EASTER
When: between March 22 and April 25 2008
Where: St. Echmiadzin (recommended site)

Easter is one of the five great feasts, celebrated by the Armenian Church on the same day as the Roman Catholic and other western Churches. The Armenian Church celebrates on the first Sunday after the full moon following the Spring Equinox (between March 22 and April 25). 20 km from Yerevan, St. Echmiadzin is the centre of the Armenian Apostolic church and one of the oldest churches in the world.

BON OM TOUK (WATER FESTIVAL)
When: 23 - 25 Nov 2007
Where: Tonle Sap.

The exuberant Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) is an extremely important cultural event in Cambodia and marks the incredible natural spectacle of the reversing flow of the Tonle Sap River. This natural phenomenon occurs during the monsoon season when the water levels of the lower Mekong become so high that it reverses the flow of the Tonle Sap River, forcing the water back up on itself. This event also marks the start of the fishing season that provides a vital source of income for many rural Cambodians. Bon Om Touk begins on the full moon in November and parties, celebrations and cultural displays take place over the next three days of the festival. But the main attraction is the boat races which is a tradition that dates back to the ninth century and the reign of King Jayavarman II. The event has a great carnival atmosphere with markets and food stalls lining the banks and each evening closes with a fireworks display over the river.

CAMBODIAN NEW YEAR (Chaul Chnam Thmey)
When: anywhere in the country
Where: April (exact date to be confirmed)

Known as “Chaul Chnam Thmey” in the Khmer language, the Cambodian New Year is a three-day celebration that usually falls in mid-April. The event is a grand occasion throughout the country and is celebrated with religious ceremonies at shrines and temples. It’s also common to share a lavish meal with friends, families and loved ones. Celebrations typically end with a loud fireworks display.

INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT RACES
When: 2nd to 3rd June (dates to be confirmed)
Where: Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront (public walkway) Kowloon (Hong Kong)

The International Dragon Boat Races take place in Hong Kong Harbour and teams from all over Asia travel to the bustling city to compete in this popular event which always attracts large crowds who line the harbour, cheering on the many boats. Sitting two abreast and spurred on by the rhythmic beat thumped out by a drummer seated at the font of the boat, teams of about 20 rowers power the ornately carved, 10m (30ft) dragon boats through the waves. In addition to the racing, there are a number of stalls and food and drink vendors on the harbour front.

BEIJING SPRING FESTIVAL & CHINESE NEW YEAR
When: 07 Feb 2008 - 09 Feb 2008
Where: Throughout Beijing

Celebrating the Chinese New Year, the city’s Beijing Spring Festival is a joyous occasion and a good time to be in the city to soak up the atmosphere. The Chinese New Year is celebrated by Asian communities all over the world and is the biggest and most eagerly-anticipated event of the year. The festival in Beijing is an explosive affair with celebrations taking place to an almost constant sound of firecrackers exploding. Visitors can join the melee of traditional lion and dragon dances, street performers and musicians as party fever takes over the city. Many shops and businesses close over the three days of the festival

MID-AUTUM FESTIVAL
When: 25 Septmeber
Where: Throughout China

One of the most important celebrations in the Chinese calendar, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is a great event which commemorates the revolt against the Mongols in the 14th century. History has it that the plans for the uprising were hidden inside cakes and distributed to compatriots. Thus sweet “Moon Cakes” are now an important symbol of the festival. Special events take place throughout the duration of the festival including fireworks displays, traditional dragon dances and cultural shows and exhibitions. A great celebration throughout the country, many people take the opportunity to visit family, friends and loved ones.

TIN HAU FESTIVAL
When: 01 May 2008 - 31 May 2008 Date to be confirmed
Where: Various fishing villages and communities around Hong Kong.

Each year the birthday of Tin Hau, the goddess of the sea, is honoured in a bid to bring prosperity, good harvest and safety over the coming year. The day is particularly popular amongst fishing communities and many fishermen adorn their boats with colourful flags and ribbons. Services and ceremonies take place at Tin Hau temples throughout Hong Kong. The day is always celebrated on the 23rd day of the third moon in the lunar calendar.

