AUSTRIA
Ball season, through December 31, Vienna. This year the ball season opened with the prestigious Golf Ball on December 8. The most anticipated and popular ball is the traditional Imperial Ball (Kaiserball). It will take place on New Year's Eve. Kaiserball is held in compliance with the ancient court ceremony and etiquette. The ball begins with a solemn changing of the guard and a greeting of the imperial couple. Otherwise, the program of all balls is traditional: a welcome cocktail, performances by artists of the Vienna Opera and Ballet, a banquet and dancing until 5 a.m. Tickets for Viennese balls should be purchased in advance. //www.hofburg.com
Winter festival, through December 31, Salzburg. Not only with the opening of the Christmas market and sales will Salzburg delight its residents: every day for a month, the Christmas mood will be maintained by the circus show La Famiglia Dimitri. And on weekends, culinary competitions of the most famous Austrian chefs are planned, and master classes will open for those who want to surprise their loved ones with an original Christmas dish. //www.winterfest.at
BELGIUM
Christmas markets, through January, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Namur and other cities. As in all of Europe, during December traditional Christmas markets are held in almost all Belgian cities. People go there not only to buy gifts (jewelry, radio-controlled models and handmade toys, and other souvenirs), but also to taste local delicacies – chocolate, oysters, cheese – and to feel the spirit of pre-Christmas festive bustle. The markets will feature ice rinks, winter rides, and music concerts. //www.antwerpen.be, www.brucity.be //www.ville.namur.be, www.gent.be
Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival, through January 13, Bruges. In Bruges, the snow and ice sculpture festival will continue throughout December. The theme of the festival: "Ice Fantasy", so special attention will be paid to unusual engineering solutions of sculptors (details about the festival read in our previous "European Poster"). Ticket price – €11. //www.ijssculptuur.com
Christmas Horse Show, December 26-30, Mechelen. For a quarter of a century, Christmas in Mechelen has been associated with a magnificent show – equestrian competitions. They have been held in the city sports complex since 1980 and attract about 100,000 spectators year after year. The program consists of traditional types of competitions (show jumping, dressage, eventing) and original show programs. //www.jumping-mechelen.com
GREAT BRITAIN
Christmas festivals, December, London. The capital of Foggy Albion celebrates Christmas with many various festivals. You can listen to Christmas carols with the participation of the best London choirs at the winter Spitalfields Festival. Musical Christmas surprises also await visitors to Hampton Court: from December 15 to 30, winter classical music concerts will take place there, and from December 20 to 23, a choral music festival. At the "Medieval Christmas" festival (from December 27 to January 1) at the Tower, you can see how this holiday was celebrated at the court of Edward I. //www.hrp.org.uk, www.eco.co.uk //www.spitalfieldsfestival.org.uk
Christmas wonders at the zoo, through December 30, Bristol. Christmas train and Christmas lights, traditional wonders and gifts in Santa's Grotto, competitions for the most beautifully decorated Christmas tree, evenings of Christmas carols – this is what distinguishes the pre-Christmas days in Bristol. All these wonders take place at the city zoo. This year, the Christmas train is available from early December to January 6. //www.bristolzoo.org.uk
GERMANY
Tollwood Winter Festival, through January 1, Munich. The festival of cabaret, dance, theater, circus and gastronomy Tollwood has been held twice a year for 20 years. It is attended by about 2 million people. It is the second most popular festival after the famous Oktoberfest. This year's winter program includes musical performances and circus concerts, a costumed parade Perchtenlauf, where all evil winter spirits will be banished from people's thoughts, a show by Spanish hairdressing masters Osadia, an ice sculpture festival and the famous "Idea Fair" (visitors will be offered "the world's best culinary products made from organic products"). For children, Tollwood has a special program with cartoons, making New Year's toys and simple culinary master classes. The festival will end on New Year's Eve: that's when you can see the best performances and taste dishes of the winners of culinary competitions. //www.tollwood.de
SPAIN
December festivals, Madrid. Among the traditional numerous Christmas festivals in Madrid, you can pay attention to the following events. From December 12 to January 6, the city will host the International Circus Festival, with national circus companies from different countries participating. And from December 22 to January 1, the Madrid Palace of Congresses will host the Strauss Music Festival, featuring orchestras and dance groups. The final concert of the festival will take place on New Year's Eve. //www.esmadrid.com
Fiestas, December 28-31, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga and other cities. At the end of December, traditional festivals – fiestas dedicated to various events take place in different cities of Spain. If you see a mass procession on December 31 in Palma de Mallorca, do not be mistaken – it is not New Year yet. It is an echo of 1229, when Mallorca was reconquered from the Moors. However, the solemn mass in the city's Cathedral in honor of this important historical event and the procession do not prevent people from starting another exciting activity closer to midnight – seeing off the old year. If on December 28 local children start to annoy you, forgive them immediately: on this day they are allowed everything, as it is the Day of the Holy Innocents. Moreover, if on this day somewhere in Andalusia you are awakened by the roar of tambourines, do not worry, everything is fine: on December 28, the green olive harvest day (Mayor de Verdiales) is celebrated here.
ITALY
Winter in Venice Festival, until January 6, Venice. The increasingly popular winter Venetian festival will be held for the fifth time this year. Its main directions are determined by the season's specifics – gastronomic and musical events. In addition, in December, a chocolate festival will take place in Venice, with the main theme being unusual combinations of chocolate with other products. Among the musical events, organ and choral concerts in Venetian churches and a Christmas festival of gospel groups from around the world can be noted. //www.turismovenezia.it
NETHERLANDS
Winterland, until January 7, Maastricht. Winterland in Maastricht is childhood. Here, a bank director is not ashamed to sled down a hill, and adult women squeal while defending their snow fortress from snow bombs. Here, it is not embarrassing to fall on the ice rinks, and you can boldly respond in kind to a snowball skillfully thrown at your back. And no one will be surprised or offended! The fun is enhanced here – contrary to the common idea of enhancing fun in the Netherlands – by wonderful mulled wine. //www.winterland.nl
FINLAND
Christmas fairs, December, Helsinki. In the capital of Finland, as throughout Europe, traditional Christmas fairs will take place in December, where you can buy gifts for the holiday very inexpensively and have fun at the same time. From December 5, the Women's Christmas Fair is held at the Old Port (Wanha Satama), and on December 10, the Main Fair started at Esplanadi Park. //www.hel.fi
FRANCE
Street Theatre Festival, December 22-31, Deauville. Meeting itinerant actors, musicians, circus performers and mimes on the streets of Deauville at the end of December is common, because the city, according to a long-standing tradition, organizes a bright and spectacular street theatre festival for Christmas, called Noel au Balcon ("Christmas on the Balcony"). Spectators of the colorful theatrical performance staged right on the street warm themselves with cheerful shows and the main local drink – calvados. //www.deauville.org
SWITZERLAND
Christmas Installation Festival, until January 7, Geneva. Christmas in Geneva is primarily associated with the competition of Christmas installations, or specially decorated trees. A special jury in October-November selects 23 original exhibits from numerous submitted projects for display on the city streets. These best objects can be viewed for a month on Geneva's streets and squares. The addresses of the current objects can be found on the festival website. //www.festivalarbresetlumieres.ch