Hello people!!!
This week we’re going to travel to Thailand, where each year is heald the Thailand’s Monkey Buffet Festival at the city of Lopburi, in Lopburi Province. Lopburi is famous for it’s large population of monkeys, who have strayed away from their wild roots and have become adapted to city life.
The festival is just what it says on the label: a buffet for monkeys to enjoy at the Pra Prang Sam Yot temple. So here are some advices to enjoy the festival:
The first thing that you have to get upon entering the temple area during the festival is a stick, this will help to keep the monkeys at a distance if they become too close to you, (should be mentioned that hitting the monkeys is not allowed). The main event is the buffet, a huge feast of fresh fruit and vegetables are spread out for the guests and the monkeys to enjoy. Traditional song and dance, as well as prayers for the good fortune of both local humans and primates are also part of the program.
What to do at Thailand’s Monkey Buffet Festival!!!…
Burning Man Festival
Hello WORLD!!!
We are still in the USA trying to figure out what is the Burning Man Festival. From what I have investigated opinions leads us to the fact that we will only know what is this Festival if we experience it; I would like to share with you this video I found where we can experience a little of what is this Festival about.
We can see in it party, music, art and fireworks, doesn´t it reminds you of las Fallas Festival in Valencia?
In the Burning Man Festival, every year there is an stablished topic and artists that participate make art pieces with different messages that want to be transferred.
Reference
http://www.burningman.com/participate/
Burning Man, Nevada, USA
This week-long event starts on the Monday before American Labor Day holiday, and runs until the end of Labor Day. This annual event is organized and held in the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada, USA.
The name Burning Man its name from the ritual burning of a large wooden dummy on Saturday evening. Burning Man is described by many participants as an experiment in art and self-expression. While you are told you can do as you please you must respect the health, safety, and experience of the community at large. Anyone may be a part of Burning Man!
Activities during Obon or Bon Festival
There will be plenty of activities… the first day of Obon, chochin lanterns are lit inside houses, and people go to their family’s grave to call their ancestors’ spirits back home. It’s called mukae-bon. Besides the traditional Bon-Odori dance, Obon music and traditional musical instruments being played, there are usually a line of small booth called yatai that sells a lot of food stuff and games, not forgetting the Japanese favorite summer fruit- the watermelon. Also, bon odori (folk dance) is widely practiced on Obon nights. Styles of dance vary from area to area, but usually Japanese taiko drums keep the rhythms.
Obon Celebration has 3 elements:
1. Festival of Spirits of ancestors.
2. Festival of Wishing rich crops.
3. Festival of Soul.
Both Festival of Spirits of ancestors and Festival of Wishing rich crops are related. The God of wishing rich crops is, that is to say, the spirits of ancestors. The spirits of ancestors become God and keep one’s eyes on giving a good crop to descendants. Thus we serve some crops as offerings to the God of the spirit of ancestors and celebrate together.
The Obon festival ends with Toro Nagashi or the floating of lanterns. Lanterns, made of paper, are illuminated and set floating down the river. These lanterns should guide the ancestral spirits back to the world of the dead. Toro Nagashi also includes big fireworks.
Obon Festival, Japan
Hello World!!!
Today we are going to go back to Asia, to enjoy one of the most profound traditions of Japan. The Obon Festival are three days (typically in mid August) were people believe that their ancestor´s spirits come back to their homes to be reunited with the family. This tradition typically Buddhist, has nowadays become a tradition of almost all families.
During the days of the festival, families gather to clean the graves of their ancestors; they also clean their houses and place a variety of food offerings (fruits, vegetables…).
The first day of Obon, Cochin lanterns (type of Japanese paper lantern made of bamboo) are lit up inside houses and people go the grave of their ancestors spirits to call them back home (this is called mukae-bi. On the last day of the festival, people bring their ancestor´s spirits back to their graves by hanging the cochin lantern to guide them (this is called okuri-bon).
Other traditions that can be experienced during the Obon festival are the Toro nagashi, which are the floating lanterns where people send off their ancestor´s spirits with the lanterns lit by a candle to float in the river or the ocean. Another important activity which is held in this festival are the folk dances called bon odori where people reunite to dance.
This festival sound very special because it helps remember the ones who are not here but not in a mourning way, but as a celebration of the living.
Watch this video of the Toro nagashi celebration where lanterns find their way floating in the river, it is very beautiful!
References:
http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanesefestivals/a/obonfestival.htm
What to do at “La Tomatina”
Hello world!!!
This year´s Festival is expected to have 40 000 assistants and more than 100 000 kilograms of tomatoes ready to be thrown.
During “La Tomatina” festival people can experience one week of music, parades, dancing and fireworks; however, the most popular activity is the tomato fight which starts after the paella contest.
The tomato fight:
1. Trucks full of tomatoes from Extremadura arrive at Plaza del Pueblo.
2. The festival must not begin until one person is able to climb to the top of a 2 story high greased pole with a ham on top.
3. Supposing step 2 is completed, then the beginning of the fight is marked by the firing of water canons.
4. People using gloves, googles and some protection start the fight.
5. After one hour of throwing tomatoes to one another, again the firing of water canons marks the end of the battle.
See this video of last´s year tomato battle at la Tomatina
References
La Tomatina en Buñol (Valencia), España!!
