EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
Also known as Mardi Gras, this holiday is an important time marker between times of lavish festivities and temperance
Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras is celebrated by Christians in Europe and Latin America and marks the last day of the Carnival season. Although different explanations of its origin exist, it is always met with great festivities, as a turning point between two radically different periods in the holiday calendar of these countries. It is generally accepted that Fat Tuesday ends the festive season which starts with Epiphany (or Three Kings Day) and is followed immediately after by the start of a forty-day-long fasting, on the occasion of Easter. Accordingly, the date changes every year and in 2019 Fat Thursday is marked on the 5th of March.
What is specific about this day is not only its festival nature, but the excessive consumption of rich and fatty foods (hence the name), which are forbidden during the forthcoming Lenten season: so pancakes, donuts, sweets are devoured without guilt on this day. As for the official celebrations, they are as splendid as one might expect. In Belgium the Mardi Gras Carnival of Binche is part of the intangible heritage of UNESCO. Same goes for the Staré Hamry door-to-door processions in Czechia, where the associated folklore tradition is called Masopust (meaning meat-fast). Noteworthy celebrations are invariably organized in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden as well.
However, due to the absence of actual reference in the Bible to such a holiday occasion, hardly can the existence of the celebration and the accompanying temptations be defined as religiously sound. On the contrary, the sacred book for Christians calls for modesty, continence and faith.
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
This, however, is likely to change soon
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
The city was concerned about street noise and disturbances to residents
And the current administration plans to make Jardin del Turia Europe’s largest city green space by extending it to the sea
The aim is to have the public be able to admire the architectural design without distractions
The installation has been thought out with the concept of letting people “talk” to their dearly departed
It’s an urban space that has undergone several large-scale transformations throughout its existence
A US geologist claims to have solved the centuries-old mystery
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team