Posted by Jilly Bowen on Tue 10th February 2009 at 03:00 PM, Filed in February, March
This years Tedfest is being held on February 26, 2009 to March 1, but it’s sold out! However there is a second ‘coming’. Be quick, tickets sell out as fast as they are offered! The second coming is being held on Thursday 5 March to Sunday 8 March; you know you want to go so, go on, go on, go on! Festival numbers are apparently restircted by the size of the island upon which it is held.
For those of you scratching your heads in utter bewilderment as to what this is all about, it’s based on the wonderful cult series Father Ted ‘set on ‘Craggy Island’ with the three batty priests’, and is a few days of totally off-the-wall madness. Anyone that knows the series will understand it means, madness, mayhem and utter chaos. If you have never seen it, oh boy you’ve missed a treat, ‘google’ Father Ted, or better still invest in some DVD’s, I can assure you they will be watched many, many times over!
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Tue 27th January 2009 at 03:09 AM, Filed in February
If you want to whisk your loved one away for a romantic break ‘a-deux’ then here are a few ideas for you to consider.
Venice Carnival
Take her (or him) to one of the masked balls at carnival time in this most romantic of cities. Best still get there by the Venice Simplon Orient Express. The Al Ponte Antico Hotel comes top of Tripadvisers list or try the wonderfully discrete Hotel Cipriani and Palazzo Vendramin.
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In the lead up to lent many German towns and cities celebrate their ‘5th season’ – or ‘foolish season’. Some historians say its original purpose was to help people get over the dark days of winter and welcome in springtime, others say it’s a feat before the fasting of lent. The festivals occur most commonly (but not exclusively) in the more Catholic South of Germany.
Typically festivities start the Thursday before Ash Wednesday and each town / city have their own unique traditions and ways of celebrating it – with different carnival chants / cries and costumes. One thing in common is that they all seem to have parades – some more children oriented, others with large floats, some wearing bells parading throughout the night. Costumes vary – in the black country region you’ll find witches and ‘Brothers Grimm’ fairytale type characters, town councillors, Vikings, white night gowns and caps and a common dressing up theme seems to be the fool in varying guises. In one town it is tradition for children to wear costumes stuffed with straw which they take out and stuff down other peoples shirts (for luck) as they walk round their parade. At some parades chocolates, sweets and flowers are thrown to the crowds.
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OK, we all know the Spaniards are a little off-centre when it comes to their festivals. I am sure you are aware of bull running (most famous on at Pamplona) and La Tomatina (perhaps the dirtiest food fight of them all). Well, here’s one that you might not have heard of before.
This one takes place in Ourense, which is in Galicia (North Wet Spain, bordering Portugal) in the run up to lent and lasts for about three weeks. However, the main action takes place in the 5 days preceding Lent when, you guessed it – the town becomes a blanket of white. Fortunately they tend not to go for the eyes – the perfect shot being anywhere between nose and chin – so keep your mouth firmly shut & I’d be tempted to wear swim goggles just in case!! Local etiquette dictates that men usually ‘attack women’ and visa versa. Know one quite knows why flour – perhaps its something to do with ash Wednesday?
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Brazil February 19-24 officially (actually goes on till February 25th)
I’m sure you’ve all seen photos of the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro (which is glitz, glamour and nubile semi-clad gorgeous bodies). But are you aware of the other huge Carnival held in another part of Brazil each year?
The Salvador event is more about YOU the, the onlookers. Each year about 2 million join in the fun participating in, what is known as “The worlds largest street party”! If you don’t like crowds – and I mean vast crowds, this may not be for you! But it’s one of the most joyful and happiest of events with people coming from all over the world to participate, watch and listen to Brazilian sambas and Bossanovas, the whole town is alive with music.
You’ll see amazing costumes, be mind blown with the music and atmosphere,
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