Festivals and events throughout the year

If you want to:
– Learn a foreign language, then do so in a country that speaks it.
– Surround yourself with the language as much as possible, then stay with a local host family.
– Fully appreciate a country’s traditions and culture, then take part in a local or national festival!

Many festivals and events celebrate local culture, cuisine, music or art. Europe’s festival season is normally during Spring and Summer, but festivals, local parties, events and celebrations take place all year long throughout the world.

Below are some of the most notable or quirky festivals in locations that we offer language courses!

France

Macaron Day – May

The 30^th of May is National Macaron Day! A sweet French biscuit that can be made into a variety of vibrant colours and flavours!

Did you know that macarons date all the way back to the 1500s? We have Queen Catherine de Medici to thank for them. It is said that she brought them from Italy for her marriage to Henry II of France in 1533.

In the 1930s, Pierre Desfontaines, owner of the famous Ladurée patisserie, came up with the idea of sandwiching two macarons together with a creamy ganache. This led these pastry creations to the worldwide fame it enjoys today.

Japan

International Sushi Day – June

The 18^th of June is International Sushi Day! Sushi dates back to 3500 BC and is most commonly known as a Japanese specialty consisting of a roll of fish or seafood with rice wrapped in nori (seaweed).

There are many different types of sushi to fit every taste: maki, nigiri, california rolls, and vegetables, raw fish, cooked fish and meat are all common ingredients.

Let’s roll!

Health and Sports Day – October

Japan also celebrates Health and Sports Day on 8th October. It is even a national Japanese holiday! First celebrated in 1966 as a day to enjoy sports & cultivate a healthy mind and body, it is a great way to keep reminding the country to stay active.

This holiday was also set up to commemorate the opening ceremony of Asia’s first Olympics in Tokyo in 1964.

So, what are you waiting for? Go out and do something active today!

Amsterdam

Grachtenfestival – August

Grachtenfestival is a week-long outdoor music festival held every August in Amsterdam.

In 2018 the festival takes place from 10^th-18^th August. If you are not familiar, grachten are the canals in Amsterdam. That being said, get ready to enjoy all sorts of music along the Amsterdam canals during Grachtenfestival this summer!

UK and Ireland

Fish and chips day – June

The start of June is National Fish and Chips Day! If you are spending time in England, Scotland or Ireland then you must eat the traditional and exceptionally good value Fish and Chips!

This popular dish consists of chunky chips with battered fish, usually Atlantic cod or haddock all topped with salt and vinegar, curry sauce or gravy!

Montreal

Poutinefest – July/August

Montreal hosts Poutinefest this year from 31^st July until 5^th August. Although you can’t go wrong with a classic poutine, Poutinefest goes beyond traditional cheese curds and gravy and introduces you to many bizarre-seeming yet delicious concoctions. You may find lobster & bacon poutine, bacon & mushroom poutine, pulled pork poutine and many more!

Come and treat your tastebuds at Poutinefest and lose yourself amongst the fries, cheese curds, gravy and whatever extra toppings you fancy!

To find out more about Poutine, visit our blog post dedicated to Montreal.

Siena

Il Palio – August

Normally a serene and calm, picturesque, medieval city, Siena comes alive each year when it hosts the annual Il Palio horse race. This year Il Palio will be held on Monday 2nd August.

This 700-year-old thrilling bareback horserace-around-the-central-square tradition is unlike anything you have ever seen!

The race lasts only about 90 seconds, but it is definitely worth watching if you are ever in the area!

Valencia (Buñol)

La Tomatina – August

La Tomatina is an annual festival – and perhaps one of the messiest festivals in the world – in Buñol in the province of Valencia, Spain. It is a giant tomato food fight where, each year, about tens of thousands of people throw hundreds of thousands of tomatoes at each other.

This festival dates back to August 1945, where a group of teenagers had an argument at a party. This lead to one of them falling to the ground. Furious, the fallen member grabbed the closest thing to him (which happened to be a tomato from the buffet) and threw it at his friends. The teenagers repeated the fight a year later and it became an official festival in 1959. Most of the tomatoes are inedible and would normally go to waste. Although extremely messy, the hose down afterwards actually leaves the town remarkably clean.

In 2018 La Tomatina will take place on 29^th August.

Also follow this link to read about the incredible Las Fallas festival in Valencia!

Vienna

Wienerschnitzel Day – September

The 9^th of September is #wienerschnitzelday! Austrians love to celebrate this classic dish! If you’re not familiar, Wiener Schnitzel is an Austrian boneless veal cutlet that is tenderised, breaded and then fried. It is similar to breaded chicken cutlets and protected by law. You can celebrate this local delicacy any time of year on a German language course in Vienna!

Also, who doesn’t love saying the word Wienerschnitzel?

Mexico

National Taco Day – March

Although every day can be Taco Day, they are officially celebrated in Mexico in March for Día del Taco. The United States also celebrates their own National Taco Day, which is probably an even more common event!

Tacos are fried corn tortilla shells which are traditionally filled with ground beef, lettuce, tomato and cheese along with cilantro and onions and sprinkled with lime juice and salsa. The origin of tacos is unclear. What is certain however, is that tacos have dominated Mexican cuisine since the 18^th century. Nowadays, tacos can be filled with all sorts of creative, and remotely healthy ingredients: pork, chicken, beef, fish and more! What’s your favourite filling?

We hope that gives you a better idea of some of the more unusual and fun festivals. One final, particularly fun and unique festival is The Sea Shanty festival held every year throughout Poland, most notably in the fascinating city of Krakow.