Popular Festivals

January is the start of the new year for us. What would be more fitting than to start the year with the grandest festivals? Here are some of the grandest festivals that are held during the first month of the year.

Rose Parade in Los Angeles, California

The Rose Parade or the Tournament of the Roses Parade is one of the grandest parades in the world. It is America's celebration of new year. The Rose Parade is the parade of rose floats, marching bands, and equestrians. The first parade was held in 1890 and was staged by the Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club. The Rose Parade is aired in television. The 2010 event was aired in 127 countries throughout the world.

Sydney Festival in Sydney, Australia

The Sydney festival is Australia's largest and most attended yearly event. The festival is composed of fifty events. These include performances involving contemporary music, circus, dance, drama, visual arts, and public lectures. The Sydney Festival was conceived as an effort to boost Sydney's tourism in the month of January. The event lasts for three weeks. If you want to explore Australian contemporary culture, you have to attend this annual festival. Here, you will get a taste of the best things that Sydney can offer.

January would really be a much awaited month of the year because of these two grand festivals.

The mid-autumn festival is also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. It is one of the most important holidays in the Chinese Calendar. The Mooncake Festival is actually the celebration of the end of the summer harvesting season. Read on to know more information about the Mooncake Festival.

History of Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore

According to legends, a Mooncake festival is a tribute to the Moon Goddess Chang'e. According to tradition, Change'e was an immortal who lived with her immortal husband around 2170 BC, in the reign of the legendary emperor Yao. It was said that Chang'e was lifted up to the moon by overdosing on an immortality pill. There's also an account saying that the Mooncake festival was actually a commemoration of the uprising in China against the Mongol rulers in the 14 the century. As an effect, the Mid-Autum Festival was celebrated on the national level.

Festival highlights and activities

During the Mooncake Festival, families gather together and admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat pomelos and mooncakes together. Carrying brightly lit lanterns is also part of the tradition. Performing Fire Dragon Dances, planting mid-autumn trees, and burning incense are part of the customs of the Mooncake Festival.

The Mooncake Festival showcases various traditional Chinese customs and traditions. And it is an event celebrated not just in mainland China and in Singapore, but also in the countries where there are Chinese communities. In some countries, even non-Chinese are celebrating the Mooncake Festival and performing all the traditions and customs that come with it.

India has various festivals. This is why India is a great place to visit. No matter what time of the year you come to visit India, you would surely get the chance to witness Indian festivals. Read on to know some of the festivals that reflect the rich and diverse Indian culture.

Onam Festival

The Onam festival is one of the biggest festivals in the south Indian state of Kerala. It is celebrated in the months of August and September. It is Kerala's harvest festival. This festival marks the homecoming of King Mahabali, a legendary Indian King. The ten-day long festival showcases Kerala's culture and traditions. Among the interesting activities during this festival are snake boat races and theKaikottikali dance. In this event, there's abundance of intricate wreaths of flowers and food.

Ganesh Chaturthi

This is a Hindu festival of Ganesha, who is the son of Shiva and Parvati. The date for this festival usually falls between August 20 and September 15. This is also a ten-day long festival characterized by cultural activities such as dancing, singing, and performing drama. The main sweet dish served during the festival is modak, a dumpling made from flour with fresh or dry-grated coconut, dry fuits, and jaggery stuffing. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated all throughout India. It is also celebrated by migrant Hindus in the UK.

The festivals in India are interesting events because they showcase the rich culture and traditions of the country. The festivals are also often merry and loud, uplifting the spirits of those who witness the events.

One of the festivals celebrated in the different parts of the world is the beer festival. The Beer Festival or Oktoberfest in Germany is the biggest beer festival in the world. Read on for more information about this festival.

Festival activities and highlights

The beer festival in Germany always comes with carnival rides such as the ferris wheel. Bands are also part of the whole Oktoberfest package. Bands make the festival more loud and gay. Another thing is the wearing of traditional costumes. Hearty food are also prepared to go with the beer.

