In every part of the world, different festivals are organized for the entertainment of people. Color festivals are among the most interesting of these festivals. These festivals, which are attended by millions of people every year, also attract the attention of travelers from other countries. Togetherness, enthusiasm and joy are shared among people through these festivals. At the same time, festivals also provide an opportunity to recognize and experience the differences between cultures. In this article, we will talk about such colorful festivals that you probably said "I wish I could have participated" in at least one of them.
India – Holi Festival
When you think of the festival of colors, it is first held in India Holi festival comes On this holiday, people have fun with each other, forgive each other's mistakes, share feelings of love and friendship, and celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Holi lasts for 2 days.
First day "Holika Dahan" is called On that day, according to their beliefs, religious ceremonies are held to burn Holika, which represents the evil inside people. By burning the symbolic dolls representing Holika, they pray for the victory of good and celebrate the victory of good over evil.
Second day of Holi "Rangwali Holi" is called On that day, people throw colorful powders called "gulal" and water at each other, dance together, sing songs, and share national sweets with each other. They play their music through national instruments dholak and tabla. The general mood is very cheerful and fun.
Spain – La Tomatina
It is one of the colorful festivals. You probably already know which festival we are talking about. Yes, we are talking about the tomato festival. The history of this festival is based on an interesting fact. So, during a concert, a group of young musicians breaks through the crowd to be with them. Seeing this, people started throwing tomatoes from nearby tomato boxes. Even though it has calmed down, this situation is repeated the next year and it becomes a tradition. 5 years after that event, the festival is officially recognized and held continuously. Every year in August, hundreds of tons of tomatoes are thrown by people at the festival in one hour. The festival also has rules. So, the tomatoes should be squeezed well before being thrown away so that damage does not occur. People can only throw tomatoes at each other and the festival is not allowed to last more than an hour. Through this holiday, people spend a happy time away from their daily worries.
Mexico – Dia de los Muertos
in Mexico a festival commemorating the dead is held as Maybe this is familiar to you from somewhere. You got it right. The concept of the famous movie "Coco" is based on this festival. In the film, a 12-year-old boy named Miguel Rivera accidentally goes to the Land of the Dead. If you haven't watched it, you can watch it. It gives an unforgettable experience to everyone, regardless of age, and causes some of the feelings you've suppressed to resurface.
Let's go to the festival. This festival consists of various ceremonies and rituals. The main purpose of the festival is to invite the souls of the deceased back to the world and remember them. Through this festival, people also celebrate it to ward off the fear of death. Therefore, this festival is an important part of Mexican culture.
One of the main foods at this festival, which also features traditional Mexican drinks and food, is bread of the dead. This sweet, called Muerto, is decorated with orange peel and sugar. A drink called atole is made from hot corn and served in ofrendas.
Festival Ceremonies
1. Ofrenda
It is one of the most important elements of the festival. An ofrenda is an altar dedicated to the dead. This altar is decorated with a variety of items - favorite drinks and foods of the deceased, marigold flowers (cempasúchil), sugar skulls (calaveras), personal belongings and pictures of the deceased.
2. Sugar Skulls (Calaveras)
Sugar skulls are one of the most recognizable symbols of Dia de los Muertos. These ornate sugar skulls in different colors represent the sweetness of death as well as life. They are used both in ofrendas and in other parts of the festival.
3. Marigold Flowers (Cempasúchil)
Marigold flowers are considered to be the main elements of the festival with their bright and tangerine colors. We can all say that we have seen these flowers in our grandmother's yard. According to belief, these flowers attract the spirits of the dead with their fragrance and bright colors.
4. Parades and Costumes
On Dia de los Muertos, people hold processions and parades in various cities in Mexico. They wear traditional and colorful clothes and are decorated with skull makeup (La Catrina).
5. Visiting graves
As part of the festival, families visit the graves of their deceased relatives, place marigold flowers on the graves, and decorate them with items loved by the deceased and candles.
The festival is held in November. While planning your travels, you can also mark the date of this festival for yourself and participate in the festival.
Festivals provide great experiences to get to know the traditions and cultures of different countries of the world. Follow us if you want to get information about other interesting festivals
