The most unusual and cool holidays and festivals. The most unusual festivals in the world Different festivals in different countries

Culture

Every year more than a hundred different festivals are held around the world.

Some of them are quite traditional, while others festivals amaze with their unusualness and even absurdity.

Perhaps you didn’t even know about the existence of such festivals!

Cuckold Festival (Festa del Cornuto)

Roca Canterano, Italy

Why cry when you can have fun? This is the opinion of the participants of the Cuckold Festival, which is held annually in the village of Roca Canterano, near Rome. Instead of covering their heads with ashes, Italian men and women, deceived by their other halves, put cute horns on their heads and march joyfully through the streets of the village.

The carnival procession is accompanied by songs, dances and satirical performances on the topic of adultery.

In principle, cheating is not a reason for fun, but, as they say, “If the bride left for someone else, who knows who was lucky.”

Boreyong Mud Festival

Boreyong, South Korea

Clean people are unlikely to want to attend this fun festival. Participants in the Mud Festival, which takes place annually in South Korea, strip almost naked and then smear sea mud on themselves and everyone else they come across.

Smearing yourself with mud is not only fun, but also useful, because sea mud is very beneficial for the skin. The mud festival is usually held in July and attracts thousands of foreigners. Festival guests become spectators and participants in various cultural programs.

Cheese Rolling Festival

Burning Tar Barrel Festival

Devon, UK

If you prefer a fire show to a cheese race, then you can visit another festival in the UK, namely the Burning Barrel Festival. This festival takes place annually on November 5th in Devon, UK. Nobody knows how this holiday appeared; there are only assumptions that the festival is somehow connected with ancient pagan rituals. Festival participants coat barrels with resin, set them on fire, and then place the burning barrels on their shoulders and parade through the streets of the city, amusing and frightening spectators.

If you want to actively participate in the festival and carry the barrels yourself, then it’s better to stay at home. Participants in the fire show can only be native Devonians who know all the intricacies of the fire process. Untrained people are allowed only as spectators.

Running with the Bulls (Fiesta San Fermin)

Pamplona, ​​Italy This festival takes place annually in the Italian city of Pamplona from July 7 to 14 in honor of Saint Fermin. The highlight of the program is the joint running of bulls and people through the city streets.

Probably, for some, running through the streets in a crowd of angry bulls will seem like a fun activity, but for those who are timid, it is better not to participate in such fun. During the festival, doctors at local hospitals do not sit idle - not a single celebration of St. Fermin's Day is complete without casualties.

Near Death Festival

Las Nieves, Spain

Every year on July 29, a strange and somewhat frightening festival takes place in the small Spanish town of Las Neves. This festival is a celebration of those who came close to death and escaped. Miraculously, the surviving heroes of the festival lie down in a coffin, which is then taken by their beloved relatives to the Church of St. Marta (Santa Marta De Ribarteme).

Then a service is held in the church, and the coffins are taken to the local cemetery, where the lucky survivors present gifts and donations to the statue of St. Martha. Although the name of the festival sounds scary, the celebration is exciting: the festival of those who escaped death is accompanied by drinking alcoholic beverages, eating paella and dancing.

If you think that the participants of this festival compete in eating fried eggs, you are mistaken. In fact, this festival is dedicated to... bull testicles! Guests of the Egg Festival, which takes place at the end of each summer in Montana, enjoy all sorts of dishes made from bull testicles: fried, pickled, baked eggs and other exotic dishes made from this exotic product.

El Colacho Festival or jumping over children

Castillo de Murcia, Spain

This unusual festival takes place annually in June in the Spanish city of Castillo de Murcia. The festival takes place as part of the Feast of Corpus Christi. The main activity of the festival is jumping over small children. Residents of the city collect all the babies born during the year and place them on pillows. Then Colacho - a man, symbolizing the fleeing devil, runs up and starts jumping over children! It is believed that in this way he cleanses children, taking away all fears and illnesses.

Penis Festival (Kanamara Matsuri)

Komaki, Japan

Every year on the first Monday of April in the Japanese city of Komaki there is a festival called Kanamara Matsuri, in other words, a fertility festival. In Japanese culture, the penis symbolizes fertility, so it is the highlight of this holiday.

People gathered at the Kanamatra Matsuri festival carry a huge penis made of cypress through the streets of the city. Every year, craftsmen make a new penis using ancient tools for this purpose. In addition to the “main” giant penis 2.5 meters high, the holiday is accompanied by hundreds of other figures and figurines depicting the phallus.

