Vardavar or world water day

Time: 14 week after Easter. ( 27 July 2014)

place : Armenia 

    There are so many kind of customs and celebration in the world that most of them start with a joke between 2 persons and after that it's spread between the area, city, country and maybe in all the world. One of this ceremonies that named is  water celebration or famous name Varda in Armenia. 

    Vardar or world water day is a festival that held in Armenia in honor of the water goddess Astghik. The people choose all major parks and downtown areas to celebrate this festivals. Many tourists and forefingers join to local people gladly to have a funny day with spread and splash water as a game and fun.

    The root of Vardavar is driven from the word of "vard" that means rose in Armenain and also is a name of holiday. the people used to offer roses to goddess Astghik, that named goddess of water and fertility. 
    the first time in the world, Christianity is  adopted by Armenian as a state religion in 301 A.D. 

 In this festival, people and groups spread and drench water together. During in this festival, the people bring pigeon and free them to fly.Also, they held some sport festival to have an enjoyable place for participants and other person that will com from near countries or as tourist. 

    This festival is held 98 days after Easter. So, the date for each year is different. For example; in 2013, it was on 7 July and for next year, it will be 27 July, in 2015 also on 12 July.

   This celebrate is very popular between children and teenagers because in this days they can see their friends and also be happy in a hot and dry summer days to refresh. During this festival, the people in variety range of age are allowed to douse stranger with water. In addition, the people in their balcony look for a stranger or friends that walking below them to pour water on their heads.

During this festivals, the police cooperate with the participant in this festivals and no reported from anybody that injured during last years.  

On this day, people will sprinkle each other with rose water and hold a special of roses during this happy feast. People from difference ages are allowed to douse strangers with water. You can see people from balconies; they are pouring water on walking people on the street. Children like this festival, because they can do whatever they want.

The mood and atmosphere on this day is unexplained. On this game there are no rules, means everyone has this right to pour water on anybody, even if you did not agree to be one of the victims, the best and main targets are people with nice dress codes, some will take easy but some will be very angry and crazy, but what can be done nothing.....

Most of the people that are Scrupulous will cancel their meeting or classes or.... to be dry and stay at home.

Imagine one day you are walking on the street very relax and suddenly a groups of young people come up running and pour water on you, How do you feel that???

Some people will be angry and some will be laughed, that’s really interesting and great.

Where this tradition did came from?

Vardavar is one of the most ancient Armenian holidays. Traditionally Armenian month Navasard begins on the day Noah (Prophet) finds his refuge on the Mount Ararat during the Flood, then he came down from the Mount, then he says to his sons to spray water to each other for the Memory of the Flood.

When Vardavar is celebrated

29.06.2008
19.07.2009
11.07.2010
31.07.2011
15.07.2012
07.07.2013
27.07.2014
12.07.2015
03.07.2016
23.07.2017
08.07.2018
28.07.2019
19.07.2020
11.07.2021
24.07.2022
16.07.2023
07.07.2024
27.07.2025
12.07.2026
04.07.2027
23.07.2028
08.07.2029

28.07.2030

Vardavar is a religious ritual day, most people believe, water of Vardavar considers to be healing, and everybody should get at least several drops of water during spray each other.

Vardavar is one of the best feasts in the world, also we advise you to participate in this cheerful holiday.

La Tomatina - Spain

Date: Last wednesday of August

Place: Bunol near to Valencia in Spain

       La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol near to Valencia in Spain. 
   This festival is held in Valencian  located 30 KM from the Mediterranean. In this festival, participants have happy time together with throwing tomatoes.

Why the throw tomatoes?

       The Spanish people use tomatoes as an essential ingredient for cooking. They use tomatoes in daily food in different way such as fresh , crushed, stewed or simmered in a sauce in variety cooking like fried eggs, chicken, meat, omelets etc. in most Spanish dinner tables.

