June
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
Yadnya Kasada Festival
Appease the Volcano gods… When: March. Where: Mount Bromo, East Java, Indoneisia. At the Kasada Festival the locals throw offerings into the volcano at Mount Bromo in the belief that this will keep it dormant and grant their wishes. However, … Continue reading
Highland Games
Ever wondered what’s under a Scotsman’s kilt? When: May to September. Where: Scotland. feats of strength such as throwing the hammer, tossing the cabre and tug-o-war to the more gentile events such as bagpipe playing and highland fling dancing, its … Continue reading
Pintados Kasadyaan festival
When: Whole of June. Where: Tacloban city, Leyte, Philippines. The Pintados Festival is a colourful celebration, whose origins come from the tattoo and bodypainting traditions of the ancient tattooed “pintados” warriors who inhabited the area many years ago. The colourful … Continue reading
Boi Bumba / Bumba Meu Boi
When: Last weekend of June. Where: Parintins, Brazil Bumba meu boi (or bumba-boi, boi-bumbá, etc.) is a kind of dramatic dance off in the town of Parantin, Brazil which tells the story of the death and resurrection of an ox. … Continue reading
Batalla del Vino
Get sloshed with red wine! When: 29th June every year. Where: Haro, La Rioja, Spain. As the name suggests the Haro Wine Battle involves throwing copious amounts of wine over everybody! In Haro, La Rioja, Spain, in the morning of … Continue reading
Festival of Saint John / Calcio Storico
Medieval football in Florence. When: June 24th every year. Where: Florence, Italy Every year on 24th June the Italian city of Florence dresses up, parties and plays football in honour of their patron saint, Saint John. Italians love their football … Continue reading
Inti Raymi Sun Festival
Worshiping the sun in mid-winter Peru. When: June 24th every year. Where: Cuzco, Peru. The Winter Solstice in Cuzco, Peru marks the beginning of a new year with the Inti Raymi, or the Festival of the Sun. The centrepiece being … Continue reading
Tenjin Matsuri
A beautiful illuminated river parade in Japan. When: 24th & 25th July every year. Where: Tenmangu Shrine, Tenjinbashi, Osaka city, Japan. This impressive event is deemed one of the major festivals of Japan. The evening torchlight river procession of hundreds … Continue reading
Festa de São João, St John’s Festival
Get hammered at Porto’s biggest bash! When: 23rd / 24th June every year Where: Porto, Portugal Grab a squeaky rubber hammer and head to the historic city of Porto in Portugal, to join in the bedlam that is the Festa … Continue reading
Pixie Day
Once upon a time this sleepy Devon town was plagued with mischievous pixies… When: Saturday nearest Midsummer’s day. Sat 23rd June 2012. Where: Ottery St Mary, Devon, England. Pixie Day is a lovely age old tradition with its roots back … Continue reading
Chinese Dragon Boat festival
A beautiful Chinese festival steeped in legend and tradition. When: June 23rd 2012, 12th June 2013. Where: All over China The crazy Chinese Dragon Boat festival commemorates the day that the popular Chinese patriot, scholar and poet, Chu Yuan, threw … Continue reading
Fiesta del Agua
When: June 23rd Midnight, every year. Where: Lanjarón, Spain. At midnight on 23rd June, the village of Lanjarón erupts into a massive water fight. Lanjarón, Spain is famed for its mineral water, which is splashed about by the bucket-load and … Continue reading
Festival de San Juan
Leap the bonfires of St John! When: June 23rd – 24th every year. Where: San Pedro Manrique, Spain. San Pedro Manrique in Spain celebrates the San Juan Festival in legendary style. On the evening of 23rd June, bonfires are lit … Continue reading
Solstice
The longest day for some and the shortest for others. When: June 20th / 21st every year. Where: Worldwide. The June Solstice is the the longest day for some and the shortest day for others. For anyone north of the … Continue reading
Bonfires of Saint John / La Hogueras
A red sky at night in Alicante? It must be the Bonfires of St John! When: 19th to 24th June every year. Where: Alicante, Spain. Prior to 1928 the Bonfires of Saint John had been celebrated in Alicante much as … Continue reading
International Sushi day
Today’s the day to get creative with your lunchbox. When: June 18th every year Where: International. International Sushi Day was first celebrated on June 18th, 2009, conceived by the administrator of the “Sushi” Facebook page. . In the first year … Continue reading
Father’s day
Don’t forget dear old Dad! When: 3rd Sunday in June. Where: Europe and the US. Father’s Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and usually involves giving cards, buying presents, special dinners, and family-oriented activities. In most European … Continue reading
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Tagged Christian festival, European festivals, North American festival
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San Ranieri, Pisa Regatta
Not sure what first prize is but last place get a couple of geese! When: June 15th to 17th every year. Where: Pisa, Italy. Each June Pisa honours its patron saint (San Ranieri) with a fabulous regatta and night-time “luminaria” … Continue reading
Lajkonik Festival
Get a bashing from the Lajkonik for good luck! When: Thursday after Corpus Christi. 14th June 2012. 6th June 2013. Where: Cracow, Poland The old town of Cracow is not short of the odd legend or two from maiden-chomping dragons, … Continue reading
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Kataklysmos
A seaside water fight in Cyprus When: 50 days after Orthodox Easter. 13th June 2012. Where: Cyprus. In Cyprus, Kataklysmos (the Festival of the Flood) is celebrated along the water fronts with fairs, boat rides and water sports. It has … Continue reading
