Historical Festivals and Parades

Images showcase vibrant historical reenactments and parades, featuring people in traditional costumes and uniforms from medieval times, set against festive backdrops.

Swiss guards at St. Peter´s Basilica, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Germany, Bavaria, Isar valley, Mittenwald, Bozner market, market beating out, Middle Ages,

Belgium, Bruges, Procession of the Holy Blood, people,

Swiss guards at St. Peter´s Basilica, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Royal Guard of Mohammed V Mausoleum, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Morocco

Children in historical costumes during the Good Friday procession, Semana Santa, Holy Week, La Laguna, northeastern Tenerife, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, Europe

Swiss Guards take part in a swearing-in ceremony in San Damaso Courtyard, Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Scotland, West Lothian, Linlithgow. Medieval re-enactment based around events at Scotland's royal court in 1503 at Party at the Palace. The event was held at Linlithgow Palace as a part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Living procession of princes at the Fuerstenzug in Dresden

Traditionally dressed riders parading during the Madonna dei Martiri festival, in Fonni, Nuoro district, Sardinia, Italy.

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

Good Friday procession in Barcelona, Spain, Europe

Donation of the Holy Thorn. Montone. Umbria. Italy

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

Masked knight in the Cavalhadas of Piren≥polis, midwest Brazil

Roman Festival, Biriciana, fort area, Weissenburg, Germany

BRUGES, BELGIUM - MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform dramatizations of Biblical events - King David character. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium

Valladolid, 03/25/2016. Holy Week, Good Friday. Proclamation and Sermon of the 7 words. Photo: Fernando Blanco ARCHDC.

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

Palio di Asti, Asti, Piedmont, Italy, Europe

Turkish man and horseman ethnic clothes examples

Swiss Guards, St. Peter's Basilica, St Peter's Square, Vatican City, Rome, Italy, Europe

Belgium, Bruges, Procession of the Holy Blood, people,

Valladolid, 03/25/2016. Holy Week, Good Friday. Proclamation and Sermon of the 7 words. Photo: Fernando Blanco ARCHDC.

Traditionally dressed rider parading during the Madonna dei Martiri festival, in Fonni, Nuoro district, Sardinia, Italy.

Family festival at Albrechtsburg Meissen on the occasion of the premiere of the Histopads. The Saxon rulers acting in the illustrated epochs of the Histopads, embodied by the Fürstenzug e.V., Moritz of Saxony

Royal guard on a horse, Mohammed V Mausoleum, Rabat, Morocco

Scotland, Shetland Islands, Lerwick. The Guizer Jarl elected King for the day leading the Up Helly Aa squad through the streets of Lerwick during the morning parade.

Swiss ceremonial guards in traditional striped uniforms at the Vatican, Vatican city

England, London, Buckingham Palace. Changing the guard at Buckingham Palace.

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

Parade of the Three Wise Men, Llucmajor, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Medieval games during the Landshuter Hochzeit (festival) in Landshut, Lower Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany,

Pilgrimage, Georgiritt, Traunstein, Ettendorf

A Swiss Guard at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

Italy, Rome, Vatican, Swiss guard,

Kaiser Otto with Wives and Archbishop Wichmann from Magdeburg with their follower at the inauguration of Monument for the Magdeburg Law on 17 12 2024 in Magdeburg 1089915283

Ceremonial changing of the guard, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea

Living procession of princes at the Fuerstenzug in Dresden

Royal Palace guards, during Changing of the Guard in Seoul

Standard bearer in mediaeval medieval costume with yellow black flag, knight festival Kaltenberger Ritterspiele, Kaltenberg, Upper Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Medieval parade of Giostra del Saracino, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, Europe

Rabat, Morocco, guards, Africa, Mohammed V Mausoleum, travel, people

wise men of the east, Llucmajor, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Swiss Guard, St Peter's Basilica, San Pietro in Vaticano, Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican, Rome, Italy, Europe

Swiss Guards parading, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

BRUGES, BELGIUM - MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Roman soldiers and tomb of Christ. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium

St. George´s Day Celebrations in 2010, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Return of the oranges from their winter quarters to the Dresden Zwinger

Annual swearing-in ceremony for the new papal Swiss Guards, Vatican City.

Swiss guard, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Myanmar, Bagan. Young boys and girls are paraded through a village on their initiation day into the monastery.