      For the history of this festivals, there are some descriptions as below:

    The new year was celebrated just like today by France in 16th century in April 1st. But, in 1562, Pope Gregory celebrated new year in 1st January. After that, Most of Peeps people didn't know about new calender and keeping the last time new year on April.

According to Wikipedia, the festival history refers to parade of gigantes y cabezudos in 1945. The young men wanted to fight together in main square of Plazza del Pueblo. But they used tomatoes as weapons because close to vegetables stand. So, the police came to prevent of fighting and involved in this struggle.

There are some rules for safety participants in this festivals:

·         The tomatoes should be squash to avoid of injuries.

·         Only tomatoes are allowed.

·         Participants should be followed the lorry or truck.

·         Nobody is allowed to ripping T-shirts.

·         This festivals should be ended after  the second shot  indicate finishing the festival.



About La Tomatina

       The festival begins around 11 AM with tomatoes that trucks bring it to center of the town, Plaza del Pueblo, from Exteremadura where the tomato is cheaper than other places. As a roll, the festival begins when a brave soul has climbed to the top a two-story, greased up wooden pole and achieved the coveted ham at the top. 

the festival started with a signal is firing of water cannons and chaos. 

        The participants in this festival is strongly advise to wear gloves and protective safety goggles. Also, as a roll, they must squish the tomatoes before throwing for safety reasons. In addition, nobody are allowed to bring other dangers thing to festival like bottle, glass etc that maybe provoke some one into a more serious brawl. another roll in this festivals is nobody allowed to tear other person during the tomato's fighting. 

       The festival  ends after one hour and cleaning process will start with use of fire trucks to spray down the streets with water. and the participants  wash them self  and some one use Bunol River for this purpose. 

If you want to participate in this festival, it's better to get a ticket because of numerous applicants. We suggest you to ask the tourist companies to buy a ticket for you because a limited seat and accommodations for people in who come to La Tomatina. 


Have a good trip in Spain and remember me when you see the fighting with Squash tomatos.


Nika

Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling - England

The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event on the spring bank holiday.This ceremony originally was each Whit Monday before later transferred to the Spring Bank Holiday.Whit Monday or says to other name Monday of the Holy Spirit,is the holiday feast after the Whit Monday movable feast in the christian calendar .its movable because its specified by the date of Easter.

Place: village of Shurdington, about 3 miles from Cooper's Hill

The organizers of the traditional cheese rolling on Cooper’s Hill have decided to call it a day after running the gauntlet of threats and abuse over the proposed introduction of a £20 entrance fee.

The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event held on the Spring Bank Holiday at Cooper's Hill in England, it is a traditional festival held by locals living in villages of Brockworth, but today this event is globally known and people from all over the world travel to cooper’s hill to watch the show.

In this event, a round of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled, and participants run after the chess down the hill, the first attendant to cross the finish line at the bottom of the hill is the winner and gets the cheese.the cheese currently used in that event is 7-9 lb and is wheel shape.

This is a dangerous and dirty festival the competitors can speed up to (100 km/h) causing serious injuries or breaking their bones, most of the participants will not get out of racing field unharmed. In previous years the competition was held without spectators and people judge among themselves, but recently, a committee is assigned to serve as spectator of the event and handles the safety of the competitors.

Since the fifteenth century people celebrate this ceremony. Each year becomes that Event more and more fans. 

Dates for Whit Monday, 2000–2020

Year	Western	Eastern
2000	June 12	June 19
2001	June 4
2002	May 20	June 24
2003	June 9	June 16
2004	May 31
2005	May 16	June 20
2006	June 5	June 12
2007	May 28
2008	May 12	June 16
2009	June 1	June 8
2010	May 24
2011	June 13
2012	May 28	June 4
2013	May 20	June 24
2014	June 9
2015	May 25	June 1
2016	May 16	June 20
2017	June 5
2018	May 21	May 28
2019	June 10	June 17
2020	June 1	June 8

RITUAL SINCE 1826
The First Event was in 1826.
From 1941 to 1954 they used the wooden cheese.
The cheese roll down up to 70mph.
Since 1988 all cheeses used have been made by Diana Smart ,at her forest name Dean farm. 