Fireball Festival (Bolas de Fuego)

Nejapa, El Salvador

This fire festival takes place annually on August 21 in the city of Nejapa, El Salvador. During the festival, people dance, watch and show performances, but the most important thing comes in the evening when Festival participants are divided into teams and begin to throw burning balls at each other. Fireballs are simple lumps of matter soaked in a flammable mixture. This tradition dates back to 1685, when a volcanic eruption occurred that nearly destroyed the city. The city was saved, and its residents had a reason to celebrate. They say that so far no one has suffered from this risky fun.

Nothing brings people together like holidays, concerts and festivals. We will look at what festivals take place in Russia in this article.

"Invasion"

The largest Russian one, which is traditionally held in Samara. It unites all youth subcultures. It is here that thousands of lovers of loud heavy music come here in the summer. For three days there is an atmosphere of excitement here, and the field is simply filled to capacity. Such representatives of Russian rock performed here as:

1. Valery Kipelov.
2. Louna.
3. Jane Air.
4. "King and the Clown".
5. "DDT."
6. "Alice".
7. "Aria".
8. "Spleen".
9. Max Pokrovsky.
10. "Night snipers".

Among the foreign teams, the most famous and long-awaited were, perhaps, Rammshtein and Taria Turrunen. Like all festivals in Russia, it takes place very spectacularly, in an atmosphere of unity.

What I would like to especially note is the organization of this festival. The organizers are attentive to not only the musicians, but also the guests. Here you can find everything you might need: from beer, cigarettes and food to musical paraphernalia and everything that a beginner in the open air will need. There is even provision for charging mobile phones.

"Russian Army"

Festivals can relate not only to culture, but also to other areas. Let's talk about one of them. The Russian Army festival takes place in September. In 2017, the academic song and dance ensemble of the Russian Army will take part in it. Here you can see with your own eyes the latest achievements in the field of military equipment, anti-aircraft missile systems, drones and much more. Participants in the festival will be everyone’s favorite Russian pop and film stars, such as:

• Choir Turkish.
• Alexander Domogarov.
• Sergey Bezrukov.
• Alexander Marshall.

Young talents will not be left out either: “Fidgets” and the winners of the “New Wave” competition will take part in the celebration.

"Kinotavr"

This is an open film festival in Russia. His main idea is not to discuss films released on wide screens, but to search for young, talented names unknown to a wide range of people. This is organized in order to give young filmmakers the opportunity to express themselves. The festival takes place every year. Its president today is Nikita Mikhalkov. There is a special category called “Prospects”. Young directors and debutants take part in it.

"Wild Mint"

This festival is incredibly popular. It is among the top 5 best in the country. Like all festivals in Russia, it attracts a huge number of people. The program presented here is very diverse and there is something for everyone. Adults and children can have a great rest.

"Wild Mint" is a gathering place for performers of various musical genres. The festival program includes ethnic music, theatrical performances and open-air film screenings. Fairy tale shows and various master classes are organized for young guests. Here you can buy homemade handmade items that will be an excellent gift for your friends and family. Also, as part of the Wild Mint festival, various interesting and tasty dishes are presented.

Holi festival of colors

Homeland - India. Holi is a national holiday there. At home, it is held every year at the end of February or beginning of March, symbolizing the end of winter. On this day, like the Russian holiday of Maslenitsa, an effigy is burned. You can see with your own eyes walking on coals or how residents drive cattle through the fires.

The holiday lasts for several days. When the second day comes, Hindus sprinkle each other with dry paint or simply pour tinted water on each other. This is how they express the joy of the arrival of spring.

In our country, this holiday is celebrated relatively recently and with significant differences. In Russia, Holi is a festival of bright colors and entertainment. It does not carry any religious significance. Holi is an excellent opportunity to hold charity events to help children and arrange a bright one. On this day you can see an interesting program that includes:

1. Conducting a master class on Indian dances.
2. Animation show.
3. Giant soap bubbles.
4. Themed souvenirs.
5. Various competitions.
6. Body art.
7. Celebrity performances.

In addition to the listed events, choreographic festivals are held in Russia, for example, "Waltz of the White Nights" or the national festival-competition "Great Russia".