Beer Festival info

The first Oktoberfest was actually held in 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding. Since then, the beer festival lives on. Beer festival is not only celebrated in Germany. The beer festival is also held in the different parts of the world such as in Britain, and in Asian cities and countries like Hong Kong and Philippines. The festival lasts for a few weeks, usually two weeks.

Beer festival has become an international celebration. It is actually a festival full of fun and enjoyment. Attending the biggest and the oldest one in Munich is an experience you should not miss. This is why if you are planning to go on a vacation to Germany, you should plan it in the last weeks of September so you can attend the festival.

Whoever invented festivals must be a sensitive, social genius! He understood and pre-empted the need of global community to appreciate each other's diversity and culture. Attending different festivals is a quick ticket to what each nation has to offer. We meet different people of varied origins while we get to share the same passion or theme of celebration.

I just love wines because of its rich vintage taste. So why don't we pour some into our glasses, sip a little, and get drunk for once in our lives?! Besides, wine's considered as a special part of gourmet culture. It's great with steaks and lamb chops, and it's good for health. It also promotes proper digestion, so long as you don't abuse its intoxicating property.

When I learned that I'll be flying to Germany as participant to Moselle Wine Festival, I was thrilled not only to taste the famed wine, but to uncover the real German tradition. You know what? I found out that Germans are not as stern as history portrays them to be. They're incomparable to the vicious leader image of Adolf Hitler. They know how to party -- thousands surround a huge fountain of Moselle wines! The main attraction of the festival is their celebration of heritage and wine connoisseurship.

Festivals remind us of culture and heritage. We gather to commemorate and celebrate the spirit of fun and discovery. May it be an Apple Festival or a music feast, we surely pick a few trivias along the way. For me, I always consider myself as an aimless wanderer. I want to journey through the unknown and savor every treat. After all, the world is at its peak if we only care to share and see its unique qualities.

When you go far beyond boundaries and set afoot on Singapore, you'll be astounded by its beauty and freshness. It's a small country but it's generous in culture and artistry. The streets are clean and the air is fresh; it's different from the suffocating city life. It doesn't lag bahind the modern civilization. I don't know for sure but there's something stern yet inviting about it. Maybe because in Singapore, discipline is a way of living. Singapore is a real Tiger, wild and mysterious.

I was among the 500,000 art enthusiasts who flew all the way to Singapore. The 2006 Singapore Arts Festival featured a lot of mementos and crafts reminiscent of true-blue cunning and splendor. If you really want to invibe the real spirit of Singapore, you'll have to see their impressive art collections. In every color and detail is the value of culture and their philosophy in life. With outstanding performances and elegant presentation, the event suits my fine taste.

"An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." This is not a dumb-found theory because apples are really healthy. You'll either be tempted to take a bite on a glossy, red apple or munch on an apple pie. Both way will be good for your body and good for your dental health. Why? Just so you know, apple strengthens your gum and cleans your teeth. That's why you have a squeaky clean feeling everytime you eat a piece. This fruit is gufted with an antiviral property that helps detoxify the body. It aids proper digestion and lower cholesterol. A big, red apple and you get 30% of fiber of your daily requirement.

If there's one thing in life we should always be grateful for, this is the richness of our food. It is nature's way to supplement us with strength and further give us the agility to combat stress and shortcomings in life. And for that, I make it a point to join food festivals. Of course, it's fun but it also gives me more idea on food and its use. Like for example the Apple Festival. I was able to relish on its different recipe meals while being informed of its health benefits. Festivals are a good way to celebrate life and bond with other people.

How would you like to see a 10-foot apple pie? I know, it's amazing. I wonder how they baked it to perfection! The overwhelming piece is the spectacle of The Casey County Apple Festival in Kentucky. It is a street festival to mark a milestone of its 32nd year. Back in 1975, it started as a small event in a parking lot before more people joined the festival. Then it became a lavish celebration. It isn't just the apple and the pie, which is by the way served to all guests for free, you can bring your kids and enjoy a carnival, pageants, contests and various selling carts where you can shop. You should check this out!

