April 2008
16 Apr 2008 (annual)
Queen Margarethe’s Birthday
Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen, Denmark
If you happen to be in the centre of Copenhagen, follow the crowds of loyal Danes to the foot of the public balcony in the square of the Royal Amalienborg Palace to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.
16 Apr - 20 Apr (annual)
Art Cologne
Cologne (Köln), Germany
International galleries are showing the highlights of their program. Spectacular exhibitions and events provide the city with the flair of an art metropolis.
Website
17 Apr - 3 May (biennial)
Munich Biennale
Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany
The Munich Biennale has a reputation for discovering new talent in the fi eld of contemporary opera and music theatre.
Website
17 Apr - 3 May (biennial)
St Lazar’s Day
Bulgaria
Eight days before Easter (i.e. the day before Palm Sunday), the young, beautiful and eligible women of Bulgaria celebrate St Lazar’s Day with ritual songs and dances.
19 Apr (annual)
Greek Easter
Greece
Easter is the biggest holiday in Greece, with celebrations across the country. In central Macedonia, villagers walk barefoot across hot coals. In Lerissos, there's line dancing. In Agios Nikolaos, you'll see the Burning of Judas. In Corfu, jar smashing. Greek Orthodox Easter, however, does not always fall on the same sunday as the Protestant and Catholic Easter, since it is calculated with a different calendar.
25 Apr (annual)
Festa del Bòcolo
Venice, Italy
Venetians celebrate the Festa del Bòcolo on 25 April - San Marco Day. Men all over the city give the women in their lives roses: lovers, wives, mistresses, friends, mothers and daughters.
30 Apr (annual)
Witches’ Night (Paleni cardojenic)
Petrin Hill, Prague, Czech Republic
30 April is the Witching Hour for the Czech people. This ancient folk festival is an amalgamation of Halloween and May Day which marks the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring.
30 Apr (annual)
Dutch Queen's day
The Netherlands
About a million people descend on Amsterdam for this annual street party on behalf of the previous queen's birthday. On this day, all street trade is unregulated sp there's a citywide (and nationwide) rummage sale to the delight of second hand shoppers. Many are out for more laughs then profit. The night before the party starts in the clubs, april 30.