Top 10 unusual festivals in the world

If you want to seeking novelty for your trip can refer festivals and special events later.

1. Gold Rush Days At Sacramento, California, USA, on the International Labour Day is this ancient city celebrated festival Gold Rush Days again and turns the street  into a scene like in the Wild West movies from the 1850s..

 Gold Rush Days

 2. Day of the Dead, Mexico as creepy as it sounds, is commonly known as 'Dia de Muertos' in Spanish and is traditionally celebrated on 1st and 2nd of November in Mexico. This festival celebrates the lives of loved ones who have died while also reminding people about their own mortality. Skull is used as a symbol of the holiday. People go to cemeteries to be with the souls of the departed and build private altars containing foods and beverages, as well as photos of the dead. This is done to encourage visits by the soul.

In those days, the kind of candy shaped coffins and skeletons, the puppets made ​​of paper filled in shops.

3. Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand  has an unequalled charm and mystique, whether it is celebrated on a grand scale in a major city or quietly in a small village of just a few rude huts, but for a truly breathtaking experience, the north of Thailand is the place to go. Even from the end of Lent, the build-up starts with firecrackers banging and booming in the night and, gradually, there appear what seem to be moving orange stars in the sky. As Loy Krathong itself nears, coconut frond archways spring up at the gates of houses, earthen lamps glow in the night, and paper streamers and lanterns appear everywhere.

Loy Krathong festival take in three-day , which takes place around the full moon day of November

4. Thaipusam in India: This is the only weird festivals in name against India which has over 33 lakh Gods and Goddesses.  The festival is celebrated among the Tamils were in they celebrate the birth of Murugan, the Son of Shiva and Parvati. The participants go bald and then do weird stuffs like hooking up sharp things and then pulling heavy objects with the hooks. The general belief is that the more you receive pain, the more blessings are what you will get.

Thaipusam in India

5. Naked Festival in Japan: January in Japan is as cold as in other northern parts of the hemisphere. But the freezing temperature does not deter thousands of men running in the streets with nothing but a loincloth on them. Hadaka Matsuri is a festival for ritual purification held in different forms across Japan. In Inazawa, men in loin cloths struggle to touch a naked man called Shin-otoko for good luck. These naked festivals are fun events but with undertones of spiritual significance.

 The freezing temperature does not deter thousands of men running in the streets with nothing but a loincloth on them

 6. The Fringe Festival, Edinburgh is the world's largest art festival where visitors, artists, music and theatre mix together in a beautiful experience. This makes Edinburgh one of the most beloved places in UK. From 3 to 27 August, spanning 25 days, this year's festival will involve over 25,000 artists with over 40,000 performances!

The Fringe Festival originated when some artists weren't accepted to participate in the official Edinburgh's international festival

7. The Bristol International Balloon Festival is now in its 35th year and is Europe’s largest ballooning event. It’s a spectacular, free, four days of fun for the whole family from 8th – 11th August 2013. During the fiesta over 150 hot air balloons will take off from Ashton Court Estate at 6am and 6pm and light up the skies on Thursday and Saturday night with the famous nightglows. Fun activities on the

The event features four days of colourful hot-air balloon displays, attracting over half a million visitors to the scenic grounds of Ashton Court

8. Las Fallas, Spain one of Spain's most odd and crazy festival held every year in Valencia. Las Fallas means "the fires" in Valencian. The origin of Las Fallas dates back to the 16th century when the onset of spring season was celebrated as a pagan ritual. The focus of this festival is to create and destroy ninots(puppets or dolls), which are statues made out of cardboard,wood,paper-mache and plaster. These ninots are lifelike and usually demonstrate satirical scenes or poke fun at corrupt politicians and Spanish celebrities. Many ninots are several feet tall. The ninots remain intact until March 19th, after which men stuff them with fireworks.

All the streetlights are switched off and the ninots are set on fire at 12 am exactly

9. Inti Raymi - The Festival Of The Sun In Cusco Peru: Every year on the 24th of June, Cusco celebrates the festival of Inti Raymi. This festival was celebrated by the Incas as the Festival of the Sun where the God of the Sun Wiracocha is honored. The Inti Raymi symbolizes the eternal consecration of marriage between the Sun and his sons, the human beings. Inti Raymi was the most important festival of the Inca empire Tawantinsuyu which based its religion on the cult of the Sun. On the 24th of June they celebrate the winter solstice, in other words the beginning of the Sun's New Year.

