Menton, France

The Menton area has been inhabited since the paleolithic era, and is the site of the original "Grimaldi Man" find of early modern humans, as well as remains of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons. In Roman times, the Via Julia Augusta, a road connecting Placentia (now Piacenza) with Arelates (now Arles) passed through Menton, running along the Rue Longue in the old town. The first major settlement occurred during the 11th century CE, when the Count of Ventimiglia constructed the Château de Puypin (Podium Pinum) on the Pépin hill, north and west of the modern town center. During the 13th century, the seigneury of Puypin fell to the Vento family of Genoa who built a new castle along the Roman road, now the site of the Vieux-Château cemetery, providing the core around which the current town grew. Menton was thus incorporated into the Republic of Genoa. The first mention of Menton dates from 21 July 1262, in the peace treaty between Charles of Anjou and Genoa. Its position on the border between the Angevin-ruled Provence and the Republic of Genoa, which at the time claimed Monaco as its western limit, made it a coveted location.

The Lemon Festival takes place every February. The festival follows a given theme each year; past themes include Viva España, Disney, Neverland, and India. The festival lasts a few days, with different bands passing through Menton's streets on foot or on truck trailers. The Casino Gardens in the centre of town are decorated in the theme of the festival, using lemons to cover the exhibits, and huge temporary statues are built and covered with citrus fruit.

Hahaha such a neat card showing the Lemon Festival, really a festival for Lemons?!

So if the Spanish have the Tomato festival, the French,the lemons, what do the

Italians celebrate? Grapes?? Just my line of thought :D
Thanks to Paola via PostcardUnited.

Sent: 21 Sept 2015   Received: 5 Oct 2015   Travelled: 14 days

Ratha-Yatra - Festival of Chariot

Ratha Yatra or the Chariot Festival is a Hindu festival associated with the god Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Odisha, India. This annual festival is celebrated on Ashad Shukla Dwitiya (second day in bright fortnight of Ashad month).
Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets of Puri called Badadanda. This commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra to their aunt's temple, the Gundicha Temple which is situated at a distance of 2 km from their temple. This is the only day when devotees who are not allowed in the temple premises, such as non-Hindus and foreigners, can get their glimpse of the deities. During the festival, devotees from all over the world go to Puri with an earnest desire to help pull the Lords' chariots with the help of other priests pulling the chariots with ropes. They consider this a pious deed and risk their lives in the huge crowd. The huge processions accompanying the chariots play devotional songs with drums, tambourines, trumpets etc. Children line the streets through which the chariot will pass and add to the mass chorus. The Ratha carts themselves are some approximately 45 feet (14 m) high and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event; the chariots are built anew each year only from a particular type of tree.

Wow what an amazing postcard that arrived to my mailbox showing the Chariot Festival

Thanks to Anup for this postcard! (Postcard united)

Sent: 24 April 2015   Received: 6 May 2015   Travelled: 12 days

Tin Hau festival

1975

Mazu (also called Tianhou  "Empress of Heaven" ) is the Chinese goddess of the sea who is said to protect fishermen and sailors. The worship of Mazu began in the Song Dynasty. Mazu is widely worshiped in the southeastern coastal regions of China, especially in Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan. She is also an important deity in Taiwan. Mazu is also worshiped in East and Southeast Asia.

Mazu's birthday-festival is on the twenty-third day of the third lunar month of the lunar calendar. It falls in late April or early May according to the Gregorian calendar.

Another lovely surprise from Gloria showing Hong Kong in the 70s

and a very clear postmark! Thank you!

Sent: 6 June2014  Received: 18 June 2014   Travelled: 12 days

Penafrancia Festival

Penafrancia Festival, Naga City, Bicol

is held every 3rd Sunday of September in honour of the Virgin of Penafrancia, the Miracuous patron saint of the Bicol Region. A nine-day novena is done in honour of the Virgin. On the ninth day, the image of the Virgin is paraded in a colouful fluvial procession on the Bicol river in downtown Naga. When it reaches the Basilica of Our Lady of Penafrancia, the devotees shout "Viva la Virgen"

 

Thank you Patricia for this festival postcard

 

Sent: 3 January 2013

Received: 16 January 2013

Travelled: 13 days