“Man is by nature a social animal” – Festivals are a time of joy, gratitude, and sharing. Do you ever wonder why we celebrate these festivals?
Besides the much-needed time off work, getting together with family, and indulging in delicacies, what is it about festivals that appeals so much to our brain chemistry!? (They even make us anxious at times, but that’s a conversation for another time).
In today’s blog, we give you a peek into the different festivals celebrated around the world as we dive into the essence of these rituals.
Why Do We Celebrate Festivals?
What does your fondest memory of festivities look like? Probably something along the lines of all your loved ones gathered around a delicious spread of food, or watching a movie huddled up on a couch, or toasting s’mores around a bonfire, or going out shopping for presents, or some messy baking and cooking for your family. There’s something about the joy of company that warms the heart like nothing else.
The reasons why we celebrate festivals vary across nations, states, communities, and people. From harvest festival to tomatina festival, art festival to food festival—there is no dearth in the diversity of festivals. But what is common across this spectrum is the coming together of communities. This is especially a respite in our contemporary times where our daily routines are so demanding that we barely find opportunities to spend quality time with our family or the larger community.
This coming together of people gives us a sense of belonging. And in doing so, makes us feel less alone. It gives us a chance to connect not only with the people in our present but also with our ancestors and our histories through engaging in shared traditions and rituals. In many ways, festivities also connect people from different walks of life.
Carnivals, fetes, fairs, community feasts, and other such platforms attract people from all spheres of society. This allows people to share their joys, participate in shared community activities, and help those in need. Since we are by nature social animals, the happiness we derive from such experiences is unlike any other.
6 Thrilling Festivals Around the World
1 – Harvest Festival
Harvest festivals celebrate the beginning of the reaping season or the yield/harvest. They are celebrated at different times around the world, but generally in the spring season. It expresses gratitude towards crops and food and is a celebration of the hard work that goes in. Reaping festivals also provide an opportunity for the community to come together and share their yield, especially with those in need. Some popular harvest festivals are Thanksgiving day, Onam, Holi, Basant Panchami, and Makar Sankranti.
2 – Flower Festival
Flowers are so intricately tied with human emotions. From a confession of love to mourning the loss of a loved one, there is definitely more to them than meets the eye. Countries across the world have different ways of celebrating these embodiments of beauty. In Japan, the onset of the blooming season of cherry blossoms is celebrated with the Cherry Blossom Festival. The most common form of celebrations are picnics under the sakura tree and viewing parties. In Colombia and Pasadena, these festivals are celebrated with parades that display the rich heritage and biodiversity through massive, intricate floats. Italy and Brussels celebrate this festival by covering the streets with beautifully designed flower carpets.
3 – Music Festival
The best way to enjoy your favourite genre of music is experiencing it with a like-minded community. And that is precisely what music festivals do—bring a community of music enthusiasts together to immerse in a melodious experience unlike any other. And what could be more exciting than seeing your favourite artists perform right in front of your eyes? The venue for a music festival often also hosts other side events such as arcades, food stalls, face painting, and a whole lineup of exciting indulgences.
4 – Winter Festival
Winter festivals are for the kid within you! People celebrate the onset of winter by indulging in activities such as ice skating, sculpting, sledding, skiing, snowball fights, and an assortment of other winter sports. The festivals typically also have fairs with fireworks displays, food and beverage stalls, cultural performances, parades, market stalls, and so much more.
5 – Food Festival
The way to the heart is through the stomach—a saying that you have probably heard often. Food is also one of the easiest ways to acquaint yourself with the culture and traditions of a region. Food festivals are a fun way to treat yourself to a variety of flavourful taste profile. Some exciting food festivals around the world that you might consider attending include-
-
- Oktoberfest, Germany
- Dumpling Festival, China
- Vegetable Festival, Thailand
- Pancake Festival, Russia
- Food & Wine Festival, Melbourne
- Tokyo Ramen Show
- Salon du Chocolat, Paris
- Dubai Food Festival
6 – Art Festival
Can’t choose between a musical and food festival? What if you could get all these different festivals in one place? An art festival is where you should be heading if you’re as indecisive as us!
As an attempt to celebrate the richness of art and culture through different art forms, art festivals represent different art forms such as street theatre, music, films, fine art, poetry, comedy, and much more. Some art festivals might even feature cuisines from around the world. Whether you’re an artist yourself or just a fellow connoisseur of art, these festivals are an ideal platform to connect with likeminded fellows, immerse in the world of art, or just for having a gala time.
Who knows, you might get to meet your favourite artist at one of these fairs!
Festivals offer us a break from the hustle and bustle of our daily routines. They’re an ideal opportunity to reconnect with our families, friends, and communities to celebrate traditions and culture that have shaped humanity over the years.