A variety of holidays and festivals are held around the world every year, differing from each other. national characteristics different peoples of the world. There are a great many such events that have made a great impression on the whole world and are interesting excursions with dances, parades and all kinds of entertainment.
This is a popular holiday that is celebrated not only in the United States of America, but also in Europe. At its core, Mardi Gras is somewhat reminiscent of the Russian Shrovetide, but it is in New Orleans that it is celebrated more than chic. The Mardi Gras festival turns here into a grandiose carnival procession with colorful costumes and noisy festivities. The most interesting event of the holiday is the Bacchus parade, which consists of several platforms, each of which depicts one of the vicious entertainments in fantastic costumes. The most striking performances take place on Charles Avenue and the Garden District.
This is one of the most famous festivals in the world, which is watched every year by millions of people on our planet. The Brazilian carnival, which takes place before the start of Lent, is celebrated throughout the country on a grand scale, but the most enchanting performance can be seen in Rio de Janeiro. The symbol of the country and the carnival is the incendiary samba dance, which absolutely all Brazilians can dance. The holiday is accompanied by rhythmic music, national songs, a huge number of beautiful girls in open costumes with bright feathers and the most unpredictable entertainment shows. The festival passes through the streets of the city for 5 days, during which all the inhabitants of the country are released from work and are completely transferred to the cheerful atmosphere of the great holiday.
Every year on April 30, Amsterdam celebrates the Coronation Day of the reigning Queen Beatrix, as well as the birthday and memory of Queen Mother Juliana. This event lasts exactly one day throughout the Netherlands, but the most significant events take place in Amsterdam. The festival starts from the royal palace and moves around the city with a huge orchestra, traveling attractions and theatrical performances. The brightest symbol of the holiday is the parade of flowers, marching from the city of Aalsmeer to Amsterdam. On this significant day, numerous shops and markets with souvenirs, flowers and other goods open all the streets of the city, attracting tourists with good discounts and bright slogans. All the inhabitants of the country put on costumes orange flowers and drink national drinks for the health of the beloved queen.
Camel Festival in Bikaner
This is very unusual holiday the Indian state of Rajestan, which is celebrated annually in early January and lasts three days. The festival is a camel parade with beauty contests, dances and exotic shows. On the same days, you can see a camel race on the desert dunes of the surroundings, and the whole fire show ends with an impressive fireworks display on the last night of the holiday. Most of all, the camel festival is notable for the special haircuts of animals, which are made in the form of real works of art and unrealistic paintings. For the sake of such a spectacle, these days not only residents of nearby countries and cities come here, but also foreign tourists who want to see the true art of camel hairdressers with their own eyes. This bright event is accompanied by beautiful Indian dances and songs that we see so often in the movies.
This is another famous, but no less exotic holiday held in Japan. The name of the festival is translated as "iron penis", which actually fully reflects the essence of the celebration. The people of Japan proclaim this day as a holiday of fertility and childbearing. The procession of the festival begins in the temple of the city of Kawasaki, which served as a place of prayer for prostitutes asking for protection from various diseases associated in one way or another with their work. The Kanamara Matsuri holiday lasts for seven whole days, during which a huge number of various sculptures of the male genital organ of different sizes and colors are carried around the city, and all kinds of souvenirs of this subject are sold. The most significant procession of multi-colored phalluses takes place on the last day of the festival, which ends the celebration of this object.
This is a spectacular Spanish festival, celebrated in the Catalan town of Tarragon, not far from Barcelona. The festival takes place twice a year and is a mass show of living sculptures. Many people call this holiday in their own way: some consider it a kind of sport, others think that it is art, and still others consider it to be entertainment. All of them are right about something, but they are also all fascinated watching the human pyramids being built, trying to outdo the rival teams and build the tallest human sculpture. In honor of this ancient Spanish tradition, a statue of human castells was built in Barcelona, which today is an attractive attraction of the resort. All spectators with bated breath follow the figures of the living towers under construction and sincerely rejoice at its successful completion. Often the last "details" of the tower are the children who complete the construction of the entire structure. The whole process is accompanied by a certain musical composition, and the audience evaluates the height of the structure and awards a prize to the most daring teams.
