For many, especially in the United States, Halloween is quickly approaching at the end of this month. However, not everyone celebrates Halloween, as Mexico celebrates Dia De Los Meurtos. Around the world, countries have their own unique celebrations and festivals, and I decided to rank the top 8 world festivals that I want to go to in my lifetime.
Yi Peng (Thailand Lantern Festival)
The first festival I want to go to Yi Peng, or the Thailand Lantern Festival. Located in Chaing Mai in Northern Thailand, this festival is held on November 1st of this year. Yi Peng means full moon day, and it’s on the 12th full moon of the Thai calendar. It’s a religious celebration that releases paper lanterns into the sky to bring good fortune and prosperity to those who release the lanterns.
Imagine the scene in Tangled from Disney, when the Kingdom releases the lanterns into the sky to honor their lost daughter. Yi Peng looks very similar, and I’m honestly enchanted by the pictures online. This beautiful festival is something I’ve always wanted to attend, and it’s probably my top thing I want to do on my overall bucket list. I hope one day to be able to see this festival in the future and be apart of the festival as well!
http://https://www.travelawaits.com/2482222/thailand-yi-peng-festival/
Holi (Indian Color Festival)
The second on my list is Holi, the color festival celebrated in India. The next celebration is in 2021, from March 28th to March 29th. Holi is rooted in Hindu myth, which celebrates the passing of winter and good over evil. During the festival, people throw colored powder at each other, decorating each other and the streets with bright, beautiful colors. Songs and dances accompany the celebration, followed by food and drinks all the while throwing colored powders at each other in good spirits. I’ve taken part in a color-run marathon, but I know it wouldn’t compare to being apart of Holi in India. Holi is such a beautiful celebration full of life, and one day I hope to take part in it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
Dia De Los Muertos
Dia De Los Muertos is the closest festival that is coming up soon, but unfortunately, I can’t go. Hopefully, one day I am able to go to Dia De Los Muertos in Mexico. The Day of the Dead starts from October 31st to November 2nd, which is a celebration that celebrates life and love and respect for those who have passed away. Instead of mourning, offers of food and trinkets are placed on the graves, and everyone celebrates with food and dance through the three days of the celebration. You may recognize the sugar skulls and people dressed as skeletons with flowers during Day of the Dead.
I’ve grown up taking Spanish classes, doing a mini celebration of Dia De Los Muertos in the classroom. I think it’s beautiful the festival isn’t one of mourning, but one of the celebration of life, which I think all deaths should be celebrated as.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is one of the most well-known celebrations in the United States. Celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana, the day is celebrated on a Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, before Ash Wednesday. The purpose is to feast, celebrate, and have fun before fasting for Lent. Many recognize the celebration of the colorful beads that are thrown around, the colors purple, gold, and green, and the lively parades. A king is selected every year as well, usually a celebrity or well-known figure in the community.
My cousin goes to Mardi Gras every year, and I’ve seen her pictures and videos from the event. I’ve always wanted to go, and I plan to celebrate in New Orleans once I’m 21. This event is one I can more easily go to since I live in the USA, and I can’t wait to one day be able to go to New Orleans and join in on the fun!
Oktoberfest in Germany
Unfortunately, Oktoberfest was canceled this year because of COVID, but this festival is a yearly festival held in Germany. Oktoberfest is a sixteen to an eighteen-day folk festival, where thousands come to celebrate. Oktoberfest started as a wedding celebration over 200 years ago for Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese. It became an annual festival full of food, drinking, and horse racing.
I always knew Oktoberfest existed, but I learned more about it on Skin Wars when they were challenged to paint world festivals. I know really want to join in on the fun of food and celebration. I’ve been to Germany once, but it was only a small fishing town. I wish to one day go back to Germany for Oktoberfest and experience this huge festival.
Balloon Fiesta- New Mexico
I had never heard of Balloon Fiesta before I met my two roommates who are from New Mexico, but Balloon Fiesta is a hot air balloon festival held between the first Saturday of October and lasts for nine days. Unfortunately this year the Balloon Fiesta was canceled because of COVID, and both of my roommates were sad since it was canceled (they would have not been able to go anyways because they are at college). But it’s a festival with hot air balloons of all shapes, colors, and figures that brings the state and community together for fun. Even though I have never heard of Balloon Fiesta, I now hope to one day be able to go with my roommates to experience the brightly colored sky full of hot air balloons.
https://balloonfiesta.com/Event-Schedule
La Tomatina
La Tomatina is a festival held in late August in Spain, in which participators throw tomatoes at each other. There’s not a solid theory on why this celebration exists, but it is theorized it started in 1944 or 1945 when the townspeople threw tomatoes at their bad city councilmen. It is now an annual event where the town is full of people covered in tomatoes, the streets piled high with the squished food.
I actually hate tomatoes (but I like ketchup and tomato soup), but I really want to go to this festival. It’s like a huge food fight where we get to throw tomatoes at other people, and that seems like so much fun. I want to go to Spain in general, but I might have to plan my trip around going to La Tomatina!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Tomatina
Carnival de Rio de Janeiro
Carnival de Rio de Janeiro is a festival held in Brazil every year. The next festival is in 2021 from February 12th to February 17th, taking place before Lent. Carnival de Rio de Janeiro is considered the largest festival in the world, with millions of people coming to celebrate in the streets. There’s floats, dancing, drinks, food, and songs, and the whole celebration is just a party the whole time. One recognizable feature is the women in the huge glittery feathered headpieces while dancing.
Honestly, the reason I want to go to Carnival de Rio so much is that it just looks so much fun! To go to Brazil and just party with everyone in the streets seems like such a special celebration, and I really hope one day I can join in with the millions in the streets to celebrate!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Carnival
Hopefully, one day once the world gets under control with COVID, most of these celebrations can come back. I really hope to experience these amazing world festivals, and once everything is safe again in the world, I for sure plan to attend! I hope this list has inspired everyone to want to travel one day to go to them as well!