Want to understand a culture better? Just attend one of its celebrations. Welcome to the wacky world of cultural festivals, which are as integral to society as laws and taxes. Festivals and holidays, of course, break up the normal routine of everyday life, create reasons for parades, allow for exchanging of presents, and provide excuses for large meals. But most important, they allow people to celebrate a significant aspect of their culture — whatever it might be.
The Festival of the Freshwater Squid
Festival of Throwing Things in Belgium
“Battle of the Oranges”, in Ivrea, Italy
La Tomatina in Buñol, Spain
The Wellington boot in Taihape, New Zealand
Festival where people try to throw a gumboot as far as possible
Setsubun in Japan
Holi in India
Festival Falles in Valencia, Spain
Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea
The Pig Parade of Malolos, Phillipines
El Colacho in Spain
Cheese Rolling, Cooper’s Hill, Gloucestershire, England
Chocolate Festival in Kiev, Ukraine
Varuna Yajna ritual, at Sankara Mattham, India
Lorraine Mondial Air Balloons Festival in Chambley, France
Gothic and Steampunk Festival in Leipzig, Germany (Wave-Gotik-Treffen, WGT)