Many tourists who go on vacation abroad prefer not just mindlessly lying on the beach or looking out of the window at exotic landscapes, but witnessing some unforgettable holiday or event that does not exist in their home country. We can safely say that in every state there is something similar. After all, every nation has its own traditions, to which many foreigners who have come to their homeland on vacation dream of joining at least for a while.
A list of some of them with a small description is attached below as a kind of guide to the most unusual holidays celebrated in different parts of the Earth.
January 11 - International Thank You Day
January 11 should be dubbed the most "polite" date of the year without any exaggeration. It is on this day that the International Thank You Day is celebrated. Each of the people on Earth, in whatever country he lives, miraculously realizes the high importance of decent manners, their indispensability in everyday life. Here are just the lion's share of thanks we sound as if by accident, not really delving into their meaning.
But in fact, any word of gratitude uttered in response to a good deed has an almost mystical meaning and has a truly magical quality. With the help of a polite attitude to each other, people are able not only to express their attention, but also to give joy to others. And this, you see, is not the last thing in our already tense and nervous life, which, without banal signs of politeness, can turn into a gloomy and meager existence.
Carnival in Argentina
This entertainment event is one of the longest celebrations not only in Argentina itself, but throughout the world. Starting on the first Saturday in January, carnivals continue for more than two months every Saturday and last until early March. Local residents call this time nothing more than "the time of love and carnivals." During the Argentine carnivals, the streets of her cities are transformed. They are filled with cheerful dancers, whose repertoire is dominated by eye-catching dazzling South American dances.
There is no corner where the loud beat of drums and the rhythms of sultry samba would not sound. But the main "feature" of the carnival is the grandiose procession, the participants of which put on colorful feathers, all kinds of rhinestones, shining scraps of fabric and do not stop dancing throughout the marathon. Also, an important role in the demonstration is played by giant man-made figures, thanks to which everyone's favorite atmosphere of celebration and fun appears at the carnival.
Flower Festival in Thailand
Many tourists going on vacation to Thailand try to combine it with the world famous Flower Festival, which is celebrated every year in the city of Chiang Mai, located in the north of the state. Starting on the first Friday of February, it is celebrated for three days. Thanks to the festival, a small town by conventional standards turns into a source of fun and joy, gushing with a fountain and covering everyone who decides to take part in an unusual holiday. The streets of Chiang Mai during the Flower Festival are filled with crowds of people walking, among whom there are a large number of musicians who play their instruments without interruption.
Like a multi-colored river emerging from its channel, the celebrants scatter along the streets and avenues of the city. Tourists arriving these days immediately pour into the common cheerful stream to make it even more full-flowing. At this time, millions of the most diverse flowers are carried along Chingmai. The fairer sex is trying to win the hearts of those around them with an unusual abundance of national costumes, which they sewed with their own hands for the holiday. Indeed, at the end of the Festival, a fastidious jury will choose the most beautiful of the girls, who will be proclaimed the queen of flowers.
Maslenitsa
For Russians Maslenitsa is something familiar and no one considers it to be the most unusual holidays, but for foreigners it is considered one of the most exotic entertainment events. The holiday that we inherited from our ancient ancestors managed to combine both pagan and Christian motives. In fact, Shrovetide is nothing more than the farewell to winter, which will be replaced by the long-awaited warmth and cheerful renewal of nature in more joyful colors.
The main attribute of Shrovetide is pancakes, which, by the way, have ritual significance. Hot and round, they personify the sun itself, which begins to warm the surrounding world more and more, lengthens the day and drives away despondency and dullness. Despite the centuries that have passed since the first celebration of Maslenitsa, we still celebrate it with no less enthusiasm than our distant ancestors, who, with the arrival of Russian Christianity in the lands, did not dare to abandon such a joyful and cheerful event, adapting it to a new faith.
Cake Day in Iceland
At first, the days preceding Great Lent were traditionally celebrated in Iceland with rich feasts and abundant libations. But already in the 19th century, a new tradition came to the country from Denmark, which was immediately enthusiastically supported by all local residents, and especially bakers. The thing is that these days it has become customary to consume cakes specially prepared for the holiday in incredible quantities, the filling of which consisted of whipped cream, and on top they were poured with icing.
In addition, Icelandic children during the celebration of Cake Day took to the habit of walking the streets, singing songs and begging for the coveted sweets in bakeries on the way. Since then, the cakes, called "Bullur", have become the main product sold in the country a few days before the start of the holiday, which is incredibly pleasing not only for children, but also for older confectionery lovers.
Fallas in Spain
It is customary to celebrate this holiday on the night of March 19-20. It consists in the burning of giant dolls and is a kind of finale for the pyrotechnics parade that began to be celebrated on March 1. Throughout all these days, competitions of the best pyrotechnics are held in cities, who are trying to conquer the surrounding views of the most unforgettable fireworks in their lives. Simultaneously with them, independent teams walk the streets of Spain, whose members traditionally wear black shirts, and check scarves around their necks.
