English

More about this topic

No Comment

Giant castle burned at end-of-winter festival in Russia

The wooden effigy was a symbol of the coronavirus and stood 24 metres tall before being burned.

No Comment

Millions take sacred dip during India's Magh Mela bathing festival

They bathe at Sangam, the sacred confluence of the rivers, on certain days considered to be auspicious in the belief they will be cleansed of all sins.

No Comment

Japan: Frozen fun in Shikaoi ice village as winter festival kicks off

The annual winter festival on Lake Shikaribetsu in the town of Shikaoi kicked off on Friday.

Sweden

Nurse wins prize to watch films for a week on a remote Swedish island

An emergency room nurse in Sweden has won a prize to watch films for a week alone in a lighthouse on a remote island.

ADVERTISEMENT

No Comment

China's famous Ice Town sees annual sculpture festival scaled back

While Ice and Snow World and the Snow Sculpture Exhibition, two of the most famous festival sites, are open, all mass gatherings have been cancelled.

No Comment

Bulgarian villagers chase away evil with bonfire feast and dancing

Every year on the night of January 13, villagers in Bulgaria gather in a festival to scare away evil and bring good health and bountiful crops.

No Comment

Russia's premier Ice Sculpting competition gets underway in Perm

Sculptors will spend five days perfecting their frozen creations before judges choose the winners.

United Kingdom

UK live music industry calls for help to save summer festival season

Because of the uncertainty caused by COVID-19, UK festival organisers say they need government insurance support to save summer events such as Glastonbury.

No Comment

Russians enjoy winter weather at snowman festival

Dozens of Russian families enjoyed winter weather in Kazan on Sunday while competing at a snowman festival.

No Comment

Madrid market's makeover after street festival moves due to COVID-19

Shopfronts in a traditional Madrid market got a makeover as part of a reimagined street art festival in the Spanish capital.

Green News

‘Hungry for solutions’: Climate festival fills gap left by COP26

Across two days, over 100 speakers will be giving talks and panels featuring solutions to the climate crisis.

No Comment

Watch: Mexican balloon festival goes online due to COVID-19 pandemic

The annual event usually attracts half a million visitors - this year it was reduced to 400.

Egypt

Film about Bosnia takes top prize at El Gouna Film Festival

The nine-day event is the first film festival in the Middle East to take place amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

No Comment

Coronavirus forces Halloween events to be scaled back in the US

Halloween is normally big business In the US. But the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put pay to a lot of events.

Cult

World Press Cartoon awards face down censorship

Resistance to censorship was a central theme of the World Press Cartoon awards in Portugal and the subsequent ongoing exhibition. The ceremony also managed to sucessfully navigate COVID-imposed restrictions.

Destinations

Six unusual European festivals to add to your bucket list

These unusual European festivals will have you rolling after cheese in England, walking with donkeys in Portugal, and playing air guitar in Finland.

No Comment

Landmarks and buildings lit up as Berlin's Festival of Lights begins

Under the motto "together we shine," the historic centre of Berlin was lit up on Friday evening with installations on monuments and historical buildings throughout the city.

No Comment

London holds first-ever mural festival despite coronavirus crisis

Over 150 artists from around the world will paint more than 60 large murals across the UK capital.

No Comment

Celebrations for the traditional Shoton Festival begin in Lhasa

A traditional "sunning of the Buddha" ceremony marked the start of the festival Wednesday in the capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, with a huge Thangka painting bearing the image of the Buddha being displayed on hillsides near the Drepung Monastery.

No Comment

Watch: In Japan, ancestors are given a send-off by boat

The ceremony is held on the last day of the Bon Buddhist festival.