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United Kingdom

Haggis, neeps and tatties: Burns Night explained

Scots celebrate Robert Burns’ birthday every year on January 25.

Bolivia

Bolivians pray for good fortune at traditional Alasitas Festival

On January 24 each year, people from all over Bolivia flock to La Paz to take part in the traditional Alasitas Festival which is a shopper’s paradise.

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Rockin' rugby with Elvis Down Under

Amateur rugby players donned wigs and white jumpsuits on Friday (13 January) for a rugby match that pipped The Blue Suede Shoes against the Reddy Teddies in the town of Parkes, west of…

World News

Epiphany is celebrated with services, traditions and a joke

The Vatican Pope Francis celebrated Epiphany with a joke about camels and the more serious offer of food for some 300 homeless people.

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Spain

Tight security in Spain for the Three Kings

The country's Interior Ministry announced tighter security measures on Wednesday due to the risk of a terrorist attack.

United Kingdom

London's New Year's Day parade shrugs off rain

Despite heavy rain at times London's New Year's Day parade brought some glitz and glamour to the streets of the capital.

Vatican

Pope Francis condemns 'plague of terrorism' after Istanbul attack

Pope Francis has condemned the deadly attack in Istanbul and offered prayers for the victims, their families and the entire Turkish people.

World News

Western Europe rings in 2017

From Giza to London, Amsterdam to Dubai, the world rings in 2017.

World News

New Year's fireworks see in 2017, from Auckland to Pyongyang

Millions of people have already been celebrating the arrival of 2017.

World News

Europe's police officers gear up for New Year's Eve

On New Year's Eve, security is stepped up Europe-wide after a year of terror attacks across the continent.

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Swimmers brave elements for festive Serpentine dip

Members of the Serpentine Swim Club braved the cold on Sunday for the traditional Christmas Day plunge into Serpentine Lake, in London’s Hyde Park.

World

No Comment 2016 in review: religious spectacles

These ceremonies are a far cry from Sunday service, with everything from Ice plunging pilgrimages in St Petersburg to flagellation in the Phillipines.

World News

Christmas tree masterpieces of 2016

A rundown of the weirdest and most wonderful trees from this year's batch

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Pope hopes his birthday is not jinxed

Pope Francis jokes early birthday greetings may bring him bad luck Pope Francis, responded to thousands of people cheering “Happy Birthday” on Wednesday (December 14) by joking that doing it early may

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Russian Snow Village opens early

Russia’s seasonal Snow Village in the northern town of Kirovsk has sprung up again this year, ahead of its official opening on December 25th.

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Thousands watch Lyon light show amid high security

Thousands of people have attended Lyon’s famous Festival of Lights amid high security.

France

Lyon to burst into light, under heightened security, for 2016 Fête des Lumières

Final preparations are underway for the Fête des Lumières, which begins tonight (December 8) after a one-year break.

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Obama pardons Thanksgiving turkeys in traditional rose garden ceremony

President Barack Obama got the holiday mood started at the White House on Wednesday with the traditional pardoning of the national Thanksgiving turkey.

USA

Donald Trump urges US to heal divisions in Thanksgiving video

The US President-elect has recorded a conciliatory message for the holiday, while acknowledging that the election campaign had been damaging.

USA

'Yes we cran' Obama tells the US in his final Thanksgiving turkey pardon

Barack Obama has begun festivities for his final Thanksgiving as the US president with the annual Turkey pardon.