Opening Chat

Hey friends! Looking through my travel notes and photos from recent years, I suddenly realized I've participated in many special festival activities. As a travel blogger who's constantly on the road, I really want to share with you all the traditional festival celebrations that have left the deepest impressions on me over the years. Every time I think back, those wonderful scenes make my blood pump and fill my heart with emotion.

European Charm

Speaking of European festivals, the Venice Carnival is absolutely my favorite. In February 2023, I finally fulfilled my dream of attending Venice's most famous masked ball, Il Ballo del Doge. The scene from that night remains fresh in my memory: the 15th-century Palazzo Pisani Moretta palace was resplendent with gold, massive crystal chandeliers sparkled enchantingly in the candlelight. I wore a deep blue 18th-century vintage gown and a Venetian mask adorned with golden patterns, dancing with performers from around the world to baroque music.

Every corner of the palace was meticulously decorated with flowers and candles. Before the ball began, we enjoyed a spectacular opera performance, with the voices of the male and female leads echoing through the ancient palace, seemingly transporting us back to Venice's most glorious era. This was followed by a grand banquet, with each dish being an exquisite presentation of traditional Venetian cuisine. The ball continued until dawn, featuring various spectacular performances including acrobatics, magic, and modern dance, perfectly blending classical and contemporary elements.

That sense of time travel was truly captivating. At the ball, I met a mask maker from Argentina who told me that creating a traditional Venetian mask takes at least two weeks, with every detail requiring handcrafting. Through our conversation, I learned that Venice's mask culture dates back to the 13th century, initially created to break down social class boundaries during carnival time, allowing everyone to socialize freely.

Speaking of the most impressive European traditional festivals, the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany must be mentioned. This is a super production that can only be seen once every ten years, and I started preparing two years in advance for the 2022 performance. To better understand the plot, I even specifically studied some German, though I later found out there were English subtitles.

The full five-hour performance is divided into two parts with a three-hour intermission. Over 2,000 local residents participate, all amateur actors, but their performance level doesn't fall short of professional actors at all. What moved me most was that these actors are ordinary people who have lived in Oberammergau for generations, and they participate in the Passion Play not for fame or profit, but to pass on this tradition that began in 1634.

The stage design is also very ingenious, with the open-air theater able to accommodate 4,500 spectators, all with clear views of the performance regardless of seating position. The backdrop is the natural scenery of the Alps, and when Jesus walks across the stage carrying the cross, the distant peaks seem to become part of the set. The entire performance uses no modern technology, relying solely on the actors' genuine emotions to move the audience.

Besides these two major festivals, Europe has many other special celebrations worth recommending. For instance, I participated in Spain's Running of the Bulls in July 2023. Honestly, seeing hundreds of people running with bulls through the streets of Pamplona was both nerve-wracking and exciting. Although I didn't have the courage to participate in the run, just watching from a safe balcony was enough to make my adrenaline surge.

There's also the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, held at Edinburgh Castle every August. When I attended last year, I happened to catch a rare sunny day. When hundreds of bagpipers in traditional Scottish kilts lined up to perform in front of the castle, combined with the sunset's glow, the scene was absolutely stunning. The fireworks display after the concert was even more spectacular, lasting 45 minutes and decorating Edinburgh's night sky in a rainbow of colors.

Asian Charm

Speaking of Asia, the Harbin Ice Festival really opened my eyes. I just went in January 2024, and the entire Ice and Snow World was like a huge fairy tale castle. Do you know how many ice blocks were used to build these ice sculptures this year? According to official statistics, over 220,000 cubic meters, all taken from natural ice blocks from the Songhua River. Workers have to work in temperatures below -20°C, using electric saws to cut ice blocks weighing hundreds of kilograms into needed shapes, then using warm water to bond the ice blocks together.

What amazed me most was the detail level of the ice sculptures - from afar they look like magnificent building complexes, but up close every detail has been carefully carved. I specifically chose to enter at 4 PM to witness the process of dusk falling and the entire ice world gradually being illuminated by colored lights. When hundreds of LED lights lit up simultaneously, the multicolored light refracted through the crystal-clear ice blocks, instantly transforming the entire park into a dreamland.

In the park, I also experienced the ice slides. The highest slide was nearly 20 meters tall, and sliding down on a special mat made me scream involuntarily from excitement. Although the temperature was as low as -25°C, seeing the smiles on visitors' faces made the cold completely unnoticeable.

In India, I most recommend the Holi Festival. I experienced this festival in Varanasi in March 2023, and it was absolutely the craziest color feast I've ever experienced. Early in the morning, the streets were packed with people, everyone holding powders of various colors. As music started playing, people began throwing colored powder at each other, with multicolored dust filling the air and laughter rising and falling.

I remember very clearly, an elderly local man used his trembling hand to place a red tilak on my forehead, then gave me a big hug. Although we couldn't communicate through language, at that moment I truly felt the warmth of Indian people. By noon, there wasn't a clean spot left on my body, and my originally white T-shirt had become a colorful work of art. I still treasure that T-shirt, and although the colors won't wash out even after many attempts, this has become the most unique souvenir.

In Japan, I attended the Gion Festival in Kyoto, one of Japan's three major festivals, with history dating back to 869 CE. Throughout July, Kyoto is immersed in the festival atmosphere, but the most spectacular is the Yamahoko Junko parade on the 17th. I specifically went a day early to watch the assembly process of the floats, which uses no nails at all, relying entirely on rope binding - this traditional craftsmanship is truly amazing.