RAMADAN
When: 13 Sep 2007 - 13 Oct 2007
Where: Egypt

Ramadan is the Muslim festival of fasting, the most important festival in the Islamic calendar, and the celebrations in Egypt are particularly special. The arrival of the crescent moon in the night sky signals the start of 30 days when Muslims do not eat, drink or smoke during the day; all meals are consumed before sunrise and after sunset. Consequently, Cairo's Islamic cafes and coffee shops throng with activity each evening. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fasting and is a great celebration, where it is common to get together with friends and families for a feast.

MESKEL FESTIVAL
When: September (27th of September 2007 and 26th September 2008)
Where: Addis Ababa
Remarks: Can be combined with ‘Genna’ (Ethiopian Christmas)

The Meskel Festival is a major celebration in the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian calendar and commemorates the discovery of the cross used to crucify Jesus. Rebecca, the mother of King Soloman, is reputed to have found the actual cross, during the 4th Century in Jerusalem. To celebrate this remarkable event, a fire was lit and miraculously witnessed from Ethiopia.

This long-standing festival is known by localities as Meskel (‘cross’) and is celebrated all over Ethiopia, although the most important ceremony is held in Meskel Square in the centre of Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Christians light bonfires that are topped with crosses and flowers and the streets come alive as tens thousands of people sing and dance in their national dress.

TIMKAT FESTIVEL (Epiphany)
When: 19th Jan 2008
Where: Axum

The Timkat Festival in Lalibela is the biggest celebration of the year in Ethiopia, marking the Epiphany every year on the 19th of January. On the main day of the festival, Churches parade their Tabots (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant containing the Tablets of Law, onto which the Biblical Ten Commandments were inscribed) to a nearby water source. In the culmination of the ceremony, priests (ketera) bless the water and a communal baptism follows, splashing water on everyone and, if the body of water is large enough, the most fervent followers will immerse themselves. After the ceremony crowds, all dressed in white, parade the Tabot back to the church, dancing and singing in the streets to the beating of drums. Axum, considered Ethiopia’s holiest city, is one of the best places to experience this cultural celebration which goes back over 1000 years.

HIDAR TSION OR HIDAR ZION FESTIVAL (Celebration of St. Mary)
When: 1st Dec 2007 and 30th Nov 2008
Where: Axum

The Virgin is one of the most venerated of all religious figures in Ethiopia. About 33 days are annually dedicated to different celebrations in commemoration of Mary. "Hidar Zion" is associated with the presence of the Ark of the Covenant in Axum and the belief that the Ark itself is a symbol of Her womb. This festival is attended by tens of thousands of people from all over Ethiopia, making it one of the most joyous annual pilgrimages in Axum, the "sacred city of the Ethiopians."

ARMA MINCH MUSIC FESTIVAL
When: 29th September 2007.
Where: Arba Minch

The Arba Minch Music Festival will take place in the town of Arba Minch in the southern part of Ethiopia. The festival will feature a mixture of famous Ethiopian pop singers and different local ethnic groups. Starting in the early afternoon the music will continue all evening.

SAPPORO SNOW FESTIVAL
When: 5th to 11th of February 2008
Where: Sapporo

Sapporo is the capital of the Hokkaido Prefecture and the Sapporo Snow Festival is Sapporo's largest event, held for one week in February every year. The festival is best known for its ice sculpture competition that attrats artists from around the world, competing to create the largest and most elaborate artworks from ice and snow. Standing up to 15 metres tall, over 300 snow and ice statues are built in the Odori Park and Susukino areas. In Sapporo there are other many festivals throughout the year, including the Sapporo Lilac Festival or the Summer Festival.

CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
When: End of March/beginning of April
Where: Tokyo, Kyoto and other locations.

Spring brings the famous cherry blossom and is a beautiful time of year to visit Japan. The Cherry Blossom (Sakura) is Japan’s unofficial national flower and has a very prominent position in Japanese culture. The flowers begin to blossom in spring all over Japan and the best time to view them is usually between 25 March to 10 April. Good places to see this beautiful phenomenon are Ueno Park and Sinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo (end of march) and the Imperial Palace Park and Philosopher’s Trail, Kyoto (beginning of April).

