Traditional celebrations

Experiences

Gion Matsuri: Inside one of Japan’s most storied festivals

Gion Matsuri is a bucket list experience for many visitors to the Japanese city.

02/07/2025

Silk Road Adventures

Inside Khiva’s heritage: from puppet theatres to palace courtyards

In partnership with Agency of Information and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan

In this episode of Silk Road Adventures, we visit Khiva, Uzbekistan’s desert gem, where puppet makers, dancers and ancient palaces keep the spirit of the Silk Road alive.

06/05/2025

Culture news

What ties Spain's Holy Week celebrations to America's KKK?

Although the origin of the Spanish Holy Week is medieval, at the end of the 19th century white supremacists in the United States began to wear costumes very similar to those of the Nazarenes. Popular historian and TV presenter David Botello tells Euronews about the reasons why.

17/04/2025

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Fallas 2025: Valencia’s fireworks defy the rain

Despite heavy rain, Valencia's 'La Nit del Foc' wowed spectators with 1,405 kilos of fireworks, highlighting the city's famed Fallas festival and its rich traditions.

19/03/2025

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Early Nowruz celebrations begin in Kazakh region of Mangistau

In Mangistau, Kazakhstan, locals celebrate Nowruz early by gathering in yurts and around mausoleums, marking winter's end and passing down cultural traditions to younger generations.

18/03/2025

Culture news

Carnival revelry, matrafonas and 50 years of freedom in Torres Vedras

The theme of Portugal's most popular carnival this year was the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. But was it a fitting celebration of freedom?

06/03/2025

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Venice Carnival 2025: a colourful nautical parade to start it

Venice Carnival 2025, celebrating the 300th anniversary of Casanova's birth, opened with a nautical parade of more than 100 boats along the Grand Canal.

17/02/2025

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Celebrating Life and Death: Havana's Annual Mock Funeral Tradition

In Havana, Cubans celebrated life and death with a mock funeral for 77-year-old Ricardo "Pachencho" Herrera, a retired mechanic

06/02/2025

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...

28/01/2025

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Romania celebrates Unification Day

On 24 January, thousands of people gathered in Iaşi to celebrate the unification of the Romanian Principalities, which was the first step towards the unification of all provinces.

24/01/2025

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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.

21/01/2025

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.

06/01/2025

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Thousands participate in Warsaw's colourful Three Kings procession

The Three Kings procession went through Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street to the Castle Square in Warsaw's old town, where homage was paid to Mary and Jesus.

06/01/2025

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Trio leaps from Rome's 18m Cavour Bridge in New Year's Day tradition

On New Year's Day, three men dived into the Tiber River in Rome, continuing a 1946 tradition, while in Berlin, swimmers celebrated with their annual ice bath.

01/01/2025

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.

24/12/2024

Culture news

What are the best Christmas albums to combat the tired radio classics?

Sick of hearing Bing Crosby, Band Aid and Mariah during the Christmas season? Fret no more - here are the Christmas albums you need in your life (and ears) during the holidays.

20/12/2024

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Traditional Christmas carols from Romania

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

16/12/2024

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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.

09/12/2024

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Buddha’s tooth relic arrives in Bangkok to honour King’s birthday

A relic of Buddha's tooth was brought to Bangkok on Wednesday in a procession with 2,000 participants. The sacred relic, flown from Lingguang Temple in Beijing, is being displayed to celebrate King Maha Vajiralongkorn's birthday and will remain on display for 73 days.

04/12/2024

USA

A guide to Thanksgiving for confused Europeans

Every year, Americans go mad for Thanksgiving. While many American traditions have been embraced abroad, this is one day that's still a mystery to most Europeans.

28/11/2024