The festival is a bright and colorful summer event. Don't miss the opportunity to participate in those that will take place in your city. You will give yourself a lot of pleasant impressions.

A festival is a festive event that attracts masses of people with the same interests, as well as casual spectators who want to share the atmosphere of fun and find new communication.

The term “festival” for most of us coincides in meaning with the concept of “holiday”. However, these are not entirely equivalent words. Unlike holidays, festivals are not so strongly tied to specific established dates, traditions, themes and other restrictions on the form of holding.

Festivals are held both indoors and on city streets, in parks, fields and other natural landscapes. Music festivals and outdoor concerts are usually called open air (“open space”) in English. Festivals are limited to certain time frames. These events can take place within one day, or they can stretch out for six months or more. Most festivals are divided according to the geography of their participants. An international festival presents viewers with artists from around the world, while a national festival is limited to the borders of their own country.

By their structure, these events are very mobile. The festival program may include one or more holidays (“Indian Thursday”, “Pink Monday” and other holidays). And vice versa - a number of festivals can be part of a major holiday (Fireworks Festival and the Spasskaya Tower festival on Moscow City Day).

Origin of festivals

The Russian word "festival" comes from the Latin festivus ("cheerful, funny") and its later Italian interpretation la festa ("holiday"). Initially, this concept was used to refer to religious holidays, as well as large feasts. The American “fathers” of Western pop culture also influenced our perception of the festival. In the States, this was the name given to traveling fairs, which in many ways became the ancestors of modern show business.

The very first festivals took place in peasant communities and were dedicated to the cycles of agricultural work. Ancient motifs such as harvest, fertility and the changing of the seasons are evident in world-famous festivals such as Halloween and Easter. In the 21st century, the word “festival” has absorbed many different types of celebrations - national, religious, cultural, professional and urban.

Types of festivals

The festival calendar today covers all the diversity of human hobbies. Cultural, thematic, sports, scientific, fashion, and gastronomic festivals are held today in the most remote corners of the Earth. Among this multitude, several types of the most common events can be distinguished.

Traditional festivals occupy the first place in the ranking of the most recognizable holidays in the world. This group includes a huge number of celebrations, which are united by a centuries-old history and connection with the characteristic ethnic characteristics of a particular people. This group also includes religious festivals based on rituals of veneration of sacred figures, places of worship or mythological events. Many of the traditional festivals have transcended their geographical boundaries and become popular all over the world. A striking example of this is Irish, Indian and.

Music festivals in the broad sense of the word mean any mass events focused on music of different genres - from classical to avant-garde. Since the rock revolution of the 1960s, music festivals have become one of the most popular forms of mass entertainment on the planet. The largest music festivals traditionally take place in the United States and Western Europe. In recent decades, there has been a trend towards multi-genre music festivals. On the stages of such giants as Lollapalooza, rock, electronic dance music, punk, circus shows and theatrical performances coexist peacefully.

Another type of festival, without which it is impossible to imagine the modern cultural space, is film festivals. At the largest film festivals - not only the latest products in the industry are demonstrated, but also many current trends in world art are set.

Food and drink festivals, also known as food festivals, are an enduring favorite of millions. If cultural and aesthetic preferences are a matter of personal taste, then the vast majority of people love gourmet foods, national cuisine and exquisite drinks. The category of such holidays includes festivals of wine and farm products, taking place in countries with traditionally strong agriculture - France, Spain, Italy. Beer festivals occupy a special place among them, the most famous of which is held in the fall in Munich.

Among the most spectacular holidays in the world are flower festivals, taking place mainly in countries with hot climates. The largest of them is considered to be in Pasadena, and the most famous is the Japanese cherry blossom festival or

By the way, it is best to entrust the organization of a children's party to the creative association "Art-ClubOK". Professionals will carry out everything at the highest level and give children a sea of ​​positive emotions! I advise and recommend!

1. Competitions in the mountains of Scotland. A participant in the games, dressed in a traditional Scottish kilt, competes in the hammer throw in a competition held in Glenfinnan. Traditional Scottish games consist of competitions, dancing, food and drink to take a break from everyday life. (Jin Richardson).