Festa Junina
Feliz Festa Junina! Dress up country style and dance the Quadrilha in Brazil! When: June 13th, 24th & 29th every year. Where: Brazil. The Brazilian Festa Junina parties can be even bigger than Carnival in some cities with bonfires and … Continue reading
Dia dos Namorados
Feliz dia dos Namorados! When: June 12th every year. Where: Brazil. In Brazil, the Dia dos Namorados (“Day of the Enamored”, or Boyfriends’ / Girlfriends’ Day) is celebrated by lovers exchanging gifts, chocolates, cards and flowers. June 12th was chosen … Continue reading
St Anthony’s festival
Give a friend a pot of basil When: 12th to 14th June every year Where: Portugal The people of Lisbon celebrate their city’s patron saint, St Anthony with lively street parties, colourful parades and by grilling and eating as many … Continue reading
Kamehameha day
Happy King Kamehameha Day! Hula ’til you drop! When: June 11th every year. Where: Hawaii Floral parades, traditional Hawaiian Luaus (or feasts) and Hula dancing are how this national holiday in aid of Kamehameha the Great is celebrated in Hawaii. … Continue reading
El Colacho
The baby jumping festival! When: Sunday following Corpus Christi, June 10th 2012, June 2nd 2013. Where: Castrillo de Murcia, Spain. This famously bizarre event in Castrillo de Murcia, Spain sees men dressed as the Devil leaping over a row of … Continue reading
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Tagged Christian festival, European festivals, Spanish fiesta, Traveller's choice
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Corpus Christi
Walk on carpets of flowers and sprinkle petals as you go. When: Varying dates in June. Thursday 7th June 2012, 30th May 2013. Where: All over the Christian World especially Latin countries. In La Orotava, Tenerife dazzlingly colorful carpets of … Continue reading
Day of the Mules
Show off your favourite mules! When: On Corpus Christi. 7th June 2012, 30th May 2013. Where: Mexico city. On Corpus Christi every year people come from all over Mexico bringing mules laden with harvest fruit as an offering of thanks. … Continue reading
Mibu Flower Rice Planting Festival
An ancient Japanese folk ritual in aid of the Shinto rice god, Wbai-sama, blessing the region with bountiful rice crops. When: First Sunday in June. Where: Mibu, Chiyoda (Kitahiroshima.), Hiroshima, Japan. In the Mibu region of Chiyoda, near Hiroshima, Japan, … Continue reading
Festa de São Gonçalo
A somewhat obvious way to show your fancy! When: First weekend in June. Where: Amarante, Portugal The Festa de São Gonçalo in Amarante, Portugal is an old fertility tradition where those that are unmarried exchange some rather intriguingly shaped cakes … Continue reading
Cotswold ‘Olimpick’ Games
The home of the British Shin Kicking Championships When: Friday after Spring Bank Holiday, 7:30pm 3rd June 2011. Where: Dover’s Hill, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, England In the year 1612 a local Gloucestershire man called Robert Drover decided to hold a … Continue reading
Gawai Dayak
Water the guests with rice wine When: June 1st every year. Where: Sarawak, Malaysia. Gawai Dayak is a festival where Dayak families and friends visit eachother and welcome their guests by “watering” them with rice wine. It is a time … Continue reading
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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
Feast of the Sensa
Renewing the marriage vows between Venice and the sea. When: Sunday after Ascension day, 20th May 2012, 12th May 2013. Where: Venice, Italy. Festa della Sensa (Venice’s Feast of the Sensa) is the 1000-year-old annual tradition whereby the head of … Continue reading
Ascension Day
Weather predictions, well dressings and old wives’ tales When: 39 days after Easter. 17th May 2012, May 9th 2013. Where: Christian Countries According to Christian belief, Ascension Day is the day Jesus Christ ascended into heaven. It is officially celebrated … Continue reading
Posted in June, May
Tagged British festivals, Christian festival, North American festival, South American festival
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The Dreaming festival
Dreaming of Australia… When: Usually in mid June, the festival in 2011 has been moved to Dec 27th to 1st Jan because of severe flooding. Where: Woodford, Queensland, Australia. The Dreaming Festival celebrates indigenous culture from music, dance and art … Continue reading
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Brazilian Carrot Cake
Brazilians love cakes, big slices of the most deliciously sweet and sticky cakes you can imagine!. The culinary side to their festivals such as Boi Bumba and Festa Junina is packed full of peanut brittle, carrot cake and the coconutty … Continue reading
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Doughnut days
Mmmmmm Doughnuts! When: First Friday in June & June 8th. Where: USA but everywhere else should join in too! In the US they seem to have a National day for some kind of food or other every single day, but … Continue reading
Banitsa
In many parts of Bulgaria celebratory feasts include the traditional Bulgarian banitsa, a crispy, layered pastry, filled with feta cheese and sometimes spinach or leek too. At New Year in Bulgaria it is considered good luck to put a silver … Continue reading
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Shopska Salata
A fresh Bulgarian salad traditionally eaten with friends Serves 2 Ingredients 1 red onion, sliced finely 2 sweet pointed peppers, roasted, cooled and de-skinned 250g pack cherry tomatoes, halved ½ cucumber, skinned and chopped into chunks Dressing 1 tablespoon olive … Continue reading
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