Around the World in 80 Festivals

Nancy Dickmann grew up in the USA, where she played baseball, ate hot dogs and read encyclopaedias for fun. She has now lived in England long enough to think that cold and rain are normal, but still has yet to try Morris dancing. Before becoming an author, she worked as an editor and publisher of children's books. Now, with Pushkin the Three-Legged Wonder Cat as her trusty assistant (in charge of lap-sitting), she writes books on a wide range of topics, including animals, space, history, health and explorers. The highlight of her career so far has been getting to interview a real astronaut to find out how they use the toilet in space!

The Americas: Dancing Devils, Flower Fair, Inti Raymi, Day Of The Sea, Gaucho Festival, Parintins Folklore Festival, Rio Carnival, Junkanoo, Pirates Week, Emancipation Day, Crop Over, Coban Folklore Festival, Day of the Dead, Mardi Gras, Juneteenth, Thanksgiving, Soyal, Independence Day • Europe: May Day, Bonfire Night, St David's Day, Up Helly Aa, St Patrick's Day, Thorrablót, Ólavsøka, St Lucia's Day, Anastenaria, Vardavar, L-Imnarja, Kurentovanje, La Tomatina, Sant Antoni, Venice Carnival, Fête de la Musique, Il Palio, Great Dragon Parade, White Nights Festival, Labour Day, Oktoberfest, St John's Eve • Asia: Harbin Ice Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Hangul Day, Cherry Blossom Festival, Obon, Eid ul-Fitr, Nowruz, Children's Day, Sukkot, Birds of Prey Festival, Hanukkah, 'Three Manly Sports' Festival, Thai New Year Festival, Phaung Daw U Pagoda Festival, Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival, Festival of Light, Pushkar Camel Fair, Holi, Teej, Cow Festival, Festival of the Sacred Tooth • Africa: Festival of the Sahara, Abu Simbel Festival, Ouidah Voodoo Festival, New Yam Festival, Gerewol, Hogbetsotso, Umhlanga Reed Dance, Maitisong, Gorilla Naming Festival, Timkat • Oceania: Coming Together Festival, Picnic Day, Matariki, Merrie Monarch, Tapati Rapa Nui, Rise of Palolo, Kenu and Kundu Festival