2. Beltane Fire Festival, Scotland. Bare-chested "Celts" raise torches during the Beltane Fire Festival, near Carlton Hill, in Edinburgh. These annual folk festivals are a modern revival of the ancient Celtic celebration of the arrival of summer. (Jim Richardson)

3. Festival of naked men. Hadaka Matsuri (literally, naked man festival) in Okayama, Japan, is a traditional festival that has been celebrated for 1,200 years. The picture was taken in winter, the temperature was about 9 degrees. Men dive into icy water, undergoing a purification ritual. (Paul Whitton/My Shot).

4. Vegetarian Festival, Thailand. Worshipers at the Bang Neow temple take part in a vegetarian festival parade on the island of Phuket in Thailand, stabbing themselves with guns in protest. Chinese immigrants originated this Taoist ceremony in 1825, when people who believed in God ate vegetarian food to save themselves from epidemics. (David Longstreath/AP)

5. Chicken Festival in Wayne, Nebraska. Men dressed as chickens prepare to perform at the Chicken Show. Every summer, Wayne, Nebraska, honors these birds with a variety of events: dances with the world's largest chickens, cement chicken roosts decorated by local artists and, to the chagrin of the celebration's patron birds, a race in which the one who wins will eat more chicken wings. (Joel Sartore).

6. Celebration of Corpus Christi, Spain. A masked man known as El Colacho, a symbol of Satan, jumps over a group of girls. The centuries-old ritual is intended to protect children from evil spirits. The celebration of Chorpus Christi, held every year in Castrillo de Murcia, Spain, pays tribute to the Catholic celebration of Holy Communion. (Israel L. Murillo/AP)

7. Schleicherlaufen Festival, Austria. The streets of Telfs, in Austria, turn into a mystical and almost otherworldly world. Masked people march through the city once every five years, just before the start of Lent. The first evidence of the Schleicherlaufen festival dates back to the fifteenth century, but the holiday may also have deeper roots related to pre-Christian rituals of the area's inhabitants. (Melissa Farlow).

8. Gerewol Festival, Niger Republic. In West Africa, the Wodaabe nomads annually celebrate their concept of beauty during the Gerewol festival. The boys attract the attention of a jury of women with festive clothes and a traditional dance called Yake. The lucky winner gets a wife or lover. (Mike Hettwer).

9. Lantern Festival, Taiwan. Glowing lanterns carry skyward the hopes and prayers of Thais for the new year. Celebrated on the first full moon night of the new year. Lantern Night is a traditional holiday in China and Taiwan. And if its origins are still unknown, the festival seems to have a long life ahead - in recent years the festival has also featured fireworks and light shows. (Wally Santana/AP)

10. Kyrgyzstan. Horses and riders take part in a long celebration of the nomads of Kyrgyzstan. Modern residents proudly show that they can still perform acrobatic feats on horseback and even improvise on horseback during a fight called oodarish. The holiday, which celebrates the skill of nomads, is celebrated with plenty of food and drink. This event, which is held in Sarala-Saz, attracts many tourists to this beautiful but remote area. (Vyacheslav Oseledko / AFP / Getty Images).

11. Burning Man, Nevada. The yacht, which "floats" among the sand, is one of the attractions of the Burning Man festival. What is Burning Man like? Fans of the annual event say they must attend to experience community, arts and freedom of expression. The festival is held once a year in the middle of the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. (Mitch Horning, My Shot).

12. Ganesh Festival, India. The 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival pays tribute to the popular Hindu elephant-headed god. Around 200,000 idols of Lord Ganesha are decorated in public places and homes. The celebration reaches its climax when large statues of Ganesha are immersed in the Arabian Sea for a ceremonial bath. (Gautam Singh/AP)

13. Feast of the Black Nazarene, Philippines. During a parade through the streets of Manila, believers are besieged by a huge image of Christ, the Black Nazarene. Each year the festival attracts hundreds of thousands of Christians, most of whom go barefoot and also leave their clothes with the organizers in the hope that their clothes will be wiped down on the statue and returned to its rightful owners. Belief in the statue's supernatural powers has continued for 400 years, perhaps due to its incredible history. While traveling from Mexico in 1606, a fire broke out on the boat carrying the statue, but the statue, although blackened, was saved. (Aaron Favila/AP)

14. Mardi Gras, Louisiana. Fat Tuesday is a classic celebration in New Orleans. This annual holiday gives Christians the opportunity to have fun before the start of Lent. In New Orleans, collecting rosaries has been part of the celebration since organizers began throwing them into crowds in the early 20s. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

15. Carnival, Brazil. Gracyanne Barbosa, a leading samba school from Mangueira, competes in the Carnival on the streets of Rio de Janeiro in 2009. The Samba dance was born in Rio, remains the heart of the city, and forms the basis of perhaps the most original carnival parade. Since 1920, this one of the largest festivals in the world has brought together musicians, dancers and designers representing the schools in the city where carnival participants study throughout the year. (Pisarenko Natasha / AP).

