People celebrate around the world in so many different ways and for so many different reasons. There are tons of strange, fun, and wonderful festivals that happen throughout the year in every part of the world. Some are for religious purposes, and others are purely for celebration. Below we highlighted a few festivals around the world that we found interesting:
Rio Carnival, Brazil:
The Rio Carnival is considered one of the largest carnivals in the world. It is a wild 4-day celebration, 40 days before Easter. It officially starts on Saturday and finishes on Fat Tuesday with the beginning of Lent. There are carnival celebrations in basically every part of Brazil. The main competition is between the different Samba schools who compete for the best themed float and most flamboyant costumed dancers.
Glastonbury Music Festival, England:
This is one of the biggest music festivals you can imagine. Taking place in Pilton, England, it usually falls during the last few days of June. In 2011, there were more than 177,000 guests and 700 musical acts!
Oktoberfest, Germany:
Most people have heard of this one before because it’s so big that people from all over travel to Germany to take part in the festivities. If you love beer, you’ll love Oktoberfest. Taking place in Munich, this festival lasts a full 16 days. It begins at the end of September and ends at the beginning of October. Each year, more than 6 million people attend to celebrate.
Up Helly Aa Fire Festial, Scottland:
At the end of January, people gather in Edinburgh, Scotland for an insane celebration of the Viking New Year. People dress up as Viking warriors, go tar-barreling, storm around with torches, drink heavily, and burn a replica Viking ship.
Mardi Gras, USA:
Basically, America’s version of Carnival, party-goers compete for beaded necklaces in New Orleans. The crazier and more outrageous your appearance and the more scandalous your behavior is, the more beads you will win! This festival goes on for two whole weeks before Lent. Fat Tuesday is known as the craziest day of Mardi Gras, which is the Tuesday before Lent.
La Tomatina, Spain:
This bizarre and wacky festival takes place on one day each year, the last Wednesday in August. Spain’s town of Buñol hosts the world’s largest food fight. Thousands of people gather around to paint, throw, and smash thousands of tomatoes around the city and on each other. This festival is crazy and messy, yet an awesome time!
Have you ever been to any of these festivals? Comment below or tweet us @travefy!