KYOTO GION FESTIVAL
When: 1st to 31st July (main date: 17th July)
Where: Kyoto

The Kyoto Gion Festival is one of Japan's major festivals taking place during the whole month of July in the ancient city of Kyoto. Over 1100 years old, the Gion Matsuri originates from an epidemic in the year 869 when the chief priest of the Yasaka shrine (formerly Gion Shrine) led a procession of citizens through the city to try and placate the gods by praying for an end to the plaque; the epidemic subsided, and the festival has been popular ever since. Nowadays on July 17 - the climax of the festival - 32 yamahoko (floats) parade along a fixed route through the streets of Kyoto, accompanied by traditional music and chanting. There are two kinds of floats: yama and hoko. Hoko are giant floats on wheels. These are up to 25 metres long, weigh up to 12 tons, up to two stories high, and are pulled by people. Yama are smaller floats carried on the shoulders of several people featuring historical or mythical figures. All of the floats are beautifully decorated with patterned traditional Japanese dyed fabrics. Up to 250,000 people attend the yamahoko procession every year and the streets are alive with street vendors and visitors, many of whom wear traditional Japanese costume.

TOKYO SANJA FESTIVAL
When: 3 days between 16 May 2008 - 20 May 2008 (Date to be confirmed)
Where: Tokyo

Held for three days on the third weekend of May, the Sanja Festival is the biggest of Tokyo's popular festivals and one of the biggest festivals in Japan. It became very popular during the Edo period (1603-1868), and today it features a parade of more than a hundred mikoshi (portable shrines) by residents around the crowded streets near Asakusa Shrine in Senso-ji Temple, in honour of the three resident deities. These deities are believed to leave their shrines once a year during festivals to visit the local community and extend their protection to parishioners for the coming year. The Sanja Festival features an ancient dance called binzasara no mai and offers visitors a peek into how the townspeople of Edo (now Tokyo) celebrated festive occasions in the past. The climax of the festival comes on the third day, when three giant mikoshi belonging to the Asakusa Shrine are brought out. At 6 a.m., close to 10,000 people who have packed the shrine grounds rush to the mikoshi on cue for the privilege of carrying the portable shrines, each weighing about a ton. Over a million people turn up to watch the large mikoshi, shaking violently at times, being carried through the streets.

TENJIN MATSURI (OSAKA BOAT FESTIVAL)
When: 24th to 25th July
Where: Osaka

This festival is a parade of thousands in traditional costumes carrying exquisite portable shrines from Osaka Temmangu shrine to Tenjin Bridge. There they board more than 100 ornamental boats and barges and proceed from the Dojima River to the Okawa River. Once the sun sets there is a spectacular fireworks display. This dramatic festival dates back to the 10th century and is one of the largest events of its kind in the country.

NADAAM FESTIVAL
When: 11 Jul 2007 - 13 Jul 2007
Where: Ulaanbaatar

The highlight of the Mongolian year is Eriin Gurvan Naadam (Naadam for short), meaning 'Three Manly Games'. The games themselves are horse-racing, wrestling and archery, but they are not necessarily manly; women take part in everything except the wrestling. The famously friendly Mongols converge for three days of traditional sports, food, crafts, music and general festivities. The horse-racing takes place across the open steppes, an incredible sight as Mongolians are renowned for their superb horsemanship; Mongolians joke that they learn to ride before they can walk. The archers demonstrates remarkable skill using bows and arrows that have not changed much for many centuries. The wrestling is more tactical than fast-moving but worth seeing for the costumes alone.

NATIONAL FESTIVAL OF POPULAR ARTS
When: Between 01 Jun - 31 Jul 2008 (Date to be confirmed)
Where: Marrakesh

The annual National Festival of Popular Arts is one of the oldest festivals of its kind in the country and each year showcases traditional Moroccan arts such as music, song, dance, theatre and poetry. In recent years the format of the event has been reinvigorated by the addition of foreign groups with dance troupes and artists from China, Poland, Peru, India, France, Spain and Ukraine.