Viewers will be attracted by the spectacular performances of the colorful costumes, music, dance and performances fire to sacrificial

10. Dragon Boat Festival, China , also known as the Dwanwu Festival has been celebrated in China for more than 25,000 years! The Fifth day of the Fifth lunar month marks the beginning of the various events held and also boosts up the tourism industry. Legend says that a Chinese patriot, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Mi Lo river to protest against the corrupt government in the period of 475-221 BC. In order to save him and prevent the fish from eating him, the locals threw rice patties into the river. Ever since then rice dumplings or zongzi are prepared and eaten during this festival season. Other activities include drinking realgar wine and dragon boat racing.

The race begins with the rowing of boats to the rhythm of pounding drums

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Top 10 The world's biggest festival

1. Mardi Gras, New Orleans, United States

The Mardi Gras lasts for a couple of weeks before the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras itself stands for Fat Tuesday and is celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday. Parades are usually held everyday, if the weather permits. A king and a queen head the parade and they go around on floats that are manned by people who throw trinkets to the crowd below. Female members of the crowd are encouraged to show their breasts in order to get a trinket. All inhibitions are let loose during Fat Tuesday, as Ash Wednesday marks the official start of the Christian Lent Season and is marked by abstinence and penance.

The Mardi Gras lasts for a couple of weeks before the beginning of Lent

2. Las Fallas, Valencia, Spain

It's a bit of a cliché when it comes to some events, but Las Fallas really does have to be seen to be believed. A pyromaniac's dream come true, this is a festival that's centred around fireworks spectacles during the day as well as the night. Every day at 2pm the 'Mascleta' (a fireworks display that relies on sound) awakes the city with a BOOM. Over the course of rest of the festival is the burning of the 'fallas' – enormous and elaborate paper mache sculptures, painstakingly made over months and then set on fire.

Las Fallas, Valencia, Spain in March 15th   

3. Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Roughly a million people attend the festivities each year. The festival lasts for four days, with the highlight being the Sambodromo parade. It features neighborhood parades going up against each other to see who will get bragging rights as the best samba school. The yearlong preparation features gaudy floats and nearly naked women. A Masquerade Ball is also held, where participants wear masks, wigs and costumes. Celebrities grace this anonymous affair.

Roughly a million people attend the festivities each year

4. St Patrick's Festival, Dublin, Ireland (and the rest of Ireland)

Every city, town and village in Ireland celebrates like never before on March 17th of every year, so if you're lucky enough to be in Ireland then be prepared for a day and night you'll never forget. If you're in Dublin before and after the event, don't expect a rest - in the capital, the festivities last for five whole days. As well as the parade on the big day, other events include street fairs, 'ceilidhs' (traditional Irish music dances) and much more.

St Patrick's Festival be held in March 14th - 18th every year

5. Kanamara Matsuri, Kawasaki, Japan

This one is definitely not for the prude. The festival features transvestites carrying a giant pink penis all around town. Onlookers, from the young to the old, are given lollipops that are shaped like a phallus. Radishes are carved up like penis, and even playground staples like the swing are shaped like the male organ. The festival originally came into being in the 17th century with the aim of raising awareness on the dangers of syphilis. It is now staged to raise money for AIDS research.

Kanamara Matsuri is now staged to raise money for AIDS research

6. Queen’s Day, Netherlands

Every year on April 30th (or the 29th if the 30th falls on a Sunday) millions of people in the Netherlands celebrate the country's national day – Queen's Day. In Amsterdam alone, over a million people take to the streets. If you're lucky enough to be there for the biggest festival on the Dutch calendar you'll witness one of the craziest and busiest events to take place on the planet. There are some things to note when at it – almost everybody wears something orange, the festival actually begins the night before (known as ‘Queen’s Night’), and make sure you have a few euro to buy something as there are people selling all types of everything everywhere as it’s the only day of the year where you can sell items openly on the street without having to have a permit.

Queen’s Day be held in April 30th

7. Il Palio, Italy

This is horse racing extreme. Representatives from the 17 neighborhoods of Siena gather to compete in a bareback horse race that is staged around the Piazza del Campo. The neighborhoods rival one another, with intermarriages between members largely discouraged and even forbidden. The race oftentimes turns violent and you would hear a lot of bone crunching as the riders hit the pavement. It is a good thing that the race usually lasts less than a couple of minutes only. Winners celebrate with a baby bottle of wine, as the victory signals a rebirth for their neighborhood.

