Festivals are as if colorful glasses through which people present their cultures, whether, traditions, beliefs, or history in existence. But some festivals are stranger than others, again that to say that the celebration may not be so meaningful to people. Some of them may appear utterly pointless and even ridiculous when viewed from one perspective, but each of them has a back story that would make anyone who stumbles across them do a double take. Therefore, why not travel through some of the world’s odd fairs and festivals and learn about the stories behind them which are really interlinked. Okay, here we go and get ready because this is going to be something of a roller coaster!
La Tomatina: A Tomato Throwing Extravaganza
First, let us travel to Spain and every last Wednesday of
August, the Buñol town turns into a battle ground of tomatoes. This is La
Tomatina, a festival in which thousands of participant throw tomato at each
other while they are still ripe. But where did this rather strange event
originate?
According to stories in regard to the tradition of the Tomatina Festival started way back in the "1940s" when musicians participating in a parade through the town engaged in a pranks fight with tomatoes. It was a very organic tomato toss and soon people expected it every year. Now La Tomatina means much more than just throwing tomatoes – it is about togetherness, happiness and, of course, some sort of anarchy. It is an event that brings loads of fun for people laughing through embarrassment whereby every participant ends up with a face full of the tomato pulp and moving their ears to jaws.
The Running of the Bulls: A Test of Courage
Now let’s go to Pamplona, Spain to the site of the San
Fermín festival held annually in July. This event is perhaps best known for
another equally reckless activity called the Running of the Bulls. However,
this adrenaline-whipping show is not devoid of a serious meaning.
This fiesta has biblical root that originally involved the
running of the bulls in the 14th century. They later developed into a thrilling
steeple chase of daredevilry for the few souls who dare to run besides the
bulls. While it may be seen by some as suicida, for the participant it is a
practice of passage and exciting way of feeling the kinship.
The Running of the Bulls is more than just a race, it is a celebration of the courage, tradition and the pro-actively of life’s risks.
Holi: The Festival of Colors
Now, let us dig into more colourful and joyous Holi – the
Indian festival of colours sizzling with tons of colours, non-stop music and
frenzied dance. Lets just call Holi the festival of colors, but in actuality,
it holds lot of importance in mythology and spirituality.
As per Hindu mythology, the Hindu festival of colours, Holi is celebrated to commemorate the arrival of spring session and victory of Dharma over Adharma. The festival is actually named after Prahlad who was a young boy once and staunch follower of Lord Vishnu who was saved from the fire due to the power of his devotion. People wet each other with coloured water and pound each other with coloured powders of love and happiness.
Where Holi really shine is that it is illuminating, revolutionizing the spirit of society and making everyone come together without considering any status. It is a small utopia, when every man is a painter and paints the world with joy, laughter and bright colours, teaching all of us about the value of the divergent.
The Night of the Radishes: A Unique Celebration in Oaxaca
In Oaxaca, Mexico, there’s a peculiar festival that takes
place every December 23rd, The guide explained what that could only mean the La
Noche de los Rábanos, or the Night of the Radishes. This is not your
conventional festival primarily because it is based on carving artistic works
out of radishes. But how this peculiar celebration was established?
It has been discussed that roots of this festival go back to
the 16th century when the Spanish colonizers brought radishes to the area. The
locals then use these root vegetables and deftly sculpt them into figures, they
became the storytellers of their time. Today the Night of the Radishes has
beautiful creations that portray everything ranging from the nativity to folk
tales.
In the evening you feel alive in Oaxaca plagued by constructions and laughter mixed with music and the smell of food wherever you go. There is an evident focus on the work of local artists and tradesmen's and love for one’s people, their traditions, and culture.
The Cheese Rolling Festival: A Cheesy Chase
If you dream of a festival where you can roller-skate behind a moving cheese wheel then the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in Gloucestershire, England is the place to be! This crazy event happens every May, and indeed the month is not complete without it. Though, it is quite understandable, what makes the people cap sie and endanger their selves for a piece of cheese?
Surprisingly the roots of this tradition seem to stretch back a couple of centuries although it is and unclear as to the exact origin. Local villagers would have rolled a wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a steep hill and people of the neighbouring area would follow fast. The first person who gets to the cheese is declared the winner of that round and you know people will fight for it!
Still, coming up with such an event is rather ridiculous, however, it is also rather silly to enjoy life and do silly things. Funny is become a tradition that reminds people that even the most strange can be fun and bring everyone together to have a laugh.
La Fête de la Saint-Jean: A Fiery Celebration in Canada
Next, let’s turn to Canada which hosts Fête de la
Saint-Jean, fire ceremony, music, and native dances. This festival is
celebrated on the 24th of June as a celebration for the patron of the French
Canadians, Saint John the Baptist. But what makes this celebration indeed a
unique one?
