Colors of Hamburg - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Hamburg DOM festival is known as one of the most exciting events in the life of the city. This majestic event is very popular among foreign tourists. Hamburg DOM is considered the most entertaining and colorful fair trade in Germany. The holiday is organized three times a year - in the middle of summer, winter and spring. During the days of the celebration the streets of the city are always full of various funny rides, carousels, beer tents and souvenir shops. Various interesting entertainment events, concerts and shows, as well as special festivals and events for children take place here every day.

During a year the internationally famous festival is visited by approximately ten million travelers. Visitors are attracted by the atmosphere of indescribable extravaganza and celebration. Each of the three festivals that take place during a year has its own special traditions. The village of witches is considered the most interesting attraction of summer festival. This is a mysterious town, a walk through which will surely leave a lot of impressions. The spring festival is the traditional time for jousting tournaments, which take place in a beautiful medieval fort.

Fantastic cowboy performances are the main entertainment during the summer festival. A small special town is constructed in one of the city’s streets especially for this purpose. The town looks exactly like towns seen in the films about the Wild West. The winter festival is the best time to participate in various carnival processions. Anyone can buy an original medieval costume and join various demonstrations and solemn processions. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Such festive activities appeared for the first time yet in the 14th century. In ancient times St. Martin Church was considered a refuge for poor people, artisans, stray entertainers and musicians. In order to thank the residents of the city for their shelter, artists often made interesting performances in the square near the church and artisans sold their crafts at lowered prices. This good tradition has preserved through centuries till our days. Hamburg DOM Festival is not only the brightest holiday in Hamburg, but also one of the most popular festivals in the country. The streets, which are decorated with numerous attractions and retail stores, stretch for miles. In order to try all the rides present there and look at diversity of products offered for sale you will need more than one day full of walks and fun.

Other festivals in Hamburg are no less colorful. In Johannes Brahms' hometown, the festival year begins with Maskenzauber an der Alster - a carnival that is not inferior in its color to the famous Venice one. It falls on the end of January. This is the time of colorful parades and fun that cannot be stopped, as well as the inexorable charm beckoning you to join the parade and become part of it. The festival is truly magical and bewitching - this is noted by all who have ever taken part in it. Well, it's time to check whether it's true.

Those who've decided to visit Hamburg in late September can't ignore the most famous festival in the city. Of course, it is the legendary Reepherbahn. Previously, it was held on no less famous street of the same name, which has become synonymous with entertainment. Today, the action takes place on Herbertstraße, and more specifically in clubs, art cafes, restaurants, and bars located here. The fest is dedicated to music, however, in addition to musical performances, here you can entertain yourself with such activities as watching movies, admiring works of art, attending seminars and master classes. You can listen to whatever you want - rock, techno house, jazz, hip-hop, reggae, indie by more than 250 bands participating in the festival at this time.

Another significant event in the festival life of the hometown of two chancellors - Angela Merkel and Helmut Schmidt - is Hafengeburtstag, which is held in early May. It's hard to imagine the scale of the event, and even if you try, the head goes round - these are boat races, rides, cruises, ballet performances, museum exhibitions, live music, regatta, search and rescue exercises - and all this takes place over four days. At the exhibition, you can see a variety of vessels - warships, tugs, yachts stretch for several kilometers - it's truly hard to imagine this even a for a person with a fertile imagination! The opening of the exhibition is marked by a colorful parade, ending with spectacular fireworks.

The city can also offer Elbjazz Festival dedicated to jazz music. Well-liked jazz classics are played here. You can also hear related subgenres such as soul, funk, blues. Various locations in the city area and HafenCity have been chosen as its venues (clubs, bars, restaurants). The most important actions take place in Elbphilharmonie. Among the participants are many foreign jazz and bluesmen who have made a name for themselves on the world stage, so many tourists are keen to witness this festival. Of course, local residents are not going to miss such an opportunity too. The festival is scheduled for the beginning of June.

And at the end of the month, the town of Scheeßel located near Hamburg welcomes visitors at the Hurricane Festival. This is one of the most beloved summer festivals among tourists and locals alike because it never does without famous and popular headliners performing college rock, alternative metal, indie. Another popular music festival is Spektrum, and it takes place in early August. Its location is the town of Wilhelmsburg located not far from Johannes Brahms' hometown. Here you can listen to whatever hip-hop and dance music fans could desire - from classical rap to electronic and experimental music.

In the middle of September, always on Saturday, Marktzeit in der Fabrik opens on Barnerstraße 36. Here you can taste such delicacies as exotic fruits, French macaroons, chocolate, freshly baked pies - these words alone can be really mouth-watering. Besides that, you can buy hand-made products like pottery, textiles, jewelry. The name of another fair is St. Pauli Night Market. It opens on Wednesdays from late April to early July and works until late at night. Here, on Spielbudenplatz, you can find fresh products, soft drinks. One more fair is the Fish Fair with a rich four-century-old history. It opens every Sunday on Große Elbstraße 2a.