There are several bizarre and amazing festivals that occur all throughout the year worldwide, whether for religious purposes or purely for celebration. When it comes to celebration, festivals offer something for everyone. So, we highlight just a few festivals that will certainly adds to your travel bucket list:

1. HARBIN INTERNATIONAL ICE AND SNOW SCULPTURE FESTIVAL in Harbin, China (January-February)

The Harbin Intenational Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is an annual is an annual winter festival that takes place with a theme in HarbinHeilongjiangChina, and now is the largest ice and snow festival in the world. At first participants in the festival were mainly Chinese, however it has since become an international festival and competition, with the 2018 festival attracting 18 million visitors and generating 28.7 billion yuan ($4.4 billion) of revenue. The festival includes the world’s biggest ice sculptures.

2.  ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL in Dublin, Ireland (March)

Thinking the fact that the holiday was primarily a religious celebration honoring the death of the patron saint of Ireland, suggesting any other place to partake in it feels a bit sacrilegious. St. Patrick  became a priest and returned to Ireland, where he converted many pagans to Christianity. The Irish also love to feast and have a wee nip of whiskey, as the Lenten restrictions on eating and drinking are officially lifted for the day.

Customary traditions involve dressed in green clothing and shamrocks (which the Saint used to explain the Holy Trinity), public parades, and lively music and dancing (known as a ceilidh).

3.  COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL in Indio, California (April)

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly called Coachella or the Coachella Festival) is a yearly music and arts festival organized at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. The event highlights musical artists from many types of music, including pop, indie, hip hop, rock  and electronic dance music. Throughout the fields, several stages continuously host live music. Coachella stages admired and recognized musical performers as well as rising performers and unified groups. It is one of the leading, and most rewarding music events in the United States and around  the world.

4. MONTREAUX JAZZ FESTIVAL in Montreux, Switzerland ( June- July )

There are lots of music festivals in Europe, but this 50-year-old good time held on the coastlines of Lake Geneva is truly one of the best and is considered as the second-largest jazz festival in the world (pipped by Montreal, Canada). It’s not just jazz, though. Here you will find a variety of performances from pop to rock and blues, and, best of all, a large portion of the performances are free, in keeping with the festival’s charter to make music accessible to anyone.

5. LA TOMATINA in Valencia, Spain (August)

La Tomatina was banned in the early 50s, however this did not stop the participants who were arrested. But the people protested the prohibition and the festivity was again allowed with more participants and increased passions. The festivity was again cancelled till 1957 when, as a sign of protest, the tomato burial was held. It was a demonstration in which the residents carried a coffin with a huge tomato inside. The parade was accompanied by a music band which played funeral marches. The protest was successful. La Tomatina Festival was finally permitted and became an official festival.

6. OKTOBERFEST in Munich, Germany (October)

Millions of litres of Oktoberfest beers are just the beginning of this 15-day Bavarian fair, which draw attention to visitors over Munich every year. During the event, there is bounty of traditional food to taste from pretzels, sausages and cheeses, there were also different delicacies sold on the stalls. Beer is served and shared all around while amusement park rides, games and more are enjoyed. Regularly, agricultural shows and displays are present to support stimulating the hard work and charm of farming.

7. DIA DE LOS MUERTOS in Mexico ( 31st of Oct- 02nd Nov)

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Day, is a celebration commemorated throughout the Americas, but is most deeply related with Mexico, where the ritual started. It honors the deceased with events and lively celebrations, that may perhaps appear to be strange, but certainly one of the best festivals to be part of.

Altars are decorated with flowers, candles and pictures of their loved ones. Food left on the altar comprises of the loved one’s favorite dishes and pleasures (including vices like cigarettes or alcohol). Drinks should be placed in the altar to satisfy the thirst of the dead after their long journey back home.

Do you remember the Disney movie entitled “Coco”, where it perfectly depicts what Dia De Los Muertos is all about. This celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life.  On this day, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones.

8. DIWALI FESTIVAL in India (Mid October – Mid November)

Diwali is one of the most significant festivals observed in India. This festival of lights signifies numerous things, like the victory of good above evil, hope upon despair etc. Diwali festivities vary all over the country. This festival draws people from every religion and community together whilst visitors will be able to observe this week in any corner of India.

The Golden Temple of Amritsar is decorated with brightly lit chanteuses on the Diwali evening making it an extravagant sight for the viewers.  During Diwali in Goa, competitions are organized to see who can make the biggest and scariest image of the demon Narakasura, in celebration of his defeat.  If in Varanasi, make sure you remain at one of the riverside hotels to appreciate a fantastic view of the fireworks over the Ganges River.

 

Which from the above festivals listed are you looking forward to celebrate with? Share us your insights and let us help you plan to book your flight and hotel in these countries. For queries or any concerns, please send email to info@luxuryexplorersme.com.