Festivals
Desert Festival, India
The 3-day Jaisalmer Desert Festival looks at the desert culture of India. It features camel races, polo matches, puppeteers, jugglers, men with long mustaches, turban-tying competitions, and locals wearing colorful traditional dresses.
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year Spring Festival period, celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month.
Las Fallas
Las Fallas is a traditional festival celebrated in Valencia, Spain, known for its elaborate and artistic sculptures called "fallas" that are displayed throughout the city. The festival culminates in the burning of these sculptures in a spectacular bonfire, accompanied by fireworks and lively street celebrations, typically held in mid-March.
Hina Matsuri
Hina Matsuri is a Japanese celebration also called Doll's Day, Doll Festival, Festival of Dolls, or Girls' Festival. People pray for the health and happiness of girls. Click HERE for more information and related resources.
Holi
Holi is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated across India and other parts of the world, marking the arrival of spring. Participants engage in exuberant festivities, including throwing colored powders and water at each other, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the joyous spirit of the season.
Elephant Festival, India
The Elephant Festival is held on the eve of the festival of colors, Holi. Elephants are the center of this incredible attraction. These beautiful animals are adorned with fancy clothes and jewelry as they parade in a royal procession.
Qingming Festival, China
Qingming Festival, also known as Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day, is a Chinese holiday that includes paying respect to the dead, going on a spring outing, and flying kites.
Songkran Festival
Songkran is the Thai New Year's festival known for its lively water fights and festive atmosphere. It involves water splashing as a symbolic cleansing and renewal, along with traditional rituals, parades, and family gatherings. Learn more HERE.
Seville Fair, Spain
The Seville Feria (fair) is a weeklong festival in Spain that begins two weeks after the Semana Santa, or Easter Holy Week. Dancing, eating, drinking, horse parades, and colorful tents are all part of the celebration.
Gathering of Nations
The Gathering of Nations is one of the largest powwows in North America, bringing together Native American and Indigenous peoples to celebrate their diverse cultures through traditional dance, music, and arts. This annual event, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serves as a vibrant and significant gathering that fosters unity, cultural exchange, and the sharing of traditions…