Which festivals have you attended? And which ones are still on your bucket list? You definitely should not miss these 8!
Panagbenga – Flower festival in Baguio (Philippines)
The colorful and fun-filled festival takes place every year with a rich series of events throughout the month of February in Baguio, in the northern province of Benguet. The Panagbenga festival, which literally means “flowering season” was created specifically to celebrate the abundance of nature in this area. Thousands of dancers, colorful floats, spectacular parades and lots and lots of flowers: in short, nothing to envy the more famous Carnival festivals.
Holi – India, Mathura and Vrindavan
During the months of Phalguna and full moon, Holi is celebrated in India, “the festival of colors.” With this festival, the Indian people want a good harvest and fertility. The festival is held in Mathura and Vrindavan. These cities are associated with Krishna, who is a Hindu form of the divine. The festival begins with a bonfire on Holi Eve. The next day, everyone comes to the streets to throw colors, dance and exchange sweets.
Balloon Fiesta – United States, Albuquerque
Over the course of nine days in October, 550 hot air balloons soar during the International Balloon Fiesta Festival. More than 850000 people come to town to admire balloons, tournaments and specially shaped “glow” – lighting while on the ground. Of course there are also outdoor concerts, so you can listen to your favorite music as the hot air balloons fly overhead!
St. Patrick’s Day – Ireland, Dublin
During St. Patrick’s Day, the Irish remember their St. Patrick. At the age of 16 he was kidnapped, sold into slavery and taken to Ireland. After years he managed to escape and converted the Irish to Christianity. In the following years he built churches, schools and monasteries. The festival was originally celebrated with a service and feast. Irish Americans turned the festival into an international party. Boston was the first city to host a St. Patrick’s Day parade. And since 1962 the river in Chicago has been colored green. St. Patrick’s Day has become a combination of King’s Day and Carnival, only instead of the color orange or beautiful costumes, people wear the color green as this is the national color.
Carnival – Brazil, Rio de Janeiro
Sure, carnival is celebrated all over the world. But Rio de Janeiro is the “place to be.” With more than 300 festivals and parades in one city, it is the carnival capital. The Ipanema street band is the best known and most impressive. But events in the city center such as “Cordão do Bola Preta” are the biggest. Did you know you can run the parade yourself? Get in touch with a Samba school and order your costume! Or order a ticket and watch the parade from the side of the road. No matter what, it will be one of the most impressive experiences of your life!
Oktoberfest – Germany, Munich
Oktoberfest is celebrated every year between late September and early October. Millions of people wear traditional dirndl and lederhosen. A lot of cafeer, beer and bratwurst is consumed during Oktoberfest. There is also a mass, music, the chance to shoot a crossbow and parades. It is the 190th event in 2023, so get ready to go and come to Munich!
l Festival of Lights – Thailand
Loi Krathong or ลอยกระทง or the festival of lights is celebrated in Thailand and surrounding countries. The festival begins on the twelfth full moon of the Thai lunar calendar. Parades, fireworks and lights are shows within five days. Tourists and locals light floating paper lights (krathong) in the river and let paper lanterns hover in the night sky as they whisper wishes and prayers. Many Thais use krathong to give thanks to Ganga, the Hindu goddess of water. The festival is becoming increasingly environmentally friendly. In 2016, 93 percent of the material of the lights was biodegradable. So if you are in the mood for a fairy tale experience, book your ticket to Thailand.
King’s Day – Netherlands
April 27 is King’s Day in the Netherlands. The background of this festival is the celebration of the king’s birthday. During the day, the royal family visits one of the largest cities in the Netherlands, which can also be seen on TV. The city tour ends in a large outdoor festival. In the rest of the country there are many large festivals with flea markets. Children sit on their mats and sell their old things. The Dutch spend millions that day to buy things they will probably sell again next year. The best thing about the day is that everyone wears orange. The last name of the royal family is “von Orange,” which is why wearing the color orange symbolizes love for your king.