Il Palio, Italy

8. Bastille Day,  Cities and towns throughout France

Commemorating the uprising that marked the beginning of the French Revolution, Bastille Day is the biggest national holiday to take place in France. While there isn’t a city, town or village throughout the country that doesn’t do something to mark the event, the best place to celebrate it is in Paris. Here the celebrations start all over the city the night before, particularly around Place de la Bastille. Then on the big day itself a huge parade marches through the city and down the famous Champs-Élysées. Then the day ends in style with a mind-blowing fireworks display at the country’s most iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower.

Bastille Day in July 14th

9. Diwali, India

It is also known as Deepavaali, or the Festival of Lights. It lasts for five days and the end of the festival expects new beginnings. Lamps and candles light up homes all over the country. Firecrackers are set off to ward off the evil spirits. Sweet delicacies are exchanged even between enemies. Quarrels are settled, grudges are set aside and hatchets are buried during this time of the year. Homes also undergo spring-cleaning and new clothes are bought that will bring in good luck and renewed fortune. The festival enjoins everyone, regardless of religion, belief or creed.

Diwali is also known as Deepavaali

10. Notting Hill Carnival, London, England

Held every year at the end of August in the famous West London neighbourhood, the Notting Hill Carnival is arguably Europe’s most colourful and outlandish festival. It was founded in 1964 as a way for local Afro-Caribbean communities to celebrate their cultures and traditions. Over the two days, twenty miles of colourful costumes surround over 40 static sound systems and hundreds of Caribbean food stalls. Enjoying it are over one million revellers, assisted by 40,000 volunteers. It’s a gargantuan operation. Not to be missed if you are in London in August, it is the largest festival celebration of its kind in Europe.

 Notting Hill Carnival in August 25th and 26th, 2013

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The 10 Most Dirty Festivals from Around the World

• 'Clean Monday ' in Galaxidi, Greece

Do not let the name fool you, this war is not clean that's where they threw a total of 1,300 kg of powder on each other during the festive season of the Greek Orthodox religion. Peoples preparing all day long "fight" with the old flour bags, shielding their homes with blankets, some people still buy goggles and masks.

• La Tomatina  Festival Chinchilla, Queensland, Australia

Normally, throwing rotten tomatoes and eggs is considered insulting and protest, but the tomato fly in festival La Tomatina is a joy. Held annually in the town of Bunol, Spain, sour present festival attracts thousands of attendees. The exact origin of the festival is unknown, but theorized that it stems from anger in a parade. Despite the mess, what happened in La Tomatina festival will surely make you satisfied.

•   Chinchilla Watermelon Festival, Australia

Among all the food festivals in the world, Chichillian watermelon festival seems most creative. Not only is watermelon thrown together that people still think of all the game related to melons, such as "slip watermelon".

• Buffet monkeys, Lopburi, Thailand

This festival is relatively safe and clean for the tourists when no food was thrown into own but they will be monitored party for monkey with hundreds of kilograms of food, beverages and fruit.

• Battle of Oranges, Ivrea, Italy

Carnevale d'Ivrea or Battle of Oranges takes place at Ivera city in northern Italy, as well as a festival involving food . Almost like La Tomatina festival seems rooted in the people's uprising. Today, battle cam includes colorful costumes and play different roles in order to "fight".

• Lathmar Holi Festival, India

Holi is a day that is awash in color. Participants gather and throw colored powders and water at each other. The colored powders have traditional significance in Ayurvedic medicine and were historically derived from medicinal plants. Different parts of the subcontinent celebrate Holi in unique ways—with certain songs and dances—but the main theme is the same. Lots of fanfare and a multitude of colors.

• Batalla del Vino, Spain

If you think that the tomato stains are the most special then you will have more surprises than when it comes to the war of wine in La Rioja wine. La Rioja is famous for wine production and seem to yield very abundance. During the festival, everybody spray alcohol into each other until all turned purple, apparently drunk and stumble.

• Songkran Festival, Thailand

Songkran Festival or Water Festival is probably the cleanest festival in this list, but anyone who ever spent a day in a "water park" also found that walking with wet clothes all day is not for you clean feeling. The festival takes place in April, the hottest month of the year in Thailand and lasted for several days.

• Cheese Rolling Competition, UK

There are hundreds of years of history, Cheese Rolling Competition in Coopers Hill, Gloucestershire, rooted in prayer to bless to have a successful crop. Today, this festival is mainly for young people rolling down the hill to find cheese. After rolling, the participants covered by mud and grass, as a way to honor tradition.

• Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea

Nothing dirty but fun as wear bikini and rolling around in mud. More than two million people around the world came to attend the Boryeong Mud Festival in South Korea every year to get dirty. Boryeong not only built up a reputation for quality products to mineral-rich mud cosmetics to manufacture that also used to attract tourists to the fun party like this. Read More

Where will you go this Christmas?

