AUSTRIA
The Wien Modern Festival, until November 16, Vienna. The Wien Modern Festival is rightfully considered one of the most important events in European musical life. Founded exactly 20 years ago on the initiative of conductor Claudio Abbado, it gathers the best contemporary musicians and composers year after year. This year's festival will take place at 19 concert venues in Vienna. More than 200 performers from different countries will participate. The program includes several dozen concerts, film screenings, and lectures. Particularly noteworthy are the performances of director, performer, and composer Tony Conrad, a marathon of young Viennese composers, and a series of lectures 'Music and the Brain'. //www.wienmodern.at
BELGIUM
The Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival, November 25 – January 13, Bruges. 300 thousand kilograms of snow and 400 tons of ice are used each year to create a wonderful ice palace that appears on the square of Bruges railway station. The best sculptors from 40 countries will turn simple frozen water into a wonderful work of art, and on November 25 the palace doors will open. The ice park will be dismantled only in mid-January, so there will be plenty of time to admire it. //www.ijssculptuur.com
United Kingdom
Vintage car rally from London to Brighton, November 2, London. The retro rally from London to Brighton is considered one of the most spectacular car shows in the country and is dedicated to the 'red letter day' in the history of English road traffic. In November 1896, the Locomotives on Highways Act was passed, which increased the maximum speed limit from 4 to 14 miles per hour and gave the green light to the development of motor vehicles in the country. In memory of this event, every year owners of vintage cars make a 60-mile run. Only cars manufactured before January 1, 1905 are allowed to participate; younger participants may be admitted at the organizers' discretion.
This year, the cars will start from Hyde Park at 00:58 local time. The older the car, the earlier it starts. If cars are of the same age, the smaller one gets priority. From Hyde Park, the columns will cross Westminster Bridge, then along the Thames embankment to Lambeth Bridge, and from there onto the A32 road leading to Brighton. //www.vccofgb.co.uk
World Liars' Contest, November 20, Wasdale, Cumbria. Every year, men and women gather at the Santon Bridge Inn in Wasdale to compete in the art of lying. The tradition of holding the contest started with Will Ritson, who owned the inn in the mid-19th century. He was a local star and always told tall tales about himself. Nowadays, anyone can compete for the title of the most skilled liar: each person is given three to five minutes to impress the audience. The winner receives a prize of £25 and a tie inscribed 'The World's Best Liar'. //www.santonbridgeinn.com, //www.wasdaleweb.co.uk
Barrel Rolling with Fire, November 5, Ottery St Mary, Devon. Once a year, residents of Ottery St Mary run through the streets with burning barrels on their shoulders. To avoid burns, the barrels are soaked in resin in advance, and wet rags are placed on hands and shoulders. The races are held in three categories: children's – with small barrels, women's – with medium-sized barrels, men's – with the largest barrels. The tradition of rolling burning barrels was once quite widespread in the area, but now only survives in Ottery St Mary. Worth seeing. //www.otterytarbarrels.co.uk
Guy Fawkes Day, November 5, various cities in England. On November 5, 1605, Catholics involved in the so-called Gunpowder Plot attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, which King James I was scheduled to visit that day. But at the last moment, the plot failed: Guy Fawkes and his accomplices were captured and executed. Fawkes was not the leader of the plot, but he was supposed to light the fuse, so the holiday bears his name. Since then, on November 5, in memory of the failed attempt to overthrow the king, bonfires are lit across the country, people carry burning effigies of Guy Fawkes, and fireworks are set off. //www.visitbritain.com
GERMANY
Horrors on the ruins of a medieval castle, until November 9, Darmstadt. Frankenstein Castle near Darmstadt is mainly known for being the residence of Konrad Dippel, a theologian, physician, and alchemist who, according to folk tales, conducted experiments on young maidens and corpses in his laboratory. For writer Mary Shelley, Dippel became the prototype of Dr. Frankenstein in her famous novel. And for thousands of Halloween enthusiasts, it is the site of one of the largest and most horrifying celebrations in Europe. The festivities begin on October 24 and end this dubious fun on November 9. They say that besides the spirit of the Alchemist himself, who according to legend sits on the chapel roof at night, rattles bones, or wanders in search of the entrance to his laboratory, the castle is also home to 80 vampires, witches, monsters, werewolves, and other evil spirits. //www.klostereberbach.com
Wine Contest, November 15, Hesse, Eberbach Monastery. At the Eberbach Monastery, surrounded by vineyards, on Saturday, November 15, a tasting of award-winning local wines from the Rhine wine-growing regions and Hessian mountain vineyards will take place. In a medieval atmosphere, numerous wineries will present their sparkling and table wines. The monastery kitchen offers a large selection of Hessian dishes to accompany them. Incidentally, you can stay overnight at the monastery or spend the weekend.
