Hello, Spring
The arrival of spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year, and each country has their own special way of welcoming the new season.
When it comes to must-see springtime celebrations for your travel list, these are ten of the most brilliant and bizarre.
1. Holi Festival, India and Nepal
Lasting for just one day and one night, Holi is one of the world’s largest and most vibrant spring festivals.
Also known as the Festival of Colors, it is a beautiful celebration of the new season and fertility.
Narender9, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Colors Everywhere
During the festival, people toss brightly colored powders and water balloons, covering everyone in bright shades of pink, blue, orange, and green.
Mythical Origins
Holi is usually takes place in late February or early March, but the specific timing depends on the lunar calendar.
The festival has origins in ancient Hindu Mythology, especially the tale of Prahlada and Holika.
Faithful Prahlada
Legend has it that Prahlada was the son of a cruel king, Hiranyakashipu.
The king wanted to be worshipped as a god, but Prahlada refused because he was devoted to the god Vishnu.
So his father tried to kill him.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Divine Protection
Miraculously, Vishnu protected Prahlada against his father’s deadly schemes.
So, the king’s sister, Holika, tried her hand at taking Prahlada’s life.
Sain9arun, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Holika's Folly
Holika was immune to fire, so she invited Prahlada to sit on her lap, thinking it would burn him.
Sadly for her, she was only immune when she entered the flames alone. Holika burned while Prahlada lived to tell the tale.
Good Vs Evil
Associated with Prahlada and Holika, Holi is a celebration of good winning over evil.
On the eve of the festival, a large fire called Holika Dahan (meaning “Burning of Holika”) is lit in honor of the legend.
2. Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaii
Every spring, the city of Hilo becomes home to Hawaii’s most important hula competition.
It’s held during Easter, drawing in tourists and local hula schools for an exciting week-long celebration.
Allanbcool, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Long Live The King
The festival started in 1964 as a way of showcasing Hawaiian culture and keeping the traditional art of hula alive.
It honors the work of King David Kalakua, who earned the nickname “Merrie Monarch” for his love of music, hula, and the arts.
James J. Williams, Wikimedia Commons
Keeping It Alive
More than just enjoying the arts, King Kalakaua fought to preserve Hawaiian traditions in a time when such cultural practices were being suppressed.
After his passing in 1891, hula went on the decline. Many years later, it was revived by hula masters and dancers who had kept the art form alive.
The First Festival
In the early 1960s, hula dancers George Na’ope and Dottie Thompson teamed up with community leaders to create a festival that would honor King Kalakua and reignite people’s interest in hula.
In 1964, they put on the first Merrie Monarch Festival, and it’s remained one of the coolest spring festivals ever since.
3. Saint Patrick’s Day, Ireland
Taking place every March 17th, this famous Irish holiday has become of the world’s favorite springtime celebrations.
The festival started in the early 17th century, to celebrate the life of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick.
Giuseppe Milo, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Harsh Beginnings
Saint Patrick was born in Britain, under Roman rule. When he was a teenager, he was taken as a slave and brought to Ireland, where he fell in love with the Irish culture and people.
After he escaped slavery, he became a missionary and took up the holy task of spreading Christianity in Ireland.
Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
The Shamrock
In one of the most famous stories about Saint Patrick, he uses a three-leafed shamrock to help Irish people understand the concept of the Holy Trinity.
Since then, shamrocks have become symbols of luck and a common motif during Saint Patrick’s Day festivities.
Remembrance
Originally, Saint Patrick’s Day was a somber event that commemorated the death of the beloved saint.
People used to mark the occasion with fasting and church services.
New Meaning
Saint Patrick’s Day was transformed in the early 20th century when Irish immigrants in the U.S. turned it into a fun celebration of Irish culture.
Now, the day is celebrated all over the world with parades, green decorations, Irish music and dance, and of course, green beer.
4. Calaveras Jumping Frog Jubilee, California
Every year on the third weekend in May, people flock to Angels Camp, California to witness trained frogs compete in a jumping contest.
The rules are simple: the frog that makes the three farthest successive leaps wins the title of Jumping Frog Champion.
Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Inspiration
This bizarre celebration was inspired by one of Mark Twain’s short stories, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.
The story was published in 1865 and tells the tale of the fictional Jim Smiley and his jumping frog named Dan’l Webster.
Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Everyone Loves It
In 1928, a local businessman named Don Pedro Breschi teamed up with the Angels Booster Club to host the first frog jumping competition.
Over the next few years, people took a liking to the competition, and it’s been an annual festival since 1938.
In addition to the frog jumping contest, people also have fun with the carnival, parade, and live music.
5. Valencia Fallas, Spain
This incredible display of art and music takes place every year in Valencia, Spain.
