Need some help with your travel itinerary? Why not take
inspiration from the world’s rich smorgasbord of festivals, and plan
your next vacation around the dates and locations of some of the
planet’s most exciting events. To get you started, here’s our top 12
far-flung festivities, one for every month of the year…1. January: Viking Festival, Shetlands, Scotland
Ritual bonfires and processions of axes are held during Lerwick’s annual Up Helly Aa fire festival, held on the last Tuesday in January. There are also torch-lit parades and processions, culminating in dancing and the burning of a Viking galley to warm the Shetland Islands’ winter throngs.2. February: Carnevale, Venice, Italy
February around the world means Carnevale, the madcap lead-up to Lent that takes the Latin world by storm. You could choose any number of locations to celebrate – Rio’s Mardi Gras and Spain’s Carnival spring instantly to mind – but we’ve selected Venice for its sense of history, sequined masks, Casanova costumes and Vivaldi concerts.
Masked participants at the Carnevale celebrations in Venice
3. March: Holi, India
The March full moon is the signal for sheer mayhem on the streets of India, and Little Indias across the globe. Known as the Festival of Colours, the final day of Holi sees adults and children alike hurl brightly coloured powder and balloons full of water at complete strangers. The result is highly coloured anarchy, and as a visitor you’ll be especially targeted during this free-for-all. Wear old clothes and expect to get very wet (and dyed).4. April: Semana Santa, Philippines
Holy Week in the Philippines is taken very literally, with Way of the Cross processions of self-flagellating true believers on Good Friday. Some devotees even go so far as to be crucified. A Passion Play is also performed on Good Friday, and Easter Sunday is celebrated with statue processions of Jesus and Mary, followed by Easter Mass. The town to head to for the most fervent Good Friday celebrations is San Fernando in the Pampanga region.5. May: Rocket Festival, Thailand
Yasothon, in northeastern Thailand, honours the rain god with the bun bang fai rocket festival. The rockets are displayed in colourful parades and on decorated podiums before being fired into the air to bring rain. Held in mid-May, the festival features competitions for the best rocket flight and highest explosion. Those firing less than spectacular rockets can expect to be unceremoniously thrown in the mud.6. June: Midsummer Festival, Sweden
After months of dark winter and a spring that takes a long time coming, summertime is something to really celebrate in Europe’s cold northern climes. Maypole dancing, drinking songs and special menus of herring, potatoes, schnapps and strawberries are served. Midsummer is also celebrated with gay abandon in Finland with bonfires and saunas and in Estonia with the athletic tradition of fire jumping.7. July: Bastille Day, Paris, France
Where else but Paris would you want to be on 14 July? The French capital goes nuts to celebrate the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, with military parades down the Champs Elysees, concerts, the firemen’s ball, and to end the day in style, a spectacular fireworks display lights up the sky over the Eiffel Tower.8. August: Tomato Festival, Pennsylvania, USA
You don’t have to travel to the Spanish town of Buñol to engage in flying tomato fights. Pittston in northeastern Pennsylvania is giving La Tomatina a run for its money during the town’s four-day tomato festival held around 20 August. Unlike in Spain, you’re provided with safety eye goggles if you get caught up in the pandemonium, and all proceeds go to charity. Along with the tomato fights there are games, rides, tomato tastings and a parade.9. September: Festes de La Mercè, Barcelona, Spain
Celebrate the last days of summer during Barcelona’s week-long extravaganza of concerts, parades of giant figures, human towers, foot races and competitions. Held a few days either side of 24 September, it’s the city’s biggest knees-up. Festivities are citywide, focusing on the Placa de Sant Jaume in the Gothic Quarter, and a special highlight is the noisy Correfoc, or Fire Run, of fireworks.10. October: Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
Grab a beer and join the Oktoberfest festivities in Munich!
11. November: Dia de los Muertos, Mexico
Mexicans remember their beloved dead on the 1 and 2 November celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day. Graves are visited for all-night vigils, but the atmosphere is festive and celebratory rather than sombre, with picnics and mini shrines to the dead erected from flowers, mementos and the favourite foods of the departed. The festival’s signature sweets include chocolate skulls, candy skeletons and sugar coffins.
A market altar from Dia de los Muertos in Mexico
12. December: Christmas Mass, Bethlehem, Israel
When the bells of Christmas begin to peal, you’ll want to be where it all began, Manger Square in Bethlehem. During December, the streets of Bethlehem are festooned with Christmas lights, Christmas markets are held and homes display Nativity scenes. The real celebrations begin on Christmas Eve, with processions through Manger Square to the Nativity Grotto in the Orthodox Basilica of the Nativity, followed by midnight mass at St. Catherine’s Church. On Christmas Day, worshipers make a pilgrimage to Shepherds’ Fields, where the Star of the Nativity was seen to shine over Bethlehem.Adventure Traveler - Viator Team
