Joanna James
Festivals have their own unique significance and bring together not just people in local communities but around the world too. Highlighting a variety of aspects from religion and culture to the arts, these events provide an ideal way in which to celebrate life.
Religion plays a key part in the lives of a great many people in the world who celebrate various annual festivals linked to their beliefs. These festivals are steeped in rich traditions and give devotees a chance to reflect and / or celebrate with family or friends. Many of these events can be enjoyed or witnessed by those not of that particular faith too. Examples of popular religious festivals include Christmas (Christian), Diwali (Hindu), Eid al-Adha (Muslim), Vesak (Buddhist) and Hanukkah (Jewish).
Showcasing a wide range of cinematic creations, both local and international, film festivals have become amongst the key annual events globally. Generally, they have an overall theme and a line-up of movies (may include documentaries or animation too) that are in the running to pick up awards; winners are usually selected by a jury / panel that keeps changing from year to year. Amongst the most famous festivals and events that revolve around film are those held at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and Toronto.
Linked with the seasons, harvest festivals the world over have their distinctive traditions as well; many a time they were held to give thanks to a bountiful harvest. As you may expect, because it is connected with the harvest, these events also feature a celebration of food and drink with one another; it can include various rituals, games, songs and dances too. The Mid-Autumn Festival in China, Thanksgiving in America, Chuseok in Korea and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in Sri Lanka are some examples. Online resources the likes of the Events and Festivals Blog are worth checking out if you want to find out more.
Music is a universal language and so it is no surprise that music festivals are so popular no matter where they take place! Amongst the main features of such events are that they normally take place outdoors and they have live performances on a stage or stages, depending on the size and scope of the festival. While some of them are for a specific type of music such as rock, jazz, dance or classical, others have an eclectic line-up with performers from various genres. Amongst the most well-known are Glastonbury in England, Coachella and Burning Man in America, Primavera Sound in Barcelona and Donauinselfest in Austria.
For a true celebration of life, love, music and more, nothing beats a carnival! Initially rooted in religious beliefs, such events have grown into something much larger; many of them are in fact, held just before the Christian period of Lent when devotees usually give up luxuries or certain comforts for 40 days. As part of the celebrations, they involve colourful costumes, parades with various floats, dancing and music. Of course, when it comes to grand carnivals, nothing can beat Brazil's epic Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the Notting Hill Carnival in London are examples of other popular carnivals.
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