the San Pedro Cutud village, Pampanga province, northern Philippines April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

An Indian Christian devotee pray during a procession to mark Good Friday in Jammu, India, Friday, April 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Channi Anand)

Christians reenact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Guwahati, India, on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A penitent holds a tray with a figure's severed head, ears, and tongue depicting a biblical scene during a Holy Week procession of the "Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno" brotherhood in Puente Genil, southern Spain, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

An amateur actor performing as Jesus, right, is fixed on a cross during the traditional Good Friday procession organised by the Italian community in Bensheim, Germany, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

A Christian pilgrim prays at the third station along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem's Old City, largely empty due to restrictions linked to the Iran war, during Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Christians reenact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Guwahati, India, on Good Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A reenactment of Jesus Christ's sufferings as part of Good Friday rituals in the San Pedro Cutud village, Pampanga province, northern Philippines, Friday April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

An amateur actor performing as Jesus is fixed on a cross during the traditional Good Friday procession organised by the Italian community in Bensheim, Germany, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)