Falstaff reveals the top 5 festivals around the world you should add to your bucket list. If you want to immerse yourself in a different culture, these are the best festivals to attend.
With the wildest parties and unbeatable vibes, the Carnival is considered "the greatest show on earth" which attracts around 5 million people annually. The Brazil festival takes place in February or March and there is a non-stop extravaganza of drums, dance and debauchery.
Carnival is celebrated in many countries, but nobody can beat Rio de Janeiro. Three words summarize exactly this Brazilian celebration: colourful, extraordinary, and lively. There are annual themes for the competition, and the carnival parades are usually the stuff of legend.
Songkran is Thailand’s most famous festival, and this water festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. Songkran means ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’. Thai people believe that water cleanses any bad luck from the past year and blesses people with luck for the future.
Over the years, the emphasis of the festival has shifted from a spiritual and religious meaning to enjoyment. The famous festival becomes a huge water fight, taking place in April, which happens to be Thailand’s hottest month of the year.
Travelling the world is only a fun and exciting adventure if you have a chance to discover different cultures. Joining Obon is a great way to have a fantastic time with others while tangibly engaging with local customs. Obon is held from 13-15 of either July or August, depending on the region.
During Obon, guiding the spirits of the dead back to their homes is essential. Family members hang lanterns in front of their home and make offerings at the household altar. At the end of the festival, the lanterns are released into the nearest body of water with hope that the spirits can return to their world.
Semana Santa is the name of the famous Spanish annual festival that can literally be translated as "Holy Week". The most renowned and liveliest Semana Santa celebrations are in Andalucia. You would witness one of the most spiritual moments where housands of people take part in processions as massive floats carrying religious statues are brought to the church in traditional music.
Rooted in the Christian tradition, the mood of the processions changes over the week. The most colourful and joyous processions take place on Easter Sunday.
On the day of Holi, the entire streets and towns turn beautifully in red, green and yellow as people throw coloured powder into the air and splash them on others. Red means love and fertility while green stands for new beginnings. People celebrate by having large bonfires, singing and dancing on the eve of the festival.
The date falls typically in March, but sometimes late February of the Gregorian calendar. Known as one of the biggest religious festivals around the world, Holi festival is a springtime celebration of all things good prevailing over evil. It also marks the end of winter and the anticipatory celebration of the abundance of the upcoming harvest season.
We've all been cooped up for such a long time. All the more reason to think about once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
