Festivals Around The World Part 2

 

Festival, simply defined, is a celebration of ritual or tradition that can have its root in religion or culture. Therefore festivals aren't limited to historical or cultural identity of a certain culture rather festivals can celebrate any attribute of a culture like it's food, music, lights, dresses or outfits among any other thing or object that has social or cultural significance.

Festivals are lively events, often characterized by the morale of its observers and participants. Thus in recent years there have been scams in the name of festivals like one that happen in 2017, I.e, Fyre Festival, a event that scammed people in giving them their money for advanced bookings just because certain celebrities did paid promotion unknowingly that they were promoting a scam event.

Thus in today's age its important to know festivals that impact millions, since everything is so globalised. Knowing these festivals will help you connect with people that are indigenous to these cultures.

By reading this blog, You'd answers questions and queries like 'which festivals is near me' ,'what festival is today or what festivals is upcoming' and where these festivals are happening.

1) Matarki

This is a traditional new year festival for Maori people, indigenous inhabitants of New Zealand. This festival and festivals like this are celebrated all along the Polynesian Island in South Pacific region. The word Matarki means a cluster of stars,Maori people are excellent star gazers and have use this knowledge of star gazing for navigation, harvest and other purposes.

There is no fixed date on which this festival is celebrated as the traditional calendar of Maori people is 354 days instead of 356 days, which in turn means every month 29.5 days each.

This festival has now reached global significance as this year it was the very first time that this festival was celebrated as National Public Holiday in New Zealand.

This festival is celebrated in three distinct ways, first is to remember the recently deceased members of the family/community that are, second part is celebrate the present and last one is to making offering a food to the stars.

Over the years there are certain plants, birds and food that has become a symbol
of this festival, like say sweet potato or in birds a native specie of pegion called 'kereru'.

2) Basant

Basant is a South Asian festival that celebrates beginning of spring and end of winter season. This festival is observerd by Punjabi's in the northern sub continent,I.e, present day Indian state of Punjab and Pakistani Punjab. Traditionally most impressive celebrations are held in cities of Lahore, Amritsar and Kasur.

Historically, this festival is celebrated on the last week of January or the first week of February but in recent times in Pakistan this festival has been celebrated as late as mid March.

Kites are flown across the cities, villages and towns all across the northern sub continent. This adds in the beauty of newly harvested fields and spring season with all the colours of flowers.

Dishes of Basant are same as dishes that are made on other festivals like Eid. In Pakistan, Biryani (Rice Dish) , Palao (Rice Dish Again), Kicidi (Rice), Zarda, Halwa and Haleem are made.

In parts of India, there's a Hindu festival that's also called Basant Panchmi. This festival is essentially the same but instead of flying kites people wear yellow clothes and eat sweet dishes. Hindus do dedicated Pooja (Prayer) on this day and in other places young newly married couples go and vist a temple offer prayers there. Many newly married couples fast, called vrat on this festival. Privileged people donate money and books to needy and downtrodden folks in the society.

3) Pow Wow

Pow Wow is a celebration of cultures of Native American Tribes, accompanied by social gatherings, different festives and playing of different music while dancing to it. This festival is not limited to a single or few Native American Tribes but this festival is observerd by many North American Indigenous Tribes.

For much of its existence, this festival had a religious element to it, with religious rituals and customs being performed but in the recent years this religious element has toned downed and replaced by more of a cultural and social elements like social gatherings.


This festival can be a private as well as a public affair, most common element of which is dancing and dancing competitions. Nowadays, a prize money is awarded to the winner of these dancing competition. Length of this festival varies from occasion to occasion, mostly its a one day festival but on special occasions it can become multi day to multi week event.

All events and festivals are organised by dedicated and designated committees that are made of members and elders of tribe.
Etiquettes and Organisation is maintained by these committees. Drums play an important role in this festival so drum groups are revered by members of the tribe.

In terms of food, this festival offers traditional North America Tribal Food like Bisons meat, Elk meat among meat from many other animals of North American continent.

Apart from this businesses that are run by indigenous people sell stuff like indigenous jewelry, indigenous art or indigenous clothing.

This festival perhaps happens most when compared with other festivals on this list. In parts of United States and Canada, this festival is now held almost every week.

4) Walpurgis Night

This festival has history covering more than thousand years, and is now celebrated in many countries of Europe.

This festival is known by different names is celebrated in different manners all around Europe. Valborg is such name, mostly used in North European countries. The word 'Valborg' means witch night. Saint Walpurga is credited for making bad spirits, witches run away from the Christan communities.

It's an celebration of Christian Saint 'Saint Walpurga', who was a 8th century Saint, her cannonization and moment that her relics were sent to Eichstätt, both event occurred on the same date, I.e, 1st May.

In Past, this festival had a large religious significance but these days this festival is observerd for its cultural and social importance. Large feasts are held to honour the memory of Saint Walpurga, bonfires are carried out late in night, customary burning of pupet witches and traditional procession throughout the streets.

In much of Northern Europe including Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Germany, this festival is now more of a event for family reunion, family picnic, students bodies like students Union host student trip and camp fires.

In some certain places in Germany, pilgrimages are carried out to tomb of the Saint. In other parts of Germany, especially in rural Germany, youth enage in pranks to celebrate this festival.

For feast, sugary and baked items are most popular like cakes and sugar, in drinks all alcoholic beverages are used but sparkling wine has become a household name associated with this festival.

5) Songkran

This is Thai new year's festival and is a national holiday in Thailand. The festival starts on 13 April and ends at 15 April.

The word 'Songkran' is derived from Sanskrit language and the word literally means 'to move or to change'. This festival was seen as start of Thai new year till 1888, when Thai government switched to Gerogrian Calendar and thus new year eve is celebrated on 1st of January. Regardless, till this day, this festival is observerd with all its cultural and social significance and relevance.

Apart from Thailand, this festival is also celebrated elsewhere like parts of Malaysia, Indian state of Odisha and kerala as well as part of Bangladesh celebrate this festival in different manners. In Thailand, this event is extended for 10 to 15 days, especially in big cities like bangkok.

The day (13th April) starts with visiting local temples, giving food to Buddhist monks, family gathering where people from all around the Thailand are welcomed back in their home for family reunion, ritual bathing of Buddah's statue, paying reverence to deceased ancestors is all done on the first day.

In modern times, second day is usually reserved for water fights on roads, thus festival is collequaly known as water festival. Traffic is closed on this day for normal traffic and arenas are eracted for these water fights. Water represents washing away of bad luck, respect and well wishing. If you're in Thailand in mid April, just remember don't spray or shower water on monks, elderaely, children or women, as this can be considered disrespectful.

On third day, feast are given and ceremonies are held for better sprit for coming year. This feast are communal events where extended family members unite after a gap of month or years.

Different Thai food are presented for feast.
Most popular of this Thai food or dish is Khao Chae, this is basically a cooked rice in flower scented water. Apart from this other dishes like Mango Sticky Rice, Steamed Duck. Traditional cakes like glutinous rice cakes have also found popularity among Thai locals. In drinks, mekhong whisky, is perhaps the most important and impactful of all the drinks that are important for this festival.