Festivals around the world - part 2
Recently we met with some religious festivals around the world. Now we will to present some carnivals of the world. Share and enjoy…….
Notting Hill carnival
This great festival began initially from the energies of Black immigrants from the Caribbean, where the Carnival tradition is very strong. People living locally who dreamed of creating a festival to bring together the people of Notting Hill, most of whom as immigrants, were facing racism, lack of working opportunities, poor housing conditions resulting in a general suppression of good self-esteem. Colourful costumed dancers strut their stuff in time to their own floats beat. Swaying onlookers crowd ten and fifteen deep, whistles blowing and dancing in the streets.
The Notting Hill Carnival has been taking place in London, on the last weekend in August, every year. From its beginnings as a protest march by Trinidadians back in 1964, the carnival has grown to become Europe’s biggest arts festival and second only to Rio on the world stage. Six disciplines go to make up the carnival as we know it today-Mas’ (masquerade), Steelband, Calypso, Soca (the traditional music of Carnival), Static Sound Systems, and Samba all play their part in the Carnival. For the first time Black people could express themselves freely on the streets of Notting Hill in appreciation of the music and togetherness and reminiscing of the Carnivals back home. The Notting Hill Carnival as we know it today was born on that occasion and has since evolved into an event that predominantly reflects the best of Black Music.
The opportunity to dance and perform in the streets of London free of all pressures was not to be missed!
Pamplona festival
Running with the bulls began to grow in popularity, despite efforts to stop it. By the late 1800s, it had become a well-established tradition. During the modern festival, the running of the bulls starts at 8:00 a.m. each morning. Six bulls selected from Spain’s top breeding ranches run in the daily event, called an encierro. Thousands people were in Pamplona for San Fermin in 2006 - Europe’s most famous and wildest party. Its amazing festive atmosphere and the way the locals party has to be seen to be believed!
Each morning from 4 July to 11 July inclusive, the Running features scores of brave locals and visitors running in the path of enraged and confused bulls, as they make their way through the streets of the town to the bullring. Every year there are heroes and the exhilaration of this unique and dangerous spectacle.
The bulls’ route winds half a almost one kilometer through town San Fermin. Street to the city’s bullring, where each bull fights a matador in the afternoon. While short, encierros can be dangerous both to runners and bystanders. The size of the crowd, the bulls’ unpredictability, and the inexperience of many participants add to the risk.
People are happy. They’re alive … It’s something unique that you see.
Halloween festival
Halloween is one of the most popular and beloved festivals of the world today, especially among children. Halloween is the day when it is believed that it is the day when the evil spirits such as vampires, ghosts and witches come to Earth and terrify people. Celtic people used to paint their faces and wear terrifying costumes to scare off these evil spirits.
A popular event with attendance between 5 and 10 thousand each year, the Festival features 35 events over the course of several days, with the main festival taking place this year on Saturday, October 29th, right on Washington Street, which is closed between Ritter and Arlington for the event.
The tradition is -the children and even adults dress up as witches and ghosts, pirates and other costumes and go in groups from home to home. They get candies and apples as treat and those who dare not to entertain them, gets the blunt end of the stick and pranks and tricks are played on them. It’s the day of the devil and the time to unleash the monster within. The Festival features booths, children’s activities, a parade and a main stage. Some of the highlights include a Harry Potter Trivia Tournament, a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest, Spooky Stories in the Park, and a Wacky Witch puppet show.
|
Related Posts |