16. Panagbenga Flower Festival, Philippines. A dancer splashes water around her during the Panagbenga Flower Festival, held every February in Baguio City, Philippines. Panegbenga is a term that literally means “blooming”. (Richard Balonglong).

17. Loy Krathong, Thailand. The Loy Krathong festival is especially attractive for its birthplace - in the historical park of Sukhothai in Thailand, where the ruins of the ancient capital of the country lie. In the light of the last full moon of the year, Thais float banana leaves (Krathong) on ​​the water, offering prayers and hopes for the new year. (Romain Cintract/Aurora Photos).

18. Holi festival. A girl covered in colored powder during the Holi festival. Hindu religious celebrations are held every year in Kalua Lumpur, Malaysia. (Umar Roslan).

19. New Orleans Jazz and Traditions Festival. The Houma Indian Show at the New Orleans Jazz and Traditions Festival is exceptionally beautiful. (Calb Izdepski).

20. Diwalli, Festival of Lights. In Jaipur, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan, people hold candles as they celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. This festival lasts five days and symbolizes the beginning of a new year and the victory of light over darkness. (Joe McNally, National Geographic).

Each culture holds various holidays and festivals throughout the year. In most countries around the world, you will find that celebrations have at least a few things in common - food, drinking and dancing. But some countries may amaze you with their unusual traditions, so when you are in another country, be prepared to experience culture shock from what you see.

1. Songkran Festival

Every year on April 13, Thailand celebrates the New Year by staging a war using water cannons. And this is not happening in just one area, it is happening throughout the country. But the fun doesn't stop with water cannons. Some people prefer buckets or even elephants.

2. La Tomatina

Once upon a time it all started with a simple street fight between teenagers who threw tomatoes from neighboring vegetable stalls. Now it is an annual holiday, which is held in the last week of August in the small Spanish city of Buñol. Thousands of participants come from different countries to take part in the "tomato battle".

3. Festival of Fiesta de Santa Marta Ribarteme ("almost dead")

This festival is held annually on July 29th in the city of Las Neves, Spain. Hundreds of people attend a mass in honor of St. Marta de Ribarte, patron saint of the resurrected. Don't be surprised if you see people lying in coffins. No, they are not dead. They are in the coffin because they have experienced death in the last 12 months and this is their way of expressing their gratitude.

4. Running of the Bulls

Probably one of the more popular events on this list, the Running of the Pamplona Bulls in Spain is actually part of the San Fermin Festival, which takes place every July. The only requirements to participate are that you must be at least 18 years old and sober.

5. Viking Festival "Up Helly Aa"

This festival takes place annually on January 30th in Scotland. The tradition of the festival is a torchlight procession in Viking garb and the burning of a boat.

6. Festival "Summer Redneck Games"

In 1996, when the Olympic Games were held in Atlanta, some local residents organized their own celebration. The tradition of the festival is to dive into the mud like pigs, throw toilet seats for luck, because they look like a horseshoe, spit watermelon seeds and sing serenades with your armpits.

7. Fireball Festival

This fire festival is held in El Salvador on the last day of summer every year. In 1917, a volcanic eruption occurred that nearly wiped out the small town of Nehapa from the face of the earth. The city and its inhabitants survived and have held this festival ever since as a reminder. During the festival, people are divided into 2 fronts and begin to shoot fire rags at each other.

8. Konaki Sumo Festival

And so we found ourselves in Japan, and the Japanese, as always, amazed us. This festival includes two things: sumo wrestlers and lots and lots of children. Every April, wrestlers face each other holding children in their arms, waiting for the baby to cry. The one with the fewest children crying in his arms wins.

9. Festival of St. Vincent

A very strange festival is held in the small Spanish town of Manganeses de la Polvorosa every year on the fourth Sunday of January. Basically, it consists of a young guy finding a goat, tying it up, and then throwing it off the top of a church steeple. Presumably, she should be caught by the city residents, who stretched out the canvas, on the ground.