March Festivals

 March Festivals

 

Wohoo … It’s March everyone! And if you are such a festival addict, you will really love this month because in March, so many cools festivals are marching all around the world. What are they? Let’s check the list!

 

1.      Holi, India

The first festival, named Holi, comes from Bollywood Country, India. In Indian folktale, Holi is held to celebrate Krishna’s winning to a demon Hiranyakashipu but in modern tradition, this festival is held to welcoming the spring season. The festival is celebrated at the end of winter at the last full moon according to the lunar calendar or at the end of February or early March according to solar calendar. Holi takes place in all over India. The most festive celebration is in New Delhi where people gather together in the street and spraying colored powder.

 

2.      Las Fallas, Spain

From India, we go to … Spain! If you want to be a part of Spain’s unique celebration, remember to go to Valencia between 15^th to 19^th March. On that day, people are celebrating Las Fallas. This celebration dates back to the middle ages when the spring season comes they celebrated it with bonfires. At that time people burn the remaining inventory of goods that they stacked for the winter. But now the festival is not about burning the inventory anymore. The people burn Fallas, giant-sized doll, instead. Las Fallas is celebrated with fireworks and flames. Fireworks fill the night sky and marching bands incessant play traditional music. Town’s people wears traditional dress welcoming feast by dancing together until late night or burning fallas.

3.      St. Patrick’s Day, England

Done with the fallas, now we head to the north. England. In March 14^th till 17^th British and Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the most festive celebration took place in London and Dublin. During the celebration, those cities turn into a big green sea because green is the symbol of a three-leaved clover plant saint who used to teach the concept of the trinity in Christianity to the people of Ireland who was still embrace paganism. St. Patrick's Day celebrated with traditional songs, presentation of live music, food markets, race boats, street parades, and a variety of other interesting events. The most wanted show in St. Patrick’s Day is The Cil Festival, folk dances festival took place in St. Stephens Green and the parade on the closing day of the festival which takes place at the same peak on March 17.

4.      Dai Himonjiyaki and Hanami, Japan

Irashaimase! Welcome to Japan! In March, Japan has two awesome festival. Wowww…. The first is Dai Himonjiyaki, a fire festival held in the area of Mount Aso, a volcano located in Kyushu, Japan. Fire Festival held in the area of Mount Aso, a volcano located in Kyushu, Japan. The festival is celebrated by the cities that were around the area of Mount Aso during a full moon. Usually this event begins with a No-yaki, the burning of land for farming preparations for the following months. Peak of the show itself is Dai Himonjiyaki held in Ojo-dake on the second Saturday in March. At the time of the celebration, the mountain scenery from a distance it looks amazing. Aso hill looks like a giant black at night surrounded by flame-shaped light which consists of dozens of torches.

When Dai Himonjiyaki is finished, do not rush to leave Japan because there is still one more festival not to be missed. It’s Hanami, the Japanese tradition of enjoying the beauty of flowers, especially cherry blossoms (Sakura). Hanami means two things, the spring is coming and picnic under the Sakura trees. The perfect time to do Hanami is on late March to early April when the flowers are blooming.

5.      Festival Budaya Internasional 2015, Indonesia

Finally, it is the time for our local festival. Festival Budaya Internasional is an annual festival held in Yogyakarata, Indonesia on late March or early April. The festival is held to celebrating the beauty of different cultures not only from Indonesia but also the world.  In this festival people can see cultural performances, taste traditional foods from some countries, and many other fun things. If you live in Indonesia, especially Jogjakarta and you do not come to this festival, I guarante it will be such a big loss for you.

Well, those are some March festivals from all around the world. Do you want to be a part of them? If yes, why don’t you start with the local one? ;)

By: R. Nisa S.

Source: merdeka.com, msn.com/ Pics: google.com