To Europe around Christmas, you can enjoy snow-covered throughout the city and electric light was lit brightly at night.

• Paris , the capital of magnificent

Known as the capital city of light , Paris nightlife magic and shimmer than anywhere in the world , shining light throughout the building and splendid castles . It will be interesting when you walk in the city full of brightly light and  exciting atmosphere of Christmas here .

Notre Dame shimmering Christmas. Photo: thepassionatefashionista

On occasion , the church was splendidly decorated with lights , stars , flowers , and the cave where the icon for the nativity . You will see Santa Claus sitting on the sled , going around and giving gifts to children .
At Christmas and welcome the new year , the Eiffel Tower becomes more magical at any time . The light in color as to dispel the cold air of winter in France .Walking on the  the Champs Élysées boulevard to feel like I 'm going in a light river  or walk  on the banks of the Seine with brightly colored strips of flashing lights on the pines . So a broader view , try up the hill to looking the city of Paris Montmatre charmer.

• Rome, the great cathedrals

A most special thing in Rome, Italy, is on Christmas holidays, all shops, museums, bars and restaurants are still open for people to have fun, crowded streets passers and bustling. Hard to find a meaningful place than Rome to celebrate the New Year, the dream destination of many tourists around the world.

Christmas in Rome. Photo: local nomad

Coming here on Christmas, regardless of whether you are Catholic or not, this place really is still very unforgettable experienced. You'll be watching the fireworks display to welcome the new year that you have ever seen on the ancient monuments like the Colosseum, Spanish Steps great ladder, leaning tower of Piazza Navona, King Vittorio Emanuele II monument ...

• London, United Kingdom

The city, London capital is really an attractive destination for tourists in winter. Here, the large ice rink was opened in Hyde Park. You can also come to visit the artwork from snow and ice.

London lit. Photo: vagabond 3

Go to London for Christmas and New Year, in addition to attractive sights in famous cities like London tower; Royal botanical gardens, palaces and mosques Westminster St. Margaret, you can also visit the fair. It sold many unique gifts and products for the Christmas holidays.

• Amsterdam, city youth

At Christmas, New Year, Amsterdam is known for vibrant outdoor party. Where you should go to are the square and the magnificent castle as Rembrandtplein, Nieuwmarkt, Leidseplein and Dam Square. Strong attraction of Amsterdam on Christmas Day is openness, and you can not help but soak up the crowds on the streets by the bustling that  little  place to be.

Christmas in Amsterdam will be a pleasant experience for young people. Photo: thevibes

• Frankfurt, Germany

Long-standing, Frankfurt became the commercial center of Germany. This city is also held many important fairs worldwide. Frankfurt is also an important point of traffic of Germany and Europe, should be considered as one of the city attracts tourists in winter in Christmas holidays.

The Christmas gift in Frankfurt, Germany. Photo: wordpress

The city is home to the traditional Christmas fair takes place the oldest in Germany, open from 30/11 to 23/12. You will be satisfied to buy sweets, biscuits, decorations on sale in the Christmas fairs with guaranteed quality, reasonable price.


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Christmas in countries around the world

Christmas in countries around the world :

• Bremen , Germany

In the fairy tales , Bremen is referred to as the medieval city with characteristics very different from other cities . So , would not be surprised if this place is known for the most beautiful Christmas markets in the world. With more than 170 booths were ornate in the old town of Bremen , bazaar highlights in a peaceful atmosphere , very beautiful and interesting with the torches are lit throughout the night . Each small corner with the old houses a few hundred years old , even have home thousands of years old . Roadside are souvenir's shops and shops , cafes , restaurants ... Every year into end of November  to be Christmas bazaar again, everything was beautiful , the air was hilarious , stores decorate magnificent . People are busy shopping.

Market takes place from 28/11 to 12/23/2013.

• Edinburgh, Scotland

The Edinburgh Christmas bazaar attracts thousands of people each year. The center of the festival is the 33-meter high Ferris wheel, a skis and outdoor bazaar under the background of the castle. Coming to the Christmas bazaar here, visitors can enjoy a special cocktail of hot tea, visit a traditional village bazaar selling bread plateau humberger venison and clothes, gifts, jewelry ...

Market takes place from 22/11 to 4/1/2013.

• Colmar, France

Colmar, a small town was built in the middle ages, nestled beside the Rhine River in northeastern France is one of the quiet, quaint and romantic scenery in the world. Over hundreds of years, Colmar still preserves many ancient architectural. December each year, in the old town of Colmar become more sparkling when the houses be brightly decorated. Across the flooded roads Colmar year visitors flock to 5 bazaars Christmas sales .