We advise you to be once in this Event.

Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme - Spain

Date: 27-29 January

Date: 29 July

Location: Santa Marta de Ribarteme, Las Nieves, Pontevedra, Galicia,Spain.

This festival as known as death experience celebrate for who have had a near death experiences.

In that ceremony people will carry a boxes into Santa Marta de Ribarteme the church assign to Mary Magdalene’s sister.
La Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme is one of the Church’s try to adjust its dogma to the region’s more primitive faith, a sort of “Catholicism meets Paganism” type of event which has often been specified as one of the most outrageous religious pilgrimages in the world.

At around 10 am, the coffins carrying the lucky almost-dead start to arrive at the local church, carried by solemnly-dressed relatives of the lucky ones. People who don’t have any family can also be at the scary ceremony, but they have to carry their own coffins. A special mass starts around noon and is broadcast outside the church via loudspeakers, so the people outside can listen as well. When the mass is over, the church bells start to ring and the coffins carrying the dead-looking lucky survivors are carried uphill to the town cemetery and then brought back to circle a few times around the church. As a largest statue of Santa Marta de Ribarteme is taken out of the church and paraded around with the coffins, the crowd starts chanting ”Virgin Santa Marta, star of the North, we bring you those who saw death”.

Once the unreal coffin-carrying part of the festivities comes to an end, the almost-dead get up and start talking to the people about their fantastic near-death experiences. Than everyone dances the whole night and feast life.

We will advise you to have a trip to Spain and see that scary and nice ceremony in the world.

Thaipusam - Indian Festival

Thaipusam: a celebration of faith and gratitude

Place: Batu Cave in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Thaipusam is an Indian ceremony that held by Tamil people each year in famous place in Malaysia named Batu cave.  This Hindu festival mostly held in January and February. This year, the festival held in 27- 29 January. I participated in this festival with my wife in the first day afternoon because in the morning there were traffic jam and we couldn't park my car around Batu cave. I think the people that participate in this festival were than 1 million during 3 days. I upload 6 movie from this festival to our tube channel to enjoy this event and you can search it with name Thaipusam in Malaysia or Nika pretty. 

The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam.

It is an annual procession by Hindu devotees seeking blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks. 

Celebrated in honour of Lord Subramanya (also known as Lord Murugan), who shows virtue, youth and power to Hindus and is the destroyer of evil.this event is at  the full moon in the 10th Tamil month, called Thai, which falls in mid-January each year.

Thaipusam takes place over three days.on the first day, Indian people bearing a sculpture of the Lord Murugan departs from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on the procession .on the second day,participant walking barefoot to the Temple Batu cave ,almost kilometer to fulfill vows .(Batu cave temple  located in kuala lumpur) .On the third day the chariot will be back to the Temple.  

Indian people believe that in the year of celebration of Murugan , the son of Shiva and Pravati, they should make themselves in suffering and trouble because the Lord will be sorry for her. During this ceremony, they put a sharp skewer in their cheek or tongue. Some of them hook their back with heavy thing and pull it and some of them hook lemons to their back. After they participated and want to leave, they shave their head.This festival is very popular festival between Indian people but the biggest festival held in Singapore and Malaysia during holiday.

Devotees offer Lord Subramaniam orange and yellow flowers and fruit, and their dress code is in orange and yellow clothing as part of the ceremony.

only the truly believer should effort the Ritual,in that event you can see a lots of doctors for devotees that will be in pain because of ceremony.
For the Tamil Hindus in Malaysia, Thaipusam shows honesty and loyalty to both deities and family.

