Holidays and Festivals

Holi, India.Originally a Hindu Festival, celebrated every Spring. To commemorate a new season and good harvest people throw colorful powder and celebrate wildly.

Day of the Dead, Mexico.National holiday celebrated on October 31. Mexicans make playful skeleton sculptures and bake "pan de muerto" - bread of the dead.

Chinese New Year, China.A very important holiday in Chinese Culture. The date varies approximately between middle January to middle February. People celebrate loudly, they dance and play, use plenty of costumes and fireworks.

Saint Patrick's Day - IrelandIt's celebrated on March 17 to commemorate Christianity's arrival to Ireland. It's customary to wear shamrocks and/or green clothing or accessories. People usually attend to parades and drink beer.

Burning Man Festival - Blackrock Desert, Nevada, USA.Originated as a bonfire ritual on the summer solstice in 1986, the festival has turned into an amazing, extravagant art fest. It begins on the last Monday of August. In the end a 72ft wooden man is set on fire.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival - ThailandThe celebration is meant to obtain Buddhist merit. It attracs so many people, that the sight of the floating lights in the air is hypnotizing. It happens in November, but the date is announced only two weeks before the festival.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro - BrazilThe biggest parade in the world is held before Lent (during February or early March). The samba dancers prepare all year long: the techinique, performance, costumes, decorations - everything has to be perfect and bigger than their competitors.

La Tomatina, Buñol - Spain.Held on the last Wednesday of August, the celebration attracts many locals as well tourists, who throw tomatoes just for fun! The city becomes entirely covered with tomato paste.