English

More about this topic

Lifestyle

Year of the Snake 2025: Symbolism, soup and ssstyle

The Lunar New Year starts tomorrow, welcoming the Year of the Snake. What can we expect from this year and how are people celebrating? With soup and puppets, for some...

No Comment

Swimmers brave the icy waters of Skagen

Founded in 2012 by Rita Eeg, the Skagen Winter Swimming Festival brings together swimmers from all over Europe each year.

No Comment

More than 28,000 participate in Tamborrada festival in San Sebastian

On 20 January, Spain's San Sebastian held the annual Tamborrada festival, bringing together 4,500 children and 28,000 adults in what was an unforgettable festive atmosphere.

No Comment

North Macedonia celebrates Epiphany with Holy Cross retrieval ceremony

Epiphany ceremonies were held throughout North Macedonia, with the Holy Cross thrown into the water to commemorate the baptism of Christ.

ADVERTISEMENT

No Comment

Hikers enjoy early morning walk in snowy landscape in the Harz mountain range in northern Germany

Hikers were seen enjoying an early morning walk in the snowy landscape of Brocken in the Harz mountain range in northern Germany on Monday morning.

Modern Nomads

How Kazakhstan’s designers are fusing tradition and sustainability to redefine global fashion

In partnership with MDQ

In this episode of Modern Nomads, we explore Kazakhstan's evolving fashion scene. Designers are fusing traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics and sustainability, creating a bold new identity for the country.

Europe News

Christian communities across Europe take part in Epiphany traditions

Orthodox Christians participated in blessing of the waters ceremonies, while Catholics in the Vatican attended Mass in St. Peter's basilica.

No Comment

Orthodox faithful in Greece swim to retrieve the cross on Epiphany

A large crowd watched on as dozens of swimmers rushed to retrieve a wooden cross thrown by a priest into the water, in a ceremony marking Epiphany near the port of Piraeus outside Athens on Monday.

No Comment

Religious leaders urge change to solve Cuba’s 2025 challenges

Santería practitioners in Cuba, the country's most practiced faith rooted in African traditions, warn of a troubled future unless changes are made, citing growing violence and economic crises.

Voices from Central Asia

Meet the producer behind Central Asia's Coachella

In partnership with MDQ

In this episode of Voices From Central Asia, we meet Yerkebulan Kurishbayev, the producer behind OYU Fest, Kazakhstan's cultural phenomenon that brings together musicians, artists and audiences to celebrate the region's rich creative heritage.

Modern Nomads

Kazakhstan's Yurts: From tradition to modern design

In partnership with MDQ

In this episode of Modern Nomads, we travel to Kazakhstan's Almaty region to discover the rich history and innovative transformations of the yurt, a symbol of nomadic resilience and adaptability.

Lifestyle

Ho ho... huh? The strangest European Christmas folklore explained

While you’re overindulging in the festive cheer and the rampant commercial takeover of these holidays, keep these strange Christmas folklore figures in mind. Whether it’s the anti-Santa cat from Iceland or a child-chopping murderer from France, there’s plenty that’s bleak around the holidays.

No Comment

Osaka shrine hosts annual laughter ritual

Hundreds gathered on Monday at Hiraoka Shrine in Osaka, Japan, to participate in a year-end Shinto ritual aimed at "laughing away" the bad memories of the past year.

Europe in Motion

War on Santa: Which European nations banned Christmas in the past?

Some religious and political ideologies opposed Christmas in European history, and festive traditions have proved divisive across the continent at times.

No Comment

Traditional Christmas carols from Romania

On Sunday, carolers from all over Romania gathered in the city of Galati for a traditional folk festival.

No Comment

In India, the Hornbill Festival keeps traditions alive

The 10-day Hornbill Festival is held in Kohima, the capital of the remote Indian state of Nagaland, on the border with Burma.

Crossing Cultures

The shared traditions of Zisha teapot making and crystal glass

A co-production with CGTN

Crossing Cultures heads to Yixing in eastern China to learn more about the ancient art of Zisha teapots, while in Europe the team visits Saint-Louis to discover the firm's famous crystal creations.

No Comment

Firefighters honour Virgin Mary with floral tribute in Rome

Continuing their tradition, firefighters in Rome marked the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December by placing two floral wreaths on the statue of the Virgin Mary.

No Comment

Warm autumn leaves Santa's Lapland village with less snow

In Lapland, Santa readies himself for the annual tradition of delivering presents around the globe. However, this year’s unusually warm autumn has left less snow in his village near Rovaniemi, northern Finland, impacting the experience for visitors.

No Comment

A choir inside a giant Christmas tree in the USA

In Michigan, the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree is 20 metres tall, with 25,000 LED lights, 1,580 linear metres of greenery and 15 levels on which 180 choir members stand. The 40-year-old tree can hold up to 220 singers.