Winter festivals in Transcarpathia

Winter in the Carpathians is a colourful, vivid, beautiful and festive time of year. It is during this wonderful period that a host of merry folk celebrations takes place. They impress and enchant every tourist with their colour, souvenir and eco-products, entertainment programme, authentic traditions and truly delicious, distinctive cuisine. Winter festivals in Transcarpathia are Christmas nativity scenes, wine feasts, New Year fairs and unique events. All of them not only brighten up the grey everyday routine, but also bring plenty of vivid impressions, new acquaintances and an uplifting mood.

Winter festivals in Transcarpathia in December

The festival season kicks off in Transcarpathia with the arrival of the colourful and merry New Year and Christmas fairs in the first half of December. Cosy wooden towns spring up on the central squares of the cities, where you can taste local wine, sample dishes of Transcarpathian cuisine, and buy interesting and original souvenirs.

The Uzhhorod Excursion Bureau, first and foremost, recommends visiting these winter festivals in Transcarpathia in December:

The Parade of Little St Nicholases is traditionally and colourfully held every year on 19 December in Uzhhorod. This grand event has made the region famous throughout the country. Hundreds of helpers of St Nicholas the Wonderworker, in red hats and costumes, with white beards and sacks of sweets, move through the streets of the Old Town, sing New Year songs and give sweets to every passer-by, and then joyfully light up the main Christmas tree of Uzhhorod.

The Festival of Christmas Nativity Scenes - one of the most colourful celebrations of the region. It enchants with its decorations, traditions and atmosphere, and fills the heart and soul with a sense of the true Christmas Spirit. It takes place on the eve of Catholic Christmas in the most Hungarian town of Transcarpathia - in Berehove.

Winter festivals in Transcarpathia in January

The climax of the winter merriment and folk celebrations is to be expected in Transcarpathia right in the middle of winter - in January. The brightest festivities and events in the Carpathians during this wonderful time of year include such festivals as:

The International Festival “Red Wine” in Mukachevo - held every year on the Old New Year and gathering tourists not only from all over the country, but also from abroad. During this most aromatic, heady and sunny celebration, you can look forward to: wine tastings from the region’s finest winemakers, distinctive Transcarpathian cuisine, a colourful entertainment programme, including the leading of Malanka, a variety of contests and generous fairs.

The Festival of Hungarian Culture is one of the tastiest and most musical celebrations in Transcarpathia. It is held every year in the country’s most Hungarian capital - Berehove. During the festival you will be able to taste Transcarpathian wine, dishes of Hungarian and Transcarpathian cuisine, buy original souvenirs, hear Hungarian musicians and see performances by Hungarian artists.

«The Transcarpathian Nativity Scene» is a unique festival of carolling groups in Uzhhorod and Khust, which gives an excellent opportunity to fully enjoy genuine Transcarpathian carols and see a real Transcarpathian Christmas nativity scene in all its colour.

Also of interest are the festivals -

«In the Snow-Covered Carpathians» - a true firework of emotions and active winter recreation, which awaits you in the village of Syniak in the Mukachevo district, on the grounds of the «Syniak» sports and tourism complex. The programme includes interesting and exciting cross-country ski orienteering competitions, an entertainment programme and delicious tastings.

The «Epiphany Bathing» Festival - in the village of Nyzhnie Selyshche in the Khust district, invites you to merry carols, dances, singing, bathing in a mountain river, generous fairs, tastings of Transcarpathian wine, cuisine, and Carpathian organic cheeses made using Swiss technologies at the local cheese dairy.

The Gentesh Festival in the village of Hecha in the Berehove district rounds off the January cycle of celebrations and is the very festive apogee of winter in Transcarpathia. This is not just a grand feast for the stomach - even the most demanding gourmets will appreciate the colour, taste and aroma of the local cuisine. Genteshi - this is exactly what, in the Berehove district, they call the butchers of pigs (a craft that has always fed the local residents). The lion’s share of the dishes at the festival is prepared from various kinds of meat, whole culinary-arts competitions take place, and the merry mood is enhanced by Transcarpathian wine, dishes of Transcarpathianand Hungarian cuisine , and performances by colourful local ensembles.

Winter festivals in Transcarpathia in February

At the end of winter, Transcarpathians arrange vivid farewells to winter, holding whole balls, «wine» tastings and flash mobs of love. The Uzhhorod Excursion Bureau recommends visiting the following winter festivals in Transcarpathia:

The Wine Festival in Berehove - is three days of sunny, heady drink that simply flows like a river! The best Transcarpathian winemakers will present their vintage wines, made to old recipes. In addition, it is at this very celebration that you can see unique exhibits - winemaking equipment, taste Transcarpathian wine and dishes of Hungarian cuisine, play the lottery, take part in contests, have a great rest, dance to your heart’s content, sing your fill and become a knight of the Wine Order of St Wenceslas.

«Fasching Ball» in Uzhhorod - a traditional All-Ukrainian ball of the Slovak national minority, held on the eve of Lent. First and foremost, the aim of this festival - is to revive the Slovak-Transcarpathian folk «fasching» (Shrovetide) traditions and amusements.

«Winter Patterns of the Volovets Land» is held excitingly and unforgettably in the town of Zhdeniievo in the Volovets district. This is a sports festival whose programme includes interesting alpine skiing competitions, contests, lotteries, relays and real ski races.

Also of interest are the festivals -

The Flash-Mob Festival «Day of Love on the Bridge of Love» on St Valentine’s Day in Uzhhorod, on 14 February, awaits you right on the city’s pedestrian bridge. On this day all lovers hang locks here, symbolising their love, make interesting installations of balloons, bows and other materials, and hold contests for the best «valentines» and the longest kisses!

«Farsang Balls» - genuine colourful Hungarian carnivals held in several villages of the Uzhhorod district. All the guests of the celebration can look forward to costumed parades, an unforgettable entertainment programme, a tasting of dishes of Transcarpathian cuisine and wine,
theatrical performances and dance balls.

«Shrovetide» and «Uzhhorod Palacsinta» in Uzhhorod round off the winter cycle of festivals in Transcarpathia. These are among the most beloved gastronomic celebrations of Transcarpathians, during which the local residents merrily and deliciously see off winter and greet spring. The programme includes various kinds of palacsinta (pancakes) with original fillings, interesting contests and amusements, tastings of Transcarpathian cuisine and wine, surprises, special offers, styled photo zones and, of course, the burning of the effigy of winter Mara. In a word, you certainly won’t be bored this winter!

Winter festivals in Transcarpathia are vivid, packed with events - do come!