Austria
Vienna Opera Ball, February 3, Vienna. The season of Vienna balls started in January. Flower Ball, Medical Professionals' Ball, Coffee Ball, Ball of Sexual Minorities – what traditional balls will there not be in the 2005 season! But the most prestigious is considered the ball at the Vienna State Opera. Opera stars, theater, politics, and businessmen from all over the world gather here to dance waltz, foxtrot, rumba, swing, or simply watch the dancing couples and hear opera stars. Of course, this is an expensive pleasure (tickets cost from 250 euros), but nevertheless – a pleasure. By the way, at the beginning of the ball season in Vienna there are 28 dance schools offering various blitz courses in ballroom dancing. //www.wiener-staatsoper.at
Belgium
International Animation Film Festival, February 3-13, Brussels. The festival organizers promise to show more than 100 animated films this year, including the best of those that appeared in Belgium itself over the past year. But retrospectives of American and European animators also promise to be very interesting. A separate section will be devoted to the works of young directors and artists. In parallel with the festival, exhibitions on the history of animation will open, as well as forums, discussions, and master classes for lovers and professionals of animated cinema. //www.awn.com/folioscope/anima2005
Carnivals, February 6-8, Aalst, Binche. The centuries-old traditions of holding carnivals before Lent have not changed in Aalst and Binche to this day. Therefore, carnivals in these Belgian cities have similar features: the march of the Gilles jesters in Binche and the broom dance of the same Gilles in Aalst. Actually, these identical Gilles are somehow not very attractive, so perhaps that's why they are pelted with oranges in Binche and onions in Aalst. Processions of mummers are the main feature of Belgian carnivals, but in Aalst men dress in women's clothes, and women stick on beards and mustaches, and then they happily exchange typical brutal carnival jokes. Balls, funny lotteries, political caricatures, wild dances and songs, and, importantly, a sea of Belgian beer (which, however, not everyone likes) attract a mass of tourists to these cities. //www.carnavaldebinche.be
United Kingdom
Annual Viking Festival, February 4-20, York. Here there is a unique museum - the Jorvik Viking Centre, whose exhibitions are dedicated to the distant past of the city, when York for 50 years was the capital of the Viking kingdom (9th century) and was called Jorvik. This museum becomes the center of festival events when the city returns to its historical past for two weeks. The most interesting events include a theatrical assault on the fortress, a battle of Vikings with Saxons, an ancient ceremony of marriage of Jarl to Elswitha, boat races, wine and beer tastings. And in York shops these days you can buy as a souvenir a two-handed sword, a horned helmet, or a model of an ancient boat, depending on the buyer's interests. //www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk
Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, February 12-14, London. London expects eventful weekend in mid-February. On Saturday afternoon, a lavish celebration of Chinese New Year will begin in the city center at Trafalgar Square: excerpts from Beijing opera will be performed with the participation of Chinese tenor Dai Chang. Then the audience will admire Chinese martial arts, the festive atmosphere will be maintained by paper dragons and lions.
A real Chinese fireworks display awaits lovers of pyrotechnic effects, and by night the celebration will move to Chinatown, where in restaurants the celebration of the coming Year of the Rooster will continue. On February 14, lovers will make their traditional sentimental walks around the city. Romantic boat trips are extremely popular among Londoners on this day: many floating restaurants will set off down the Thames. From the river you can see the most beautiful buildings of the city and its famous bridges, and in the restaurants themselves there will be gentle live music for lovers. //www.visitlondon.com
Germany
Cologne Carnival, February 3-8, Cologne. This is the most famous and bright February carnival in Germany, because Cologne residents are considered the most cheerful and witty among Germans. By tradition, it is led by the Prince, the Peasant and the Beautiful Maiden, who will complete the procession of the "carnival train", showering the crowd with gifts on the culminating holiday day – Rose Monday. This year it falls on February 7. According to one version, the name of this day does not come from the rose flower, but from the German "rasender Montag", which means "mad Monday". The carnival will end with the burning of a doll, then comes "Ash Wednesday", the first day of Lent. Pubs and restaurants will be open all night long during the carnival. About a million guests from all over the world come to the Cologne Carnival every year. //www.koelnerkarneval.de
Carnivals, February 5-7, Düsseldorf, Mainz, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main and other cities. Maybe German carnivals are not as erotic and incendiary as Brazilian ones, but they are incredibly fun. The main characters of German carnivals are jesters (male and female), who long before carnival days gather in "guilds" and guards, rehearse songs, write jokes, think through costumes.
In the first days of the carnival they have to choose the king of fools – the leader of the jesters – and entertain the people. The plots of carnivals in Mainz and Düsseldorf unfold according to the "Cologne scenario", so the main event is the famous Rosenmontagszug, a grandiose procession, when almost tons of candies and souvenirs are thrown into the crowd of onlookers. Overall, Germans cope well with the main task of carnivals – to escape from everyday monotony, grayness and boredom. //www.duesseldorf.de, www.karnevals-zug-berlin.de, www.karnevals-zug-berlin.de
Strong beer season, February 11 - March 20, Munich. Carnival is over, but cheerful Bavarians keep their spirits up with strong beer during Lent. They are not afraid to sin because, according to legend, the Pope himself gave permission for this 900 years ago. "Be healthy, father of fathers!" – this motto of Munich monks still comforts city residents during Lent, when they spend time over a mug of strong dark beer specially brewed for this season. //www.nockherberg.com
Greece
Carnival, February 12-16, Athens. Every year, a week before the start of Lent, carnivals are held throughout Greece, and the small town of Patras is considered the carnival capital. But the largest and most spectacular carnival takes place in Athens, and it is famous for its democracy and eclecticism. Here, as at any carnival, you can see processions of mummers, acrobats and clowns, dance both fiery Greek dances, samba, and tarantella, listen to serenades, jazz music, and rock – in short, spin around in the carnival action and feel a little crazy. Be sure to try the special carnival wine, buy whistles and foam to completely dissolve into the carnival crowd. //www.athens-today.gr
To be continued.