Traditional Festivals Around the World You Have to Experience

Take a break from the social media scrolling and try something new. From board games and self-care to learning how to play a musical instrument, these fun activities will help you get over your boredom.

From the dazzling lanterns of Loi Krathong to the colourful powders of Holi, Asia’s festivals are a visual banquet. Celebrated in the light of Buddha and Hinduism, they symbolise fortune, prosperity and new life.

Bastille Day

In English-speaking countries, Bastille Day the anniversary of the storming of the prison on July 14, 1789 is a day of revelry steeped in revolution. But in France, where the holiday is formally known as Quatorze Juillet, it commemorates a different moment and holds an entirely different significance.

The day marks the start of the French Revolution, which ultimately ended with the fall of Louis XVI and the establishment of the first French republic. It also marked the end of a period of oppression for French citizens that included famine, and years of rule by a monarchy that lived like kings while the people struggled.

Many French celebrate the national day by attending military parades along the Champs-Elysees and watching fireworks displays across the city at night. It is a great time to visit Paris, with all the shops and restaurants in their festive attire.

In smaller cities and villages, locals spend the afternoon lounging in parks with friends and family, sipping wine, and eating bountiful picnics. For those looking for something more lively, check out the fire brigade balls or Bals Dansants in which firehouses open their doors to the public and offer partygoers dancing and drinking all night long.

Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night, also known as Fireworks Night or Guy Fawkes Night, is an annual celebration in the United Kingdom that takes place on November 5th to remember the foiled Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This was an attempt by Catholic terrorists to blow up Parliament and was thwarted by the authorities, who found a stash of gunpowder underneath the Houses of Parliament.

The name of the event commemorates Guy Fawkes, one of the conspirators, who was caught after they failed to blow up Parliament. The people of England celebrated his capture and the thwarted plot with fireworks, bonfires, and a traditional meal of bangers and mash.

Today, Bonfire Night is a national holiday in England, Scotland, and Wales. Bonfire societies gather to celebrate with parades and processions, and there are spectacular firework displays. People also build their own bonfires at home with friends. They may use old planks of wood or doors, and combustibles like newspapers and magazines.

Other cultures have similar celebrations with bonfires. In Finland, they are called sankthansaften (23 June); in Scandinavia it’s known as Walpurgis Night (30 April); and in Cork and rural Ireland it’s Saint John’s Eve on 23 June. Bonfires are also lit to mark the winter solstice in Sweden and the eve of Saint David’s Day in Wales.

Carnival of Venice

One of the most spectacular events in the world, Carnival of Venice offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the lush celebrations Venetians have enjoyed for centuries. Art and tradition are celebrated around every corner, from the stunning gondola parades that glide along the Grand Canal to the jugglers who toss objects in a dance-like rhythm and the storytellers who reenact fabled tales of ancient Venice.

Masks are an important part of the Venice Carnival, steeped in history and artisanship. For example, 18th-century womanizer Giacomo Casanova wore a bauta, a white mask with a particular shape, throughout his romantic escapades. This allowed him to blend in with high society without risk of being recognized.

Today, Venice is the stage for a non-stop parade of traditional 18th-century style costumes. The carnival lasts for a couple of weeks, culminating on Shrove Tuesday (Marted Grasso or Mardi Gras) the day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

Cherry Blossom Festival

The cherry blossom, or sakura, is a flower that symbolizes beauty and ephemerality, and it's celebrated around the world. Hanami, the centuries-old Japanese practice of viewing cherry blossoms, is a joyous occasion that involves companionship, performances, and food.

During hanami, people gather in parks and gardens to enjoy drinks and snacks beneath the blooming trees. A popular activity is yozakura, or night-viewing, where the flowers take on a magical aura after dusk. In Tokyo, the sakura of Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden attract millions of visitors each year for an experience like no other.

Other locations host festivals, with New Jersey's Branch Brook Park hosting a day of performances and attractions including stage performances, cultural demonstrations, and children’s activities. There's even a Pink Tie Dinner Party to raise funds to ensure events remain largely free and open to the public.

Perhaps the most famous cherry blossom festival is in Washington, D.C., which hosts a celebration each spring to commemorate the 1912 gift of 3,020 cherry trees from Japan. It's a beloved tradition that brings visitors from all over the world to witness the breathtaking display and celebrate the enduring friendship between the two nations.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the biggest holiday of the year for Chinese and their ethnic communities around the world. It’s a time for family and friends, feasting, and honoring ancestors. It’s also a time to look ahead to the future and welcome in good fortune. The festive celebrations last for 15 days and are a great opportunity to witness street performances and lion and dragon dances.

The color red is an important part of Chinese New Year, symbolizing good luck. It stems from an ancient story about Nian, a beast that attacked people on the eve of the new year. Legend has it that a wise old man realized Nian was scared of the color red and crackling burning bamboo. This led to the New Year traditions we know today including fireworks, lanterns, and lion dances.

On New Year’s Eve, many families eat dumplings called jiaozi (jio zi) with fillings such as peanuts, dates, chestnuts, and meat. The family also burns incense and cleans their homes to sweep away ill-fortune and prepare for the coming year. Some families also give their younger members lucky pocket money in red envelopes. Other traditional activities include watching the CCTV Spring Festival Gala and visiting temple fairs.

Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead, also known as Da de Muertos or All Saints Day, is a colorful celebration that honors deceased loved ones. The holiday originated from Aztec rituals combined with Catholicism brought by Spanish colonization, National Geographic explains. During this time, it is believed that the boundary between the living and the dead becomes blurred.

Families construct altars, called ofrendas, in their homes and at family gravesites to welcome the spirits back. These altars are typically decorated with favorite foods, beverages, flowers (particularly marigolds), and personal belongings of the departed. They are also adorned with candles and the calavera Catrina, a skeleton figure that has become a symbol of the holiday.

Other popular decorations include a woven rugs that symbolizes a place for souls to rest, candles, and copal, which is burned as an incense. Foods that are enjoyed by the departed and their favorite drinks are placed on the altar, including pan de muerto, which is a typical Mexican sweet bread with tiny dough skulls and teardrops, and other snacks like chocolate and candy.

The Day of the Dead is a time to remember, but it is also a festive occasion that portrays death as a natural part of life. This is why movies like The Book of Life, Spectre, and Coco have gained fame worldwide.

Diwali

Diwali is a festive celebration, not unlike Christmas, that commemorates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists but has also become a secular holiday celebrated by many outside of these religions. It lasts for several days and involves a variety of activities that can vary by region. Typically, people will clean and decorate their homes, shop for gold or kitchen utensils, and attend dinner parties that often include platters of kebabs, tandoori grills and spicy sweetmeats.

The day before Diwali, known as 'Chotti Diwali', is a time to finish up preparations for the main festivities and to buy new clothes and jewelry. It is also a time to worship the tools of one's trade, with chefs paying homage to their knives and pans, businessmen worshiping their ledgers and artists praying for their paintbrushes and palettes. Gambling is another popular tradition, with people betting on a number that they believe will bring them wealth for the coming year.

The final day of Diwali is known as Bhai Dooj, and it celebrates the love between brothers and sisters. It is also a day to give gifts and honor the bond between siblings.