Fun and festivities in Slovakia - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

Slovaks are amazing good-natured people who know how to have fun and love to celebrate various holidays. Each city and village in the country has its own festival, fair or holiday. Along with the celebration of a number of public holidays, Slovaks love and honor traditions, so all kinds of festivals, celebrations, and fairs one way or another related to them take place throughout the country. Given the Slovak love for farming, it's easy to guess that a large part of holidays in this country is dedicated to culinary and drinking customs and traditions.

After the New Year, Slovaks celebrate Epiphany on January 6th. This holiday marks the end of Christmas and foreshadows the beginning of carnival seasons. Fancy-dress parties are held throughout the country as part of Three Kings' Day. Three festively dressed monarchs (usually costumed children) became the symbol of the Magi who came to give the Christ Child some gifts. On this day, it is customary to consecrate water, salt, and candles. In January, the traditional Jazz Days are held in the capital, as well as the Balkan national minorities music festival that has been gaining popularity in recent years.

Fašank is a typical Slavic carnival. It is usually celebrated at the end of February. On this holiday, it is customary to eat one’s fill. On Fašank, Slovaks wear costumes, visit each other's houses and sing carols. Lots of customs and superstitious beliefs are associated with this holiday. Meeting a stranger on Fašank promises fruitful and rich year. Some women sow the land from plates, in which festive foods were served. This tradition brings good seedlings and a rich harvest. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The International Festival of Ghosts and Monsters held in the Bojnice Castle has become traditional for April. According to the legend, the building is inhabited by ghosts and spirits. Guests of the festival and tourists will have a chance to see it for themselves by taking a tour of the castle. At the castle walls is a festive fair where you can taste local wines and national specialties. But it's all in the daytime. At night, the main event of the festival takes place - a costume party of spirits and ghosts.

Also, every April and May, Bratislava hosts the Flower Festival. With the onset of spring, the city turns into a flourishing botanical garden. Delegations from all over the Old World bring here various flower species for exhibitions within the framework of the festival. Exhibition salons occupy as much as 4 square kilometers! As part of the festival, there is a fair where you can buy your favorite species, admire the work of landscape designers, participate in workshops, all kinds of promotions and events.

Slovaks love and widely celebrate the ancient pagan festival St. John's Day on June 24. It has spawned many traditions and customs. On this day, young people build a cross using boards. A circle symbolizing the sun is fastened on it. Everyone jumps over the cross set on fire, dances around it, and has fun in every possible way. These jumps help get clean and gain good health. During the holiday, young ladies read the fortune and gather herbs. In June, the famous Beer Festival is organized in Slovakia. A huge number of tourists travel here to take part in it. During the festival, besides the traditional tasting of many varieties of beer, guests and local residents will be able to participate in interesting contests, as well as try various beer snacks. The Manneken Pis became a symbol of the festival. This is an allusion to the diuretic effect of beer, which should be borne in mind.

In early September, Coronation Days are held in Bratislava. The carnival is organized in memory of the times when coronations of kings of Austria and Hungary took place in this city. On this day, there is a procession of carnival columns from the Bratislava Castle to Hviezdoslavovo Square. A theatrical staging of the coronation ceremony is held on the square. November in Slovakia is marked by Tasting Days. Young wine is already matured by this month. The Carpathian Wine Route runs In the south-eastern part of Slovakia. Anyone can taste wine from any wine cellar found on the 40-kilometer route. Tasting Days are held weekly on Friday and Saturday. The wine is necessarily eaten by fried goose traditionally prepared in the village of Slovenský Grob.

In September and October, classical music festivals are held in Bratislava, as well as a theatrical festival presenting new trends in the theatrical art to the public. The purpose of the festival is a cultural exchange with other countries and promotion of talented actors and directors.