The Savvy Traveller  

Festivals and Celebrations Around the World

Growing up in North India, there was a different festival to celebrate every month.  In January, we celebrated Lohri: the festival that marked the passing of the winter solstice, also celebrated by farmers in Punjab after harvesting the Rabi crop.  Bonfires are lit, followed by dancing and singing that lasts into the night. My aunts would make garlands out of pine nuts, raisins and walnuts for us kids, and my cousins and I would travel to neighbors' homes to sing Lohri songs for some rupees. 

Holi, one of my favorite Indian festivals, is usually celebrated in March or early April. The festival celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.  

Family and friends visited each other’s home to smear gulal and give mithai and us kids loved filling pichkaris with colored water and soaking each other! The day ended with eating delicious food and mithai. Holi was followed by a never-ending list of festivals from all over India: Shivratri, Baisakhi, Easter, Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi, Janmashtami, Onam, Eid, Ganesh Chaturthi, Durga Puja, Dusshera, Diwali, Christmas, and Pongal are some of the other big festivals celebrated in the country.  

After I got married, I moved to America and was introduced to the many celebrations and festivals of my adopted homeland. Being a country of immigrants, Americans celebrate festivals from all corners of the world, like Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Oktoberfest, Hanukkah, and Christmas, alongside their own holidays, like Independence Day, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.  

Halloween, one of my favorite holidays, is celebrated on October 31, the evening before All Saints’ Day (or All Hallows’ Day). The celebration marks the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints and starts the season of All Hallowtide. My Halloween memories include taking the kids for costume shopping, carving pumpkins, and trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. We’d drive around town to see the creative décor outside people's homes, and I loved the clever costumes some very talented moms and dads created for their children! My kids are all grown up now, but I still like putting on my witch’s hat to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters.  

Over the years, I started making a bucket list of the most famous festivals and celebrations in the world. I hope to fulfill my wish to see them all one day. Below are a few of the festivals and celebrations on my bucket list. 

Dia De Los Muertos, Mexico  

Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), widely observed in Mexico in November, is a two-day holiday that celebrates life and death. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their deceased family members. Bright yellow marigold flowers are used to decorate these altars and photos, favorite foods and drinks of the family member being honored are placed on them.  The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead as the departed souls hear their prayers, smell their food and join in the celebration!  

Dia de los Muertos has ancient origins dating back to pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, including the Aztec and Nahua peoples. These civilizations held a deep reverence for their deceased loved ones, viewing death as a natural part of the human journey. With the Spanish colonization of Mexico, Catholic traditions merged with indigenous practices, giving rise to the modern Dia de los Muertos. 
 

Songkran Festival, Thailand 

Thailand's most iconic and exuberant festival is a celebration that fuses rich traditions with the exuberance of water play, symbolizing the Thai New Year. This immersive event, marked by vibrant parades, intricate rituals, and spirited water fights, reflects the nation's deep cultural roots and its warmth and sense of community.  

Songkran, a word derived from the Sanskrit "Samkranti," signifies the astrological passage of the sun from one sign of the zodiac to another. It marks the Thai New Year and typically takes place in mid-April. The festival is rooted in Buddhist traditions, and it includes important rituals like making merit at temples, honoring elders, and pouring scented water over Buddha statues for purification. 

Songkran is most famous for its spirited water fights, which are a symbol of cleansing and renewal. People of all ages take to the streets with water guns, buckets, and hoses to drench one another in a playful and good-natured manner. The streets turn into joyful battlegrounds where strangers become friends through the shared fun.  
 

La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain  

La Tomatina is not your typical food fight; it's an exuberant and juicy festival that (literally) paints the town red. Taking place in the Valencian town of Buñol, Spain, every year on the last Wednesday in August, La Tomatina has become an iconic event, attracting participants from all over the world to take part in a giant tomato battle.  

Tens of thousands of participants gather in the Buñol town square, eagerly awaiting the signal to unleash tomato madness. A cannon blast signals the start, and the town square quickly becomes a sea of red as people slip, slide, and lob tons of tomatoes at one another. 

