Subject: Put Your Party Hat On
Posted by: looney_tunes
Date: Aug 12 10
Every country has its special holidays, and holiday traditions – food, costume, celebratory activities – that we can enjoy as we travel on the Bus Ride. We may not manage to be there on the best day, but let's share information about what we could experience in the right season!
Many of us will be relying on second-hand sources for information - if you live in the country we are visiting, please let us all know how YOU celebrate any special holidays.
Posted by: looney_tunes
Date: Aug 12 10
Every country has its special holidays, and holiday traditions – food, costume, celebratory activities – that we can enjoy as we travel on the Bus Ride. We may not manage to be there on the best day, but let's share information about what we could experience in the right season!
Many of us will be relying on second-hand sources for information - if you live in the country we are visiting, please let us all know how YOU celebrate any special holidays.
225 replies. On page 6 of 12 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
looney_tunes
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Sugar is one of the main agricultural products of Fiji, and Lautoka, nicknamed 'Sugar City', is in the heart of the sugar cane belt, so it is no wonder that they hold an annual Sugar Festival. The festival is organized by the Lautoka Sugar Festival Association, a charitable organization which uses the proceeds of the festival for such projects as providing books and stationery for schoolchildren, as well as assisting those in need after natural disasters. Events include the crowning of "Miss Sugar" and "Miss Charity", as well as parades featuring brass bands and vehicles decorated with sugar cane, and funfair rides. While you are there in September, you might want to tour the largest sugar cane mill in Fiji, which employs over 1,000 people, as well as the Hara Krishna temple and other 'exotic' sights. Reply #101. Oct 31 10, 12:50 AM |
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As well as holidays with public displays and activities, Japan has a number of other traditional celebrations which are more private. One of these is Hanami, which involves organizing an outdoor party to view and enjoy the cherry blossoms. This must be planned carefully, as the cherry blossoms only last a week or two. The weather bureau issues a 'cherry blossom front' each year, predicting when they are likely to appear, and updates it regularly. Party-planners keep a close eye on it, so that they can organize their event during the narrow window of opportunity, which varies in time according to location. Picnics may be during the day or at night, in which case paper lanterns are hung in the trees for illumination. There is a Japanese saying that translates as "dumplings rather than flowers", suggesting that many people are more interested in the food and drink that in the actual viewing of flowers. Reply #102. Nov 01 10, 1:22 AM |
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The Caribbean Island of Grenada claims that the Carriacou Maroon & String Band Festival is "The World's Number One String Band Festival". It is certainly worth a visit! It combines cultural education with entertainment, offering insight into the African origins of Maroon culture and spectacular displays. Entertainment includes drumming and singing displays, string band parades and concerts, and the eating of traditional 'smoke food'. Reply #103. Nov 02 10, 12:44 AM |
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Agia Paraskevi, on the Greek island of Lesbos, is one of the last remaining traditional villages of Lesbos. The village is named after the Church of Agia Paraskevi, which is located in a cave above the town, where the water in a well is supposed to have been endowed with protective powers by the Virgin Mary. Here they have celebrated the Festival of the Bull of Agios Haralambos since 1774. The festival is linked to an old story that a Turk stole a bull during the period of Turkish occupation, which he was unable to kill – every time he tried to kill it, a bright light shone in his eyes, until he gave up and returned it to its rightful owners. The main feature of the celebration is the sacrifice of a bull for good fortune; other activities include a number of horse races, culminating in the paired bareback races from the centre of town to the cave church. Reply #104. Nov 03 10, 2:05 AM |
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In February of 2010, Havanna, Cuba hosted the 12th Cigar Festival, in honor of this item for which Cuba has been seen as the traditional home. (Non-smokers should stay home today, we will have other holidays more to their taste again.) The festival, spreading over about four days, includes seminars about tobacco and cigars, visits to tobacco plantations and/or cigar factories, trade fair displays, cigar tastings, and, in the evenings, cocktail parties and dinners. In between the official activities, you can explore the city! Reply #105. Nov 04 10, 1:09 AM |
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Although it is not a public holiday, the Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious automobile races in the world, and thousands of visitors arrive to participate in the event both the races and the surrounding parties. You might like to book a spot in one of Monaco's luxury hotels, or perhaps on a yacht moored in the harbour, now – places fill up fast! You can watch the race from the deck of your yacht, as the course through the streets of the city goes right past the harbour. The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One car race held in May each year. Along with the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it is one of the three races that form the unofficial Triple Crown of motor sports. Winning all three is particularly challenging because they involve three different types of car, and because the timing of Indianapolis and Monaco often conflict. Only Graham Hill, who won Monaco 5 times, has won all three races as a driver; McLaren and Mercedes are the only manufacturers to have produced winners at all three races. Reply #106. Nov 05 10, 12:58 AM |
