April
Walpurgis Night / Beltane Fire Festival
A night when bonfires are lit, witches meet, kids play pranks and copious amounts of sparkling wine is drunk (probably by their mothers!). When: April 30th every year. Where: Europe, especially Scandinavia and Germanic Europe. Rather like Halloween it is … Continue reading
Posted in April
Tagged British festivals, European festivals, German festival, Pagan Festival
1 Comment
Shibasakura
A carpet of flowers at the foot of Mount Fuji. When: End of April – beginning of May every year. Where: Tokyo, Japan. The Fuji “Shiba-sakura” festival is a form of Japanese “flower viewing” festival held sometime during April and … Continue reading
St George’s Day
A romantic guy at heart, St George is famous for slaying the dragon thus saving one very distressed princess. When: 23rd April every year. Where: England and other* countries. It seems we Brits are not alone* in our celebration of … Continue reading
Posted in April, Eventify Events
Tagged British festivals, Christian festival, European festivals
1 Comment
Hanami
Picnic on sushi and sake underneath the cherry blossom trees When: January to May. Where: Japan. Hanami (flower viewing) is the Japanese tradition of picnicking under the beautiful cherry blossoms (sakura) which bloom all over Japan from mid January to early … Continue reading
Posted in April, February, January, March, May
Tagged Foody festival, Japanese Matsuri
Leave a comment
Gangaur
All the single ladies – pray to Gauri for the husband of your dreams When: Varying. April 13th & 14th 2013. 2nd & 3rd April 2014. Where: Rajasthan, India Gangaur is one of the most important festivals in Rajasthan, held … Continue reading
Songkran Festival
Make a big splash and get a soaking for good luck! When: April 13th – 15th every year. Where: Yunnan province of China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia The Songkran Festival is the traditional Thai New Year where families and friends gather … Continue reading
Sechseläuten
Exploding into Spring Swiss style! When: 3rd Monday in April Where: Zurich, Switzerland. The Sechseläuten is a traditional spring holiday in the Swiss city of Zürich. A straw snowman (or Böögg) filled with pyrotechnics and fireworks is burnt to welcome … Continue reading
Shangsi Festival / March 3rd Festival
A walk in the countryside and a song in your heart is all you need to find love When: The 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month. April 12th 2013. Where: China Originally Shangsi was all about rituals to ward … Continue reading
Hana Matsuri
A flower festival and tea party for Buddha’s birthday. When: April 8th every year. Where: Japan. Hana Matsuri (sometimes Hanamatsuri) is a Japanese celebration of the birth of Buddha. Shrines covered with flowers are built inside the temples and people … Continue reading
Kanamara Matsuri
There’s definitely no mistaking that this is a Japanese fertility festival! When: First Sunday in April. 7th April 2013. Where: Kanamara Shrine, Kawasaki, Japan A large, pink phallus bobs its way down the street carried on the shoulders of a … Continue reading
Nagol (Land Diving)
A huge leap of faith for the men of Pentecost Island. When: April to June every year. Where: Pentecost Island, Vantuatu. Nagol is a traditional land diving custom, a precursor to bungee jumping, performed by men on Vanuatu’s Pentecost Island … Continue reading
Scoppio del Carro at Easter
A cart packed full of explosives heralds the Easter Sunday celebrations in Florence When: Easter Sunday. March 31st 2013, 20th April 2014. Where: Florence, Italy The Scoppio del Carro (or Explosion of the Cart) is an annual tradition in Florence, … Continue reading
Posted in April, March
Tagged European festivals, Foody festival, Italian festival, Traveller's choice
Leave a comment
Easter Sunday
Celebrating the rebirth of Spring after the death of Winter? When: Dates vary each year. March 31st 2013 (May 5th Orthodox), 20th April 2014 (Western and Orthodox) Where: Christian Countries Most people associate Easter Sunday with chocolate eggs, chicks and … Continue reading
Scarecrow Festival
There are some strange visitors to Moringhem every April When: Whole of April. Where: Moringhem, France Every April the village of Moringhem in France is taken over by crowds of somewhat eerie looking scarecrows. The event started one day in … Continue reading
Good Friday
Some say its good day for a haircut and a bad day for gardening! When: The Friday before Easter. Where: All over the Christian world Most people know that Good Friday is the day, according to Christian belief, that Jesus … Continue reading
Maundy Thursday
Witches, anthills, red eggs and green food are some of the traditions for the Thursday prior to Easter! When: The Thursday before Easter. Where: All over the Christian world Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday) is the day before Good Friday, … Continue reading
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday kicks off the celebrations for Easter week. When: Sunday before Easter. 24th March 2013, 13th April 2014. Where: All over the Christian world but especially Spain and Mexico Palm Sunday is the name given to the Sunday before … Continue reading
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Prepare for a pretty explosive Easter in Mexico… When: The week (or two) leading up to Easter. March 24th 2013. April 13th 2014. Where: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico or Seville, Spain. Throughout the Christian world (and especially the Hispanic … Continue reading
Mothering Sunday / Mother’s day
