Here we are going to talk about the top 10 festivals in the world celebrated in the world. And we’re going to get information about its history that you won’t read anywhere else.
1. Diwali, India
The celebration of holidays is a significant part of people’s cultural lives and symbolizes joy, happiness, and purity. They contain singing, dance, theatrical expression, and other forms of entertainment; they are not homogeneous. However, generally speaking, it can be argued that there are two versions of Diwali on the basis of religion: Jaina Diwali and Brahmanical Diwali. The festival of lights, Diwali, is celebrated in India and is a lively celebration of devotion and joy with different regional variants.
2.DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICO
Despite the fact that these customs are widespread, several parts of the nation also have their own distinctive approaches to remembering the deceased. Since 2016, Mexico City has hosted a raucous parade with performers wearing eye-catching attire, music and dancing, and floats. According to National Geographic, Michoacán is the destination for foodies. La Huasteca Potosina residents enjoy daylong celebrations, whilst Aguascalientes residents enjoy nearly a weeklong festivities that include their yearly skeleton procession, Legends of Mexico. Additionally, students at the University of Guanajuato in Guanajuato build an altar in memory of deceased academics, which is very popular with tourists who like to take pictures of it.
Despite sharing similar traditions (candy, face painting, and community gatherings) and occurring almost simultaneously, Halloween and Day of the Dead are unrelated. While Day of the Dead has its own traditions that go back to the Indigenous people of Mexico and Central America, Halloween has ancient Celtic roots.
Death and the dead were viewed by the Aztecs, Toltecs, and Mayans as a normal part of life that should be revered and enjoyed rather than lamented approximately 3000 years ago. The Nahua people of central Mexico, in particular, held that the deceased undertook a protracted trip to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead. To help them on their journey, the living would bring resources like food and water. The current custom of building altars in one’s home, known as ofrendas, as well as laying offerings at loved ones’ graves were influenced by this practice.
3. SONGKRAN FESTIVAL, THAILAND
In South East Asia, there is a tropical nation called Thailand. It is well known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and mouthwatering cuisine. The Songkran festival is the most significant celebration in Thailand. Thailand is filled with festivities that linger for several days.
The event takes place in April and May. It is thought to be the warmest month in Thailand at this time. The Songkran event tries to purge all the sins and ill luck from the previous year.
Thai culture combines the three other holidays of Chinese New Year, Buddhist Lent, and Water Festival to create Songkran. The Thai people hold the belief that all of their sins will be washed away by the water they use for bathing and washing.
Various parts of Thailand celebrate Songkran in different ways. For instance, the Songkran holiday is celebrated for several days in some parts while it is only observed for a few days in others. During this festival, Chiang Mai is highly well-liked. This reputation stems from Songkran, the most well-known event in the city, which takes place in Chiang Mai’s northern region and is said to endure for six days.
4. SEMANA SANTA, GUATEMALA
The celebration and remembrance of Christ’s passion are held throughout La Semana Santa (Holy Week), often referred to as la Semana Mayor (Major Week). It’s one of the most significant weeks of the year in several countries in Latin America.
Months before Semana Santa, preparations for the event started. Although the exact dates of Holy Week vary from year to year, it always falls in March or April.
Lent serves as the lead-up to Holy Week. Every year, it begins in mid to late February. During this period, Catholics start to get ready for Holy Week by fasting, penance, and other customs like avoiding eating meat on Fridays.
La Semana Santa (Holy Week), commonly referred to as la Semana Mayor (Major Week), is a time to celebrate and remember Christ’s suffering on the cross. It’s among the most significant weeks of the year in many Latin American nations.
Since ancient times, people have observed Semana Santa. The Middle Ages saw the beginning of the custom in Europe. America, the Caribbean, and even some regions of Africa eventually experienced its spread. Holy Week is still observed today in various ways across the globe.
On March 10, 1543, Santiago de Los Caballeros, now known as Antigua Guatemala, witnessed the first Christian procession in Guatemala. It is a religious custom that has been followed for many years.
5. OBON FESTIVAL, JAPAN
Obon is an annual three-day ceremony observed in honor of one’s ancestors and has been a Buddhist custom in Japan for more than 500 years. Families gather during this time as the spirits of the departed visit home altars. Since individuals have started going back to their hometowns and visiting the graves of the deceased, the holiday has evolved into a time for family gatherings. We examine the cultural and spiritual significance of Obon as well as the top locations to experience the celebration.
Obon’s precise roots are unknown, although it is thought that the ceremony originated in India and later traveled to China and other countries of South Asia before arriving in Japan. In it, a follower of Buddha makes contact with the ghost of his mother who has passed away using paranormal abilities. The student was upset and asked the Buddha how to release his mother’s spirit from her suffering after learning that she had gone to the “Realm of Hungry Ghosts” (in Buddhism, a “hungry ghost” is a supernatural being suffering from an insatiable craving for a specific thing, sometimes horrific). Buddha gave him instructions to provide offerings for the monks who were leaving a summer retreat. Then the spirit of his mother was released.
6. HERMANUS WHALE FESTIVAL, SOUTH AFRICA
An annual celebration of the Southern Right whales return to Walkerbay, Hermanus, is held at the Hermanus Whale Event, the only environmental arts festival in South Africa. Although these gentle giants are the major draw, there is a tonne to see, do, eat, and drink at the Hermanus Whale Festival, including vintage vehicles and live music.