Bitter at first, but it's a one way ticket to manhood. Is there any man who doesn't drink beer? I know none. Beer is an all-time beverage classic. You may dislike it at first, yet one more gulp and you'll be addicted to its taste. Teens, men, women, and elderly, we all had our first encounter with the beer. For a beer aficionado like me, there's nothing better than an ice-cold drink served in a chilling bottle. I don't just get drunk, but I enjoy it. So every now and then, you will find me and my buddies on a drinking spree during beer festivals.

What's the good thing about beer festival is that you'll get to taste it for free and you get to enjoy its variety. It's a good time and place to meet brewers and bond with other people holding a bottle of beer in hand. You won't only get to enjoy, but you'll also learn a lot from this event like how beers are made and concocted with just the right goodness. Great people, great atmosphere, it's one hell of a beer party! There's a world beer festival calendar and I make sure that I check it out once in a while.

I've heard that Brewers Association is already planning the details for the 2006 American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. Aside from the event highlights, it will be a celebration of the brewing culture of America. It will be participated by different brewing companies so you'll get to share and compare your fancy for beer and drinking. There will be educational booths, drinking contests, and musical performances by local bands. This is one big event I couldn't miss. I'm on my way to registering myself as an avid participant and if you want, you can join in the fun and have a beer festival experience of your own.

Do you know that India is one of world's lavish sources of mango supply? Aside from being delicious and nutritious, mangoes have enzymes similar to papain in papayas. These enzymes help in proper digestion that's why after eating mangoes, we are relieved with satisfaction. Mango is a personal favorite of mine, so when I heard about the Mango Festival in India, I signed up to join this mouthwatering adventure in Asia.

The Mango Festival is held in Pinjore during the months of June or July. If you're looking for a lavish feast for mangoes, you ought to visit Yadavindra Gardens. There are hundreds of mango species from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and from Haryana, Himachal, and Punjab. I'm sure you'll be delighted to see these hybrids. Aside from the mangoes, the festival is celebrated with different cultural rituals and extravagance all in the lovely garden of Yadavindra.

I was joined by a couple of friends when we flew to India. At first, we can't imbibe the festival spirit. Maybe because we're experiencing some tinge of culture shock landing on a foreign turf. But when the mango feast started, we were able to blend in with crowd. The celebration was simple but fun. If you get to know people from India, you'll realize that they can be friendly though they're deeply tied to their tradition. India is a hidden treasure in Asia. If we'll just try to uncover its mystery, we'll see that there's more to it than mangoes.

For many of us, every year unfolds as a new beginning. Others come up with list of resolutions in hopes of improving life, only to break the promise of change and forget all about the spirit of the new year sooner than they expected. But for me, new year is not a time for promises, but a time to get together with your family and be grateful for the best and worst of the year that was. Yes, it symbolizes change, but you can do it anytime you want. What's important is to imbibe the spirit and love for the family while you face another chapter of your life.

The world is always in awe with ancient Chinese traditions. From green tea to Feng Shui, we've all borrowed and adopted a few of their thoughts into our rituals and beliefs. And while they follow the lunar calendar for a new year celebration, it didn't stop the world in taking part in their cultural festivities. The Spring Festival or the Chinese New Year feast falls between January and February. There's no specific date but all the same, the spirit of new life is there to live by. "Guo Nian" is a Chinese term which means passing the year. It is the revolving theme for the Spring Festival when families get rid of the old to start over with the new. It will also be a fun way to enjoy Jiaozi or steamed dumpling and to witness the extravagance of their occasion.

At midnight, in time for the turning over of the new year, you will witness lavish display of Chinese fireworks. They believe that through noise and dazzling light, they will drive away evil spirits and welcome the new year with a bang. For a time, firecrackers will dominate the scene of the city while the spirit of the season will soon captivate every family's heart. To greet the coming year, they get rid of debts, clean the house, wear new clothes, and get new haircuts. You'll also find their house a beauty of culture and traditions with different ornaments hanging around the place. They also burn incense in the temples or at home to pay respect and ask for blessings from ancestors and gods. It may be silly but even if they look forward to a new year, they never fail to preserve their old-age beliefs, and that for me is the true sense of the season. The fusion of the old and new for a prosperous life ahead.