Boryeong Mud Festival

Date: Sun, Jul 14, 2013 - Wed, Jul 24

Place: area of Deacheon in South Korea

 During the summer, if you go to South Korea, ask the people about Boyeong Mud Festival. In 1996 a range of cosmetics was produced using mud from the Boryeong mud flats. The cosmetics were said to be full of minerals, bentonites, and germaniums, all of which occur naturally in the mud from the area.
In order to promote these cosmetics, the Boryeong Mud Festival was conceived. 
This festival take place in a town named Boyeong in 200 km  far from of Seoul. More than 2.2 million people visited this Mud festival by 2007.  For this festival, they bring enrichment minerals, bentonites and germaniums muds  from the Beryeong mud flats that is used to manufacture cosmetics. This festival is very popular by Korean and western people and take place during two weeks.  Most of people go to this festival in last weekend that usually falls in July.

This festival promote when the group of children attend and play in mud pool and their skin rashes recover. they hope the people and visitors lean about minerals mud and cosmetics. Also, they prepare some activities like music , competitions, other fun activities etc. and a mud pool, mud prison, mudslides and mud skiing competitions in the seafront area of Deacheon.

During this festivals, The people and visitors can buy cosmetics that made from mud, beauty products and gift for memorize. In addition  they can use massages that offer by beauty clinic and other treatment, also, enjoy some fire work in this festival.

Here there is some programs that you can see during your time if you want to participate in this festival:

Street parade

yacht parade

mud showroom

local specialties exhibition & sale

mud super slide

mud wrestling competition

mud marathon

mud painting

mud massage
There is no Age limit. 

The address for this festival:

Daec 1029-3, Sinheuk-dong, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do

KANAMARA MATSURI in JAPAN

Date: 7 April 2013,  &  6 April 2014

Time: 12 -13 PM

Place:  Kawasaki, Japan

The Kanamara Matsuri is a yearly fertility festival held each spring at the Kanayama shrine, in Kawasaki Japan from 1603 – 1867 to raise money to help research for HIV/Aids and pray for sexual safety especially syphilis etc, among Kawasaki’s prostitutes. The exact dates is changeable : the main festivities fall on the first Sunday in April .If you see the festival you will understood this festival attracts different people such as somebody interest to fight against STDs, some couples looking for good fertility luck, or somebody like gay or lesbian that gather as a group etc.

This festival is strange for foreigners while it’s usual between Buddhist and Shinto in Japan. This festival is about sex and they have no shame in holding this event. Today, this festival is used as a tourist attraction in order to gain money for HIV research.  The gigantic portable plaster phallus shrine appeared in different shape like candy, lollipops, toy stand, candles, masks, key rings, toys gun, various accessories and bags of candy. You can see sex anywhere in shaped like penis.

In this festival you can see three kind of penis as pink and huge, iron and black and last one in timber and in smaller size. Also, all people even children can participate in this day to took some photos while, they are riding these penises. You can choose a kimono to wear for free to go to the temple because all people in temple should be in traditional clothing.

The highlight is the parading of a large black phallus on a mikoshi (wooden float), as Shinto priests play traditional Japanese music (drums, flutes) in the background.

This is the History of that Event:

So you’re probably wondering why the Japanese celebrate the “steel phallus.” Well, legend has it that sometime back in the Edo period (1603-1867), there was a sharp-toothed demon who fell in love with a beautiful woman. The woman, didn't accept his love  and decided to marry another man. Angering the demon, he inhabited the woman’s vagina before their wedding night and when they tried to fulfill the marriage, the demon bit off the groom’s penis with his razor sharp teeth. When the woman remarried, the jealous demon once again made his feelings clear by biting off her second husband’s penis.the people from village decided to do something with the Evil. A local blacksmith made a steel phallus and upon its insertion, the demon’s teeth were broken and he left the woman’s vagina for good. Sometime thereafter the legend was celebrate by way of the Kanamara Matsuri and the enshrinement of the actual steel phallus at Kanayama Shrine, constructed to honor Kanayama Higonokami and Kanayama Himenokami, the Shinto deities of childbirth and lower abdomen health.

Holi in India

Date : Wednesday, March 27.