Numerous tourists go to Hermanus, the best place in the world for land-based whale viewing, to delight in the festival’s many events, take in the festival’s unique natural surroundings, and see whales while savoring delicious food and enjoying live music.
Over the course of three days, lodgings open their doors, restaurants serve delectable meals, and the people of Hermanus open their hearts to welcome tourists.
7. TSECHUS, BHUTAN
Bhutan, a landlocked nation with a rich and distinctive cultural legacy, is located on the eastern slopes of the Himalayas. Since Bhutan was never colonized, its independence has meant that its traditions have survived the test of time even as it has emerged from seclusion. Buddhism has influenced many of Bhutan’s cultural traditions. It permeates numerous facets of society and is the predominant religion in the nation, including the Tsechu festivals.
These significant religious occasions serve to strengthen community bonds and offer tourists a fantastic opportunity to learn about Bhutanese culture. It’s now simpler than ever to travel to the country and take in the local culture, thanks to Bhutan, a provider of custom, one-of-a-kind travel experiences to the Royal Kingdom of Bhutan. While organizing your vacation, you may quickly browse their travel site to find attractions, events, activities, dining options, and lodging. They will then work with you to determine the ideal experience for your requirements so that you can have a premium trip free of additional fees.
Karma Yonten, a writer for Bhutan and their cultural experience liaison, recently spoke with us about Bhutanese festivals. Yonten, who loves to travel, explains the meaning of Tsechu and what people may expect when they attend these exciting festivals. Read on to learn more about this stunning country and its incredible festivals via My Modern Met’s exclusive interview.
8. MARDI GRAS, NEW ORLEANS, USA
You’d be hard-pressed not to be aware of the great parades and massive celebrations with a celebration as colorful and memorable as Mardi Gras. However, it is absolutely conceivable to be familiar with the spectacle of the time and be completely ignorant of Mardi Gras’s genuine history. You could be aware of how it relates to Easter or that it’s observed in a lot of other nations, and you might have even made a few king cakes. We are here to assist you because it may still be difficult to pinpoint the where, when, and how of Mardi Gras’s history.
Learn some helpful information about Fat Tuesday and the season before it before Lent 2022 begins. By the end, we’re confident you’ll be eager to reserve a seat on the upcoming flight to Louisiana so you may partake in all the exciting and thrilling Mardi Gras customs. Read up on some Mardi Gras history in the interim to learn how this purple, green, and gold celebration got its start.
Mardi Gras’ origins can be traced back thousands of years to pagan spring festivals. The raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia are reminiscent of this day. Religious officials attempted to meld paganism with Christianity to ease the transition once Christianity arrived in Rome. To celebrate before the fasting and solemn season of Lent began, people drank, feasted, danced, and partied.
9. QUÉBEC WINTER CARNIVAL, CANADA
The oldest winter celebration held annually in Canada is the Québec Winter Carnival. The custom of having a party in the middle of winter dates back to New France. The locals would congregate and rejoice before Lent (see Religious Festivals), from the end of January to mid-February, to break up the monotony of winter.
Frank Carrel, the publisher of the Québec Daily Telegraph, came up with the idea for the first organized winter celebration in Québec City, which was staged in 1894. The event was held in the following winters, but the Great Depression, two World Wars, and other calamities prevented it from happening frequently. Since 1954, when it was reintroduced as a part of initiatives to boost the province capital’s economy, the celebration has taken place each winter.
The Québec Winter Carnival celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2014. The event planners made the decision to revive an old custom to commemorate the occasion. The Carnival duchesses made a comeback after more than 18 years of absence, much to some criticism.
From 1955 through 1996, seven young ladies were chosen each year to represent the seven duchies, or districts, of the Québec area. Duchesses were chosen based on their physical characteristics and had to be single. They had to attend multiple fitting sessions as well as diction and manners classes. Following the sale of candles in each of the city’s neighborhoods, one of the duchesses was chosen at random as the Carnival Queen (the sale of Carnival candles is a fundraising campaign that benefits many charitable organizations and community groups). The celebration’s high points were the Carnival Ball and the coronation of the Carnival Queen. Duchesses would take part in a variety of public events during the two-week festivities, give television
10. VENICE CARNIVAL AND THE REGATA STORICA, ITALY
The Venice Historical Regatta is a remarkable competition with roots that are deeply ingrained in the history of Venice, dating back to the second half of the 13th Century. The maritime nation saw the need for skilled oarsmen as essential.
The biggest regatta of the year is the Venice Historical Regatta. Although throughout the year, the other islands and settlements in the Venetian lagoon also host their own regattas. The dates of other regattas are listed at the conclusion of this article. The Regata Storica is held in Venice on the first Sunday in September.
The legendary regatta is held on a Sunday afternoon. The event starts with a formal parade down the Grand Canal of ancient boats with authentically dressed Venetian crew members. The most significant rowing competitions take place in Venice’s numerous neighborhoods.
The admirers and supporters of each neighborhood boat and crew are entertained in and of themselves, much like the well-known Palio of Siena. In fact, a fleet of bone, or traditional long boats, would advance the race, paving the way and keeping order.
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