A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals

This richly illustrated non-fiction book showcases an entire year of festivals from across the globe, with each of the four sections focusing on a different season. A fascinating selection are featured, from ancient customs to modern-day festivities.

Religious celebrations include the colourful Hindu festival of Holi, the Islamic month of Ramadan, and Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. There are events which commemorate the dead, such as Halloween, China’s Ghost Month, Mexico’s Day of the Dead and Walpurgis Night, observed across Northern Europe and Scandinavia. Also highlighted are some rather wacky practices, such as the Spanish tomato throwing festival La Tomatina and South Korea’s Boryeong Mud Festival.

What really makes this book stand out is the riot of colour which bursts from every page: from rainbow Pride parades to colourful carnivals, the vivid artwork helps transport the reader to the heart of each experience. Particularly impressive is a glorious double-page illustration rendered in rich, pink tones depicting Hanami, also known as the Cherry Blossom Festival, a Japanese tradition dating from the 8th century to welcome the start of spring.

This joyful collection of human celebration is sure to appeal to a broad range of readers.