This is a unique holiday of pain, which is celebrated annually in one of the Indian cities of Parani. This is an ancient custom that allows Hindus to receive the blessings of the gods. This festival is dedicated to the god of war, who is traditionally given a spear that killed a powerful demon. All participants of the festival hurt themselves by piercing their cheeks, tongue, skin of the back and in other ways, in order to attach special hooks with ropes, at the end of which heavy weights are tied. It is them that the inhabitants of Parani are trying to move, trying to hurt themselves as much as possible. pain. This holiday is celebrated in January or February every year. There is also a mass celebration of the traditional festival, when several thousand Hindus dance the sacred kavadi dance. Such a spectacle looks frightening and cruel, so not all tourists can stand watching the performance of true Hindus.
Tomatina is a favorite holiday of all Spaniards, held in the last week of August in honor of the outgoing summer. Like all Spanish festivals, Tomatina is accompanied by active musical rhythms, dances, fireworks, national treats and other entertainment. However, the main event of the holiday is considered to be a tomato massacre, which is held in the town square of Bunol. Every year at this time, thousands of travelers come here to take part in a grandiose battle, for which more than a hundred tons of tomato shells are used. The only condition in such fights without rules is to avoid injury, for which each tomato must be mashed.
Translated from Sanskrit, the name of the festival sounds like the Fiery Bunch. The holiday symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and lasts for five days. Diwali is celebrated differently in every region of India. In most cases, the festival is dedicated to the goddess Lakshmi, for whom fires are kindled everywhere, offerings with coins in a glass of milk are prepared, windows are opened at night and her blessings are awaited. In other cities, Indians lubricate themselves coconut oil to cleanse themselves of sins, and also perform national prayers before the images of the goddess Kali and lower them into the waters of rivers and reservoirs. But in each of these corners of the country, all the streets are lit up with bright lights and fireworks, people dress up in the best saris and costumes, and houses are transformed into dazzling works of art, decorated with bright floral bouquets and elements.
Although the name of the festival speaks of a sad event, in fact, the holiday is a noisy entertainment and warm family picnics. This festival is celebrated everywhere in early November. At this time, the Mexicans remember the deceased relatives and allow them to return to the family for a short time. To do this, the inhabitants of the country decorate local cemeteries with bright flowers and arrange picnics here, communicating with people who have gone to another world. The next day, various processions are held, people decorate their faces unusual drawings and masks in the form of skulls, as well as dancing, singing and having fun. But in some cities in Mexico, you can also find gloomy funeral processions that once again say goodbye to the dead and let them go to a better world.
Every year on the last day of June, a colorful body art festival is held, where thousands of foreign tourists come from all over the world. This holiday has been celebrated since 1998 and every year makes an indelible impression on the audience. Anyone can become a model for the artists gathered here. The action of the festival takes place against the backdrop of the stunning nature of the Austrian Alpine villages, picturesque mountains and the fabulous beauty of lakes. At the end of each day, a luxurious procession of painted models takes place along a special podium.
Every month of the year, some major festival takes place around the world. In this article, I talked about the most famous and unusual festivals in the world.
The best and most unusual festivals in the world 2016 - 2017
Festivals… So much in one word: dancing people, great music, festive atmosphere, fun and relaxation. Festivals are held all over the world and are dedicated to various occasions: religion, New Year celebrations, art, etc.
Every month there is a festival somewhere in the world. People get together and cheerfully celebrate this or that event. If you do not like large crowds of people in one place, then perhaps this entertainment is not for you.
But if you like being wet, dirty, dancing late and enjoying the energy of tens of thousands of people, then for you I have compiled a list of the most famous festivals in the world.
Carnival (February)
Carnival is literally a giant party that takes place shortly before Lent. The Brazilian Carnival is the most famous and crowded. Crowds of people flock to Brazil in February to dance, swim, drink and have a good time instead. If Las Vegas is called the city of sins, then Carnival is a celebration of sins. alternative brazilian carnival could serve as Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Holi (March)
Holi is the Indian festival of colors. Celebrated the day after the full moon in early March, it is dedicated to fertility and good harvests. It is also a holiday in honor of the victory of good over evil, and it was not without Krishna. Holi can last up to 16 days, depending on where you celebrate it. There will be music, food and, of course, mutual throwing colors at each other at the festival.
Songkran (mid-April)
Thai New Year is one of the most happy Holidays which I have visited. For 3 days the whole country is literally immersed in fun. Water fights are happening everywhere. You will not be able to walk a couple of meters, so as not to be doused. No one will be spared. Old and young - all happily water each other. It's an unforgettable feeling when a nice old lady apologizes and pours a 2-liter bottle on you. cold water. Most of all I liked to ride around on the Tuk-Tuk with a water pistol and engage in second fights with passers-by.
