Austria
In Salzburg, Mozart Week will be celebrated from January 23 to February 1. Every year at this time, concerts are held in memory of the great composer, timed to his birthday: from chamber concerts to the grand concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. In total, about 20 concerts will take place during the week.
From January 10 to 17, the annual hot air balloon festival will take place in the beautiful Austrian village of Filzmoos (a ski resort in the east of the state of Salzburg). On a snowy clearing in the magical light of an Alpine morning, colorful balloons will rise into the air. Filzmoos solemnly watches the flight, celebrating the holiday with mulled wine and concerts.
Great Britain
The largest New Year's parade in Europe will take place on the streets of London on January 1. The city's New Year mood will be maintained by groups of marchers, professional 'cheerleaders', clowns, trained animals, and daredevils on stilts. Huge inflatable balloons will fly into the sky...
The national holiday is celebrated in Britain on Epiphany, January 5. Traditionally, on this day, farmers and peasants returned to their labors. On the preceding Sunday, people could have their plows blessed in church, so the holiday is called Plough Monday. Today, only the celebrations on the evening of January 5 remain from the tradition.
And from January 10 to 25, the annual pantomime festival will take place in London. The best theatrical works selected by a special jury, an interesting program, and the excellent physicality of talented actors make the London festival one of the most influential in the world in its field of art.
On January 28, in Lerwick, the main city of the Shetland Islands, tourists gather for the annual fire festival - the Up Helly Aa celebration. Local residents dressed as Vikings, in armor, animal hides and horned helmets, carrying torches in their hands, will carry a full-size Viking warship through the entire city. On the seashore, the ship will be solemnly burned, as if recalling the ancient Scandinavian burial custom. It is interesting that the residents of the Shetland Islands, who in ancient times perceived the Vikings as cruel conquerors, now take pride in their kinship with them.
The world's largest festival of Celtic art, Celtic Connection, will take place in Glasgow from January 14 to February 1. It has been held in this city for 11 years now, attracting fans of Celtic culture from all over the world. Of course, the festival will feature a lot of music - from ethnic choirs to modern Celtic rock. Traditional dances, pipes and special music parties all contribute to an immersion in the ancient Celtic culture.
Germany
The contemporary dance festival Tanztage Berlin 2004 will take place from January 2 to 15 in the German capital. Elements of fantasy and eroticism are an integral part of modern dance. The famous troupe led by Barbara Friedrich, which travels the world, will stop in Berlin for just two weeks.
Spain
On January 17 and 18, a film festival will be held in Barcelona, featuring short films on social themes. This is a cultural event aimed at drawing viewers' attention to the acute social problems of modern society.
Epiphany is celebrated in a peculiar way on January 5-6 in Spain: parades take place in all large cities and villages, with almost the entire population participating. Processions move along the main streets, reaching several kilometers in length. Children and adults climb onto huge carts; children with drums walk in front, followed by a brass band. And at the very end, a carriage appears with the three Wise Men - they generously shower the children running after the carriage with sweets and toys. Although a great many people gather, there is always enough for everyone.
Epiphany is celebrated in much the same way in the small ski country of Andorra.
Italy
The same holiday is celebrated on the night of January 5-6 in Italy. According to legend, on this night, the good witch Befana descends on her broomstick into the house through the chimney and leaves gifts for children in their stockings. For obedient and good children - candies, candles, sweets, and for naughty ones - pieces of black coal or cobblestones. The next day, the celebration continues with festivals, parades and concerts.
On New Year's Eve in Venice, a beautiful event traditionally takes place - a parade of boats decorated with lights.
And in Rome, on January 6, there is a one-day Epiphany fair selling sweets and souvenirs, and a festive camp is set up in the city center.
The main Italian film and multimedia festival, the Future Film Festival, will take place in Bologna from January 14 to 18. The latest technologies in multimedia, special effects, cinema, the Internet and television will all be presented at the festival, which will be accompanied by exhibitions and conferences. This year, the main focus is on animation and special effects.
Norway
From January 22 to 25, a jazz festival will take place in the town of Longyearbyen. The organizers warn in advance that you are unlikely to hear pure jazz here, but there is nothing wrong with that, because recently musical styles have been increasingly penetrating each other and sometimes simply combine well. Therefore, the Svallbard Polar Jazz Festival invites all fans of good music to attend this event, focused mainly on jazz.
France
On January 1, a New Year's parade will take place on the streets of Paris. In the long procession of a dressed-up crowd, one can see clowns entertaining the public and people in carnival costumes. Balloons will fly into the sky, and with singing and dancing, people will enter the new year.
On January 7, a contemporary art festival will open in Marseille and will run until July 4. Throughout this time, visitors will be treated to 15 open-air exhibitions representing the entire world of contemporary art: theater, cinema, dance, and music. Covering all genres, the Marseille festival also aims to bring together stars of various magnitudes, presenting itself as a project alien to any elitism.
Les Lutin du Court-Metrage, one of the largest short film festivals in France, will take place in 30 cities across the country. The opening is scheduled for January 15. The festival has no specific theme; its goal is to present contemporary short films as fully as possible. It will run until April 2.
Another film festival, the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, will open on January 30 in Clermont-Ferrand. Alongside it, a huge market dedicated exclusively to short films will also be opened. Over nine days, new competition works will be presented to the general public. Special thematic and survey programs have also been prepared.
From January 15 to 22, the largest international circus arts festival in Europe will take place in Monte Carlo. The best acts and attractions, which have traveled the world and gained public acclaim, will be shown at the arena in Monte Carlo.
Switzerland
The national holiday, Saint Berthold's Day, will be celebrated in Switzerland on January 2. It is dedicated to the founding of Bern in 1191. Since the founder of Bern, Saint Berthold, is considered the patron of culture, art, and education, this holiday is celebrated as a kind of Day of Knowledge, with children's festivals and educational events.
Lucerne will host the international comic festival Fumetto International Comix-Festival Lucerne. It will open on January 15 and last exactly one month. A variety of exhibitions, children's festivals, and multimedia screenings related to the theme of the event will take place in this ancient and beautiful city during these days.
The main film festival in Switzerland will take place in Solothurn from January 19 to 25. For 35 years, film critics have gathered here to evaluate films produced in the Alpine republic or in cooperation with other countries. This is the place to fully experience all types and trends of Swiss cinema. Films will be presented separately in the categories: best documentary, best short film, best fantasy film, and best acting. In addition to audiences, film stars come to the festival every year.
Sweden
The Snow Festival will take place in Kiruna from January 29 to February 2. It is the largest festival of its kind in Europe: visitors have the opportunity not only to enjoy a competition of ice sculptures, but also to go dog sledding, reindeer sledding, and even climb into an Eskimo igloo made of hardened snow. Such huts at the festival will be equipped as small restaurants and bars.