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The prospect of lucrative energy exports causes a lot of hand-rubbing at the top, but locals fear for their health and environment and mayors complain about lack of public consultation
From puzzle pieces to connectedness
You can now invest in the city’s environmental performance
A new chapter in the local government’s ‘green revolution’
Younous Omarjee will chair the body also for the second half of the legislature
The energy crisis in the European Union is putting strain on municipalities as they see their bills quadruple
The official opening of the cultural agenda is on 22 January
Science on Stage 2022 will take place on 24-27 March
This will ease management of congestions and public transit loads
It features nearly 200 panoramas of the Croatian city
The prospect of lucrative energy exports causes a lot of hand-rubbing at the top, but locals fear for their health and environment and mayors complain about lack of public consultation
The energy crisis in the European Union is putting strain on municipalities as they see their bills quadruple
To coincide with the 2026 Winter Olympics there
The new vehicles were purchased in 2019 to kick off the city’s sustainable mobility plan and they are already paying off
The countdown has already begun
It's an experimental blend of memorial and landscaped public space, aimed at promoting shared moments of grief
The countdown has already begun
It's an experimental blend of memorial and landscaped public space, aimed at promoting shared moments of grief
The 19-year old became the youngest woman to overfly the world solo with a microlight aircraft
The aim is to tackle disinformation through better-informed media
Fewer people are getting sick, however
Free gym and sports activities are offered in a creative, yet familiar, package
A girl opening a Christmas present
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.
Аdvocates for more robust municipal rights of first refusal for German cities
The prospect of lucrative energy exports causes a lot of hand-rubbing at the top, but locals fear for their health and environment and mayors complain about lack of public consultation
You can now invest in the city’s environmental performance
Despite constant strides in terms of sustainable policy, the Austrian capital wants to revamp its efforts to reach climate neutrality by 2040
This will ease management of congestions and public transit loads
It features nearly 200 panoramas of the Croatian city
The EU Commission's search for the cities with the best sustainable policies is on
The prospect of lucrative energy exports causes a lot of hand-rubbing at the top, but locals fear for their health and environment and mayors complain about lack of public consultation
To coincide with the 2026 Winter Olympics there
Аdvocates for more robust municipal rights of first refusal for German cities
Less than 30 days before the opening night, the organisers present some tidbits for the historic event
The countdown has already begun
The categories have been reduced without compromising the scope
The creations of the young architectural minds are exhibited in one of the city’s galleries until 19 December
Is it gentrification or is it re-adaptation?
An interview with the mayor of Alcázar de San Juan (Spain)
An interview with the Mayor of Soest, Germany
Interview with Grégory Doucet, Mayor of Lyon, France
