February
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
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Holi, Festival of Colours
Get dyed at the Festival of Colours… When: March 27th 2013, March 17th 2014 Where: India Holi is also called ‘The Festival of Colours’, and people celebrate the festival by smearing each other with paint, and throwing coloured powder and … Continue reading
Chunga Choepa, Butter Lamp Festival
These monks will be butter fingers after all their hard work! When: Varies. 25th February 2013. Where: Tibet The Butter Lamp Festival (Chunga Choepa) in Tibet, celebrates Buddha’s miracles and the victory of the Buddha over cynics in a debate … Continue reading
Chinese Lantern Festival
Send your hopes and dreams off into the night sky by the light of the full moon When: 15th day of the Chinese year, 6th Feb 2012, 24th Feb 2013. Where: China, Tibet. The Chinese Lantern Festival (Yuan-Xiao) has been … Continue reading
Purim
Join the Jewish pantomime… When: Varies, February 23rd 2013, March 16th 2014. Where: Jewish Communities. Purim is a fun and festive Jewish holiday celebrating the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies, and the most important Purim custom is the … Continue reading
Khajuraho Dance Festival
Dancing among the erotically sculptured temples of Khajuraho… When: February / March every year. Where: Khajuraho, India. This annual Dance Festival brings the amazing (and somewhat cheekily sculptured) temples of Khajuraho alive with India’s finest classical dance every February or … Continue reading
Kounomiya Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival)
Hadaka ni narimashou! (Let’s get naked!) When: 16th February 2013. Where: Inazawa City, Aichi, Japan. During Kounomiya Hadaka Matsuri thousands of barely clothed men line the streets of Inazawa City, Aichi, Japan, in the hope of touching a completely shaved … Continue reading
Menton Lemon Festival
Add a bit of zest to your life… When: February & March every year. February 16th to March 6th 2013. Where: Menton, France. Every year for three weeks from the middle of February, the quiet, elegant town of Menton on … Continue reading
Bonden Matsuri
The winning big bamboo pole enters the doors of the Shrine in a Japanese festival full of innuendo… When: February 16th & 17th every year. Where: Yokote, Akita Prefecture, Japan. At the Bonden (or Bonten) Festival at Yokote in the … Continue reading
Saidaiji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri (Naked festival)
Lucky man! When: 3rd Saturday in February. Where: Okayama, Japan. A highly eccentric Japanese festival in which nine thousand men wearing only the skimpiest of loincloths, battle with one another over a pair of lucky sticks, thrown out of the … Continue reading
Roma Bride Market
My big fat gypsy bride! When: First Saturday of Lent. February 16th 2013, 8th March 2014. Where: The village of Mogila near Stara Zagora, Bulgaria Every year thousands of teenage Roma gypsy girls, dressed in their finest, made up to … Continue reading
Saraswati Puja
Put down that book! No reading is allowed today! When: 15th February 2013. 4th February 2014. Where: Eastern India. The Goddess Saraswati is the Goddess of education and knowledge. In Bengali homes women and girls of all age wear a … Continue reading
St. Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air… When: February 14th every year. Where: Worldwide. Now we don’t want to scare you, or make you turn gray, but we thought we’d best tell you, it’s Valentine’s Day! So go buy some roses and … Continue reading
Ash Wednesday
Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return. When: 46 days before Easter. February 13th 2013, 5th March 2014. Where: All over the Christian World Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent when Christians … Continue reading
Carnival / Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday
Britain flips pancakes while the rest of the World parties in the streets for Mardi Gras When: Tuesday before Lent. 12th February 2013. 4th March 2014. Where: Christian Countries In South America, New Orleans, throughout Spain and Italy there is … Continue reading
Posted in February, March
Tagged Carnival, European festivals, Foody festival, Mardi Gras, South American festival, Traveller's choice
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Losar, Tibetan New Year
Celebrate New year Tibetan style When: Varies. February 11th 2013. Where: Tibet. Losar is the Tibetan word for “new year, lo meaning year and sar meaning fresh or new and it is the most important holiday in Tibet. Losar is … Continue reading
Día de Los Indianos (talcum powder fight)
It’s a white out! When: Monday before Lent. Where: Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain On Carnival Monday the streets of Santa Cruz de La Palma in Spain fill with over 50,000 white-clad revelers and huge clouds of talcum powder … Continue reading
Posted in February, March
Tagged Carnival, European festivals, Mardi Gras, Spanish fiesta
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Chinese New Year
Hold on to to you hats, the year of the Dragon will be marked by excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity! When: January 23rd 2012, February 10th 2013. Where: China and Chinese communities worldwide. Spring Festival (or Chinese New Year) can … Continue reading
Kukeri Carnivals