On the day of the parade, I secured my position early in the morning. Twenty-three elaborately decorated floats slowly passed by, each with musicians performing traditional music. The floats can reach heights of 25 meters and weigh up to 12 tons, all pulled by human power. The most spectacular moment is during turns, when dozens of workers must cooperate using special techniques to make the giant float complete a 90-degree turn - this scene is truly impressive.

Korea's Boryeong Mud Festival also left a deep impression on me. This is a traditional fishing festival held in July where participants catch fish barehanded in mud. When I attended in 2023, there were tens of thousands of people wearing swimsuits rolling around in the mud - the scene was both comical and joyous. I also jumped in for the experience, and although I only caught one small fish, that childlike feeling of joy was priceless.

American Flair

The scale and spectacle of the Brazilian Carnival is truly unforgettable. In February 2024, I watched two full days of float parades on Rio de Janeiro's Sambadrome. Did you know? The float performance budget for just one samba school can reach millions of dollars, with the main float alone reaching heights of over ten meters. Each samba school chooses a theme, and every detail from costume design to prop making is carefully crafted.

The most impressive was the Mangueira samba school's performance, with this year's theme being the Amazon rainforest. The main float was made into a giant tropical rainforest tree, with mechanisms twisting around the trunk that could spray mist like waterfalls. The dancers' costumes were adorned with thousands of shining feathers, glittering under the lights. When the samba drummers began playing, the entire Sambadrome vibrated with the rhythm, and thousands of spectators couldn't help but dance along.

I specifically bought the best grandstand seats and watched from 6 PM until 5 AM the next morning. Although my back and waist were sore, the visual and auditory impact was truly addictive. Most amazingly, the locals seem to have endless energy, able to party continuously for several days without diminishing enthusiasm.

Mexico's Day of the Dead is also a festival that deeply moved me. Last November 1st, I experienced this unique festival in Guanajuato. The streets were decorated with skeletons everywhere, but the atmosphere wasn't scary at all - instead, it was full of joy and celebration of life. Locals build altars in their homes, displaying photos of deceased relatives along with their favorite foods and items. At night, the entire city lights thousands of candles, and in the dim candlelight, people sing and dance, remembering their departed loved ones in the most joyous way.

In Guatemala, I also participated in the Kite Festival. Locals believe these giant kites can communicate with deceased relatives. The largest kites can reach 20 meters wide, all handmade from bamboo and colored paper. Watching these colorful giant kites soaring in the sky, against the backdrop of Antigua's yellow church and distant volcanoes, created an unreal scene. Making these kites requires great patience and skill, with a large kite often taking several months to complete.

Peru's Inti Raymi is also a very special experience. This festival originates from the Inca Empire period and is held annually on June 24th in Cusco. I was fortunate to attend the 2023 celebration and personally witnessed the scene of the Inca Sun God impersonator departing from Sacsayhuamán fortress, accompanied by hundreds of performers in traditional costumes, traversing the entire ancient city of Cusco. The entire ceremony lasted nearly six hours, with various traditional dances and ritual performances. Most special was their preservation of the tradition of using Peru's unique alpacas to predict the coming year's fortune.

African Rhythms

In Africa, my most unforgettable experience was Ghana's Akwasidae Festival. In September 2023, I witnessed this grand celebration at the palace in Kumasi. The Ashanti King, wearing a golden robe and crown adorned with gold, danced ancient ritual dances accompanied by traditional drummers. It's said that the gold ornaments he wore weighed over 30 kilograms, and these gold pieces are all royal treasures passed down through generations.

The entire celebration lasted a full day, from morning ritual ceremonies to evening bonfire gatherings. The most spectacular part was the entrance ceremony of tribal chiefs, each sitting on elaborately decorated palanquins carried by four strong men, surrounded by dozens of warriors performing war dances. As the drummers' rhythm accelerated, the dancers' movements became more intense, and the entire square erupted with energy.

In Ethiopia, I participated in the Timkat Festival, which is the Ethiopian Orthodox baptism celebration. At the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, tens of thousands of white-robed faithful gathered, holding candles and praying through the night. The next morning, the bishop blessed the faithful with holy water. When the holy water was sprinkled over the crowd, everyone cheered - it was a very touching scene.

Mali's Djenné Festival also deeply moved me. This is one of Africa's oldest mask festivals, held in the World Heritage city of Djenné. The local Dogon people perform wearing various mysterious masks, each representing different deities or ancestors. Most amazing were the stilt dancers, who wore 3-meter wooden stilts and performed complex dances on the uneven mud streets - their skill was astounding.

Concluding Thoughts

Through these festivals, I've deeply experienced the charm of different cultures. Each festival has its unique historical origins and cultural connotations, all crystallizations of human wisdom. These traditional festivals are not just entertainment, but rather cultural heritage, carriers of a nation's memories and emotions.

My biggest realization while participating in these festivals is that although we come from different countries and speak different languages, all barriers disappear in the joyous festival atmosphere. Laughter, tears, and emotion are universal languages, and these traditional festivals are the best bonds connecting people's emotions.

Which festival would you most like to experience? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. In the next post, I'll provide detailed practical guides for attending these festivals, including best viewing locations, accommodation suggestions, and more. Remember to follow me, and see you next time.