Up Helly Aa is a spectacular, annual Viking-themed fire festival that marks the end of the Yule season and celebrates Norse heritage. Its most famous attractions are the evening’s massive Torchlit Procession of costumed participants (guizers) led by the Guizer Jarl (Chief Viking), and the dramatic finale, which involves throwing the flaming torches into a replica Viking longship (galley) to set it ablaze. The night continues with feasting and dancing in community halls which are toured by the various guizer squads until the early morning.

The Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) is a historic festival that transforms the city into a lavish, open-air masked ball before the start of Lent. It is internationally renowned for the wearing of elaborate, historical costumes and the iconic Venetian masks that symbolize anonymity and freedom.

The Fallas of Valencia is a UNESCO-recognized festival of artistry, satire, and pyrotechnics, centered on the erection and ceremonial burning of colossal, satirical papier-mâché sculptures called Fallas. Its most famous attractions are the daily deafening Mascletà (an orchestrated pyrotechnic sound display), the vibrant Ofrenda de Flores (Flower Offering), and the dramatic fiery climax, La Cremà, where the elaborate monuments are consumed by fire.

The Sechseläuten Spring Festival is Zurich’s centuries-old traditional holiday which symbolically marks the end of winter and the start of spring. Its main attractions are the vibrant procession of Zurich’s guilds, whose members parade in historical costumes, and the spectacular, fiery climax: the burning of the Böögg. This large snowman effigy, stuffed with fireworks, is set ablaze, and its quick explosion is said to predict a warm, sunny summer.

The Lisbon Iberian Mask Festival is a vibrant cultural event that celebrates the ancient, pagan, and traditional masked rituals of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Its most famous attractions are the spectacular parades featuring dozens of unique masked characters, often adorned with colorful costumes, horns, and bells, as well as the lively display of ancient traditions, such as fire runs and seasonal dances.

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an eccentric annual tradition where competitors chase a 4-kilogram wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down an incredibly steep, 180-metre hill. The cheese, which can reach speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour, is nearly uncatchable, making the main attraction the chaotic spectacle of participants tumbling down the near-vertical slope. The first person to reach the bottom wins the cheese.