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Traditional celebrations

Silk Road Adventures

How Nowruz is celebrated across regions and communities

In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

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Iran

Iranians celebrate their New Year's Eve despite war and censure

On the evening of March 17, the last Wednesday of the year before Nowruz, Iranians in various cities celebrated the long-standing tradition of Chaharshanbe Suri by jumping over fires and enjoying festivities, despite the war and the painful memory of the January massacres fresh in their minds.

Moments

From Dublin to Munich: Europe’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations

These celebrations rival Dublin’s festivities, attracting thousands of people every year.

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Japan: Akiba Festival draws crowds despite winter cold

Japan’s Akiba Festival in Niyodogawa features samurai parades and fire rituals, preserving a 200-year-old prayer for protection from disasters.

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Japan: Traditional rice pounding ceremony held in snowy Aomori village

In Aomori, Japan, women in kimonos performed the Taue Mochitsuki rice pounding ceremony amid snowfall, aiming for a good harvest and family protection.

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Culture news

Epiphany: tradition, religious festivals and secular rites

On 6 January, the visit of the Magi to Jesus is celebrated by millions around the world. It's a story that's been handed down through generations but actually barely mentioned in a Gospel, however, it's the deep-root of secular tradition in Italy and, in Europe, above all a culinary ritual.

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.

Food and Drink

The infinite (and calorific) world of Portuguese Christmas sweets

Perhaps no other country has such a wide variety of Christmas sweets as Portugal. Every family has its favourites, but classics such as sonhos or bolo-rei are never missing from the Christmas table.

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Tokyo’s centuries-old Tori-no-ichi festival attracts visitors to Ootori Shrine

Tokyo’s annual Tori-no-ichi festival attracted large crowds at Ootori Shrine on Monday, with visitors buying traditional kumade rakes believed to bring prosperity.

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Mainz celebrates start of carnival season with costumes and tradition

The carnival season began in Mainz, Germany, at 11:11 a.m. with “Helau” shouts at Schillerplatz.

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The Espelette red pepper festival: food, music, and thousands of visitors

In late October, the town of Espelette, in the Basque Country, celebrates its red pepper harvest with a festival featuring music, markets, and communal meals, drawing up to 20,000 people.

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Mexico’s Day of the Dead: Candles, flowers and the return of souls

In the town of Arocutin, western Mexico, families spent the night in candlelit cemeteries, welcoming the souls of their loved ones during the Day of the Dead — a vibrant tradition blending Indigenous and Catholic beliefs.

Culture news

Day of the Dead: Madrid pays hommage to Mexico with 'memorable' shows

The Casa de México in Madrid is exhibiting the largest altar to the dead in Europe. Guillermo González is the designer of this year's show which offers a cornucopia of colour and dance through Mexican culture.

Destinations

Tunes of Türkiye: the country’s most iconic traditional sounds

In partnership with GoTürkiye

Türkiye’s rich musical traditions reflect its diverse cultures, regions, and history.

Food and Drink

Oktoberfest worldwide: German culture celebrations go global

This year's Oktoberfest is well underway in Germany but the celebrations are no longer only limited to Munich. The annual parade of Bavarian heritage has found numerous international offshoots: from golf courses in Mallorca to luxury resorts in the Maldives and even virtual beer tents.

Culture news

Spain's San Fermin kicks off with a chupinazo that looks to Palestine

The nine-day festival is famed for its “encierros,” or bull runs, which, starting on Monday, will see thousands of people sprint to avoid six bulls charging along a winding cobblestoned route to the city’s bullring.

Lifestyle

What is the Wife-Carrying World Championship in Finland?

Thousands of spectators are expected to attend the Wife-Carrying World Championships today and tomorrow. Here’s the lowdown on this unusual sporting event and everything you need to know about this year’s 28th edition.