Graz forming a hypocoristic derivative of Proto-West-South Slavic *gradьcъ, whichs descends via liquid metathesis from Common Slavic *gardьcъ and via the Slavic third palatalisation from Proto-Slavic *gardiku, originally denoting "small town, settlement". The name thus follows the common South Slavic pattern for naming settlements as "grad". The German name 'Graz' first appears in records in 1128. Graz is situated on the Mur river in southeast Austria. It is about southwest of Vienna. The nearest larger urban centre is Maribor in Slovenia which is about away. Graz is the capital and largest city in Styria, a green and heavily forested area. These
Ice nativity scene (Graz) A local politician of the Green Party cynically noted: "Due to global warming, Advent will become ever milder. This raises the question of whether the city of Graz should continue to invest more than 40,000 € in a pool of water." Suggestions to cancel the project have been turned down by the tourist association who argued that the ice nativity scene rendered the economically important Graz Advent an "unmistakable" event. The "Tiroler Tageszeitung" made tongue-in-cheek claims about yearly bets of Graz citizens on the ice nativity scene’s endurance. A planned wood roof to protect the artwork from rain was vetoed