Winter Festivals in Eastern Europe - Eastern European Winter Festivals
06.01.2010
In: Travel destinations

Each country in Eastern Europe celebrates winter in unique ways. Most major cities in Eastern Europe will observe winter festivals and religious holidays, but small villages in Eastern Europe may practice traditions that date back centuries.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - The Baltics
New Year's is celebrated in Lithuania's, Latvia's, and Estonia's major cities. Latvia capitalizes on its 500-year-old Christmas Tree tradition. Winter is welcomed in Latvia and ushered out in Lithuania. Winter festivals in the Baltics are varied and spirited, and it is well worth the effort to participate while visiting Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Bulgaria
Saints' days are observed during the winter season in Bulgaria, and are accompanied by traditional ceremonies. A masquerade festival pays homage to Bulgaria's pagan roots with masks and costumes that are reminiscent of Bulgarian carolers of old. And Christmas and New Year's is a time for visiting friends and dining on traditional Bulgarian dishes
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Croatia
Croatia has plenty going on during the winter season. Because the country is rather small, it may be convenient to travel around Croatia and sample different cities' takes on festivals like Carnival. Wine festivals, Christmas celebrations, and animated film festivals also fill Croatia's winter calendar.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Czech Republic
The Czech Republic's strong musical heritage means that choir contests, classical music concerts, and traditional folk performances get priority billing during the winter months and during the Christmas holiday in Prague and elsewhere in the Czech Republic.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Hungary
Budapest stays busy throughout the winter with Christmas concerts and an international circus festival. Visitors to Hungary may also witness the practice of folk traditions during this time. In Hungary's south, a festival with pagan origins marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Poland
National and religious holidays offer cause for celebration in Poland. Cultural festivals, holiday contests, and evenings filled with the sounds of classical music keep winter cozy in Krakow, Warsaw, and other Polish cities.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Moscow Russia
Moscow celebrates New Year's New York Style in Red Square. Other celebrations and festivals may be geared more towards the tourist. The annual Maslenitsa festival is a real treat for those who participate - Russians have a reason to celebrate the melting of the snow come February or March.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - St. Petersburg Russia
As one of Russia's performing arts centers, Petersburg's winter celebrations focus on musical concerts, ballet performances, and theater productions.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Slovakia
Enjoy the International Film Festival in Bratislava or attend a Christmas Day Orthodox Mass when traveling in Slovakia during winter.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Slovenia
Winter festivals in Slovenia include film, poetry, and religious festivals. Lubljana, the country's capital city, is Slovenia's winter festival center.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - The Baltics
New Year's is celebrated in Lithuania's, Latvia's, and Estonia's major cities. Latvia capitalizes on its 500-year-old Christmas Tree tradition. Winter is welcomed in Latvia and ushered out in Lithuania. Winter festivals in the Baltics are varied and spirited, and it is well worth the effort to participate while visiting Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Bulgaria
Saints' days are observed during the winter season in Bulgaria, and are accompanied by traditional ceremonies. A masquerade festival pays homage to Bulgaria's pagan roots with masks and costumes that are reminiscent of Bulgarian carolers of old. And Christmas and New Year's is a time for visiting friends and dining on traditional Bulgarian dishes
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Croatia
Croatia has plenty going on during the winter season. Because the country is rather small, it may be convenient to travel around Croatia and sample different cities' takes on festivals like Carnival. Wine festivals, Christmas celebrations, and animated film festivals also fill Croatia's winter calendar.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Czech Republic
The Czech Republic's strong musical heritage means that choir contests, classical music concerts, and traditional folk performances get priority billing during the winter months and during the Christmas holiday in Prague and elsewhere in the Czech Republic.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Hungary
Budapest stays busy throughout the winter with Christmas concerts and an international circus festival. Visitors to Hungary may also witness the practice of folk traditions during this time. In Hungary's south, a festival with pagan origins marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Poland
National and religious holidays offer cause for celebration in Poland. Cultural festivals, holiday contests, and evenings filled with the sounds of classical music keep winter cozy in Krakow, Warsaw, and other Polish cities.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Moscow Russia
Moscow celebrates New Year's New York Style in Red Square. Other celebrations and festivals may be geared more towards the tourist. The annual Maslenitsa festival is a real treat for those who participate - Russians have a reason to celebrate the melting of the snow come February or March.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - St. Petersburg Russia
As one of Russia's performing arts centers, Petersburg's winter celebrations focus on musical concerts, ballet performances, and theater productions.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Slovakia
Enjoy the International Film Festival in Bratislava or attend a Christmas Day Orthodox Mass when traveling in Slovakia during winter.
Eastern Europe Winter Festivals - Slovenia
Winter festivals in Slovenia include film, poetry, and religious festivals. Lubljana, the country's capital city, is Slovenia's winter festival center.