“Festival” is a word that can bring a smile even on the grumpiest faces. And that is why festivals are a way of forgetting the hectic pressure of daily life and live a little. No matter where you go you will always find a unique celebration for people to celebrate life. And on that note, we have here the collaboration of the best fun festivals from around the world, for which people travel across the glove.
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10 of the best festivals to have an experience of a lifetime…
St. Patrick’s Day
Place: Ireland, Date: 17 March
History – Saint Patrick was born in the fifth century and used to live in Britain. Legend has it, that he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland for slavery at the age of 16. Later, He escaped but returned to Ireland as a priest and was the person to present Christianity to those people. He was the first person to explain holy trinity with the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.
Basically, 17 March was the day of Saint Patrick’s Death and they celebrate this day to remember his contribution to spreading Christianity amongst Irish people. On this day, not only Ireland but also New York City transforms into the green colour with people colouring their faces green. The Empire State Building also lit up in green colour. The people blare lively music and have a feast of food and alcohol. Most Irish people bake the traditional soda bread on this day. So, if you want to visit a place where Hulk would live visit Ireland or NYC on 17 March.
Holi
Place: India, Date: 1 March 2018
History – Behind celebrating the festival of colours is actually more colourful. According to Indian mythology, the first Holi was celebrated between Lord Krishna and his lover Radha. As a boy, Krishna was very naughty and would drench people with water and colour often. And all the other boys would participate in it and then made it into a yearly celebration. Then when Krishna and Radha become grownups and fell in love, it significantly became the festival of celebrating love.
Now, in this modern day, many people come to India specially to see this colourful celebration. In fact, Holi has become a world celebration because countries like Spain, USA, UK, Suriname, and Mauritius also celebrate this holiday with utter enthusiasm. India truly becomes one, as people forget their differences and come together. In the morning people would greet their elders by colouring their feet and then the out-of-control madness starts. And a special drink is also made for this day called Bhang, a cousin to make you high. Don’t worry it won’t get you in trouble. The Bhang or Thandai is some sort of milkshake made with almonds, coconut etc. People here will be super welcoming to you and later, shower you with colours.
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Chinese New Year
Place: China, Date: 16 February
History –The tales suggest, that there was a mythical beast called “Year”, he looked like an ox with a lion head and inhabits in the sea. On the night of the New Year’s Eve, he would come out to harm people, animals and properties. Then when the people found out that Year is scared of the colour Red, fire and loud sounds, they started to hang red Duilian in front of their houses. They also started to launch firecrackers to keep him away.
Even though the exact beginning of the New Year celebration is unknown but it is has become the most important festival. It is also the longest festival to ever be celebrated. People start to celebrate on the first day of their starting month to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the month. Because the Chinese calendar is called lunisolar, Chinese New Year is often called as the “Lunar New Year”. If you want to visit the best celebration of this day you must see the capital city Beijing. The street of Beijing lights up with colour red and firecrackers and lanterns.
La Tomatina
Place: Buñol, Spain, Date: 29 August
History – The story behind it actually fun and interesting. In the year of 1945, on a Wednesday some young boys came to the town square to see the Giants and the big-head figures parade. Because of the quarrel, a participant fell off and then he started to throw tomatoes from the near vegetable shop. Then again next year they, the same day they start a quarrel by throwing tomatoes, soon police arrived and ended it. But because of this immature craziness, Spain got their tomato festival, which is now popular around the whole world.
La Tomatino got famous recently around 2000’s. And the tickets to this festival is very tough to get if you don’t hurry. The war starts around 10 am after trucks come in the town bringing kilos of tomatoes. Then after dropping them on the ground, people wait for the signal to start the party. You don’t have to worry about getting hurt because the tomatoes will be squished before hitting you, which is the rule there. Then when the festival ends, just because they run out of tomatoes, you will be splashed with gallons of water by the friendly locals. Just remember to bring goggles with you.
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Carnival: Rio De Janerio
Place: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Date: 24-28 February
History – This Carnival started in the honour of Bacchus, the god of wine and Saturnalia. The celebration started back in the European dominated era. Followers of the Roman Catholic Church would indulge in last day of dance, fun, alcohol and sex just before the start of Lent, which is a period of abstinence from alcohol and other sins. People would exchange clothes and have fun by dancing and drinking the full day. Sometimes people also used to exchange slaves as well.
The carnival of Rio is considered to be the biggest one in the world with five million people participating per day. Celebrated before Lent, this typical festival has revellers, floats, and adornments from numerous samba schools. All the dancers would wear a beautiful dress with masks and participate in the grand parade. The whole country indulges itself into their wild party with all the visiting tourists. The entire Latin American nation celebrates this carnival but Rio is the best place to be.