IMILCHIL FESTIVAL
When: September 2008 (specific dates to be confirmed)
Where: Imilchil (Middle Atlas)

The annual Imilchil Festival takes place in the town of Imilchil in Morocco’s beautiful Middle Atlas Mountains. Held at the end of the harvest, the festival is a great cultural celebration and is traditionally a time when young unmarried men and women search for a partner. A carnival atmosphere prevails and visitors can expect to be greeted by a great mix of traditional dancing, storytelling, music and feasting. In this tribal marriage festival up to 40 couples tie the knot on one day. The festival is also an excuse for the surrounding Berber tribes to get together and dance, give impromptu musical performances and enjoy a jolly good shop, as a massive market springs up in the town.

The legend goes that a man and a woman from two local tribes fell in love but were forbidden to marry by their families. They cried themselves to death, creating the two neighbouring lakes of Issly (his) and Tisslit (hers) near Imilchil, which are just a 20-minute walk apart. So stricken were their families that they established a day - on the anniversary of the lovers' death - on which members of the two tribes could marry each other. The Imilchil Marriage Festival was born.

MASS GAMES
When: August to October 2007 (to be confirmed).

The Mass Games are a huge gymnastics event representing 'the ideological theme of the history of the country and nation splendidly through combination of gymnastic formations, backdrops involving tens of thousands of people and music.’ Created to showcase the regime the games are still an extraordinary spectacle. Preparations are visible on the streets of Pyongyang well in advance of the mass games with tens of thousands of gymnasts preparing their routines in the cities opens spaces and parks. The 2007 performance will be entitled 'Arirang' based on a historic tragic love story but will be adapted to represent the struggle of North Korea during the Japanese occupation and Korean War. The 90 minute performance which will be held every evening at 7pm will feature the 'largest picture in the world' a giant mosaic of individual students each holding a book whose page links with their neighbours to make up one gigantic scene.

SEOUL DRUM FESTIVAL
When: 01 Oct 2007 - 31 Oct 2007 Date to be confirmed
Where: Seoul

Seoul Drum Festival has been an annual event since 1999. It combines traditional drumming, not unlike the Japanese Taiko drums, with percussion from other parts of the world in a truly international celebration. Increasingly, it combines percussion with other art forms, and encourages experimental crossover music.

LOTUS LANTERN FESTIVAL
When: 1st Apr 2008 – 31st May 2008 (Date to be confirmed)
Where: Insadong

Seoul celebrates the birth of Buddha with a festival of paper lanterns. Before the festival, traditional lanterns are exhibited at Bongeun-sa Temple. On Yeondeung-nori, the eve of the festival, there are traditional Buddhist celebrations at the 14th-century Jogyesa Temple in Insadong. The opening ceremony for the parade itself is held at nearby Dongdaemun Stadium and the procession of lanterns then moves along Jongno Street. The festival is notable not only for its large colourful lanterns on the backs of trucks but for the thousands of delicate hand-held lanterns in the shape of lotuses, carried by adults and children in traditional hanbok costumes.

DANO FESTIVAL
Where: Seoul
When: 1st May 2007 – 30th Jun 2007 (Date to be confirmed)

A popular festival with both tourists and locals, the annual Dano Festival is one of the three biggest holiday celebrations in Korea. It is a traditional food festival that offers prayers in the hope of a good and bountiful harvest in the coming year. Needless to say, visitors have plenty of opportunities to sample local produce and regional specialities. The festival also boasts a lively entertainment programme that includes live music, cultural performances, exhibitions and children’s events.
Source: www.worldeventsguide.com

KANDY PERAHERA
When: August 2008 (specific dates to be confirmed)
Where: Kandy

One of the biggest Buddhist celebrations of the year, the annual Esala Perahera is a religious ceremony during which devotees pray for good rains to cultivate the crops. One of Buddhism’s most sacred relics, the Sacred Tooth is taken from the Temple of the Tooth and paraded through the streets. Following this, more festive events take centre stage and visitors can expect to see a lively cast of dancers, jugglers and fire-breathers milling amongst the crowds.

