September
Rub Bua Festival
The Lotus throwing festival in Bang Phli… When: September / October every year, 29th October 2012. Where: Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, Thailand. Rub Bua (also Rap Bua) is the beautiful Lotus Flower Receiving Festival which takes place at Bang Phli … Continue reading
Dussehra Festival / Vijayadashmi
Pretty explosive stuff! When:September / October, 24th October 2012, 14th October 2013. Where: India. Dussehra is a Hindu festival celebrated all over India. It is also known as Vijayadashmi (‘Vijay’ meaning ‘victory’ and ‘Dashmi meaning ‘tenth day), as it is … Continue reading
Bathukamma Festival
Flower arranging with the girls in Hyderabad… When: September / October, October 22nd 2012. Where: Hyderabad, India. Bathukamma is widely celebrated by the Hindu women of Hyderabad and the surrounding Telangana region of India where elaborate floral displays topped by … Continue reading
Navrati
Get ready for nine nights of music and dancing… When: Varying dates in September / October. October 16th – 24th 2012, 5th – 13th October 2013. Where: India. Navratri (literally meaning “nine nights”) is one of the greatest Hindu festivals … Continue reading
Phuket Vegetarian festival
If ever there was a misnomer, its the rather tamely named Phuket Vegetarian festival! When: September / October every year, 15th to 23rd October 2012. Where: Phuket, Thailand. A colourful (if slightly gruesome sight), the Phuket Vegetarian festival celebrates the Chinese … Continue reading
Sukkot
7 nights in sheltered accommodation… When: September / October. Sundown on September 30th 2012. Sundown on September 18th 2013. For 7 days. Where: Israel. Jewish communities. Sukkot (also known as the festival of shelters or feast of booths) commemorates the … Continue reading
Boun Khao Salak
Honouring the family history… When: September full moon. September 30th 2011, September 19th 2013. Where: Luang Prabang, Laos. Laos cerebrates many annual festivals (called “Boun”) which are particularly beautiful. Boun Khao Salak is a Buddhist festival, held on the September … Continue reading
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Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncake Day)
Celebrate the beautiful Autumn harvest moon… When: September / October, 30th September 2012, 19th September 2013. Where: China. Lion dances, lanterns, feasting and moon gazing are the order of the day for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, one of the most … Continue reading
Posted in October, September
Tagged Chinese festival, Foody festival, Traveller's choice
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Tsukimi, Moon Viewing
Party in the light of the Autumn full moon When: September 30th 2012, September 19th 2013. Where: Japan. September is the month for the traditional Japanese Tsukimi (or moon viewing) parties held to celebrate the beauty of the moon. People … Continue reading
Fiesta San Miguel
Dangerous dancing… When:September 29th every year. Where: Uncia, Bolivia. This sensational South American festival of colourful parades, dangerous dances, beer and ice cream, takes place in the small town of Uncia in the Potosi district of Bolivia, in honour of … Continue reading
Festes de la Merce, Barcelona
A towering feat in deed When: On and around September 24th every year. Where: Barcelona, Spain. The main annual festival and public holiday in Barcelona, Spain takes place on September 24th, and celebrates the city’s patron saint’s day – the … Continue reading
Spring & Autumn Equinox
Watch as Kukulkan, the snake of light descends the steps of Chichén Itzá When: Spring & Autumn Equinoxes. March 20th & September 22nd 2012. Where: Chichén Itzá, Mexico Chichén Itzá is amongst the greatest surviving monuments of the Mayan civilisation. … Continue reading
Oktoberfest
Eat, drink and be merry! When: September / October every year 22nd September to 7th October 2012. Where: Munich, Germany. Drink your share of 6 million litres of fine Bavarian beer from Munich’s finest breweries, eat your way through the … Continue reading
Posted in October, September
Tagged European festivals, German festival, Traveller's choice
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Aloha Festivals Floral Parade
Well Aloha! When: September 22nd 2012. Where: Honalulu, Hawaii. The Floral Parade is a colorful Hawaian procession of Pau riders on horseback and extravagant floats all covered with cascades of Hawaiian flowers. Music from marching bands and Hula dancers brighten … Continue reading
Fiesta of Saint Michael the Archangel
Fiesta de San Miguel Arcangel When: September 20th – 29th every year. Where: Cozumel, Mexico. Every September there are magnificent processions on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico, in honour of their patron Saint, Saint Michael the Archangel (San Miguel Arcangel). … Continue reading
International Talk like a Pirate day
Well shivver me timbers! When: September 19th. Where: International. Greet your friends not with “Hello,” but with an “Ahoy, there me ‘earty!” for today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. It was started in 1995 by John Baur (Ol’ … Continue reading
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Ganesh Chaturthi
Do not look at the moon! The moon laughed at Ganesh when his stomach burst open and the sweets fell out! When: August / September. 19th September 2012, 9th September 2013. Where: India. Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, is … Continue reading
Almabtrieb
The cows are coming home When: September 18th. Where: Allgäu, Southern Germany. The Almabtrieb (meaning “drive from the mountain pasture” in German) is an annual event in the alpine regions in Europe, where the cows are brought down from their … Continue reading
Fiestas Patrias
Dance the cueca and drink chica in Chile… When: September 18th every year.. Where: Chile. With September comes the arrival of spring in Chile, and the celebration of Chile’s independence from Spain is a good excuse for a party after … Continue reading
Hartalika Teej
A celebration of marriage and family When: Varying dates in August / September. 18th September 2012. Where: North Indian states, especially Jaipur city, Rajasthan. Women all over India celebrate Teej with great enthusiasm, dressing in their best saris and honouring … Continue reading
Mexican Independence day & Mes de la Patria