Any unpleasant mischief can be expected from these people. They, not really thinking about the consequences, are ready to throw a firecracker or a bomb under the feet of any passer-by.At the same time, they absolutely do not care if the tourists they come across are familiar with the rules for celebrating Fallas or not. And the locals themselves are happy to contribute to the transformation of their hometown into a kind of rumbling volcano shooting with crackers.
Floral marathon
Celebrated in the capital of Great Britain on April 14 every year. In fact, this marathon is an ordinary sporting event, but in fact it is something big, long ago turned into the largest street party in the world.
The marathon distance is 26.2 miles. Throughout its entire length, drums are thundering, street performances and performances are taking place, and everyone can watch the sports procession from the windows of numerous pubs, whose regulars support the marathon participants with loud shouts. Every self-respecting London organization, no matter how small it is, tries to prepare its own performance for the holiday, which can be seen by any of the guests or residents of the city.
Flower contest
At the end of April, a grandiose flower parade is held in the Netherlands. Numerous moving platforms decorated with floral displays travel forty-two kilometers. This tradition of holding a flower contest appeared in the late forties of the last century. People who were tired after World War II wanted to take part in some unusual and bright holiday.
The route of the parade runs through the cities of the so-called "bulbous" region of Holland, such as Noordwijk, Hilleg, Haarlem, Lisse and others. The holiday is held for several days at the end of April, during the flowering period of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and other flowers belonging to the bulbous family.
Whiskey Festival UK
While the Spring and Labor Day is celebrated in Russia and a number of other countries, the progressive society of Scotland celebrates the national Whiskey Festival from May 1 to 3. And all because this drink is almost the only product that all Scots are proud of and which is known all over the world. Only these days ordinary people are allowed to visit the territory of the most famous factories producing elite whiskey brands.
Usually no one from the street is allowed into the holy of holies. But visitors are interested not so much in the process of producing their favorite alcoholic beverage as in its tasting, since only on festival days they can taste the best varieties of aromatic whiskey belonging to rare brands.
Parrot Festival in France
Every first Sunday in May, about forty crossbowmen from all over France gather in Haute-Garonne. Dressed in medieval costumes, they try to shoot an arrow at a seven-kilogram parrot sitting at the top of a long mast, which is 45 meters high. Anyone who manages to shoot the unfortunate bird automatically takes the place of the king of the holiday. This tradition is rooted in history. Several centuries ago, the inhabitants of the city of Courtray, located in Flanders, had to fight off the siege of the French knights.
For many years, it was believed that it was almost impossible to cope with riders dressed in armor at long distances - ordinary arrows fired from bows were not able to pierce their armor. However, the inhabitants of the city were armed with crossbows, with which they shot the knights like partridges in the forest.
Cat Festival in Belgium
This festival is an old Belgian tradition, the origins of which go back to the distant Middle Ages. In those days, cats were considered the fiends of hell, and getting rid of them was the most important thing for all self-respecting superstitious Christians. Today the festival is held in May in the city of Ypres, where toy cats and cats are thrown in large numbers from a high bell tower into a crowd of people. All this action is accompanied by spectacular costume performances and parades with the participation of people dressed as cats.
Montreal International Jazz Festival
For over thirty years, Montreal has hosted one of the most popular festivals jazz, which is the dream of all fans of this musical direction. It was even included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest of its kind in the world. The Jazz Festival is almost the only attraction of this Canadian city, the streets, squares, cafes and restaurants of which during it turn into real concert venues.
Festival of Lights in Cuba
Held from 3 to 9 July in Santiago, located in the east of Liberty Island. The highlight of the holiday is the enchanting performance of fakirs, illusionists, pyrotechnics and other "masters" of fire. Especially beautiful is the spectacle of night Santiago, on the boulevards of which "fiery performances" are held, all kinds of games with fire, and any disco is held under the light of flaming torches. Each night of the Festival of Lights ends with a majestic fireworks display that can bring aesthetic pleasure to any fan of “fiery” shows.
Tomatina in Spain
The second name of this holiday sounds like the Battle of Tomatoes. Tomatina is held in the last week of August and is a kind of farewell to the outgoing summer. The "Tomato Festival" is held in the city of Bunyol. Like most Spanish holidays, it is accompanied by dancing, fireworks, music and traditional "freebies" treats. The jolly festival begins with the clapping of a firecracker, which is thrown from the City Hall on Wednesday at 11 o'clock sharp. At this time, trucks, bodies of which are filled with tomatoes, enter the streets of Bunyola. Immediately, all the inhabitants of the city rush to them, grab ripe tomatoes and begin to throw them at everyone.
Surprisingly stupid and senseless holiday, but very bright and cheerful. In addition, it also has some psychological peculiarity - thanks to throwing tomatoes, a person can get emotional relaxation and vent his anger on unfortunate tomatoes and people in which they can be happily launched.