Royal Guard of Mohammed V Mausoleum, Rabat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, Morocco

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

Living procession of princes at the Fuerstenzug in Dresden

Republic of Ireland,County Limerick,Limerick,King John's Castle,Statue of King John in Castle Exhibition

SPAIN - Ribera Estellesa (district) - NAVARRA. San Adrián; cabalgata de Reyes Magos en la noche del 5 de enero

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

Beneïdes de Sant Antoni, Muro, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Pilgrimage to St. Koloman near Fuessen, Allgaeu, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Pontifical Swiss Guard at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Pilgrimage to St. Koloman near Fuessen, Allgaeu, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

BRUGES, BELGIUM - MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium

Sant Antoni whit the demon, Beneïdes de Sant Antoni, Muro, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Living procession of princes at the Fuerstenzug in Dresden

Men wearing traditional costumes at Pasola Festival, Sumba island, Indonesia

guard of honor, Festa De L'Estandart, civic-religious festival in the Christian conquest of the city is commemorated by King Jaume I on December 31, 1229. Palma, Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, Europe.

Lithuania, Western Lithuania, Curonian Spit, Juodkrante, Witches' Hill, witch dolls

Swiss guards and sanpietrini paving stones, Vatican, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Guarding the banners, Trelleborg Vikings Festival, Trelleborg, Denmark, Europe

Easter riding procession in Crostwitz, Easter riding in Lusatia. Procession from Crostwitz to Panschwitz Kuckau. Every year at Easter, around 5 processions take place in Lusatia, each with around 200 riders. The Catholic Church continues old Sorbian rites here. Thousands of spectators watch the impressive processions on horseback

Parade of the Three Wise Men, Llucmajor, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Bluepshop on the blood Friday in Weingarten Württemberg annually takes place on Friday after Ascension Day in Weingarten Württemberg. It is the largest riding procession in Europe with up to 3000 riders.

Madrid, 12/12/2014. Nativity scene in the Royal palace. Photo: Isabel Permuy Archdc.

Guard in front of the mausoleum, Rabat, Morocco, Africa

Pontifical Swiss Guard at St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Two Nazarenes with a processional candle parading

Medieval Fortress Baba Vidfa in Vidin. Bulgaria.

Detail of original Scottish kilts, during Highlands games

Every year at Easter there are about 5 processions in Lusatia, each with about 200 riders. The Catholic Church continues old Sorbian rites here. Thousands of spectators watch the impressive cavalcades

Monument to Bishop Hengsbach on the cathedral courtyard in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Croatia, Zagreb, Old town, Ceremonial guards and Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary outside Catholic cathedral.

Cup of freshly pressed straw wine, Ceremony marking the start of Vino Santo production, Valle dei Laghi, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy.

Pilgrimage at Saint Coloman Church, Allgaeu, Bavaria, Germany

Pilgrimage, Leonhardiritt, Holzhausen

Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Northern Spain, Elevated view of procession on Good Friday in the historic centre

Hand crafted arrow fletchings with the Freeman of Gwent Reenactment group at St Davids Bishops Palace.

Moors and Christians, "Es Firó" of Soller, Christian troops gathered on Luna Street, Soller, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.

Detail of a bagpipe exibition during Highland Games

England, Middlesex, London, Kingston-upon-Thames, Hampton Court Palace, Choir Boys Entering The Chapel Royal

Every year at Easter there are about 5 processions in Lusatia, each with about 200 riders. The Catholic Church continues old Sorbian rites here. Thousands of spectators watch the impressive cavalcades

View of a regal horseman adorned in vibrant red and green, mounted on a chestnut steed beneath a modern white canopy, standing tall in the warm Moroccan sun, Rabat, Morocco.

Holy Mass at the altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica for the 23 new guards who will take the solemn oath, Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Swiss guards, St. Peter´s Square, Vatican City, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

The so-called Bergstreittag is a beautiful centuries-old tradition and is celebrated on 22 July, the church memorial day and former feast day of Mary Magdalene in Schneeberg. The four quarterly sermons introduced in 1649 remained in place until 1845. These sermons were then abolished in favour of a single day, 22 July, which fell on Mary Magdalene. The Freiberg Mining Office recommended that this day should be celebrated with a festival and a mountain parade. In 1846, the Royal Ministry of Finance issued a decree to celebrate St Mary Magdalene's Day with a sermon and a magnificent mountain procession. The last major procession took place in July 1913. The First World War put an end to these processions. The tradition was not revived until July 1933, 528th Bergstreittag, mountain parade, Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany, Europe

BRUGES, BELGIUM, MAY 17: Annual Procession of the Holy Blood on Ascension Day. Locals perform an historical reenactment and dramatizations of Biblical events. May 17, 2012 in Bruges (Brugge), Belgium, Europe

Every year at Easter there are about 5 processions in Lusatia, each with about 200 riders. The Catholic Church continues old Sorbian rites here. Thousands of spectators watch the impressive cavalcades

Detail of a bagpipe exibition during Highland Games

Drama, two men wearing medieval clothes, old coat of arms of the Kings of Scotland in Stirling Castle Palace, Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

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