Daily Staff Writer

St. Vincent’s Day

France

Wed. Jan. 22

St. Vincent is especially honored by French vintners. In Campsite, a statue of the saint is borne in procession through the town. The festival commences the winter labors of the vintners. Tradition has it that the progress of the vineyards can be predicted by the weather on St. Vincent’s Day.

Alastias

Bolivia

Fri. Jan. 24

In altiplano communities, a miniature market takes place on this day. Quinoa dough is used to model cattle which are bargained for by the men as if they were real. Small quantities of bread and other foods are sold by women in similar “play” bargaining. While the market may last three or four days, the miniature bargaining takes only a few minutes. Then everyone eats the treats they have purchased including:boiled tarwi (lupine seeds), roasted broad beans, cheese and bread.

Robert Burns

Scotland

Sat. Jan. 25

The birthday of Robert Burns has become a patriotic festival fro Scots and those with Scottish ancestry throughout the world. A typical Burns Night supper may include “Powsodie” (sheep’s head broth), “Finnan Toasties” (smoked haddock), “Cabbie-claw” (wind-dried cod with horseradish and egg sauce), and, of course, “Haggis” (a sheep’s stomach stuffed with minced mutton, oatmeal, and spices and then boiled).

Information provided by

the International Resource Center