Ring the bell for freedom! Viva Mexico! When: September 16th. Where: Mexico. In Mexico, September is the Mes de la Patria “month of the homeland,” and it seems that the whole country is painted in red, white and green (the … Continue reading
Kravji Bal, Cow Ball
The cows are coming home… When: One Sunday in mid September. 16th September 2012. When: Bohinj, Slovenia. Beautifully decorated cows adorned with bells, flowers and wreaths are lead by herdsmen, dairy maids and cheese-makers, returning home to the Slovenian valley … Continue reading
Penafrancia Fiesta
Viva la Virgin! When: 3rd Saturday in September. Where: Naga City, Philippines. A spectacular water procession carries a statue of the Blessed Virgin of Peñafrancia on a decorated flatboat. Along the river banks hundreds and thousands of devotees shouting “Viva … Continue reading
Reitaisai, Kamakura
The Samurais are in town When: September 14th – 16th every year. Where: Kamakura, Japan. The main event of this Japanese festival at the 800 year old Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine in Kamakura, is the Yabusame, a contest combining equestrian skills … Continue reading
Wakes Monday, Abbots Bromley Horn dance
Oh won’t you join the dance? When: Wakes Monday in September. Monday September 10th 2012, 9th September 2013. Where: Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, England. After collecting the ancient horns from the church at 8:00am in the morning, the Horn Dancers (comprising … Continue reading
Padul-ong
Have you seen the white lady? When: 7th September every year. Where: Borongan, Eastern Samar, Philippines. The Padul-ong festival in Borongan, Eastern Samar, Philippines depicts the legend of how the image of the blessed Virgin Mary was mysteriously transported to … Continue reading
Fiesta de San Roque
Give a dog a bow! When: 1st Sunday in September. Where: Tarija, Bolivia. Every dog has its day, but in Tarija, Bolivia they get at least a week! Tarija’s well known Fiesta de San Roque features dogs parading through the … Continue reading
Feast of Santa Rosa
That looks heavy! When: 3rd September every year. Where: Viterbo, Italy. The Basilica of Santa Rosa in Viterbo, Italy contains the body of Saint Rose who died in 1252. Ever since her death, the medieval city has honoured the Saint … 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
Ladakh Festival
When: 1st -15th September every year. Where: Leh, Jammu & Kashmir, India. The Ladakh Festival opens with a spectacular procession through the streets of Leh by various cultural troupes from different part of the Ladakh area. Villagers dressed in traditional … Continue reading
Sarakiki Hadang Festival
Do the funky chicken at the Sarakiki Hadang Festival… When: September 1st – 8th every year. Where: Calbayog City, Philippines. This vibrant festival takes its name from the local term ‘Sarakiki’ which describes the frenzied movements of a cockerel as … Continue reading
Owara Kaze no Bon
Sick of online dating? Try the dating dance! When: September 1st – 3rd. Where: Yatsuo-machi, Toyama city, Japan. Kaze no Bon is a beautiful nighttime Japanese festival held every year in the small town of Yatsuo originally to appease typhoons … Continue reading
Onam festival
Cover the floor with flower carpets and dance with the decorated elephants until you are blue in the face… When: Varying dates in August / September, 29th August 2012, 16th September 2013. Where: Kerala, India. Elaborate feasts, elegant dances, ornately … Continue reading
Pukul Sapu
The Indonesian villages of Morella and Marmala hold an annual ritual called Pukul Sapu, which means ‘beating brooms’. The men from the two villages beat each other across their backs with broomsticks and then the wounds are treated with coconut … Continue reading
Imilchil Marriage Festival
Among the remote villages in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco lies an isolated village by the name of Imilchil. Life is hard for the Berber tribes that live there and not many outsiders come to the area, as the road … Continue reading
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Eid al-Fitr
Eid Mubarak, may you enjoy a blessed festival… When: End of Ramadan. 19th of August 2012. 8th August 2013. Where: All over the Muslim World. The three feast days of Eid al-Fitr that mark the end of fasting for Ramadan … Continue reading
Janamashtami festival
The birthday of Lord Krishna, the original superhero, born one dark stormy night When: Varying dates in August / September, August 9th/10th 2012, August, 28th August 2013. Where: India. The Janamashtami festival marks the birth of Krishna, one of the … Continue reading
Bognor Birdman
High flying in Bognor with those magnificent men in their flying machines! When: 4th & 5th August 2012. Where: Bognor, Sussex, England. The Bognor Birdman is an eccentric competition for human powered flying machines held each summer at the seaside … Continue reading
Kajari Teej
When: Varying dates in August / September. 4th August 2012. Where: All over India, especially Bundi, Rajasthan. Women all over India celebrate Teej with great enthusiasm, dressing in their best saris and honouring the other women of the family and … Continue reading
Haryali Teej
Hindu Girl Power! When: Varying dates in July / August, 22nd July, 2012. Where: All over India, especially Jaipur. Women all over India celebrate Teej with great enthusiasm, dressing in their best saris and honouring the other women of the … Continue reading
Gujo Odori
Oh won’t you join the dance? When: Mid-July to Early September Where: Throughout the entire town of Hachiman, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The Gujo Odori, which dates back some 400 years, is famous for the its’ song – “When … Continue reading
Tshechu festivals
Colourful dances of good versus evil… When: Various. Where: Bhutan. The annual Tshechu (or Tsechu) festivals in Bhutan, South Asia involve masked dances in colourful, ornate costumes performed by monks, laymen or gomchens (gurus). The dance is accompanied by music … Continue reading
Chinese Mooncakes
Mooncakes are traditionally made and eaten at the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival (AKA Moonncake Festival). These delicious little moon shaped sweet pastries are made with several different kinds of filling, a sweet paste, made from sesame seeds, lotus seeds or adzuki … Continue reading
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