Theatrical processions, colorful costumes, floats, dancers, street jazz and food and whole lots of exuberance and high energy flows across the streets when carnival explode in the cities across the world. Some travellers time their trips to get swept by the carnival celebrations and to be surrounded by the extraordinary costumes and heart-deep thumping beats that fill the air and makes you feel fantastic. Book your carnival celebrations in advance as you read about these unique festivals across the globe as which one to take part, or simply appreciate them from afar.
1. La Tomatina, Spain
The tomato-throwing festival hosted each year in Spain, takes place annually in August on the narrow medieval streets of Buñol, with 22,000 revelers pelting one another with 140 tons of ripe tomatoes in an hour-long fruit-filled frenzy. The festivities begin as early as 10 am in the town’s main square, Plaza del Pueblo, where a ham is hoisted to the top of a pole and people struggle to climb up and pull it down. The main action kick starts when trucks dump load full of tomatoes into the streets followed by the splash of the water cannons. After heaving with over-ripe fruit all long, the fiesta continues throughout the afternoon with live music, dancing, and plenty of sangria being served in plazas around the town.
Date | Wed, Aug 30, 2023
2. Venice Carnival, Italy
Carnevale di Venezia is a century old festival carried on and can be called as the gateway to enchantments, romantic balls and masquerades of the romantic age. The romance, a downright sexual mysticism heighten with the beautiful Venice at the backdrop. The trick is to stay at the right hotel and they will provide you with invitations. We see theatrical processions with throngs of tourists heavily dressed along the canals and squares. As night fall they walk in to invite-only candlelit ballrooms and take part in the masquerade balls followed by dinner and drinks. The Carnival, takes place between the middle and the end of February and attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to Venice. The beating heart of the carnival is the St Mark’s Square, which hosts concerts and the traditional events. It's every travellers dream to get the key into the city's secret masked balls.
Next Date | Saturday 27 January 2024
3. Monkey Buffet Festival, Thailand
Have you heard that there is an annual festival that invites local macaques to dine on towers of fruit and vegetables among the ruins of a 13th-century temple in Lopburi, Thailand? Its true. According to the tale, the monkey king, Hanuman and his army helped rescue Sita. Since then they have worshipped monkeys as savior who signal good luck and prosperity. Lopburi’s annual buffet is one way people mark their appreciation to the monkey God. The festival kicks starts with an opening ceremony that features performances by dancers in monkey costumes and after the monkeys arrive, the buffet of tons of food offering are revealed before them.
Date | 27th Nov, 2023
4. Kanamara Matsuri, Japan
Kanamara Matsuri, or the Festival of the Steel Phallus is a celebration of sexual desires that finds expression in one joyful day of cross-dressing, enjoying penis-shaped lollipops and, of course, a few giant phalluses carried as floats in the parades. They celebrate this raucous of a festival on the first Sunday of April every year at Kanayama Shrine, south of Tokyo to honor human genitalia. At Kanamara Matsuri, families gather to celebrate sex, fertility and the creation of life itself parading with a variety of giant size phalluses just before noon along the packed streets. While people are dressed quirky and bright and wriggling through the streets, they don't miss the snacks exclusive to Kanamara Matsuri — penis- and vulva-shaped lollipops in various flavours. Yes bizarre and yet exciting.
Next Date | First Sunday of April, 2024
5. EL Colacho, Spain
El Colacho is an unusual baby jumping festival that take place in the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia. The festival of El Colacho dates back to the 1620s and takes place on the Sunday after the Feast of Corpus Christi. It all culminates when babies born during the previous year are laid on mattresses in the street while the costumed men leap over them. A heart-stopping display of frenzied stunts are a form of baptism of sorts, to be believed that the devil absorbs the sins of the babies, and shield them from disease and misfortune. These devils are red and yellow-masked who run through the streets rebuking the villages and whipping with a horsetail attached to a stick. With the beating of the drums, arrive the pious men who come to drive out evil and the fight begins. El Colacho is a blend of Catholic and pagan rituals and meant to represent the triumph of good over evil.