The Fête de la Saint-Jean can trace their origin back to
1920s "Quebec", where it used to be a religious celebration. It has grown over a
period of time into a cultural festival of French Canadians. The bonfire
represents the unity people of that particular place and region, music and
dance basically depict the culture of the region.
People come in large numbers, especially in their thousands, including the adults and young persons, therefore it fosters unity and reinforces ethnic pride. In special events, seeing the beauty of bonfires light up the night sky would remind all individuals of their need to remain loyal to their origins.
Kumbh Mela: A Spiritual Gathering
Well now, I’d like to focus on one of the biggest religious
meeting in the world called Kumbh Mela, which is conducted in India, every
twelve years. It is a spiritual event too, which draws millions of devotees who
bathe in river considered to be sacred. But what led to this giant?
Kumbh Mela has its origins from the old Hindu legend – the
churning of the ocean of milk. The festival represents strife of forces of good
and evil as well as the issues of life after death. The locals think that
people, who take a bath during this period, will be washed from their sins and
will be saved.
The festival is equally colourful, with processions and sermons, and tens of thousands of people obviously on a religious pilgrimage. It has everything to do with religion and hope, gatherings, and embracing the fact that there is strength in unity.
The Festival of the Burning Man: A Celebration of Creativity
Now, let’s come to the free-burning festival held in the
Nevada desert every summer, the Burning Man. The coming together of these
Artsists, designer and bohemian personalities is such an event that people with
creativity enjoy. But where does this rather curious festival come from?
Burning Man started in "1986" when a group of artists lit up a
structure on the San Francisco beach. Much later it developed to a weeklong
celebration in Black Rock Desert involving tens of thousands of participants.
The festival is a celebration of human idea based on freedom of expression,
cooperation, and mutual effort to construct a city of art and personal
transformation.
In essence, the burning of the effigy which is set on fire at the climax of the festival celebrates change or the change of the New Year. It is an enlightened process to change an ordinary institutional space into an artistic and innovative one and to involve the participants in discovering their artistic identity and to give them the freedom to perform according to their creative spirit.
The Dance of the Dead: A Unique Celebration in Madagascar
Lastly, focus will be given to the customs of amplifying Madagascar, the country, where the Famadihana fete is held. Known as the "Turning of the Bones" this is an occasion where ancestor spirits are spiritually summoned with families gathering to partake. But what does occur during this rather strange sounding carnival?
Famadihana is a ceremony in which bodies of ancestors are removed from tombs, dressed in new clothes and taken around to be danced with. This may sound rather dubious now days but that is because the population of the spirits of the dead are thought to be with the living all the time. Such a festival is important for family, it is a form of ancestor worship, of passing on the traditions from older generations.
Famadihana, happiness and memories meet each other, and the specific feeling is that of triumph. It is a powerful message about family and ancestry, and the strongest connection that can ever be between two human beings.
The Kelp Festival: A Celebration of Seaweed
Every year in Fort Bragg, or California, people organize the
Kelp Festival – it is a very peculiar event, where everything associated with
seaweed somehow or a method is welcome. Usually, it takes place in September
and aimed to draw awareness on kelp, which is a critical component of coastal
areas. But why is kelp so special?
Regarding its ecological role it can be stated that kelp is
an essential component of the Earth’s marine ecosystem which serves as a base
and source of nutrition for a great variety of sea inhabitants. Kelp festival
which is held to acknowledge the part that this underwater plant plays in its
ecosystem as well as observe the fact that it can be used as an ingredient in
preparing various food preparations. For instance, some of the services present
during the festival include kelp- infused dishes, various forms of educational
activities, among others, that seeks to create awareness of sustainable
practices and the marine world.
Visiting Kelp Festival is not only a good time pass but also an educational event which sensitize people on the importance of conserveration of marine and aquatic habitats for the future generation.
Celebrating Uniqueness
From the exotic trip of exploring the “Ten” weird festivals,
it can be said that each of them is much more than just a quite extraordinary
celebration. They act as symbols of culture and people’s identity, community’s
unity as well as ideas of how to appreciate life. There is this unspoken assumption
that beneath the laughter, increased number of accidents and joy, there is
hidden quite the narratives.
These festivals are a fond reminder of our traditions, the unity that we need to come together and the need to learn to accept our differences.
Thus, while the next time you come across an interesting article about an extraordinary festival, try to investigate its less-known history. Who knows? It is possible that you will read an interesting story, with which you will learn to appreciate your own customs and traditions.
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