Experience the real Europe at its many festivals

Last time I was in the Tuscan town of Orvieto, I joined the multitude that had gathered on the square in front of the cathedral, just as the citizens of Orvieto have done for generations.

Suddenly, a dove in a little plastic tube rocketed down a zipline and into a nest of fireworks at the front of the church, setting it all ablaze.

After the fireworks went off, a firefighter climbed up the little tower to see if the dove was OK. It was. And that was great news, as it meant good luck for the town and fertility to the last couple married in Orvieto.

Festivals in Europe range from religious events to raucous street parties to celebrations of local traditions. Lasting anywhere from one day to many weeks, they are a fun way to experience a region’s customs and culture.

But be warned: The biggest ones come with intense crowds and higher prices. When planning a trip, check the country’s and/or town’s website to see if there are any major events that might be taking place during your visit.

In Italy, where holidays seem to strike without warning, every town has a festival honoring its patron saint. On June 16, Pisans celebrate theirs, St. Ranieri, by illuminating building facades and bridges along the waterfront and floating candles down the Arno River.

Venice commemorates its patron saint, St. Mark, on April 25. On this day Venetian men present roses to the women in their lives.

But the biggest party of the year in Venice is Carnevale. Known in America as Mardi Gras, Carnevale, which means “farewell to meat,” originated centuries ago as a wild two-month-long party leading up to the austerity of Lent.

In its heyday — the 1600s and 1700s — you could do pretty much anything with anybody from any social class if you were wearing a mask.

Though Venetians still sport masks and costumes, these days it’s a tamer 18-day celebration, culminating in a huge dance lit with fireworks on St. Mark’s Square.

Like Italians, Spaniards seem to look for any reason to erupt into a festival or parade. This is especially true in Andalucia, the bullfighting, flamenco-dancing southern region of Spain.

Towns in Andalucia host a number of religious processions, which involve carrying statues of saints from favorite churches through the streets on big floats.

The biggest parades are during Holy Week (Semana Santa), just before Easter. In the Andalusian capital of Sevilla, approximately 60 groups parade from their neighborhood churches to the cathedral with floats depicting some aspect of the Passion story.

Patriotic fervor can be as intense as religious devotion, as evidenced by the various Highland Games that take place throughout Scotland each summer.

While many people travel here for the biggies, such as the Cowal Highland Gathering in August and the Braemar Gathering in September (attended by the royal family), twice I’ve come upon small-town games, which are very charming.

On my last trip, I stumbled into the village of Kenmore, two hours north of Edinburgh, on the one day a year that it hosts its Highland Games. The open field was filled with families having a delightful day out watching tug-of-wars, gunnysack races, bands of marching pipers and Highland dancing.