Place: Most areas of India

All Indian people knows Holi festival. Holi is very popular event between Indian people around the world. The Holi word bring the enthusiasm and smile between Indian. This festival is very vibrant  and frolic and also fun. This festival celebrated around the world between Indian.

The below is 3 date for this festival in next years:

In 2013, Holi is on Wednesday, March 27.

In 2014, Holi is on Monday, March 17.

In 2015, Holi is on Friday, March 6.

Here are four famous places that you can enjoy this festival:

Mathura and Vrindavan Four hours from Delhi

Varanasi all streets are crowded by people

Jaipur held at Chaugan Stadium with elephants

Delhi the capital with a lot of fun like music, dance, party etc

The legend of Holi festival

There are many stories about the origin of this festival but the main legend referred to the king of the demons who look for a similar god situation for himself.

The first step to reach this goal was prevention others from worshiping Vishnu and worship himself instate. The Vishnu is the main Hindu gods. The son of kings refuse to stop worship of Vishnu and his father asked him execution. The king asked Holika to take his brothers hand and go to the flames.  Holika know she was immune to fire but her immunity was valid when she is walking along into the flames. She was burnt but the  king’s son was saved by Vishnu and finally killed the father. In memory the sacrifice of Holika, The king’s son fired as a symbol of burning desires and evils. Also, Holi is known story of love and love of Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha.

El Colacho (Baby jumping) Festival

Date: Middle of June after the feast of Corpus Christi, a Christian holiday.

Place: Small Spanish town of Castrill de Murcia near Burgos

This traditional festival is known as a dangerous festival in the world for infants that held in the middle of June in a  small Spanish town of Castrill de Murcia near Burgos. there is another name for this festivals as baby-jumping or devil's jump festival as part of its Corpus Christi celebrate  This Spanish traditional festivals take place annually to celebrate the Catholic feast of Coropus Christi.

A man dressed with a devil cloths in red or yellow color and jump over infants who lie on mattresses in the street that born during previous year ( 12 months). Meanwhile, there have been no report about baby injuries during festivals yet but, it's considered  as a riskiest festival in the world.

The people believe with jumping the devil, the infants will be clean of the original sin and will protected from all disease  illness, evil spirits and also will have a safe life.

This festival is the the culmination of a four-day celebration following the feast of Corpus Christi, a Christian holiday.

Goat tossing festival in Spain

Date: 24 January

Place: Manganeses de la Polvorosa, Spain

In the small town in north western Spain, Manganeses de la Polvorosa, you will see an annual tradition festival named Goat tossing.

In this festival, a group of men threw a live goat from the window of church with 50 feet high and  below, many people were catching  the flying goat with a canvas sheet.

Many people in traditional dress  wake up early to see unusual events, No one knows and confirmed  when and how this ceremony started. but all of  villagers believe there is a story behind this event.

There are some stories about this festival. One of them referred to 18th century  when a priest donated his goat milk to a needy and poor family, after a while, the goat fell from tower of church but the poor villagers saved his goat miraculously with a blanket.

Another story was born when a wily goat went up to the belfry to eat priest food but the goat was frightened of priest. Suddenly the goat fell down and disappeared. it's not more important for death of this animal, if the goat survives or not, the fiesta begins through small village.

N’cwala Festival Zambian

Date: 24th February

place: Zambia's Eastern Provin

At first, it's better to  have a glance to Zambia. Zambia is in Southern Africa, east of Angola with 8 neighbors (Angola, Botswana,Namibia,  Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique,  Tanzania, and Democratic Republic of Congo) with 14,309000 . Dance and music is the main part of Zambian life and they use drum and drumming plays in most common traditional festival, ceremonies, celebrations and community communication.

The Ngoni people celebrate the fist harvest of their products in each year that named  N'cwala ceremony. This festival held each year in a village named Mutenguleni that 12 local chiefs and their best dancer come as group and present their warrior dance to the chief. The dancer's cloths should be from traditional like animals fur and feathers. The chief will choose the best group of dancer in the end of festival. Also, the people feast on beef and corn with music.

