TheMayor.EU logo 
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The idea dates back even to Antiquity, but how feasible is it?
The idea dates back even to Antiquity, but how feasible is it?
This Nordic country doesn’t want to wait for the last war bullet to sound off before starting reconstruction
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Many municipalities instituted privileges for EVs to promote sustainable mobility. Now, a lot more people are driving electric, so maybe it’s time to normalise legislation
The city wants new approaches to developing the urban environment and is willing to fund the best solutions
Around 75% of German CO2 emissions come from the private sector, yet less than 1% of businesses are considered fully sustainable
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
Last week, the Chinese app was banned for Belgian federal employees for an initial period of six months
Some of the most productive solar installations in the city are on listed buildings, such as Red City Hall
Authorities have published two maps, one of the roofs and the other – of facades so that locals can make the right decision when choosing green energy
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
It will open its doors in 2024 and offer cremations and burials
The building will be on the site of Plato’s Ancient Academy
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Successful candidates get a card allowing them to perform on the premises of the transit system
The city has developed its own way to teach young people how to react when they witness unjust treatments
The city will supply and maintain 138 dispensers in public buildings
Find out which European region has the highest longevity, and which one the lowest
The Nordic country has topped that symbolic but prestigious classification for six years in a row now
Do you unwrap presents on 24 or 25 December?
People are often shocked when they hear that there are countries in which families open their Christmas gifts on 24 December. This shock is completely understandable since Hollywood films tend to portray families putting out milk and cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve before waking up to open their presents on the following day.
Sometimes, these films will also show people exchanging a single gift on 24 December. The gifts are typically festive pyjamas which they sleep in on the night before Christmas. In doing so, they prepare themselves for the excitement of the next day and wake up in festive attire. Then, they generally open their gifts in the morning and with their new pyjamas.
To those who are used to practising or seeing the above traditions, opening Christmas presents on 24 December can seem unconventional. In reality, there are numerous countries around the world in which families open their presents on Christmas Eve.
While these countries are not located solely in Europe, they include many Eastern European and Scandinavian nations. Some of the European countries in which families unwrap their gifts on 24 December are Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
It is important to note that although people in these countries open gifts on the same date, they do not do so at the same time. That is, some nations wait until the sun sets to open gifts while others unwrap the presents after dinner or at midnight.
If you are one of the people who are surprised by the idea of opening gifts on Christmas Eve, you will surely be shocked by the tradition of opening presents on Epiphany (6 January). This custom can mostly be observed in predominantly Catholic countries, such as Spain and Italy.
Taking a case in point, Italian children await the arrival of La Befana – the Italian Christmas witch – on Epiphany Eve. Much like Santa Claus, La Befana visits houses at night and fills the stockings of well-behaved children with treats and those of naughty ones with coal, garlic, onions, or straw from her broom. Furthermore, families leave a glass of wine and some food for La Befana before going to bed on 5 January.
With so many rich and diverse cultures, one must not be shocked when finding out that different people celebrate Christmas in different ways. Instead, we must praise the customs that make our holidays so unique and special.
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Many municipalities instituted privileges for EVs to promote sustainable mobility. Now, a lot more people are driving electric, so maybe it’s time to normalise legislation
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
Last week, the Chinese app was banned for Belgian federal employees for an initial period of six months
Authorities have published two maps, one of the roofs and the other – of facades so that locals can make the right decision when choosing green energy
The first time in over half a century that a tramway will run through the heart of the city
The city has a strategy of putting 10,000 human-controlled and autonomous shuttles on the streets by 2030
The product launch will mark the 10-year anniversary since the city started working with ethically sourced products
The city has developed its own way to teach young people how to react when they witness unjust treatments
The cultural and victim remembrance facility will be located in Rome
Find out which European region has the highest longevity, and which one the lowest
The new itineraries are part of the DiscoverEU programme, which lets 18-year-olds travel by train between important European sites
The European Commission has published its first progress report charting the achievements of the socio-cultural movement that combines beauty, inclusion and sustainability
The 2023 edition of the creative initiative promises to be bigger, bolder and more inclusive
A talk with the head of Mission Zero Academy on the benefits for municipalities if they go the zero waste way
A talk with Nicolae Urs, one of the key figures behind the city's new data platforms and online services strategy
Veni Markovski’s take on dealing with disinformation in the European Union's poorest country – Bulgaria
