Tossing tomatoes, hiding behind masks in medieval dresses, terrifying the winter and banish it? What is the story behind these strange habits? Today we brought you some interesting pictures and stories about holidays, beliefs and traditions from all over the world.
Are you ready for a fascinating cultural journey?
1. Yi Peng Lantern Festival, Thailand
Yi Peng or Yee Peng, this wonderful unique Festival is celebrated in Chiang Mai, in November, every year. It is held on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month every year, which normally means mid-way through November, but this can vary. Locals believe that this is the time when the moon is at its brightest and the rivers are filled to their fullest, so this is the best time light a lantern or set a floating “kratong off on the Ping River and make a wish.
2. Holi Festival, India
Holi is a Hindu festival, that marks the beginning of spring. The holiday symbolizes the victory of good over evil, end of winter and it is celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. “Witness the beauty of the great cupid festival which excites curiosity as the townsfolk are dancing at the touch of brownish water thrown … Everything is colored yellowish red and rendered dusty by the heaps of scented powder blown all over,” written by the Indian emperor, Harsha.
3. Day of the Dead, Mexico
The origins of the Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos) – celebrated in entire Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage all over the world – go back in time some 3000 years, to the Aztec times. Upon dying, a person was believed to travel to the Land of the Dead called, Chicunamictlán. A person’s soul could reach the final resting place, Mictlán only after getting through nine challenging levels. The belief is that spirits return to the world of the living, for one day. The spirits are greeted with offerings of their favorite food and drinks.
4. Carnival of Venice, Italy
The origins of the Venice Carnival are found in two different ancient traditions: the Latin Saturnalia and the Greek Dionysian cults – major religious festivals involving the use of masks and symbolic representations. The world-famous masks have always been important elements of the carnival. They are made of leather, porcelain or using the original glass technique. The Carnival ends with an important Christian event, the start of Lent, 40 days before Easter.
5. Fuji Shibazakura, Japan
This amazing festival, the Fuji Shibazakura Matsuri is the best occasion to see the wonderful Japanese flowers called shibazakura (phlox moss or pink moss in English) with the breathtaking view of Fuji Mountain. The event is usually held from mid-April until early June. Nearly 800,000 stalks of shibazakura of white, pink and purple colors ensure the unforgettable experience.
6. La Tomatina, Spain
La Tomatina is probably one of the craziest festivals in the world. The tradition started in 1945 August, in the Valencian town, Bunol, where the Giants and Big-Heads parade was held. Some young boys wanted to get closer to the stage and be a part of the festivities and they accidentally pulled down one of the participants who landed in the middle of a market stall full of vegetables. People began to pick up the fruits and vegetables and pelt each other with them until the local forces ended the vegetable war. In the following year a group of young people arrived with dozens of tomatoes to the festival…
7. Harbin Snow and Ice Festival, China
The Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is the largest ice and snow festival in the world. It is held in China, Harbin on January 5 every year. Its history dates back to the last century and became the most important festivals in the region, and even in the country by attracting nearly 18 million visitors on an annual basis.
8. Up Helly Aa Fire Festival, Scotland
The Up Helly Aa Fire Festival is held in the Shetland Islands of Scotland annually. The festival’s origins date back to the early 1800s: “Groups of young men in disguise would drag barrels of lighted tar on sledges through the streets of the islands’ capital, Lerwick. Burning tar often spilled as the men tried to navigate sledges along the narrow streets, causing damage to properties.”
Tar-barrelling was banned in 1874 in an attempt to stop such practices. The young men refined their activities, resulting in the first Up Helly Aa torchlight procession in 1881.” written on Historic Environment Scotland’s blog.
9. Busójárás, Hungary
Busójárás is a unique cultural event of the Hungarian countryside. It takes place in Mohács, every year, in February. According to legend, the origins of this festival are from the Ottoman times of the territory (1541-1699) when the villagers decided to recapture their fields from the invaders, using scary masks and costumes. Busójárás has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the UNESCO in 2009.
10. Octoberfest, Germany
Octoberfest is the largest beer festival in the world. The 16-18 day folk festival takes place in Munich, Bavaria, Germany every year starts from mid or late September. The very first ‘Octoberfest’ was the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig (later become King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese. All the citizens of Munich were invited to the celebration. Since then it became Germany’s main festival with more than 6 million attendees.
11. Running of the Bulls, Spain
Another crazy festival from Spain, which is even more dangerous than La Tomatina. The San Fermin Running of the Bulls is a really old festival, dating back to the 13th century, but it is known to have continued uninterrupted since 1592 when the Festival was moved from October to July. The San Fermin Festival was originally a number of festivals merged together: the religious celebration of San Fermin, a bullfighting festival and other commercial festivals. Nowadays thousands of brave visitors from around the world travel to Pamplona every year to participate in the festival.
12. Rio Carnival, Brazil
Copacabana, cocktails, and samba? Of course, we are talking about Rio.
But did you know that the Carnival of Rio was a food festival originally? The legend says that even the word ‘Carnaval’ was derived from the expression ‘carne vale’ which means ‘farewell the meat’. The music and the dance of the country is a cultural mix of Portuguese and the Africans that is why it is so unique. Today the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro is considered the largest carnival in the world.
13. Inti Raymi, Peru
The Inti Raymi (Sun Festival) is a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti. This was their New Year celebration and the most important Incan festival. Back in time, the festival involved a number of animal and even human sacrifices. Nowadays Inti Raymi is celebrated by indigenous cultures with music, colorful costumes, and shared food.
14. Feast of Anastenaria, Bulgaria & Greece
The Anastenaria festival is a traditional 3-day festival which has various processions, fire-walking ritual, music, dancing and animal sacrifice. This unique annual ritual, performed by Bulgarian and Greek villagers begins on May 21 and ends on May 23 every year.