We deem Hong Kong as the shopping capital in the world, all in search for cheaper bargains. Why not? If you're shopping extravagance in Europe such as France or Italy can amount to heaven's worth of delight in this wonderful city. Great weather, great food, great scenery. What else is there but for you to enjoy and have fun while you stretch out your vacation to various activities other than shopping. My whole family is among those who enjoyed the Chinese vacation. Although it is a foreign turf, we found ally in its lavish tourism programs and sites. But if there's one more thing we are lucky to have seen, it's the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Dragon Boat Festival started from a folklore. They say that there used to be a man named Chu Yuan. He was intelligent, patriotic, and brave. He tried his best to guide the emperor as a scholar, but the emperor just wouldn't listen, so as part of his protest, he drowned himself in the water. When people heard about it, they sympathized with him and tried to rescue the drowning hero. But after the search, they only failed to recover his body. So in desperate hopes, they use the drums to scare the fish so they wouldn't touch Chu Yuan's body. They threw in rice dumplings as a sacrifice and to commemorate Chu Yuan's loyalty and courage, hence, the Dragon Boat Festival was celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

The fifth lunar month is believed to be an unlucky month. It is a month not only for Chu Yuan's death but a time when plague usually breaks out. Because of this superstitious conviction, families hang different ornaments and chimes to drive evil spirits away. The Dragon Boat Festival is also a day when you'll be able to munch on the best rice dumplings as part of their tradition. Rice dumplings have been around for a time and they celebrate this humble feast for the great respect for Chu Yuan. They say that during this day, it is also best to collect herbs as medicine and it works better if you'll prepare them on the same glorious day.

We went to Spain to observe the "Semana Santa" (Holy Week). It was a solemn celebration and a lot of rituals and age-old beliefs were held for spectacle. I marveled at their devotion and passion when it comes to religion. But after weeks of silent prayers and sincere adoration, these Spanish locals also know how to have fun and rock their towns alive.

Feria de Abril first started as cattle fair during the 1840's. While the cattle had soon blown their heads out of the scene, the tradition bloomed to be a lavish celebration of fun, imbibing the summer frolic. I personally enjoyed the bull fight. Not that I love gore and violence, but life is captured in a minute of death match. You will feel the fire flowing through your veins for what seems to be a battle of life and death. I salute the "matadors" for their courage and willingness to stand in the way of the ferocious bull.

After the bloodbath, there was a starring feast for food, games, and lavish parades. It's a relief to see how the Spanish people embrace life. That's something that the modern society should learn. Their excitment was a contagious virus in the air. Sure, there's the Disneyland with better rides and thrill, but Mickey Mouse can't mimic the same spirit of Spanish people.

That only goes to show the childish wonders in our hearts. And I think the world should take part in these fairs and "fiestas" so they would also learn the value of a smile, of fun, and of thanking the Divine for even a fleeting moment. This celebration reminded me that while other people are fighting for power and debating for politics and greed, there's a part of the world where love and mindless revelry exist.

Every year, million of art lovers from around the world troop to Sausalito, California to celebrate the annual Sausalito Art Festival. This festival warms the hearts of guests and visitors through unique and variety of works of fine arts. I always remember the time that I first attended in this occasion. That was the joyous affair for art works that I ever attended.

The unique culture of Sausalito invites people to witness and appreciate the world's finest masterpieces, crafts, performances, and culinary arts. One of the highlights of the festival is the selection of the best two hundred seventy artists from different parts of the world to exhibit their greatest arts. The festival boasts its rich collection of world-class quality, and all-original fine arts.

Recognized as America's No. 1 outdoor fine arts festival, this affair continuously supports finest art works as well as the community by means of grant programs, awards for artists, and through Sausalito Chamber of Commerce Community Service Programs. Since it was established in 1952, more than a million visitors enjoy different activities and programs of the festival. And if you're excited to meet professional artists, or you want to meet your colleagues, this festival will help you attain your goal. Meeting new friends and old ones is possible when you attend in this occasion.