British Summer Time returns on 27 March, with longer days and shorter nights. Dunyā explores various celebrations of different cultures that are to come in the summer months.
The UK is home to countless types of culture and each and every one of them brings a tradition that celebrates the vibrant energy that the season of summer brings.
1. Holi – India
The Holi festival is celebrated across Britain, which has the ninth largest Hindu population in the world, with an average of 1.03 million Hindus. The festivity traditionally symbolises the beginning of spring and early summer and is known as the "Festival of Colours". It commemorates the triumph of good over evil and many Hindus celebrate by throwing bright hues of coloured powder at each other.
2. Eid al-Filtr – Saudi Arabia
Eid-al-Fitr, the first of two Eids of the Islamic (lunar) calendar, marks the end of Ramadan for Muslims all over the world. With over 3.3 million of them in the UK, many commence their celebrations with morning prayers at the mosque, to express their thankfulness to God after a month of fasting and forgiveness. Celebrated in early May this year, worshippers will reconnect with their friends and family, spreading joy wherever they go.
3. Golowan Festival - Britain
Every year, the Golowan Festival in Cornwall celebrates midsummer, with the British solstice anchored in ancient custom and folklore. Firework displays, parades, traditional music, dancing, and diverse cuisines are all part of the event. Many people, particularly those who believe in the Pagan and Druid faith, visit Stonehenge on the way – a heritage site that commemorates the summer solstice annually.
4. Festival of St. Joan – Spain
St. Joan honours the summer solstice and the Christian birthdate of Saint John the Baptist, with the festival marked in the Catalan calendar. Hispanic communities in the UK assemble to witness colourful firework displays. Bigger celebrations are especially popular in Barcelona, Menorca, and other Catalan-speaking cities.
5. Sânziană (Sânziene) – Romania
Although it is not commonly celebrated in Britain, Sânziene, also known as Dragaica, is a traditional midsummer festival which takes place yearly in Romania, in the early weeks of June. The event is a Pagan tradition, honouring both nature and fertility. Women make wreath flowers, dance, sing, and sit around bonfires. Sânziene is said to have magical ties, as Sanzienele (beautiful women) lived in the woods and were compared to fairies.
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