Bay to Breakers (May)
I do not know the Russian equivalent for the name of this festival, and for the festival itself, too. See for yourself, Bay to Breakers is an annual marathon held in San Francisco on the third Sunday in May. You need to walk / run 7.46 miles (12 kilometers). Everything would be fine, but it looks like an excuse for an extra reason to get drunk and dress like a freak. This is a crowded event and is more like a march or demonstration than a sports marathon. Don't be surprised if you see naked people.
Glastonbury (June)
Every summer in June Pilton in England turns into the stage of one of the biggest music festivals in the world. Glastonbury is primarily known for contemporary music, but it also features comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and more. Approximately 175,000 people come here every year for the music and drunken brawl. Huge territories turn into real tent cities.
Swedish Midsummer (June)
During summer solstice Swedes go out and celebrate the beginning of summer. It doesn't get warm that often in the north, and when summer starts, people get really excited. Swedes dance, eat fish, drink a lot of beer and enjoy the longest day of the year. They also have a nice festival in honor of spring.
La Tomatina (August)
Within an hour, 20,000 people throw tomatoes at each other like snowballs. Splashes of red juice fly around, flies buzz, people scream. It's fun, it's dirty. Didn't any of you in your childhood dream of getting well-made? After you've had enough of the tomatoes, you can take a bath in the river and then join the party where the tables are heaped with food and sangria.
Burning Man (August)
At the end of August, tens of thousands of people gather in the Nevada desert for the Burning Man festival. 6 days in tents (give me water!), art, music, interesting people. And at the end they burn a big wooden man (hence the name of the festival).
Oktoberfest (September)
People from all over the world are attracted to this annual festival in Munich - rivers of beer, huge clay mugs, big pretzels sprinkled with salt, beautiful girls. I don't know a single person who stays there longer than 3-4 days and I promise these days will be the foggiest of your life.
Day of the Dead (November)
Papier-mache skeletons, caramel skulls - this is the Mexican festival Day of the Dead is one of the most famous festivals in the world. Participants spend the day cleaning up family graves, decorating them with candles and flowers, dancing and picnicking everywhere. A rather strange combination of holiday and commemoration.
All over the world, regardless of the time of year and month, people are celebrating. I have been to most of these festivals and my dream is to visit all the best festivals in the world. Festivals are not only a way to have fun, but also to get to know the culture of another country outside the usual scope of sightseeing.
Throughout the year, dozens of national and regional holidays are celebrated in Russia, hundreds of different festivals are held. We will name only the most interesting of them, collecting the largest number guests.
Russian folk holidays
Recently, in Russia, the custom of celebrating Russian folk holidays. Most of them came from the fusion of religious celebrations with ancient pagan traditions.
Maslenitsa- a week before Lent, when, according to Orthodox rules, you can no longer eat meat, but you can do everything else, so all 7 days in a row housewives bake pancakes and serve them with caviar and fish, with sour cream and honey, make pancake pies or wrap them in pancakes different fillings. Religious traditions were superimposed on the ancient pagan holiday of seeing off winter and welcoming spring, which in its meaning corresponds to the European carnival. Folk festivals, concerts are held all week, and the holiday ends with the burning of a carnival effigy and forgiveness sunday. Maslenitsa is celebrated all over Russia these days, but most of all tourists are attracted by celebrations in, in, in - in, in - in Toropets, as well as on, where a special "Siberian Shrovetide" is held.
Mermaid Week- following the feast of the Holy Trinity. The Slavs believed that these days mermaids can go ashore. Every year, in the city on the banks of the Kamenka River, young girls weave wreaths and float them on the water, dance around fires, tell fortunes and sing old songs.
July 8 is celebrated day of Peter and Fevronia, which became a model Christian family. Since 2008, it has become the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity - one of official holidays Russia. It is best to go on this day to the ancient one, where, according to legend, this couple ruled and where this day is celebrated especially widely.
Holidays of other peoples of Russia
In late January - early February in Buryatia they celebrate New Year By lunar calendar - Sagaalgan. At this time, folk festivals take place, and tourists manage to get to know Buryat traditions better.
March 22 on the day spring equinox celebrate the New Year in - they celebrate " Chyl Pazy"Arriving on this day in the republic, you can see local rituals, try Khakass dishes, take part in folk games.