VICTORY DAY
When: Fri 9th May 2008
Where: Moscow

Each year on 9 May Russia celebrates Victory Day which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in the Second World War. The German army signed the surrender terms on 8 May 1945 with peace officially taking effect the following day on 9 May. But peace did not come without huge loss of life on both sides and the day is also a way of remembering the many people that lost their lives during the conflict. Known as VE Day in most of Europe, Victory Day is celebrated in a grand way in Moscow with lavish ceremonies and a military parade in Red Square. The ceremony is usually attended by several prominent world leaders and the occasion closes with a fireworks display.

EASTER SUNDAY (PASHKA)
When: 27th April 2008
Where: Saint Petersburg (recommended)

St Petersburg’s large Christian population celebrates Easter Sunday with religious services and special Easter ceremonies. On this day, it is customary to eat “pashkars” - a rich cheesecake that marks the end of the Lent period.

RUSSIAN WINTER FESTIVAL
When: 25th Dec 2007 – 5th Jan 2008
Where: St. Petersburg

A popular Christmas-time event, the St Petersburg Winter Festival celebrates the winter season with a series of events that includes traditional folk shows, live music and cultural performances. Events take place in various locations throughout the city and offer visitors a fascinating insight into Russian customs and traditions.

BLINI DAY (MASLENITSA)
When: between the 29th Jan – 5th Feb 2008 (Date to be confirmed ).
Where: Moscow

The Maslenitsa is a blend of pagan beliefs and Christian traditions that marks the end of winter and the onset of milder weather and the beginning of lent. It lasts for up to one week ending on Blini Day which is equivalent of Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday or pancake day. Essential to Maslenitsa is blini, a type of meatless pastry or doughnut made of milk and eggs and eaten with sour cream, jam, honey or other sweet foodstuffs. Maslenitsa is characterized by more than just the eating of lots of blini. Each of the days of the celebration feature such things as masquerade parties, visiting friends, sleigh rides and any form of merriment. Many Muscovites visit the Blini Village in Red Square which is a great place to soak up the unique flavour of this popular date.

WHITE NIGHTS FESTIVAL
When: 18th May - 15 Jul 2007; between 1st May 31st Jul 2008 (Date to be confirmed)
Where: Saint Petersburg

Taking its name from the short summer season when the sun never sets, the White Night Festival includes a great programme of ballet, opera and classical music performances. St Petersburg’s famous Mariinsky Theatre hosts the ‘Start of the White Nights Festival’ – an eclectic programme of world class performances. Finishing at midnight, audiences leave the theatre whilst the sun still shines and many take the opportunity to explore the city in this unique and enchanting light

NOROOZ: PERSIAN NEW YEAR
When: First day of Spring (20th March 2008)
Where: Samarkand (recommended)

Norooz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Persian new year, and as well as being a Zoroastrian holiday (Zorostrianism was Persia’s main religion) it has significance for the Bahai’i religion and Sufism. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (the start of spring in northern hemisphere), which usually occurs on March the 21st or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed.

SHARQ TARONALARI FESTIVAL
When: August 2007
Where: Samarkand

Every two years, the week-long “Sharq Taronalari" Festival of Oriental Music is held in Registan Square in Samarkand. This is primarily a music competition in which singers from more than 50 countries gather in the heart of this ancient city. Categories include ‘best performance of a national song’ which is an excellent opportunity to hear some of the best samples of national music.

LANG CA ONG (WHALE FESTIVAL)
When: April 2008 (specific dates to be confirmed)
Where: Danang

This is a really colourful event that sees the streets and temples decorated with beautiful flower garlands. The annual Lang Ca Ong or “Whale Festival” is a celebration of the sea and is popular with the region’s many fishing communities. During the event, prayers are offered to the whale god in the hope of protection from the seas. Visitors to the festival can also see performances of classical Vietnamese drama and traditional folk songs.

FLOWER FESTIVAL DALAT
When: Dec 15th to 22nd 2007
Where: Dalat

During the Flower Festival, Dalat is covered with countless kinds of beautiful and colourful flowers originating from different localities in the country and from some other countries (i.e. Dutch Tulips, Bulgarian Roses, and Thai and Chinese Orchids). There are also seminars and workshops about flowers as well as flower arranging contests. The festival program includes musical performances, trade and tourism fairs, exhibitions and fashion shows, and a street festival with different carriages decorated by fresh flowers of all kinds and colours representing different ethnic groups.