Interstate Mullet Toss
April 27-29, Perido Key, Florida, USA
Held every last weekend in April, during the lull between the end of spring break and the start of summer, is the Interstate Mullet Toss. Flora-Bama, a bar presumably named for its advantageous location on the Alambama-Florida state line, has hosted the prestigious event for 28 years.
Thousands line up to stand in a 10-foot circle in Alabama, from which they throw mullets (which, for the record, are small dead fish—not an ‘80s hairstyle) into Florida. The winner is awarded a 27-inch aluminum trophy of a man holding a can of beer and, of course, a fish. (For the animal rights activists worried about dead fish being used for such a gratuitous cause, don’t worry—after they’re tossed, they’re fed to the birds.) www.florabama.com/about-us/mullet-toss
Orange Festival
April 29-30, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dissapointingly, orange day is nothing like the Spanish festival of Tomatina. While we wouldn't recommend throwing any oranges across Amsterdam’s canals, you'd be well-advised to wear the orange, the national colour. Officially known as Queen’s Day, the event celebrates the Queen Beatrix’s birthday.
It's also the one day a year that citizens are allowed to sell goods without a permit, so the streets are lined with flea markets where the Dutch sell their secondhand goods. www.holland.com/global/tourism/activities/events/celebrate-queens-day.htm
Beltane
April 30-May 1, Edinburgh, Scotland
Celebrated for thousands of years, Beltane marks the end of winter season. Coming from the Celtic word meaning fire, the pagan fertility festival is known for its large late-night bonfires. Similar events, called Walpurgis Night, are also celebrated throughout Central and Northern Europe on the last night of April. (Fun, but somewhat unrelated, fact: Harry Potter J.K. Rowling has said that the Death Eaters were originally called the Knights of Walpurgis.)
In Edinburgh, the day is marked with a symbolic performance involving the May Queen, and at midnight a large bonfire is lit. Expect jaw-dropping costumes, body paint, a bit of nudity, and of course, a lot of open flame. The events draw to a close at sunrise. beltane.org/about/beltane
Lei Day
May 1, Hawaii, USA
Trade the Maypole for a grass skirt and you’ll be ready to celebrate Lei Day. First celebrated in the late 1920s, the holiday recognizes the importance of Hawaiin culture, including engaging in random acts of kindness and sharing.
Leis, the flower garlands traditionally worn throughout Polynesia, serve as representation of aloha. (Although commonly used as a greeting, "aloha" actually means peace, compassion, affection and mercy.) Telling the story of the relationship between giver and the receiver, the leis may be made from vines, berries, flowers, seeds and shells. Share the love by learning to hula, threading a lei or listening to steel guitar performances throughout the day. www.leiday.net
Star Wars Day
May 4, Worldwide
May the forth be with you! Get it? (Okay, good, because it took us about 10 minutes.) Also known as Luke Skywalker Day, this interstellar holiday is probably the only day more celebrated by nerds than Pi Day. Legend has it that in a German television interview with George Lucas, Stars Wars creator, he was asked to say, “May the force be with you.” However, it was translated as, “We shall be with you on May 4."
The Star Wars Day Facebook fanpage is linked to events worldwide to help celebrate the event. But if you’re unprepared for this most sanctimonious of holidays, you’ll have another chance this month when Geek Pride Day rolls around on May 25.