From the last days of May to the end of June, every year a day is appointed to celebrate a very popular Tatar, Bashkir and Chuvash holiday " Sabantuy", which even received the status of a state. A celebration dedicated to the completion of the spring field work(the name is usually translated as "plow festival"), and, probably, even earlier - the annual meeting of the elders of nomadic tribes, today it has turned into fun folk festivals with horsemen competitions, bag fights, music and dances. To participate in this holiday, you should go to Kazan or any other locality of Tatarstan.
Between June 10 and June 25 (the date is approved every year by a special decree), in the capital of the Republic of Yakutia, the city celebrates the arrival of warmth and the revival of nature - a pagan holiday "Ysyakh". During this holiday, tourists have the opportunity to watch traditional prayers, see horse races and drink real koumiss.
On the last Sunday of September, the Itelmen holiday takes place " Alhalalalai": since ancient times, the indigenous people of these lands thanked nature for giving them a harvest, and celebrated the completion of the annual agricultural cycle. Usually, the main action takes place in a large meadow a few kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: they organize a fair there, hold various competitions and even a dance marathon that lasts almost a day .
art festivals
On the eve of the Epiphany in mid-January, the city organizes a festival of bell art every year " crystal chimes". Professional Russian and foreign ringers take part in it. As part of this holiday, master classes are held, concerts are held.
Arts Festival" cherry forest" is held annually from the end of April to the end of May and combines various genres: painting, cinema, literature, music and theater.
Film Festival " Kinotavr"was organized by Mark Rudinshtein and Oleg Yankovsky in 1989, and since then has been held annually in early June in the Krasnodar Territory in the city, which attracts hundreds of filmmakers and thousands of spectators from all over the world.
Moscow International Film Festival invites guests every year in the second half of June, almost immediately after the "Kinotavr". It lasts 10 days, has international status and is the oldest in the world after Venice.
All-Russian Rock Festival " Invasion"is organized annually by the Nashe Radio radio station at the very beginning of July. Having begun its history in 1999, today the festival has become the largest rock event in the country, tens of bands and hundreds of thousands of spectators take part in it.
Grushinsky festival- The All-Russian Festival of Author's Song named after Valery Grushin is held every year, usually at the beginning of July. Performers, ensembles, art song clubs take part in it.
At the beginning of September every year in the ethnocomplex " Village Ataman"A festival of Cossack culture is being held" Legends of Taman". For several days in a row, Cossacks from the surrounding villages demonstrate the art of riding, show their dances, sing songs.
Historical reconstructions
In early August, an international festival of military-historical reconstruction and medieval culture is held in iron hail". Usually historical clubs from Russia, near and far abroad, who are fond of reconstructions of the XIV-XVI centuries, take part in it. Military tournaments, medieval fashion shows, concerts, fairs are held during the festival.
For more than half a century, on the last days of August and the first week of September, the International Military History Festival has been held in the Mozhaisk region on the Borodino field. Borodin Day": military-historical clubs from all over Russia and from abroad are reenacting the great battle. The climax comes on Sunday, when "military operations" begin on the field, and the holiday ends with a grandiose parade.
On the third weekend of September in the Kulikovo field and in the village of Monastyrshchina, the anniversary Battle of Kulikovo: they make a theatrical reconstruction of the battle, organize demonstration tournaments, exhibitions, concerts.
Sports events
In early February, every year the All-Russian Mass Ski Race " Russian ski track", in which more than 70 regions of the country from Yakhroma to Yakutsk, from Arkhanelsk to Chita take part. Hundreds of thousands of ski fans go to the start to run 5-10 kilometers.
At the beginning of March, a curious international race takes place in Kalevala"dog sledding is the longest in the European part of Russia. The route of 440 kilometers, which the participants of the competition overcome in 7 days, is laid through places associated with the folk epic "Kalevala".
At the end of September, not far from the Guamka farm, you can take part in the festival " rebirth"Several days lovers active rest compete in rock climbing, orienteering, cross-country cycling and other similar "adrenoline" entertainment.
Other festivals
"sky fair"- the ballooning festival is held annually in the last week of June - at the beginning of July in the city: dozens of bright beautiful balloons soar into the sky.
In mid-August, it is worth visiting where a fireworks festival is organized in the Volga "Silver Boat". For the whole evening, the whole sky above the city is covered with multi-colored sparkling lights, which are launched by teams of pyrotechnicians from Russia and abroad. The holiday ends with the celebration of the winners.
10 best festivals of the world on the "Subtleties of Tourism"
All over the world, many major festivals and celebrations are constantly held, attracting not only a huge number of local residents but also many tourists. It's understandable, because it's hard to imagine The best way fully imbued with the atmosphere and culture of the country than attending a traditional holiday. Some of them are not only amazingly large, but also exceptionally unusual in themselves.