The origins of La Tomatina are a matter of debate, but it is believed to have started in the mid-20th century, possibly as a spontaneous food fight during a parade. Over time, it evolved into an annual event, attracting more and more participants each year. However, La Tomatina is not just about the tomato fight. The event is preceded by parades, music, and dancing, creating a festive atmosphere throughout Buñol. 

Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro (Carnival), Brazil 

Called “The World’s Most Exuberant Celebration,” Carnival in Brazil is an explosion of color, rhythm, and excitement.  This extravagant celebration runs from the Friday before lent through Ash Wednesday each year and draws millions of revelers and spectators from around the globe. Carnival is celebrated across the nation, with Rio de Janeiro and Salvador being two of the most famous destinations for Carnival festivities. 

The heart of Carnival is the Samba parade. These parades feature stunningly costumed samba school members who dance their way through the city streets in a display of dazzling choreography, music, and enthusiasm. The most famous Samba parade takes place in Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. 

Throughout Brazil, street parties known as "blocos" take place during Carnival. These are spontaneous and organized gatherings of people who dance, sing, and celebrate in the streets, often accompanied by live music. Grand Carnival balls are a more formal aspect of the celebration, where participants dress in elaborate costumes and dance the night away to live music, often in elegant venues.

Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China  

Nestled in the heart of northeastern China, the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is a winter wonderland like no other. With its breathtaking ice and snow sculptures, intricate ice lanterns, and vibrant cultural displays, this festival has earned a reputation as one of the world's most spectacular cold-weather celebrations.  

The Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival traces its roots back to 1963 when local Harbin residents started an ice lantern garden party. Over the years, it evolved into a grand-scale international event, officially named the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival in 1985. Today, it draws millions of visitors from around the globe each year.

Saint Patrick’s Festival, Dublin, Ireland  

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated anywhere in the world where there is an Irish diaspora, but there’s no better place than Dublin to take part in this festival, which runs for five days and five nights in March and is packed with a program of music, performing arts, literature, tours and food events.  

St. Patrick's Day honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity to the country. The holiday has been celebrated for over a thousand years, with parades at the heart of the celebration, featuring colorful floats, marching bands, and community groups. Dublin's parade is the largest in Ireland, but celebrations take place in towns and cities across the country. 

St. Patrick's Day is, at its core, a religious holiday, and many Irish people attend church services to honor the saint and celebrate their faith. Traditional Irish food, such as corned beef and cabbage, is often enjoyed on this day. 

Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France 

I have no shame in admitting I’m star struck and love watching glamorous actors walking the red carpet at award shows like the Academy awards, Golden Globes, and Cannes! I’m a huge movie buff; I have been one since the age of six! I mean, would your mom and aunt tell a little white lie to the principal of your school so they could take you to see your favorite movie star in action?  

The Cannes Film Festival, founded in 1946, has evolved into the most prestigious film festival globally, attracting the brightest talents and most captivating films. Cannes is the place where actors and industry professionals gather to showcase their work and celebrate the art of filmmaking.

Sky Lantern Festival, China 

The Sky Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival or Yunxiao Festival, is a breathtaking celebration that illuminates the night skies of China with the soft glow of countless floating lanterns. It is traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar calendar, marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Rooted in ancient traditions and beliefs, this festival is a captivating display of hope, unity, and the timeless beauty of illuminated wishes. The Sky Lantern Festival has its origins in Chinese history, and is often associated with the legend of Yunxiao, a young girl who helped her townsfolk ward off evil spirits by solving a riddle and with Emperor Ming of Han's reverence for the moon.  

The heart of the festival is the release of sky lanterns into the night sky. These lanterns are typically made from thin paper with a bamboo frame and a candle at the center and include a riddle on or inside the lantern. When an interior candle is lit, the hot air generated inside the lantern causes it to ascend, creating a serene and mesmerizing spectacle of floating lights. 

Attending any festivals next year? Follow me on @thesavvytraveller_ 

Tag #thesavvytraveller to share your photos with me!