11 Curious Festivals and Holidays Around the World (15 pics)

The world is a crazy place, and the most diverse holidays and strange festivals are proof of this. They allow you to visually get acquainted with the customs and cultural heritage of other countries. In this post, you will see the most unusual and crazy festivals and holidays that bring together millions of people from all over the world.





1. Loi Krathong Festival in Thailand



The beautiful Loi Krathong festival is held every year in Thailand. "Loi" is translated as "floating", "Kratong" - "boat made of leaves". People make and then send their sorrows and misfortunes on small boats called krathongs made of banana leaves.





Loi Krathong Festival - the full moon day in November - is a holiday of the spirit of water and light. On this night, the entire Gulf of Thailand is ablaze with candles symbolizing the souls of ancestors.

2. Holi, the festival of colors in India



Holi is an ancient traditional holiday that is celebrated every year by the people of India. Participants of the celebration welcome spring with fun and colors, and see off winter. Three days of celebration fall in March and mark the beginning of a new life. Holi was mentioned in the Vedas, a collection of ancient sacred scriptures of Hinduism. The legend of the origin of the holiday is associated with spring and flowering. The god of love Kama lost his body from the wrath of Shiva. But he was allowed to regain his appearance only 3 months a year. At this time, all the trees around begin to blossom, the cities become bright and light. To celebrate Kama, the people of India decorate everything around them with colored ribbons and sprinkle them with paint.

3. Egg and flour battle, Spain



A Spanish festival-battle that is held annually on December 28 in the city of Ibi, Alicante province. Participants wear clothes similar to old military uniforms, arm themselves with flour, dozens of eggs and firecrackers, and then divide into teams. Some must capture the city in order to establish new comic rules and laws in it, while others must prevent them.

4. El Colacho, a child jumping festival held annually in late spring, Spain



This act is believed to protect newborns from evil spirits and cleanse them of original sin. Men, traditionally called "El Colacho", wear bright yellow suits and masks, symbolizing the devil. They run and jump over mattresses with babies lying right on the street. The "Children Jumping" festival is considered one of the most dangerous in the world, but throughout its centuries-old history, not a single baby has been harmed.

5. Slacklining or walking on a rope, festival in the mountains of Monte Piana, Italy



Every year, there are more extreme sports enthusiasts who want to test their ability to maintain balance. And as their skills improve, the athletes rise higher and higher.

6. Merfest is a mermaid festival held in Cary, North Carolina, USA



This is an annual event where participants dress up as mermaids, compete in competitions, and perform shows.



7. The Elephant Festival in India is held annually in the city of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan



This holiday is held at the same time as the festival of colors Holi. Elephants are painted in all the colors of the rainbow, various drawings are applied, bright ribbons are tied to their tusks, bracelets with bells are put on their legs, and their backs are covered with a carpet blanket. In this form, the ceremonial procession goes through the entire city to the sound of an orchestra.

8. Hamamatsu Festival (Japan)



The Hamamatsu Festival in Japan is usually held in May. It consists of two parts. One of them is the "Parade of Fleets". Decorated floats with dressed-up people playing traditional instruments, each representing the Hamamatsu district, parade through the streets of the city.



The second part of the festival is a kite-flying competition.

9. Boryeong Mud Festival is an annual festival held in the summer on Daecheon Beach near the town of Boryeong, about 200 km south of Seoul, South Korea



The festival's original goal was to promote cosmetics made from local healing mud.

10. The Watermelon Festival is held every two years in the town of Chinchilla in the Australian state of Queensland



The festival attracts about 15,000 guests from all over the country. The program includes various themed events, such as a competition for the best watermelon helmet or eating watermelons for speed. The most spectacular part of the festival is considered to be watermelon skiing.

11. Sinulog Festival is an annual cultural and religious festival in the Philippines, which is held in Cebu City



The festival is dedicated to the Holy Infant Christ. The festival is based on a dance ritual that tells the story of the pagan past of the Filipino people and their adoption of Christianity.