Image via Complex Original
You're familiar with the beads and debauchery of New Orleans' Mardi Gras and you get a little too hype for those images of the beautiful, mostly naked women during Carnival in the Caribbean. But you haven't really been to a festival if the main events didn't include rolling around in mud on the street, throwing oranges at strangers, or watching pirate ships battle under a sky of fireworks.
Yes, SXSW, Coachella, and Glastonbury are among the "must attend" events for young people every year, but our peers on different continents (and Canada) find seemingly unconventional reasons to hold jamborees.
In the spirit of celebration and camaraderie, here are 10 Festivals Around the World to Experience Before You Die.
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10. Pflasterspektakel
Where: Linz, Austria
When: July; annually
Think Cirque du Soliel, amusement park entertainment, and live theatre, for three days, in the middle of the street. Austria's got it. During the second half of July every year, street performers from around the globe gather in Linz, Austria for the annual street arts festival. Don't worry about being subjected to performances that are anything less than spectacular at Pflasterspektakel. Every performer must go through an application process and is carefully selected by the festival committee. Make sure all of your currency is in single denominations as you'll be throwing a lot of money into hats.
9. Scarlet Sails
Where: St. Petersburg, Russia
When: End of June; annually
For you artsy types, the Stars of the White Night Festival is a three month long event featuring the biggest names in opera, ballet, and classical music. We know how amazing that sounds, but the event to really get hype about is the Scarlet Sails. The most popular White Nights event, Scarlet Sail brings together over a million people to celebrate the end of the school year with an incredible water show featuring a mock pirate ship battle, fireworks display, and a free concert. The Russians really know how to bring in summer vacation. All we got was a half day and a sunburn.
8. Boryeong Mud Festival
Where: Boryeong, South Korea
When: July; annually
A South Korea cosmetics company developed a line of beauty products which featured mud from the Boryeong mud flats as a main ingredient. Since the company couldn't be bothered to spend money on commercials, the Boryeong Mud Festival was born so potential customers could feel the benefits of the special mud firsthand. In case you attend and get bored of the mud slides, mud prison, mud pools, and mud skiing, you can enjoy live music, acupuncture, and the festival's culminating fireworks display.
7. Battle of the Oranges
Where: Ivrea, Italy
When: February; annually
The story goes something like this. Many centuries ago, a city tyrant tried to violate a young girl, but before he had the chance, she chopped his head off and the whole town celebrated. That is how the Battle of the Oranges was born in Ivrea, Italy. Every year, the townspeople divide themselves into nine combat teams, stage a battle, and attack each other with oranges in order to commemorate their freedom from that 13th century troublemaker. Why oranges? Apparently, they symbolize the tyrant's castrated testicles. Some OJ for justice? We're in.
6. Up Helly Aa Fire Festival
Where: Scotland
When: January; annually
All of the yuletide cheer and jolly every year isn't for everyone. Put an end to the yuletide season in style at the Up Helly Aa Fire Festival in Scotland. The festival is a full day of events for the Jarl Squad, known to you as Vikings. It starts with a morning procession and some culturally significant events scattered in the middle, then ends with about a thousand men dressed as Vikings firing torches and throwing the flaming sticks in a boat. Blaze of glory.
5. Calgary Stampede
Where: Calgary, Canada
When: July; annually
Because saloons and bull-riding are indicative of the USA's wild, wild West, we rarely associate the term "rodeo" with Canada, but our neighbors to the North dedicate ten whole days to the event every July. If you reckon yourself a cowboy, this one is for you. If not, put on some boots anyway as the grand prize for one of the stampede events is $1,000,000. If bull riding isn't your thing, join the over one million festival goers for the agricultural competitions, parade, concerts, and cowboy costume donning for the entire event.
4. Day of the Dead
Where: Mexico
When: November 2nd; annually
If you want to do more than pour out some liquor for the homies who are no longer here, the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico is an occasion you should attend. Right after Halloween, this festival serves as an opportunity to pray for dearly departed loved one and construct altars of their favorite worldly possessions. Since the dead don't lose their sense of humor when they cross over, this is also seen as a perfect opportunity for a roast. Build a dope altar for your dead relative and hopefully they'll look out for you from beyond the grave. Make sure you don't fuck up his favorite meal, though. You want his spirit to visit you in peace, not haunt you on some Paranormal Activity shit.
3. Songkran
Where: Thaliand
When: April 13-15; annually
The celebration of the Thai New Year began as a time to visit with those closest to you, pay your respects, make some resolutions to do better in the new year, and then go on about your business. Somewhere along the route of preservation of traditions, however, folks thought it would be a good idea to actually cleanse people of their bad behavior by dousing their fellow festival goers with water. During Songkran, people carry around large containers of water and filled water guns to spread the New Year joy. Even the elephants get dressed up and participate. Gives a whole new meaning to "super soak that hoe," huh?
2. Eyo
Where: Lagos, Nigeria
When: Varies
On some "Watch the Throne" type status, the week-long Eyo Festival in Lagos, Nigeria only occurs when a Lagosian king passes away or a new king takes the crown. A Yoruba tradition dating back to the mid-1800s, the festival is named for the tall masquerades who dress in all white to represent spirits. The festivities begin with a variety of performances and plays, and end with a procession through the city to Iga Idunganran, the king's palace. Before you go, know that certain things are forbidden during Eyo, like smoking, sandals, bikes, motorcycles, and certain hairstyles. If you're caught slipping, the lovely men dressed in white will fuck you up with their staffs, so, act accordingly.
1. Holi
Where: India
When: Late February/March; annually
Every year in late February or March, the Hindu community chucks the deuces to winter and welcomes in the spring season with the loving act of getting each other dirty. Holi, or the Festival of Colors, is a two day event beginning with parties around bonfires and continues on with folks hurling rainbow colored powder at each other. Beats just watching Punxsutawney Phil deal with his shadow, right? No worries if you can't make it all the way to India for the festival; NYC Bhangra is bringing the color fest to the Big Apple during Holi Hai 2013 on March 31st. You might want to keep your Cool Grey's at home for this one, folks.
