The archive
Everything published so far, in full. Each entry carries its sources, what is expected of a visitor, and its dates.
29 entries
Aoi Matsuri
葵祭
Held on 15 May, Aoi Matsuri is the principal annual rite of the Shimogamo and Kamigamo shrines in Kyoto; its procession travels from the Imperial Palace to the two shrines.
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Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
青森ねぶた祭
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri runs every year from 2 to 7 August: large illuminated floats through the city at night, and a sea procession with fireworks on the 7th. Anyone may join the dancers.
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Chaharshanbe Suri
چهارشنبهسوری
Chaharshanbe Suri (چهارشنبهسوری) is an Iranian festival held on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year. It is a prelude to Nowruz.
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Cherry Festival of Sefrou
موسم حب الملوك
The Cherry Festival of Sefrou is held for three days each June in the town of Sefrou. It marks the cherry harvest with a parade, music and a Cherry Queen chosen from across the country.
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Sometime in this period
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Chichibu Yomatsuri
秩父夜祭
Chichibu Yomatsuri is Chichibu Shrine’s December night festival in Saitama. Six lantern-hung floats are hauled through town on 2 and 3 December, with winter fireworks.
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Eid al-Adha
عید قربان
Eid al-Adha falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It commemorates Abraham’s willingness to obey God’s command.
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Eid al-Fitr
عید فطر
Eid-e Fitr is a one- or two-day national holiday in Iran on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth Islamic lunar month. It marks the end of Ramadan’s dawn-to-dusk fasting.
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Gholabgiri (Kashan rosewater harvest)
گلابگیری کاشان
Golabgiri is the annual rosewater distillation season in Kashan County, chiefly Qamsar and Niasar. It runs from mid-May to mid-June.
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Sometime in this period
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Gion Matsuri
祇園祭
Gion Matsuri is the July festival of Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine. It runs 1–31 July; its best-known days are yamahoko float processions on 17 and 24 July.
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Gujo Odori
郡上おどり
Gujo Odori is Japan’s longest-running bon dance, danced over more than thirty nights from mid-July to early September, one venue per night. It is danced rather than watched; visitors join the circle.
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Sometime in this period
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Higan
彼岸
Higan is a Buddhist observance for the dead lasting seven days around each equinox, twice a year. The midpoint is a national holiday. Not an event to attend.
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Hıdrellez
Hıdrellez is a spring celebration on 6 May, kept as Spring Day and the awakening of nature. Hıdır and İlyas are believed to meet, with rituals wishing wellbeing, fertility and prosperity.
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Jashn-e Sadeh
جشن سده
Jashn-e Sadeh (جشن سده) is a mid-winter feast in which people gather around a fire. It is celebrated annually on 30 January, the 10th of Bahman.
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Jashn-e Tirgan
جشن تیرگان
Tirgan (تیرگان, Tirgān) is an ancient Iranian midsummer rain and water festival. It is celebrated on the 13th day of Tir, falling on 2, 3 or 4 July.
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Jemaa el-Fna
جامع الفناء
Jemaa el-Fna Square in Marrakesh is a cultural space with daily performances, entertainment and commerce. It is one of the city’s main symbols.
Kırkpınar Oil Wrestling Festival
Kırkpınar Yağlı Güreşleri
Kırkpınar is an oil wrestling festival at Edirne, where pehlivan compete for the Kırkpınar Golden Belt and the title of Chief Pehlivan. Its dates are set afresh each year.
Mehregan
مهرگان
Mehregan (مهرگان) is a Zoroastrian and Iranian autumn festival. It is celebrated on the 16th day of Mehr in the Iranian calendar and honours Mithra.
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Mesir Macunu Festival
Mesir Macunu Festivali
Mesir Macunu Festival is held in Manisa during Nevruz week, 21–24 March. It centres on mesir macunu, a paste held to heal, and has continued there for about four hundred years.
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Nowruz
نوروز
Nowruz (نوروز) is the festival beginning the Persian new year and the first day of the solar year, 1 Farvardin. It falls between 19 and 22 March and coincides with the vernal equinox.
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Obon
お盆
Obon is a summer memorial when the dead are said to return home. Most of Japan keeps it 13–15 August; some places keep July or other dates. It is a family observance, not an event to attend.
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Ramazan Bayramı
Ramazan Bayramı is the three-day feast that ends Ramadan. In 2027 it falls on 9–11 March; by law the public holiday begins at 13:00 the day before and lasts three and a half days.
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Confirmed date
Setsubun
節分
Setsubun (節分) is the day before spring begins in the old reckoning, marked by throwing dried beans to drive out ill fortune. Its date is not fixed; the observatory publishes it.
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Confirmed date
Shab-e Yalda
شب یلدا
Shab-e Yalda, also called Shab-e Chelleh, marks the longest night of the year and symbolises the victory of light over darkness. It usually falls on 20 or 21 December.
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Sizdah Bedar
سیزدهبدر
Sizdah Be-dar (سیزدهبدر, sīzdæh bedar) is an Iranian festival on the thirteenth day of Farvardin, in early April. Spent outdoors, it marks the end of the Nowruz holiday period.
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Takayama Matsuri
高山祭
Takayama Matsuri is two festivals in the mountain town of Takayama: Sannō Matsuri on 14–15 April and Hachiman Matsuri on 9–10 October. Each has its own shrine and floats.
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Tanabata
七夕
Tanabata is the star festival, one of the old five seasonal festivals. Most of Japan keeps it on 7 July; some places keep it a month later, and Sendai’s runs 6–8 August.
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Taskiwin
Taskiwin is a martial dance in the western High Atlas mountain range in Central Morocco. Dancers carry the Tiskt and move to tambourines and flutes.
Yennayer
Id n Yennayer
Yennayer is the Amazigh new year, on 14 January. The state lists it as a national holiday beside the Gregorian and Islamic new years: three new years on one official page.
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Çay culture
Çay
Çay is Turkish for tea: black, served freshly brewed and hot in pear-shaped cups. Offering it is an everyday practice of hospitality, across all layers of society.