 The Paramount participate in this festival with dancing. As a symbol of first harvest food, the chief drinks the cow blood killed at the N'cwala for their people to start harvesting.

Battle of the Oranges in Ivrea, Italy

Date: 9 - 12 Feb 2013                 Place: Centro storico And Borghetto, Ivrea in Italy

One of the favorite and popular festivals in Italy is orange fighting that named " Battle of the Oranges " . Every February, you can see this happy festival in small town Ivrea in Italy. There is no correct  and clear information about origin of this ceremony.

 The public story about this festival refers to defense against a cruel that come to rape a young rural. Instead of him, the young women was capture by this cruel and the people struggle with simple thing like stone  and arrest him and burnt his place.  Every year in February moon, they gather to remember this liberation with this festival. they divided to 9 group and fight to the ancient cart as a sample  of cruel and orange as a primary weapon.

this festival held 3 days in the small town Ivrea in Italy.

Sunrise Festival in UK

Place: UK

Date:   Thursday 30th of May to Sunday 2nd of June 2013

This four day splendid event awaits you in the astonishing beauties of Sometset's rolling green hills.

The festival does not aim just to focus on musical entertainments but rather on mankind creativity potentials and abilities, presenting all kinds of innovative, inspiring activities including lectures and workshops to provide the nations with the beneficial spirit of self confidence, cooperation and integrity to create the best possible grounds for nations in which strength and creativity play an important role.

Sunrise's big ambition is to introduce innovative thoughts in permaculture and so sunrise proudly host many individuals with creative ecological ideas to be inspired by the nations to grow self-awareness and self-steem.

We strongly believe in the capabilities of individuals with any kind of education level.

And to gain all of these why not making an event. So each year we are here to admire initiators and create a good memory in your minds, we partly achieve our goals if we  could at least bring a smile to your faces.

Independence Day Festival

Independence Day or “Fourth of July”, is the federal holiday in United States celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 from Great Britain. This holiday is celebrated with fireworks, ceremonies, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball, family reunions, and political speeches, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the national day of the United States.

Independence Day is United States national holiday and patriotic displays. Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American. Parades are often in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Lantern FestivaL

The Lantern Festival in China celebrated on the 15th day of the first month in their lunar calendar making it the last day of the new year celebration, it is also known as Yuanxiao Festival or Shangyuan Festival; Chap Goh Meh Festival in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore; Yuen Siu Festival in Hong Kong, Tết Thượng Nguyên or Tết Nguyên Tiêu in Vietnam; and,Koshōgatsu in Japan.

During this festival hundreds of paper lanterns with solve riddles on lanterns carried by children to temples, they believe the gods in heaven would get their massages and grant their wishes become true; it is an official end to chines New Year celebration.

However, it should not be mistaken with Mid-autumn festival also known as “Lantern Festival” being held in some countries like Malaysia.
In this day people get together and perform series of traditional activities they believe bring good fortune for them. and they believe that it will bring a better future and a better faith for them.

This festival is one of the most beautiful and majestic celebration world wide, the view of colorful lanterns and the scene they make especially at night is amazing and eye catching. There more and more visitors and tourist come to watch and experience this beauty with their own eyes.

Spring Festival - Chinese New Year

 Spring Festival is the chines most important holiday in which they celebrate their new lunar year. Chines new year celebration starts from new year’s eve of the first day of chines calendar day and ends with “Lantern Festival” on 15th day of the first month. It is the longest chinese holiday.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia,Mauritius, Philippines, and also in Chinatowns elsewhere. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar New Year celebrations of its geographic neighbors.

The New year holidays is the best time for families to get together and celebrate their traditions clean their homes and plan for their new year. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of "good fortune" or "happiness", "wealth", and "longevity." Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes.

all these traditions have a deep root in culture and history of Chinese and they are parts of their beliefs and every tradition is symbol for good faith and fortune and a wish for a better year.