Oktoberfest in Germany
Beginning in Munich on the third weekend of September, the largest beer festival in the world is rightfully the dream of any alcoholic. For 16 days here you can taste an unimaginable amount of a foamy drink, snacking on them with traditional Bavarian sausages and sausages. The birthday of Oktoberfest is October 12, 1810, when the wedding of Princess Teresa of Saxony and Crown Prince Ludwig the First took place. All Munich residents were invited to the holiday, for whom free beer was displayed, and horse races were organized as spectacles.
Sweets Day in USA
Every third Saturday in October, Americans celebrate Sweets Day with pleasure. Its roots go back to 1922, when a compassionate Cleveland pastry chef named Herbert Kingston decided to arrange a holiday for everyone who was going through hard times in those days - orphans, the poor and other people in need.
Karva Chow in India
In October, residents of India, as well as Indians outside its borders, celebrate the traditional Karva Choout, which is a festival of all married women. On this day, all married Indian women fast, refusing to eat or drink. Thus, they supposedly wish their husbands a long life. This ritual speaks of the devotion of Indian women to their husbands, for the sake of whom they agree to give up their own needs for the welfare of their beloved spouses.
Yule
Celebrated in late December and is one of the most beloved holidays in Scandinavia. Despite the fact that Yule is in fact a purely pagan ritual, the Vikings and their descendants do not consider it shameful to celebrate it along with Christian holidays. However, as in our case with everyone's favorite carnival. It is believed that on the days of Yule, the gods descend to earth, all kinds of mythical creatures come into contact with ordinary people, and the dead leave their Lower World for a while.
Camel festival
Held in January in India.The festival begins with a bright parade of festively dressed up camels, one of which is able to enchant the audience with its brilliance and exoticism. Further on the holiday, all kinds of competitions take place, accompanied by music and fun. This festival reaches a special celebration in Delhi, where a military parade takes place. Horses, elephants and, of course, camels, fighting and dressed in bright blankets, taking part in it take the audience back centuries, to the heroic past of the country.
Thaipusam holiday
The holiday is celebrated in January in Singapore. On this day, every self-respecting local resident can make a wish, and the gods will certainly fulfill it. And those who want his dream to come true as soon as possible can make an unusual sacrifice to the higher powers. For example, having entered oneself into a religious trance, pierce the cheeks or tongue with a silver needle, personifying the spear "led", with the help of which Muruga was able to drive away the evil demons-asuras.
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
The holiday takes place in February in Trinidad, five days before the start of Lent. In appearance, the carnival strongly resembles the famousBrazilian, but it also has a number of significant differences. For example, it is performed to the music of calypso and the play of so-called steelbands - orchestras consisting of "steel drums".
Dead Rat Ball
Every second Saturday in March, an unusual celebration is held in Ostend, Belgium - the Ball of the Dead Rat. Despite such a frightening name, there is nothing wrong with it. It's just that everyone who decides to take part in the holiday is obliged to cast aside all fashion trends and dress up in the most challenging and colorful costume. This masquerade has its roots in 1896, when the Brotherhood of the Dead Rat decided to create something unusual so that it would be possible to spend time as fun and carefree as possible.
Songkran Festival
Songkran is the start of the Thai New Year and is celebrated in April. On this day, everyone pours water over each other. This ritual refers to the ritual purification adopted in Buddhism. It is especially hard for foreign tourists, who, apparently, are considered by the locals to be the most vicious and require cleansing.
Pyrotechnic show "Scoppio Del Carro"
On April days, on the day of the celebration of Catholic Easter, an unusual parade called "Scoppio del Carro" takes place in Florence. A rocket in the shape of a dove is carried across the city on a large armband, led by two dazzling white oxen. She even has her own name - Columbine. After the archbishop consecrates the rocket, a huge number of fireworks are lit from it in the central square of the city, thanks to which the holiday becomes truly unforgettable.
Rhine in the lights
For more than seven decades, in all German cities along the banks of the Rhine and Moselle rivers, so-called "wine" festivals have been held in September, the main highlight of which is the pyrotechnic performance that takes place in the evenings.
The effect of the fire show seen is enhanced by the reflections of fireworks and fireworks in the river water. The audience standing on the shore watches with delight the ships sailing by, showered with colorful sparks. And high in the sky amazing fiery flowers “bloom”, refreshing coastal historical buildings with some mystical light - palaces, fortresses, castles, colorful ruins.
Temple procession
The temple procession, or in Japanese "Sanja Matsuri", takes place in Tokyo in May. Almost two million people, who are representatives of this or that Buddhist temple (mikoshi), rush to take part in the holiday. This procession is called "temple" because its participants carry copies of Japanese temples on a stretcher.Moreover, no model should weigh more than 220 kg.
In total, about a hundred mikoshi are represented in the festive procession. Sanja Matsuri is also a holiday of the Japanese national costume. On this day, residents walk the streets of Tokyo dressed in the outfits of geisha, medieval musicians and dancers, samurai and other traditional clothes.
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