One Kooky Carnival! When: Various Where: Varios parts of Bulgaria Kukeri is a traditional Bulgarian ritual to scare away evil spirits. The dance of these masked men is considered to bring blessings and fertility to the community. The somewhat scary … Continue reading
Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony
Love is in the water… When: Weekend nearest Feb 14th (Valentine’s day). Where: Trang, Thailand. Trang’s underwater wedding ceremony must be one of the most unusual ways to tie the knot. It has become very popular amongst those who fancy … Continue reading
Storico Carnevale di Ivrea, Battle of the Oranges
In Spain they throw tomatoes, in Italy its oranges! When: The weekend before Lent. Where: Ivrea near Turin, Italy. You may have heard of La Tomatina, the famous Spanish tomato fight, but during the ancient Italian Carnival of Ivrea, in … Continue reading
Posted in February, March
Tagged Carnival, European festivals, Mardi Gras, Spanish fiesta
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Meringue wars at Carnaval de Vilanova i la Geltrú
A bit of a sticky situation… When: Thursday / Saturday before Lent, 7th February 2013. Where: Vilanova i La Geltrú, Spain. The Catalonian seaside town of Vilanova i La Geltrú is proud of the fact that it defied carnival prohibition … Continue reading
Posted in February, March
Tagged Carnival, European festivals, Mardi Gras, Spanish fiesta
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Sapporo Yuki Matsuri / Sapporo Snow Festival
‘snow mean feat to build ice sculptures on this scale! When: Early February every year. Where: Sapporo, Japan. The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan’s most impressive winter events with huge glittering ice sculptures transforming the city of Sapporo … Continue reading
Setsubun
A good excuse to throw beans at your Dad! Oni ha soto, fuku ha uchi! (demons out, good fortune in!) When: February 3rd every year. Where: Japan. All over Japan, on February 3rd, children throw beans at their father (who wears … Continue reading
Viareggio Carnival
The start of the Carnival season… When: February 3rd to March 3rd 2013. Where: VIareggio, Italy. The spectacular Viareggio Carnival takes place every year in the beautiful seaside town of Viareggio on the Italian Riviera in Tuscany. It is famous … Continue reading
Posted in February, March
Tagged Carnival, European festivals, Italian festival, Mardi Gras
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Chiang Mai Flower Festival
A fragrant festival of flowers When: First weekend in February. Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand. During this fragrant and vibrant festival, sculptures of temples, animals and even scenes from the Ramayana (the Hindu stories of the Gods) are made from flowers … Continue reading
Candlemas, Dia de la Candelaria, Groundhog day, Imbolc, St Brigid’s Day
If Candlemas Day is clear and bright, winter will have another bite. If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter is gone and will not come again. When: February 2nd every year. Where: Many places around the world. Día de … Continue reading
Trifon Zarezan, Saint Trifon the Pruner Day
Nazdrave! When: February 1st and 14th. Where: Bulgaria. The Bulgarian holiday of vine-growers and wine-makers, Trifon Zarezan, marks the dividing line between the dying winter and the onset of spring. There are many rituals performed to ensure vitality and fruitfulness. … Continue reading
Carnaval de Québec
A frozen carnival… When: Up to Lent, 1st to 17th February 2013. Where: Quebec, Canada. Since the beginning of the French colony in Quebec, the residents of New France have had a rowdy tradition of getting together just before Lent … Continue reading
Thaipusam
This one’s not for the faint hearted! When: February 7th 2012. Where: India, Malaysia, Mauritius and Singapore. The Hindu festival of Thaipusam is about faith, endurance and penance. It’s a highly colourful, event which can stretch for 3 or 4 … Continue reading
Posted in February, January
Tagged Hindu festival, Indian mela, Strange Festivals, Traveller's choice
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Madurai Float Festival / Teppothsavam
The goddess Meenakshi and her consort, Lord Sundareshwarar, are sent off for a gentle boat ride around the waters of Mariamman Teppakulam Tank When: The full moon between mid-January and mid-February Where: Mariamman Teppakulam Tank, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. On … Continue reading
Abu Simbel Sun Festival
The Egyptians still celebrate this ancient Pharaoh’s birthday because of the temple he built… When: February 22nd & October 22nd every year. Where: Abu Simbel temple, Aswan, Southern Egypt. The Abu Simbel Sun Festival at the spectacular sun temple at … Continue reading
Pancakes / Crepes
Pancakes are a big tradition in England for Pancake day (AKA Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday). On this day they are considered a last feast with ingredients such as sugar, fat and eggs, that are traditionally given up … Continue reading
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February / March: Rio Carnival
Although Carnival is celebrated all over Brazil and other Catholic countries, Rio de Janeiro has long been regarded as the Carnival Capital of the World with the biggest, most famous and most extravagant carnival of them all. The Rio Carnival … Continue reading