Market takes place from 22/11 to 31/12/2013.

• Prague, Czech Republic

This is one of the most popular fairs in Europe. At the city square neck (Staré Mesto), the small wooden huts was built to sell many items as Christmas decorations, scented candles, porcelain cups, wooden toys, figurines leaves of corn. ..

For devotees of the cuisine, you can enjoy pastries (trdlo), hot chestnuts, grilled sausages watered Grog wine (white wine mixed hot water, lemon, sugar), hot alcohol (svarak). If you like to hear the tale of Christmas, you can go to the square, as well as where performed locally and internationally hymns for children.

Market takes place from 30/11 to 23/12/2013.

• Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark

To Copenhagen at Christmas you let go to street Stroget where sold expensive gifts and trendy. But most intriguing fair is in Tivoli park with traditional wine, apple and almond cake baking.

Market takes place from 15/11 to 31/12/2013.

• Budapest, Hungary

Go to Budapest, you will visit a series of top venues such as Andrassy Avenue, the Opera House, St. Stephen's Cathedral. After look all the scenic here, you can stop at the largest Christmas market in Budapest to learn more about the arts and crafts industry of Hungary.

When tired feet, you can take a break at 3-storey wine cellar of a roadside tavern, sipping the famous wines of Hungary as Bull's Blood or Tokaj. End of trip, tourists can visit the famous Vorosmarty Square and Vaci, a famous walking street with shops selling traditional souvenirs.

The cafe on the street and in the air shimmering Christmas in Budapest, Hungary.

• Japan

 Japan does not have the Christmas holiday officially . Christmas in Japan is not colorful religious . Since early December , the streets began hanging decorative lights . The major centers like Tokyo station in Tokyo , Ikebukuro , Shinjuku , Shibuya , Roppongi , Ginza etc. hanging lamp illumination are  very beautiful . Especially famous is probably the  lights hallway called " Tokyo Millenario " by  art director Italian Valerio Festi designed running long 800 m at Marunouchi near Tokyo station.

Near to Christmas day in the square are placed pines . Supermarkets sell many items for Christmas like red boots filled with candy inside, the pine leaf circle to be tied red  ribbon  and gilded bell ,including European Christmas cakes such as Panettone  origin from Italy . Some salespeople dressed as Santa Claus while serving customers . The big department stores ( department stores ) open until 11 o'clock at night , working both December 31 and January 1 . Boys and girls are often to show emotion and given gift with special meaning each other in the Christmas season , . On Christmas Eve the Japanese families eat Christmas cakes homemade or purchased in the shops.

Tokyo Millenario

• Dubai

Dubai Shopping Mall is considered one of the biggest shoping center in the world. A shopper's paradise with 1,200 retailers, attract tourists flock to shopping at Christmas time not only by this is biggest discounts moment of the year, but also because kind of rich goods categories here.

A shopper's paradise

In addition shuffle to shopping, tourists can visit interesting places other: aquatic park, indoor ice skating rink ... technology or enjoy movies in high quality cinemas  right in the center of the building.

 Dubai is not only a city tour, the world famous trade but also a magnificent architectural ensemble, clever combination between the oriental architecture and the West ... that you can not look away.

• China

In addition to the sights not to be missed while in China as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, spasticity, Summer Palace ... Tourists can enjoy the circus repertoire, music and dance performances and stroll around the bustling streets in Beijing. See spectacular scenery on a mountain winter, find a new feel through the primary ski lessons with the coach of the Chinese experience in skating "Snow World" or infatuated, excited and ski adventure with exotic game by sliding under the snow slope, flying up in the air and dropping  down.

Chinese goods are very rich and sold with cheap price surprisingly.

Shimmering Christmas in China

• Vietnam

Today, in Vietnam , though not official holidays but Christmas is gradually considered as a general holiday , usually held in the evening and last 24 to December 25 . In those days, the Christmas tree is decorated with real tree in many places (usually is pine with three leaf )  or artificial pines made by plastic , not pine as in western countries. On the tree , people often hang the many types decorations but often there are of pairs bell , wireless fake snow , the socks, the symbolic gift and decorative lights like the West ...

 Christmas in Vietnam is a occasion the cultural life of the bustling community . During Christmas , the couple sweetie give  gifts each other , children eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus , friends invite each family festivities , banquets , karaoke , ... and especially Catholics are preparing to attend Mass in the parish church his .Vietnamese enjoyed the Christmas songs .

Christmas street Ho Chi Minh

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