Introduction
When I think of the word “festival,” my mind immediately goes to something like Burning Man or SXSW. But there are so many other festivals out there that are worth checking out! In celebration of the International Day of Happiness, which is this Saturday, let’s take a look at some of the most colorful and festive events around the world:
Ethiopian New Year
The Ethiopian New Year is a celebration of the new year, and it’s also a great time to visit Ethiopia. The traditional clothing is elaborate, the food is delicious and you’ll have so much fun dancing!
While in Ethiopia for this festival you can see people wearing brightly colored clothes made from silk or cotton fabric. The colors vary depending on what part of the country they are from; if they live near Lake Tana they might wear white while those who live farther south wear reds and oranges instead. These clothes are often decorated with intricate patterns like stripes or geometric designs that represent different beliefs such as Christianity or Islam – this shows how important tradition is for them even though there may be many religions practiced throughout Africa today (this will be discussed later).
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday that celebrates family, community, and culture. The celebration lasts for 7 days and starts December 26th and ends January 1st.
Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga to give African Americans an alternative to Christmas celebrations, which he felt were too commercialized. Kwanzaa means “first fruits” in Swahili, but it’s also used as a greeting during the holiday season (“Happy Kwanzaa”).
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is a celebration that takes place before the beginning of Lent. It’s celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana and is filled with parades, parties and fun!
There are so many things to do while visiting Mardi Gras:
- If you are interested in seeing some parades then there are plenty on parade routes throughout the city. Some of these include Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club’s Endymion Parade on February 17th; Rex Social Aid & Pleasure Club’s Rex Parade on February 12th; Bacchus Mardi Gras Parade on February 7th; Orpheus Marching Band on January 31st; Krewe d’Etat Mardi Gras Parade on January 30th…and more! There are also plenty of other events happening during this time period such as concerts (live music), parties at nightclubs/bars etc., which can be found online if looking for something specific like jazz music from New Orleans Jazz Orchestra & Friends – An Evening With John Coltrane Quartet featuring Jimmy Heath & Kenny Garrett at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro from 7pm until 10pm (February 8th).
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is the biggest festival in Trinidad and Tobago. It’s a celebration of the end of the Catholic fasting season, which lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. Carnival is a time for music, dance and costumes–and for family and friends to come together.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”) is a festival celebrated in New Orleans, Louisiana. The celebration lasts for 38 days leading up to Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), but the main festivities take place on the last day before Lent–or Fat Tuesday–which is also known as Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day.
Mardi Gras is an important holiday throughout much of Europe and Latin America, but it’s especially significant in New Orleans where parades are held each year on Lundi Gras (Fat Monday). The largest parades take place during this time and feature floats decorated with elaborate costumes and masks that represent traditional characters such as King Cake Baby and Marie Laveau!
There are many great festivals around the world.
There are many great festivals around the world, but none are as fun and vibrant as those in Africa. The continent’s many cultural traditions have resulted in festivals that are full of color and rich history.
One example is the Marrakech International Film Festival (MIFF), which takes place every year in Morocco’s capital city of Marrakech. The festival was founded by actor/director Jamel Debbouze and filmmaker Nabil Ayouch in 2004 with the goal of promoting Arab cinema around the world–and it has since become one of Morocco’s most important cultural events!
Conclusion
Many people in the world love to go to festivals. They are a great way to celebrate and have fun with friends. I think every country should have at least one festival every year!