Tickets in advance cost €20, on the opening day €22. The ticket price includes tasting of all wines offered at the festival. A free bus will run to and from the monastery from the main train station in Wiesbaden. //www.hessen-agentur.de
Christmas markets, from November 20, various cities in Germany. Christmas markets in German cities begin in the twenties of November and last until the holiday. All markets are a bit similar, like close relatives, and at the same time each city tries to stand out. For example, let’s take a typical German market in Naumburg. It takes place on the market square surrounded by gingerbread facades. You can enjoy grilled meat medallions, waffles and fried almonds, wash them down with mulled wine, and take the mulled wine cup with you as a souvenir. In the numerous courtyards open to visitors, gifts and decorations made by craftsmen especially for Christmas are sold, street theater performances are shown, and medieval tunes are played. You can also take a ride on a hundred-year-old tram, visit the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and admire the world-famous donor sculptures, as well as the Romanesque crucifix in the crypt. Christmas is approaching. //www.naumburg-im-advent.de
NETHERLANDS
Arrival of Sinterklaas, November 16, Amsterdam. It is known that Santa Claus (for the Dutch – Sinterklaas) comes to those who have behaved well. Of course, there are unkind rumors about the decorum of Amsterdam residents, but Sinterklaas still comes, or rather, sails to them every year. He appears in the port of Amsterdam on a huge ship. Sinterklaas goes ashore and rides through the streets on a white horse surrounded by 500 black servants, hundreds of children and 10 orchestras. The meeting of Sinterklaas is a huge celebration. For the city's residents, the old man with a white beard becomes an even more important figure than the mayor. Sinterklaas's arrival opens the shopping season, which lasts until December 5. //www.sintinamsterdam.nl
ITALY
Feast of the Madonna della Salute, November 21, Venice. The Feast of the Madonna della Salute is the least attractive for tourists but one of the most important for Venetians themselves. It was established in memory of deliverance from the plague after the epidemic of 1630–1631. Then the doge ordered the construction of a church on the banks of the Grand Canal dedicated to the Virgin Mary to gain her mercy and obtain salvation from the disease. Since then, on November 21, a bridge of gondolas is built across the canal leading to the entrance of the church, then a solemn mass is celebrated, and various souvenirs are sold on the street. //www.turismovenezia.it
Festival of Sacred Music, November 17–29, Rome. Fans of sacred music have the opportunity again to enjoy their favorite works in the cathedrals of Rome and the Vatican, where in November the second part of the Festival di Musica e Arte Sacra will take place. The first part was held there in October: among other things, Anton Bruckner's Sixth Symphony was performed in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI. The November part of the festival will feature music by Bach, Liszt, Eben, Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Mozart, Haydn, and Brahms. //www.festivalmusicaeartesacra.net
SPAIN
Olive and Olive Oil Festival, November 9–11, Baena. Traditionally in November, lovers of olives and olive oil gather in the Spanish town of Baena. Over three days, each of them can satisfy their curiosity in the field of olive production: the festival organizers hold lectures, shows, and tastings for them. Tourists are told about all aspects of olive growing and oil production in the region and the world. However, it is not limited to just oil: during the festival, local wines and national dishes are also prepared and tasted. //www.museoaceite.com
FRANCE
International Jazz Festival, November 7–15, Nevers. The first week of November in Nevers is traditionally given over to the International Jazz Festival, which will take place at the Municipal Theatre and other concert venues in the city. This year, the festival will feature the German-Finnish group Mikko Innanen & Innkvisitio, guitarist from the USA Pura Fé, the Resistance Poetique quartet, the Manu Katché Playground ensemble (France), Aronas (New Zealand), the Swiss group Depart, and others. //www.neversdjazz.com
Beaujolais Nouveau Day, November 21, all cities in France. On the third Thursday of November, all over the world, in all languages, a loud cry goes out: "Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!" This exclamation greets the first wine of the year's harvest from the French region of Beaujolais. The history of the holiday begins in the 19th century: it was in Beaujolais that grapes ripened earliest, and fermentation occurred when the barrels were delivered to Lyon, where the wine began to be drunk. Initially, the barrels were uncorked on the last Sunday of October, then the procedure was moved to November 13, and in 1985 the government set the current date for the holiday. Today, the Beaujolais Nouveau celebration is held on all five continents. It should be remembered that Beaujolais Nouveau is only drunk young, as over time it loses its wonderful qualities. So it is best to drink all the wine available on the 21st. //www.beaujolais.net
FINLAND
Tampere Jazz Happening, until November 2, Tampere. Tampere Jazz Happening is being held for the 27th time. This year, the concert venues of Tampere Jazz will feature Karriko (Finland – France – Norway), The Zimology Quartet (South Africa), Omar Sosa Afreecanos Quartet (Cuba – Mozambique – Senegal), the Steve Reid Ensemble, which includes Russian keyboardist Boris Netsvetaev, the Franco-Serbian quartet Michel Portal, the Finnish band Astro Can Caravan, and others. //www.tampere.fi
SWITZERLAND
Onion Market, November 24, Bern. The Onion Market is a traditional folk festival that takes place in Bern every year on the last Monday of November. Farmers from surrounding villages bring more than 50 tons of onions and garlic, cheese, and bread to the city. On this day, restaurants serve onion soup and pies, both onion and cheese. //www.berninfo.com
Eighth World Santa Claus Contest, November 29, Samnaun ski resort. Clau-Wow is the world Santa Claus tournament. Teams arriving in Switzerland compete in several categories, including: a parade review where participants' appearance is judged, climbing through a chimney with a huge sack of gifts on their back, skiing down a slope, and decorating a cake for speed. The winning team receives the title of Best Santas of the Year. //www.samnaun.ch
Fyodor WINTER-TARASEVICH.
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