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The Democratic Republic of the Congo was a Belgian colonial territory known as the Belgian Congo before independence was granted in 1960. January 4 is celebrated as the Day of the Martyrs for Independence, a date chosen in memory of the Leopoldville riots from Jan 4 through Jan 7 in 1959. This marked a significant turning point in the move towards independence. If you happen to be in Kinshasa on May 25, you can join in on the Christmas celebrations along with members of the Kimbanguist church, who believe that Christ was born in May rather than in December. Reply #107. Nov 06 10, 12:12 AM |
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Almost all holidays in Burundi are celebrated with traditional drumming, often accompanied by traditional dance such as the abatimbo and the abanyagasimbo. The world-famous Drummers of Burundi have performed for over forty years, bringing traditional Burundi drumming to an international audience. Their performances include amashako, ibishikiso and ikiranya drums. Other instruments often used in performance with the drums are the flute, zither, ikembe ( an instrument formed from a series of metal strips of different lengths for different notes mounted on a wooden resonating box), indonongo (fiddle-like), umudri (a bow-shaped stringed instrument), inanga (sitar-like) and the inyagara (rattle). Reply #108. Nov 07 10, 12:12 AM |
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As we have travelled around the world, we have visited quite a few countries where Christian and Islamic religious holidays are celebrated as public holidays. In Israel, we can observe traditional Jewish holidays, many of which are also celebrated by Jews around the world, if not by their larger embedded communities. The details of celebrations vary from place to place, so I will just summarize here some of the most significant holidays in the Jewish calendar. The month of Tishrei (first month of the civil year, seventh month of the Hebrew calendar) kicks off with Rosh Hashanah, commonly referred to as the Jewish New Year. This is usually sometime in September or October on the Gregorian calendar. Yom Kippus, the most solemn of the Jewish holidays occurs on the 1oth day of Tinei. Also known as the Day of Atonement, is commemorates the end of 40 years of journeying through the desert before entering Canaan. Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Taernacles and the Feast of Booths, is celebated on the 215th day of Tishrei; it celebrates the time when manna was provided for the people travelling through the desert. Pesach, or Passover, celebrates the departure of the Jews from Egypt under the leadership of Moses, and begins on the 15th day of Nisan. This roughly coincides with the Christian celebration of Easter, and the Last Supper of Christ is often considered to have been a Passover celebration. Reply #109. Nov 08 10, 12:51 AM |
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Mongolians celebrate Tsagaan Sar, the first day of the new year according to the Buddhist calendar, in early February. The celebration has existed since the time of Genghis Khan, and later merged with the Buddhist tradition. The day before Tsagaan Sar is a time to clean (physically and spiritually) in preparation for the new year. To start several days of family celebrations, many choose to climb to the top of a mountain to see the first sunrise of the new year. Celebrations include feasting on the night of the new moon, visits to the elder members of the family, and exchange of gifts, especially the traditional blue scarf called a khadag. Reply #110. Nov 09 10, 2:32 AM |
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Due to the troubled political history of Bosnia, it has associated with it a holiday that is celebrated elsewhere – Bosansko Dubicko Vece, a celebration that brings together displaced Bosnians from the northern area of Bosansk Dubica. These reunions are held in Chicago, St. Louis, Sydney and other cities. There are plans to create a group that would meet every two years to help children become familiar with their traditions and culture. It is hoped that the reunions can be held in Bosanska Dubica in the near future. Reply #111. Nov 10 10, 1:55 AM |
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The mixture of ethnicities and religions in Sri Lanka means we have a wide range of celebrations in which to participate. Vesak, also referred to as Buddha's Birthday, celebrates the life and death of Gautama Buddha, and is celebrated at a variable date (depending on the lunar calendar) in April or May each year. Vesak day is celebrated on the day of a full moon, and starts with temple bells ringing and drums beating at dawn to announce the holiday, and call Buddhists to come to the temple to start the day's observances. Temple services are followed by street parades which include displays of various significant events in Buddha's life. Festivities stretch out for an entire week. In major cities such as Colombo and Kandy, electrically-lit displays called toranas are set up to show stories from "The 550 Past Life Stories of the Buddha". Lanterns are hung along streets and in private houses to represent the light of Buddha; food stalls are set up to provide free food and drink; groups of singers roam as they perform devotional songs; it's quite a party! Reply #112. Nov 11 10, 1:40 AM |
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In July, the Seychelles Round Table Regatta is held for two days on Beau Vallon Beach, Mahe Island. This water-sport festival include yacht-racing, beach tug-of-war competitions, amateur boxing, lots of live music, and the Miss Regatta Beauty Pageant held in the International Conference Centre. Fun for young and old! Reply #113. Nov 12 10, 12:12 AM |
