International Festival of the Month: July

Spain

The Festival San Fermin is a week-long celebration that runs every year (except for this year) from the 6th to 14th July in Pamplona, northern Spain. 

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 The festival includes craft fairs, street parties, and the Procession of Giants and BigHeads.  During this parade, 25 beloved paper mache characters of kings, queens, coppers, and horses, enchant and frighten the children of Pamplona. The costumes, weighing on average 62 kilos and 4 meters tall, are the work of local artist Felix Flores, commissioned in 1890.

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The highlight of the week of course is the spectacle that is the Running of the Bulls. Participants outrun a small group of cattle along a historic route used to transport bulls from grazing land to the bull ring in town.  

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In honour of the Running of the Bulls, we present the Bull's Milk Bevy made with rum, cognac, milk, and maple syrup. Yum!

I know that American Dirt by Jeanne Cummins is on everyone's must read list, but there is a reason why! This is one of the best books about immigration I have ever read. It makes you think and it leaves a scar. 

La Tomatino Festival: August

Spain

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Every year (except this one), on the last Wednesday in August, the citizens of Bunol, a small town in Spain, pelt 120 tonnes of tomatoes at each other,  for fun.

No one is sure where this tradition originated but it has happened every year since 1945. Some think it was a gang of disgruntled youths, others say it was a band of anti-establishment protestors. Who cares! Its the world's largest food fight!

Let's celebrate the La Tomatina Festival with a Red Snapper!

The Red Snapper is Bloody Mary's more fortunate cousin. This bev substitutes Mary's vodka with gin. The botanicals in gin bring out the richness of the spices and tomato juice. 

One of the most gifted and celebrated authors of modern times gave us this beautiful parting gift before passing in Aug.2019.