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Halloween
Place: Ireland, Date: 31 October
History – It’s a European holiday, Halloween is celebrated on the evening of October 31st, which is the evening before the Christian feast of All Saint’s Day. Halloween was mainly celebrated by the ancient religion of Celtic tribes, from who the Britons, Scots and the Irish came. The tribes believed in the spirits world and worshipped over 300 gods. They mainly believed in the sun and celebrated two days of festival revolving the sun. And their believed demon was Samhain, the lord of death. It is said that Samhain becomes more powerful at the end of summer and overpower the sun god. Then he would assemble all the evil spirit on October 31 and send them home to visit. And that is why the tribe people would set a bonfire and disguise themselves as demons for protection. When those demons would come to each household, villagers would satisfy them by offering food and nuts. If they were satisfied, they go away without harming them.
Halloween one of those most celebrated festivals, that has spread around the world. Each country has its own ways to have fun on this day but one thing is common in all of them, that is to scare people away. Disguising as ghost, fairies, zombies or a famous TV personality is the essence of this day. And for kids, nothing is more fun than go trick or treating from house to house.
Mardi Gras
Place: USA, Time: 13 February 2018
History – Marti Gras is a Christian holiday. When Christianity came in Rome, the decided to discrete all the festival into a new faith then abolishing them altogether. And then in the decades that followed Mardi Gras took place. The first Mardi Gras was celebrated in the USA when the French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day. Then New Orleans and French started to make their own street parties with masked balls and lavish dinner preparation. But it was soon diminished when the Spanish people took over. In 1857, secret societies of New Orleans businessman process the celebration of the festival with a marching band and rolling floats. Since then, the festival stayed with the nation.
In French, Mardi Gras means “fat Tuesday” and that’s why people celebrate this festival with grand feast all over the country. It is probably the wildest party in the USA with masked balls, parade or carnivals. Mardi Gras is the official celebration before the period of Lent, the Catholic period of sacrifice. Fat Tuesday is the day people eat richer and nicer food before the Lent days when Christian sacrifice to lavish foods and lifestyle. So, one can only imagine the number of tasty foods they are going to get here this time.
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Lantern Festival
Place: China, Time: 2 March 2018
History – There are many legends surrounded by many stories. In one theory it is related to a Buddhist legend. According to some people, when the evil force was defeated by Sakyamuni, to remember that day people started to light lanterns outside their house. The Emperor Hanmingdi ordered all the temples and families to light lanterns on the evening of the day. From that time on, it became a custom to light lanterns for the festival.
Another story is surrounded by the bird of Jade the emperor. The favourable bird of the Emperor was accidentally killed by a villager, when Jade the Emperor came to know this he ordered to burn all the villagers alive on the fifteenth day of Lunar. But his daughter warns them and told them to hang red lanterns and light firecrackers on the 14th, 15th and 16th day. Seeing all this light and crackers, the Emperor thought that the villagers had been on fire and died. So he abolishes his orders and the villagers were safe.
Nowadays, the Lantern Festival is like a Chinese Valentine’s day for them. After the Chinese spring festival, this is the most important for them. The three-day long festival is filled with light across the country. Celebrating this day means shedding off outdating ways and welcoming the future. So, if you are lucky enough to visit this place during lantern festival you are going to have an experience of a lifetime, as Discovery Channel put it.
Now that you have seen the most popular festival that attracts people from all over the world, let’s get onto the crazy side too. Check out these unusual festivals, that will drop your jaws…
The Golden Retriever Festival in Scotland –
The most adorable and cutest party you will ever attain. This festival is held by the Golden Retriever Club of Scotland. The festival first started back in 2008 with 188 canines gathered from around the world, at that time that was the largest group ever. But this year, the number has increased by 222 dogs and set a new record. So if you are an owner of these cuties or just want to ogle them on the dog show, visit this place in 16th July 2018.
Mud Festival in Boryeong, South Korea –
This messy, strange and dirty festival is to revive the child in you. Millions of people gather around here each year to embrace the sloppy water in a ten-day event. You can do mud wrestle here as well as enjoy open-air disco, Miss Mud beauty pageant, mud yoga, sport etc. This year the Mud Fest will be held from July 13th to 22nd. Getting dirty will never be this much fun.
The International Highline Meeting Festival, Italy –
Another unique festival that will give you an adrenaline rush for sure. The Highline Meeting Festival is nothing but hanging in hammocks from almost hundreds of feet from the ground. If you are a person of a weak heart, then this festival is not for you. The attendees call themselves “Slackers” because of the slacklines they balance themselves on, meaning the tight ropes can move from side to side and bounce up and down as well. The ropes stretch across between the beautiful Monte Piana Alps holds the slackers up in the sky. Even though the main intention is to hang from these ropes but this festival contains more than that, they have a bar, kitchen and music jam session for entertainment. So, This year the festival would be held on 25-29 July, if you are making plans to go there.
Air Guitar World Championship, Finland –
Now, how many of you have tried to play invisible instruments, if the answer is more than average, then there’s a festival for you. This festival held from 22 to 24 August in Oulu, Northern Finland. The rule for this competition is very simple. One, you have to make it look like you are actually playing the guitar, two, stage presentation is the second priority and then come the weirdest one, you have to maintain the “airness”. If you can handle all of these then you are settled to be the next champion.
Here you have it, the most bizarre events that you can attain to embrace your crazy side.
Festivals fill colours in our black and white daily hectic routine
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