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Christmas in Samoa has become a 13-day festival starting in mid-December. What started as a sort of warmup for the big event, initiated by the Reverend Faitala Talapusi in 1996. It originated as a program of Christmas carols performed by different choirs in one church over the fortnight preceding Christmas, and has expanded to involve many churches, and to be televised nationally. As well as the choirs, there are dramatic presentations both in the churches and in the public squares of some villages. Musical highlights include a performance from the Samoan Police Band, along with a large range of other musical styles helping to create a festive atmosphere. Businesses and private homes are decorated with streamers, balloons, and Christmas greeting messages. Because December is warm, Christmas is very much an outdoor celebration. Reply #114. Nov 13 10, 12:22 AM |
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The people of Nauru celebrate Angam Day on October 26, commemorating the day in 1932 when the nation's population first reached 1,500. This figure is recognized as the minimum needed for a population to be self-sustaining, and had been a population target ever since the end of World War I and the population decrease caused by the Influenza epidemic of 1919. Unfortunately, Eidegenegen Eidagaruwo, the 'Angam baby' whose birth is celebrated, died during the forced evacuation to Truk during World War II, along with many of the other Naruan evacuees. The population reached 1,500 again on March 31, 1949 when Bether Enproe Adam was born in Boe. Angam celebrations recommenced, but still using the original date in October. The Naruan word 'angam' means 'jubilation', 'celebration', 'hope', and 'to have reached a goal', among other possible translations. Angam Day is a day for reflecting on the past and anticipating the future for this tiny island nation. Reply #115. Nov 14 10, 1:59 AM |
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In Ukraine, there are a number of celebrations which combine Christian holidays with older pagan festivals. One of these is the observance of 'Masliana' during the week preceding the start of Lent. It provides a chance for some last-minute partying before the traditional abstinence of Lent, and also marks the transition of seasons from winter to spring. Lots of singing, poetry recitation, eating and drinking are traditional. Traditional foods for the week include 'varenyky' (potato dumplings served with sour cream) and 'mlyntsi' (buckwheat pancakes cooked in butter). This link has information about other Ukrainian holidays, as well as a picture of the burning of a straw man as part of Masliana celebrations. http://www.ukremb.ca/canada/en/18185.htm Reply #116. Nov 15 10, 2:48 AM |
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On March 29, the citizens of the Central African Republic (CAR) celebrate Boganda Day, the anniversary of the death in 1959 of the first president of the CAR. Boganda was born in 1910, and was adopted by Roman Catholic missionaries after the death of his mother. At the age of 12 he took on the name of Barthelemy (French form of Bartholomew) after the apostle believed to have travelled in Africa as a missionary. He became a priest (the first from Oubangui-Chari, as the region was then designated) and, after WWII, also got elected to the National Assembly of France where he fought for racial equality and independence from French colonialism. He let the priesthood to marry Michelle Jourdain, a French parliamentary secretary. He led the negotiations for independence, which was granted in 1958 (although not finalized until 1960), and was elected as CAR's first president. In March of 1959 he died in a somewhat mysterious plane crash about which conspiracy theories abound. Reply #117. Nov 16 10, 12:45 AM |
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In Taiwan, Double Ninth Day is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the Chinese year, which is sometime in September or October on the Gregorian calendar. As is the case for all lunar-based festivals, its date varies from year to year. It is also called Chung Yang (Double Yang), because the number 9 is associated with the Taoist principle of 'yang'. Yang is described as being fast, hard, solid, focused, hotm dry and aggressive (as opposed to yin, which is slow, soft, yielding, diffuse, cold, wet and peaceful. Yang is also associated with fire, sky, the sun, daytime, and masculinity. Chung Yang Day activities traditionally include hanging dogwood sprays, climbing hills, drinking chrysanthemum wine – activities derived from the story of Huan Ching, dating from the Han Dynasty. Kite flying is a popular activity introduced on the day in more recent times. http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/99_e/html/man.htm Reply #118. Nov 17 10, 1:07 AM |
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As a country whose citizens are mostly (about 85%) Muslims, Guinea-Conakry celebrates the major Islamic festivals. Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice), also known as 'the Greater Eid', is locally referred to as Tabaski. It is traditional to slaughter a sheep, goat or chicken as part of the observation of the end of the month of Ramadan. The holiday commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ismael (Ishmael) at God's instruction, an action he did not need to complete when God provided a ram as an alternative sacrifice. Reply #119. Nov 18 10, 1:33 AM |
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If you can visit Austria in August, you will have the chance to participate in the Salzburg Festival, which extends from late July until early September. Originally celebrated from 1877 to 1910 as a celebration of the music of Mozart, it was revived in 1920, and featured a performance of the play 'Jedermann' on the steps of Cathedral Square, which is now an annual component of the festival. In 1936 the festival featured a performance by the Trapp Family Singers (remember the climax of 'The Sound of Music'?). The festival lost prominence during the German occupation of Austria, but regained fame as a summer opera festival after the end of WWII. In 2006, Mozart's 250th birthday was celebrated with the performance of all 22 of his operatic pieces, including a few that were incomplete at the time of his death. Reply #120. Nov 19 10, 12:47 AM |
225 replies. On page 6 of 12 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
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