It originated with ancient carpenters who used to burn wooden structures called “parots” during the spring equinox to mark the coming of the new season.
Ancient Traditions
During the winter, the carpenters hung candles on the parots, so they could work in the dark afternoons.
Come springtime, with longer days, they didn’t need the candles and would burn the parots. Over time, the tradition became associated with Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.
Xurxo15, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Fallas
Now, the sculptures are called “fallas”, and they’re made with papier mâché or wood. Local neighborhoods compete to make the biggest and most breathtaking fallas.
Dina Mukhutdinova, Shutterstock
Celebrate
During this five-day festival, people celebrate with traditional music and dance, and colorful parades. There are also fireworks displays every afternoon.
The Burning Night
The festival ends with Noche de La Cremà, meaning “the burning night”. At midnight, the city turns into a blazing spectacle as the fallas are lit on fire.
The destruction of the beautiful structures symbolizes rebirth and reminds people to let go of the past and embrace the future.
6. Songkran Water Festival, Thailand
Taking place every April 13th, Songkran used to be celebrated as the Thailand’s official New Year. Now it marks the arrival of spring.
JJ Harrison, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Astrological Link
Songkran comes from a Sanskrit words that means “astrological passage”. The celebration involves paying respects at a Buddhist monastery, visiting elders, and throwing lots of water.
Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lots Of Water
While April 13th is the official day of Songkran, festivities take place for up to six days. During this time, people take to the streets to drench each other with huge water guns, hoses, and buckets.
Takeaway, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fun For Everyone
Everyone takes part in the festival, including kids and the elderly. The city of Chiang Mai hosts the largest Songkran celebration, attracting hundreds of locals and tourists alike.
7. Nowruz, Iran
Meaning “new day”, Nowruz marks the beginning of the Iranian calendar and usually takes place on March 21st with the spring equinox.
While it is a secular in most countries, Nowruz is a holy day for Zoroastrians, Baha’is, and some Muslims.
Work Hard, Play Hard
Nowruz festivities last for 13 days and the details of the celebrations can differ from place to place.
However, the festival usually starts with everyone spending some time cleaning their homes before it escalates into days of bonfires, bright costumes, and moments to honor departed family members.
LastElement, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
8. Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, England
Every year, during England’s Spring Bank Holiday, Cooper’s Hill in Gloucester becomes the stage for the famous cheese-rolling event.
Despite its seemingly harmless name, this tradition is far from safe.
The Chase
Participants eagerly chase a wheel of cheese down the incredibly steep hill, risking bruises, scrapes, and even broken bones in the process.
It's a wild, adrenaline-pumping spectacle that draws both locals and newcomers alike.
The Prize
The cheese rolls down 200 yards of steep terrain, and is a round of Double Gloucester that weighs 7-9 pounds.
The first person to make it to the bottom of the hill claims the cheese as their prize.
Unknown Author, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pagan Origins
Some historians think the cheese-rolling tradition has pagan origins.
It is thought that some pagans used to roll bundles of burning brushwood down the hill to signify the end of winter and the coming of the new year.
Wikimedia Commons, Dave Farrance
Older Than We Think
Annual cheese-rolling has been happening in Gloucester for at least 200 years. The first written records of the event date back to 1826, but there’s also evidence that the event was an old tradition.
Most historians believe people have been cheese-rolling for at least 600 years.
Pete Verdon, Wikimedia Commons
9. White House Easter Egg Roll, United States
Since 1878, American presidents and their families have marked Easter Monday with a festive egg roll celebration at the White House.
Held on the South Lawn, the event has fun for the whole family—but you’ll have to apply via an online lottery if you want to join in on the action.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
Who Started It?
Some say First Lady Dolley Madison came up with the idea for the event. Others say that informal egg-rolling celebrations took place around the country during Lincoln’s time.
Gilbert Stuart, Wikimedia Commons
A Presidential Celebration
During the celebration, kids use wooden spoons to roll painted hard-boiled eggs down the White House lawn.
They compete to win prizes and Easter eggs while the Presidential family oversee the event alongside a giant Easter bunny.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
10. Floriade, Australia
In 1988, Floriade sprouted from an idea by parks manager Peter Sutton and landscape designer Chris Slotemaker De Bruine.
They wanted to celebrate Australia's 200th and Canberra's 75th birthday and came up with the perfect way to do so.
Ashishlohorung, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons
Flower Power
Sutton and De Bruine designed the event to be a massive display of beautiful flora, sculptures, and live music. While it was supposed to be a one-off, Floriade was so popular that it became an annual springtime celebration.
Stephen Dann, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
When To See It
Every year, thousands of people flock to Commonwealth Park to see more than a million flowers in full bloom. Floriade lasts for a month, from mid-September to mid-October.
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