Date | 11th June, 2023
6. Cooper's Hill Cheese Rolling & Wake, England
Cooper's Hill cheese rolling and wake is deemed as the toughest sports competition involving a bunch of participants racing down a steep incline after a wheel of Gloucester cheese. Must say, easier said than done. This annual event is held in Gloucestershire in England where the famous cheese is traditionally made from Gloucester cattle, now an endangered breed. The game kick starts when the master of ceremonies from the top of the incline of Cooper’s Hill releases the nine pound double cheese wheel and few men tumble head over heels to chase the wheel of cheese. Local rugby club players and farmers groups volunteer to catch the players at the end line and even to provide medical assistance. Pulling down shirts, rolling over and some minor accidents are bound to happen in this high energy sporting event.
Next Date| 29th May 2024
7. Wife carrying World Championship, Finland
We could measure love with muscle power holding tight and running a race griping eachother at the Wife Carrying World Championships in Finland. You heard it right. Couples from all over the world come to take part in this competition at the town of Sonkajaervi in Finland. The rule goes like this — husbands have to carry their wives along the track with various obstacles. The wife should be at least 17 years old and weight minimum 49 kilos. If lighter, she should carry an additional rucksack. The winning couple completes the course in the shortest time. There are other awards as well — well-dressed couple, the strongest carrier and the most entertaining couple on the race. You must be thinking I would rather be a spectator hooting in utmost joy than be the participant!
Date| 30th June - 1st July 2023
8. Lerwick Up Helly Aa, Scotland
Fire, feasting, fancy dress, torch-lit procession, galley (dragon ship) burning all echo pagan Norse rituals and the history of shetland, Scotland. Up Helly Aa counted as a jubilant celebration of Shetland history, and a triumphant demonstration of islanders' skills and spirit along with the enactment of the vikings life, is a must see. For 24 hours on the last Tuesday of January, hundreds of thousands of volunteers march alongside the 'Guizer Jarl' (representing the Viking chief) donning helmets, grabbing axe and shield, and embarking on a 24-hour sleepless marathon. Heavily disguised torch-bearers, in groups, known as ‘squads also join in. The torches flame the lovingly crafted vessel of dragon ship but before this final act the band strikes up and the blazing procession circle around the ship. Music and dance flows in and people drink and frolic soaked up with bowls of mutton soup and bannocks. As you party all day you realise this is Mardi Gras of the North!
Next Date | Last Tuesday in January, 2024
9. Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea
Daecheon Beach, a beautiful resort town in south Korea that boasts a 3.5km-long stretch of fine shell powdered sand is never more alive than at Boryeong Mud Festival. Imagine gigantic pools of gray mud that look inviting, massive playgrounds ideal for children and adults alike, and grand beachside parties that last till midnight. That’s Boryeong Mud Festival for you. The real pull is playing with mud which is believed to contain skin-healing properties. Today, it is one of the world’s most sought-after festivals, also South Korea's summer festival drawing in attendees by the thousands annually.
Date | July 21st - July 30th, 2023
10. Testicle Festival, Montana
If given a thought, the testicle festival is the most bizarre and unique events in the United States, yet drawing crowds from across the country. An annual event that takes place in Clinton, Montana (and other cities), where participants come together to celebrate and consume bull testicles, lovingly coined as Rocky Mountain Oysters. All started as a fun serving of mountain oysters to the customer in one restaurant leading to the popularity of the dish and people started coming from all over to try them. A small gathering of foodies at the restaurant sprang a full-fledged event that attracts thousands of people each year in August over a weekend. The oysters come in various preparations including deep-fried, grilled, and even raw followed by contests, such as the 'ball eating contest'. Participants dress up in outrageous costumes to march the "Testicle Festival Parade" and later lounge at the beer gardens where locals and tourists gulp drams of beers from local breweries. With time it has become an important part of the local culture in Clinton, Montana. What was sounding weird is actually fun ! Isn't it.
Date | 9th September, 2023
Know that these unique festivals are much more than the parades, colours and noise. Festivals are unique for the rich history of its own, borne from the unique chemistry of the individual community that shape a nation and demographics. Each customs and traditions of the carnival performed with pomp stem from the culture and heritage that are kept alive by the natives and on that designated week they come out to celebrate them with pride and gusto.
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