Page 46 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

44  INTRODUCING GERM AN Y GERM AN Y THROUGH THE Y EAR  45

GERMANY THROUGH Summer Lights of Cologne (early July)
THE YEAR In Germany the summer is a Cologne. Very popular, big
fireworks event.
time of great open-air festivals Schwörmontag (penultimate
Germans love to have fun and this is evident preserve the tradition of an annual fair, or and other outdoor events and Monday) Ulm. Folk festival with
from the huge number of light-hearted events Jahrmarkt – known in Westphalia as Kirmes activities. Nearly every town and a parade by the Danube.
village has its festival with a
Kinderzeche (3rd Monday)
that are held throughout the year. Virtually and in Bavaria as Dult. Germany is also parade, street shows, concerts Dinkelsbühl. Ten-day folk festival
every town has a calendar of festivals and renowned for its music and film festivals, and fairs. In many places there commemorating the events of
fairs. These include folk festivals connected which attract an international audience, as are colourful illuminations and the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48).
with local traditions, such as celebrating the well as for organizing major international trade firework displays. Banquets and Richard-Wagner-Festspiele
asparagus or grape harvest. Many towns fairs, such as the annual Frankfurt Book Fair. knights’ tournaments are held in (last week July/August) Bayreuth.
historic castles, while concert Festival dedicated to the works
series are organized in palaces of Richard Wagner.
Hamburger Dom (March–April, and castles with the tourist Wikingerfest (August, even
July–August and November– particularly in mind. In June, years) Schleswig. Historical
December) Hamburg. The largest a number of classical music Luther’s Wedding is celebrated every year festival with costumed
folk festival in northern Germany, festivals take place, while July in Wittenberg participants, tournaments
held three times a year. is a popular month for water- and regattas.
Walpurgisnacht (30 April/1 related festivals. Kieler Woche (last week in June) Maschseefest (August) Hanover
May). On the witches’ sabbath, Kiel. Huge regatta with concerts (Hannover). Summer outdoor
witches gather on Brocken and fairs. carnival on the shores of
Mountain and in several other Classic Open Air (July) Lake Maschsee.
places in the Harz mountains. Berlin. Opera festival held on
Kurzfilmtage (end April/ early to outdoor stages.
mid-May). Oberhausen. The Schützenfest (June). The August
International Festival of Short traditional start of the hunting Zissel (beginning of August)
CeBit, held annually in Hanover, is the world’s largest computer expo Films has been held here season. Celebrated in many Kassel. Picturesque folk
since 1955. north German cities. festival with parades, markets
Catholic areas. On Easter and concerts.
Spring Sunday, in cities in the Luzyce Mainfest. Frankfurt am Main.
Spring is an idyllic time to region, horse races and a gala May July Feast of the river Main.
arrive in Germany. In the take place. Maibaumaufstellen (1 May). Landshuter Hochzeit (every Gäubodenvolksfest (mid-
high mountains, conditions Leipziger Buchmesse In Bavarian villages, maypoles 4th summer: next in 2017) August) Straubing. Folk festival
are still ideal for skiing, while (mid- to end March) Leipzig. are decorated with highly Competitors at the Internationales Landshut. Re-enactment of with a market and beer tasting.
in the valleys everything is Inter national book fair, with ornamental wreaths. Stadionfest (DKB-ISTAF) in Berlin the wedding feast of Georg, Weindorf (end August/early
already in bloom. In April antiquarian books. Rhein in Flammen (May– son of Duke Ludwig the Rich September) Stuttgart. Huge
and May the first spring fairs September). Festivals with June and Polish Princess Jadwiga. wine festival with wines
and festivals are held. Spring firework displays, in towns Costumed wedding procession served along with typical
is also time for the traditional April in the Rhine Valley. Bachfest Leipzig (early June) and medieval tournament. Swabian cuisine.
solemn observance of Easter Thüringer Bach-Wochen Hafengeburtstag (early May) Leipzig. International music
and its associated celebrations. (April). Celebration of the life Hamburg. A huge festival with competition dedicated to
May Day, which is also and works of Johann Sebastian fireworks, regatta and a parade Johann Sebastian Bach.
International Labour Day, is Bach with concerts and of sailing boats. Internationales Stadionfest
marked both by traditional lectures: held in Arnstadt, Ruhrfestspiele (May–June) (DKB-ISTAF), (early June) Berlin.
festivities and, in some cities, Eisenach, Erfurt, Gotha, Recklinghausen. Cultural The largest athletics event of
by demonstrations. Mühlhausen and Weimar. festival with a number of the season.
Hannover Messe (2nd half of concerts and performances. Luther’s Wedding (second
April) Hanover. International International Dixieland weekend in June) Wittenberg. A
March
industrial trade fairs. Festival (2nd week of May) celebration of the marriage of
Sommergewinn (3 weekends Dresden. A traditional Martin Luther to Katharina von
before Easter) Eisenach. The jazz festival has been Bora with music and a parade.
largest folk festival in Thur in gia, held here since 1971. Spreewaldfest (September)
linked with a fair. Blutritt (Friday after Spreewald. Festivals are held
CeBIT (beginning to mid-March) Ascension) Weingarten. throughout the summer in
Hanover. International trade A horseback proces­ Lübben and other villages.
fairs dedicated to information sion carrying religious Fronleichnam. Observed in
technology, telecommunications relics around the Catholic majority states.
and automation. town – held here for Processions in towns in Bavaria
Easter During Holy Week, over 450 years. and in Cologne.
Passion concerts are held Leineweber Markt Christopher Street Day (July).
throughout the country and (end of May) Bielefeld. Gay and lesbian parades held
colourful church services take The Hamburger Dom fair, a tri-annual event, is the Street theatre, jazz and in many cities, including Berlin
place, particularly in rural oldest and largest of its kind in Germany folk concerts. and Cologne. Fireworks light up the sky over Cologne, highlighting the cathedral

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