Every month, hundreds of huge festivals are being held around the world, each with their own individual features, historical origin and culture. Here's a quick rundown of the five festivals to satisfy your wanderlust this November 2016.
1. Dia de los Muertos - Oaxaca, Mexico (November 1-2)
A Mexican tradition involving the honoring of loved ones whom have passed on, Dia de los Muertos (also known as "Day of The Dead") is a vibrant and colorful festival wherein it is believed the dead join the living for a day of celebrating life, remembering people as they were before moving on to the afterlife.
During this ordeal, family members paint their faces with skeleton makeup; adorn shrines and altars with decorations, food, and the deceased's prized possessions.
2. Fete Gede - Port-au-Prince, Haiti (November 1-2)
A different religion's interpretation of The Day of the Dead, Fete Gede is a voodoo festival that is dedicated to the playful Haitian spirits (Gede). Though rituals are known to occur all throughout the month, during the first couple of days, voodoo believers assemble at the capital's main cemetery to offer gifts such as flowers, candles, and spiced rum to warm the bones of the Gede. The festival is also characterized by dances in temples in which the dead are believed to participate in.
3. Bonfire Night - East Sussex, England (November 5)
A night of bonfires, burning, and fireworks, this classical English tradition is held each year to celebrate the arrest of Guy Fawkes and his failed attempt at destroying the house of parliament and assassinating the king. On this night, scarecrows designed to resemble Guy Fawkes are burned, sparklers are waved, and a grand fireworks display lights up the night sky.
4. Festa del Cornuto - Rocca Canterano, Italy (November 12-13)
Though Italy has been known to be a cradle of love and romance, it is also home to a festival solely dedicated to love lost. The Festival of The Horned One is dedicated to individuals whom have been hurt, betrayed, and cheated on. During this festival, the main street is filled with allegorical floats, actors in costume that recite satires about betrayal, and single people who wish to forget about the ugliness of lost love.
5. Pirates Week - Cayman Islands (Spread throughout November)
The Cayman Islands' national festival is held in commemoration of the islands' long history of seafarers and buccaneers, as well as the myths and legends. It is the only festival to be held on all three islands, with the highlight being a ten-day program on Grand Cayman. Aside from the food stands, games, and drinking, the festival also features a pirate invasion demonstration and a pirate ship battle. The schedule for Pirates Week 2016 can be found here.