Hello people!!! This week we’re going to travel to the beautiful country of Spain, more specific, just thirty miles away from Valencia is Buñol, another town just as famous for its produce. But its notoriety comes from the locals’ habit of wearing the produce as well as tasting it: every year, Buñol hosts La Tomatina, the world’s largest vegetable fight. This festival takes place on the last Wednesday of every August, since 1945. The masses congregated below then launch into a one hour frenzy of tomato throwing it’s everyone for themselves.
Then at around about noon, a number of trucks carrying the edible red grenades rumble their way into the main Town Square to the unimaginative chant of “tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes” from the now drunken crowd. Some theories are that it started as a food fight among friends, perhaps due to an accidental lorry spillage; a class war; or that habitants attacked the councilmen during a town celebration. Nevertheless, what is sure is that many people joined in the fun and enjoyed it so much that it has been continued every year.
What to do at The White Nights Festival!!!
The great celebration begins as a two-week event centered around the solstice,when the sun disappears for only a few hours and residents celebrate the season’s long,white nights of summers.It has grown to an eight week spectacle that lasts from May-July and attracts more than a Million visitors. In fact night becomes curiously indistinguishable from day, so much so that the authorities never need to turn the city’s streetlights on!
The festival kicks off with the “Stars of the White Nights” at Mariinsky Theatre and ends in July. Besides this, the Scarlet Sails celebration is another highlight of White Nights Festival,which presents mock pirate battles,rowing competition,outdoor concerts. Carnivals occurring during White Nights add to the wide variety of events in this annual gala.Late- night river and canal cruises to witness the raising of the bridges are a fun tradition in this “Venice of the North”. The largest carnival is held in the suburb of Peterhof, where historical figures and events ate portrayed by actors in creative costume. The Star performances at the Palace Square are another feather in this festival’s cap. This wide square has been a witness to official military parades and massive demonstrations, as well as for political events and large-scale shows and other entertainment in Russia.
Let me tell you that this festival is a great opportunity to amateur artists to participate in Russia’s annual art festival.
Another activities of the festival is its diverse concert programmes, including works by contemporary composers as well as classical pieces. Festival programmes from over the years have listed names such as Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Schnittke, Beethoven, Kancheli, Tchaikovsky, Gubaidulina, Shostakovich, Rachmaninov, Sibelius, Tan Dun and Tsemlinsky.
You won’t be getting much sleep during the night on your trip to Saint Petersburg, so don’t miss a special night show of bridges on the Neva River.
Also yo can take a boat tour along the Neva River and its many canals and enjoy the beauty of Saint Petersburg.
The White Nights, St. Petersburg, Russia
Hello World!!!
Today we focus our attentions in the biggest country of the world…you are right, Russia! From May to July every year the White Nights Festival is celebrated in St. Petersburg.
Let me explain you what the White Nights are. The White Nights take place during the phenomenon known as the midnight sun where in sumer months the sun remains visible at the local night in places near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.
Thus, St. Petersburg celebrates an art festival where music, opera and classical ballet are the most important events to watch. Almost everyday there are performances in the Mariinsky Concert Hall and Mariisky Theatre. Besides these art performances of famous Russian and international artist, there are also other activities:
The Scarlet Sails Celbration in Russian Alye Parusa
The most famous celebration of the festival where fireworks and a massive show celebrating the end of the school year takes place. This tradition began after World War II when schools united to celebrate the end of the school year using the symbolism of the book Scarlet Sails by Alexander Grin.
Watch this video to have a more precise idea of what does this celebration looks like. Take note of the fact that in many festivals we have been writing about the use of fireworks is essential…what could this mean?
Carnivals of the White Nights
The most popular carnival of this festival is celebrated in the Peterhof suburb of St. Petersburg. Actors dressed according to the period of Catherine the Great and Peter the Great and they perform some parts of history.
Star Performances at the Palace Square
Every summer the Palace Square receives international artist of popular music, for example The Rolling Stones.
As you can imagine, this festival due to its long duration has a great number of activities for people to celebrate and enjoy. We must recognize which is the link between nature and the performances of some of the aspects of what we call culture.
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Nights_Festival
http://www.wnfa.org/festivalstars.htm
ttp://www.st-petersburg-life.com/st-petersburg/white-nights
http://www.balletandopera.com/festival/stars-of-the-white-nights-festival-2012/info/?sr=torus&kw=torus%20white%20nights%20menu0%20dir
Port Aransas, Texas SandFest
We are heading down to the Sand Sculpture Festival, that is one of the largest beach festivals in Texas on the beautiful, sun-soaked Port Aransas beach. Master Sculptors from around the world, as well as a many children and amateurs, will put their creative skills to work to create the most artistic, imaginative sand sculptures at Texas SandFest in April that will leave you shaking sand from your shorts for weeks.
Over 100,000 people come to watch 200 master-level sculptors create everything from house-sized castles to mermaids, whales and famous musicians and celebrities.
Celebrating CULTURES 