Take the day off from Lenten deprivations and bake a cake for your dear old mum! When: Fourth Sunday of Lent. March 10th 2013, March 30th 2014 Where: All over the Christian World Nowadays Mother’s Day is celebrated on different … Continue reading
Pushkar Camel Fair
All the very latest in camel fashion… When: October / November every year, November 19th to 28th 2012. Where: Pushkar, Rajasthan, India. Every year, the usually sleepy lakeside town of Pushkar in Rajasthan turns into a riot of colour, noise … Continue reading
Posted in April, November, October
Tagged Hindu festival, Indian mela, Traveller's choice
Leave a comment
Takayama Matsuri
Takayama Matsuri is said to be one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan. When: April 14th & 15th and October 9th & 10th every year. Where: Hida-Takayama, Japan In Spring and Autumn the old town of Takayama hosts … Continue reading
Vinalia Roman Wine festival
Early laddette culture leads to the watering down of wine for the ladies! The Vinalia were Roman wine festivals held twice a year to give thanks to the gods (mostly Venus and Jupiter as deities of gardens and therefore vineyards), … Continue reading
Saraswati festival (Bali)
Take the day off from work or learning, no books must be opened today! When: Every 210 days, June 16th 2012. Where: Bali, Indonesia. The Saraswati festival is celebrated in honour of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music and … Continue reading
Nymph’s Wednesday & Spassovden
Go to sleep on a bed of fraxinella to cure you of your ills. When: Eve of Orthodox Ascension day – 39 days after Orthodox Easter. 23rd May 2012, June 12th 2013. Where: Bulgaria. Nymph’s Wednesday is the day before … Continue reading
Festa del Grillo
In need of some good luck? When: Ascension Day, 39 days after Easter. 17th May 2012. 9th May 2013. Where: Florence, Italy. Don’t worry, help is at hand if you go to Florence’s Festa del Grillo at Cascine Park, where … Continue reading
Thrissur Pooram
Elegant elephants and pretty parasols When: Mid April to Mid May. 1st May 2012. April 21st 2013. Where: Thrissur, Kerala, India Thrissur Pooram is the biggest and most colourful Hindu temple festival of Kerala, and one of Kerala’s main cultural … Continue reading
Showa-no-hi
A very Happy Birthday to the former Emperor Showa. When: April 29th every year. Where: Japan The birthday of former Emperor Showa on the 29th April is the first of 5 national holidays in the space of 7 days that … Continue reading
Nakizumu Matsuri (Baby Cry Festival)
Naki, naki (cry, cry) for a long and healthy life! When: April 28th/29th 2012 Where: Sensoji Temple, Asakusa District, Tokyo, Japan During the month of April the Nakizumu Matsuri (baby-cry sumo festival) is held in many temples all across Japan. … Continue reading
Seville April Fair
Clack your castanets for the Seville April Fair! When: Two weeks after Easter. April 24th to 29th 2012, April 16th to 21st 2013. Where:Seville, Spain Seville holds its April Fair (Feria de Abril) two weeks after Holy week (or Semana … Continue reading
Black day
Feeling unloved? Eat noodles in black bean sauce with single friends, and toast the single life with rice wine. When: 14th April, every year. Where: South Korea. In South Korea, if you received no gifts or chocolate on Valentine’s day … Continue reading
Rouketopolemos (Rocket War)
These rival churches in Greece certainly start the Easter Sunday service with a bang! When: Orthodox Easter Saturday every year. April 15th 2012. May 4th 2013. Where: Vrontados, Island of Chios, Greece. Rouketopolemos (meaning Rocket-War) is a local Easter tradition … Continue reading
Tarquinia Giostra Delle Contrade
Some good old fashioned medieval horsing around! When: April / May every year. Where: Tarquinia, Italy. Every year the historical Mediterranean town of Tarquinia commemorates the knighting of three local nobles in 1452. The Giostra Delle Contrade, involves knights on … Continue reading
Qingming Festival
Only eat cold food and visit the graves of loved ones passed When: Varying dates in April. April 4th 2012, April 5th 2013. Where: China The Qingming Festival (AKA Tomb Sweeping Day or Clear Bright Festival) is a time to … Continue reading
Pane di Pasqua (Italian Easter Bread)
This delicious Italian Easter bread has a delicate aniseed flavour and real eggs nestling within its folds. The eggs can be left plain (use a variety of different shades, we used quails eggs here) or dyed first. There’s no need … Continue reading
Posted in
Leave a comment
Floralia
An ancient Roman festival dedicated to Flora, the Goddess of spring, flowers, and youthful pleasures. When: April 27th. Where: Ancient Rome Floralia symbolised the renewal of the cycle of life, and there was much drinking, naked dancing and general merrymaking. … Continue reading
The Maldon Mud Race
Its a bit of a mud bath in Maldon! When: May 5th 2013. Where: Maldon, Essex, England The Maldon Mud Race is an eccentric race held each year in Maldon, Essex, South England. Dressed in fancy dress, competitors race to … Continue reading
Dango
We couldn’t be writing a blog about festival food and not include Japanese Dango. However maybe you need to be Japanese to fully appreciate these rather chewy yet gooey little rice flour balls, of which there are hundreds of sweet … Continue reading
Posted in
Leave a comment
Simnel Cake
The rich and fruity Simnel Cake was originally made for Mother’s Day, as a kind of mid-Lent treat, by girls in service who were given the day off to visit their mother. Somewhere along the way it is now more … Continue reading
Posted in
Leave a comment
