Festivities all over the world have great significance on the character, origin, cultures and traditions of a community. Some festivals are celebrated in commemoration of a person or an event while others are observed for thanksgiving or in relation to religion or belief.
According to Lonely Planet, one of the best ways to appreciate a place or a country is to actually witness and experience its festivities. This month of April, here are some of the best festivities in the world that you can explore and experience.
Holy Week. Celebrated during the Easter week, this festivity is mostly celebrated in countries dominated by Catholics such as Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Guatemala, Philippines, Honduras and Costa Rica. In some countries, most establishments and business are suspended in commemoration of the street processions and re-enactments of the Passion of Christ and Way of the Cross. Holy Week includes the observation of Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Black Saturday.
Walpurgisnacht (Witches' Night). The Walpurgisnacht, also known as the Witches' Night, will be celebrated in Brocken, Harz Mountains, Germany on the 30th of April. The local German folklore believes that warlocks and witches gathered for a meeting in the highest peak of the Harz Mountains. Over 35,000 visitors come in their witch costumes and dance around fires all through the night. Aside from Germany, Walpurgisnacht is also observed in other European countries such as Sweden and the Czech Republic.
London Coffee Festival. If you are the type of person who cannot live without having a sip of coffee, then this is where you should probably go. The London Coffee Festival is celebrated in Brick Lane, London from April 6 to April 9. This event is the largest event in the UK that is dedicated to coffee of all kinds. According to Time Out, the London Coffee Festival features coffee demonstrations, workshops, live music performances and a massive selection of the best coffee beans in all of UK.
Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos. This festival is also known as the Moors and Christians Festival. It is celebrated in most cities and towns in Spain from April 22 to 24. Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos is in commemoration to the combats and battles between the Christians and the Moors from the 8th to the 15th century. People dress in Christian or Moor costumes that are inspired by the fashion during the medieval period. There is also a live marching band which plays marchas cristianas, pasodobles and marchas moras.
Sisters' Meal Festival. Celebrated in China from April 11 to 13, the Sisters' Meal Festival is considered to be the oldest "Valentine's Day" in Asia. It is part of the country's celebration of spring and love and is a significant event for the Chinese Miao ethnic people. During the Sisters' Meal Festival, young men choose their own liking from the roster of young single women who they want to marry in the future and thereafter sing a song for them. There are also other activities including horse racing, Miao ethnic performances and bullfighting.