Mardi Gras, USA
Mardi Gras is celebrated in the USA and many European countries, and, in general, in most cases this is a fairly peaceful celebration of the world analogue of Shrovetide - but not in New Orleans. Here, what was supposed to be a harmless religious holiday turned into one of the busiest and most colorful carnivals in the world. The celebration begins on January 6th and slowly picks up pace for two weeks until it reaches its climax on Fat Tuesday.
Costumed balls, parties, parades and costume processions are held throughout the holiday. The most interesting of them are the Bacchus parade, where each platform is dedicated to some kind of vicious entertainment - dating, drinking, cards or something else, and the Mardi Gras Indians parade, on the platforms of which you can see absolutely amazing costumes.
If you want to see the real Mardi Gras, on the days of the holiday it is better to go not to the French Quarter, but to the Garden District and Charles Avenue. True, it should be borne in mind that all good places there are usually busy even six hours before the parade.
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Tomatina has long been one of the most visited and fun holidays in all of Spain.
Burning Man, USA
Perhaps this is one of those holidays, the exact description of which is simply impossible to give. It has been running for 25 years in Northern Nevada and year after year its sole purpose is self-expression.
Visitors should remember that the organizers have taken it upon themselves to provide them only with entertainment for the duration of the show. Food, drink and lodging should be taken care of by yourself.
A huge number of musicians, dancers, designers, artists and other creative people of all kinds and stripes gather at the venue and begin to build something, decorate and paint, make installations and dress up with the sole purpose of showing themselves and their art in all its glory. The resulting buildings often look absolutely fantastic, and the participants wear unusual costumes, so that the feeling of an eight-day vacation in a magical land is provided to absolutely all visitors.
Some works are burned by the creators before the end of the show, which is also an amazing sight.
Night Burning Man
Diwali, India
The name of the festival of lights, Diwali, is translated from Sanskrit as "a bunch of fire." The holiday symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and lasts for five days.
Diwali is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India. In most areas, the holiday is dedicated to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and fertility. For her, houses are carefully cleaned, fires are kindled everywhere, offerings are left for her in the form of coins dipped in cups of milk, and windows and doors are left open at night to make it easier for her to enter the house. In the south of the country, instead, Krishnu's victory over the Narakasutra is celebrated. In honor of the holiday, Hindus anoint themselves with coconut oil, which cleanses them of sins. And in the east, Diwali is dedicated to Kali, symbolizing the cult of power. First, prayers are performed before the images of the goddess, and then they are immersed in the waters of ponds and rivers.
Even Muslims celebrate Diwali, only in a slightly different way. On the days of the holiday, they play dice and cards, because it is believed that Lakshmi will definitely bring them good luck.
But something unites all regions of India, regardless of the way of celebration. The streets of all cities and villages are lit up with many lights and fireworks. Combined with the inherent brilliance of India, both in nature and in the attire and decoration of houses, it looks simply stunning.
Day of the Dead, Mexico
Despite its gloomy name, this is an absolutely amazing warm family celebration. It appeared long before the arrival of Spanish culture in Mexico and is closely related to the Mexican mentality. About the special attitude towards death in this country, the writer Octavio Paz once said that “The Mexican, instead of being afraid of death, seeks her company, teases her, flirts with her. It is his favorite toy and enduring love."
On the night before Christmas, in the main square of the city of Oaxaca, you can see a huge number of elegant sculptures made from radishes. This means that the Night of the Radish has come.
The festival is held every year in early November. On these days, the living should remember the dead relatives and give them the opportunity to briefly return to the family. During the holiday, cemeteries richly decorated with flowers become a place for picnics, in which those who have already departed to another world should take part.
All major events take place on the second day of the holiday. Processions are held, the participants of which draw beautiful masks of skulls on their faces. In rare cities, they take place in a solemn funeral atmosphere, but usually Mexicans prefer fun, dances, songs and bright colors that give rise to a truly bewitching grotesque spectacle.
Night of the Radish, Mexico
This is a holiday unique even by Mexican standards. On the night before Christmas, in the main square of the city of Oaxaca, you can see a huge number of elegant sculptures made from radishes. Root vegetables are grown specifically for this holiday, intentionally ensuring that the radishes take on the most bizarre shape and grow to incredible sizes - some reach half a meter in length.
In the hands of skilled craftsmen, radishes are transformed into statues of saints, buildings and figures that make up genre scenes.