Events for students in Europe

Every New Year at midnight, Hogmanay celebrations in Stonehaven feature a large, fireball-swinging procession up and down the High Street. At the end (00.25) the flaming orbs are thrown into the sea at the harbour, followed by a five-minute fireworks display.

The Winter Tollwood Festival draws a million visitors to its tents on Munich's Theresienwiese. With cabaret, circus and variety, it is known for its quality and originality.

On one magical night of the winter season, Breuil Cervinia hosts La Fiaccolata - a large-scale, torch-lit procession. Starting at Mount Gorbeillon and ending in the church square, lycra-clad skiers trek along the local cross-country trails and glide down the pistes.

Bormio, in the Italian Dolomites, hosts the latest round of the men's World Cup, featuring a downhill competition. Originally there were many skiing competitions throughout the world, but in 1962 the FIS created a unified competition.

Taking over the public spaces in Genoa city centre, the Circumnavigando Festival celebrates contemporary circus and street theatre.

Trust no one: Spain's equivalent of April Fool's Day strikes the inexperienced traveller by surprise as it comes around just after Christmas!

Córdoban village Fuente Carreteros puts on a vibrant fiesta with some unusual traditions. Locals perform the Baile de los Los Locos y el Oso (Dance of the Mad Ones and the Bear) to banish bad omens for the new year.

Verdiales is a lively flamenco style born in the olive-growing region of Malaga.

Chepstow Racecourse annually hosts the Welsh National, the biggest and richest race meeting of the year. The track is popular with racegoers especially for this Christmas season racing calendar highlight.

The Place Rossetti in the heart of Nice's old town is the venue for this live recreation of the nativity scene. Donkeys, cows, goats, sheep, people, hay and a real baby playing Jesus are all part of the display.

Riga celebrates Christmas with two traditional concerts at the Kipsala International Exhibition Centre.

If you happen to have thick skin or an excruciating hangover and have got nothing better to do on Christmas morning, make your way to Hyde Park's Serpentine Lido. The Peter Pan Cup Christmas Morning Race is a "refreshing" dip.

Every third Thursday of the month, the large open area of the Market Place in Derby is enlivened by a dozen stalls selling locally grown and sourced produce.

Every building in Lyon is illuminated during the magical Fêtes des Lumières as locals parade through the night, lantern in hand. The tradition dates from 1852, when a statue of the Virgin was unveiled on the hillside during a storm.

The Contemporary Culture Centre of Barcelona takes its turn at hosting the World Press Photo exhibition. Regarded as the world's most important display of photojournalism, the award-winning snaps appear at galleries and art centres in some 100 cities worldwide.

The man himself, Père Noël leads a magical procession through central Boulogne-sur-Mer, leaving from the Rue Nationale and culminating at the Quai Gambetta.

On the first Friday of every month, 1200 inline skaters gather at Toulon's Palais des Sports' car-park, then promenade through the city's streets. The 17km circuit explores the (conveniently flat) city centre, from the Old Town to the port.

Scotland's rugby union team play New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa in the Autumn Tests.

The Santa Claus World Championship in Samnaun sees teams of Father Christmases battle it out in all kinds of festive disciplines. Watch them climb chimneys, decorate gingerbread and deliver gifts by.... donkey. Rudolph was otherwise engaged...

La Fugarena is an ancient pagan harvest festival held in Piazza d'Armi, in the fortress city of Terra del Sole. The centrepiece is a huge bonfire, lit in ancient times to give thanks to the gods for the harvest.