Other parts of the World.

27 October CHON BURI BUFFALO RACES
Chon Buri, Thailand

The buffalo has been a mainstay in Thai farming life, but in this annual event they are put to more amusing uses than ploughing fields. Farmers from all over Chon Buri will bring their fastest buffaloes to challenge for the Chon Buri Buffalo Races. There is also a physical fitness contest, in which buffaloes are pitted against men, the colourful buffalo ‘fashion contest’, and the lively buffalo parade.

10 November MARTINI FESTIVAL
Latvia

Nothing to do with the drink, this is an ancient Latvian festival marking the transfer from Usins (the god of summer) to Martins (the god of winter). The festival marks the end of the preparations for winter (the ‘soul period’) and the start of the masquerade season. It involves putting crosses on doors to ward off the powers of evil, ‘Martins chasing’, and amongst other things, rooster sacrificing.

14 November GIOCCO DELL’OCA (SNAKES AND LADDERS)
Mirano, Italy

This is a town battle on a human-scale game of Snakes and Ladders, only the snakes have been replaced with geese. Six teams representing six neighbourhoods fight it out in traditional costumes, climbing up ladders and jumping over geese through 63 squares and over multiple obstacles. Celebrations last all weekend with markets, street entertainment and music.