We celebrate some holidays as a tribute to our ancestors, others are directly related to religious beliefs or the lunar calendar. All religions have their holidays, festivals and accompanying rituals. And there is another group of holidays, satanic ones, which are celebrated even by the most decent Christians. They do not worship Satan at all, no, this is a tribute to traditions and the remnants of paganism.
10. Krampus Festival - Klagenfurt, Germany
Krampus is the antipode of Santa Claus. Santa Claus is described as a cheerful and kind elf in a red suit with a bag full of toys. The Krampus, by contrast, is described as a grumbling, horned creature with hooves, sharp teeth and claws. He drags chains and a black bag in which he collects naughty children and takes them to his next world, where he eats them.
Krampus is a demonic figure, with his chains and horns he is associated with the Devil. In the city of Klagenfurt, which is located in the Alps, a festival is held in his honor. More than 1,000 followers of this character live in the city. They put on costumes and organize a parade on December 6, St. Nicholas Day.
9. El Colacho Festival - Burgos, Spain
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In Burgos, Spain, there is a fraternity that organizes a series of weeklong festivals culminating in El Colacho (Jumping over the Babies).
The ceremony dates back to 1620 and refers to the celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ. During this ceremony, men in yellow and red demon costumes jump over babies who were born no later than 12 months before the ceremony. Children are placed on mattresses that are installed right on the road. The men hold a whip and castanets. People believe that as a result of this ceremony, evil spirits and diseases are expelled from children. It should be noted that the Catholic Church considers this ritual unsafe for children and does not welcome it.
8. Celebration of the "Black Mass" - Lake Catemaco, Mexico
The city on the shores of Lake Katemako is famous for its witches and sorcerers. On the first Friday of March, the city hosts the International Congress of Witches.
During the convention, the "Black Mass" is held at the entrance to the cave, where, in their opinion, the Devil appeared. A statue of Satan is installed in the cave. During the holiday, all participants swear allegiance to this creature. Recently, many tourists come to see and take part in the festival. Several Satanic priests sacrifice animals, make fires, sing and smoke. The festival is attended by virgins with candles in their hands. Their appearance speaks of the beginning of the festival.
7. Feast of Diablada de Pillaro - Ambato, Ecuador
The UNESCO International Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognized the cultural value of the Diablada de Pillaro festival.
During the festival, townspeople don elaborate and carefully crafted masquerade costumes and gilded, black and yellow masks with horns. In some masks, people use real animal teeth and skin. This celebration symbolizes the uprising of local tribes against the Spanish occupation. Some argue that participating in this devils parade brings good luck. There is a belief that if you put on a devil costume for the first time, then you need to wear a costume for every festival for 7 years, otherwise you can bring misfortune and failure on yourself.
6. Saint Sebastian's Day - Piornal, Spain
In Piornal, Spain, on Saint Sebastian's Day, celebrated in January, the streets are filled with townspeople armed with turnips.
They are patiently awaiting the appearance of a young man dressed as a devil. The costume consists of a large number of colorful patches, and an expressive mask with large eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth is put on the face. Of course, a protective frame is put on under the suit so that the person does not suffer from the blows of the turnip. This tradition of casting out the devil is many hundreds of years old.
5. Festival Mother Earth - Paucartambo, Peru
The town of Paucartambo hosts the largest street festival in Peru. Thousands of people fill the streets of the city, which is located a few hours from Cusco, to participate in the Mother Earth Festival.
Every Peruvian city has a local celebration, but this festival is considered the most massive. In addition to local residents, thousands of tourists take part in the holiday. The holiday lasts 3 days. All this time, costumed participants walk the streets of the city, parade processions are held, and dance groups perform. Among the participants you can find the owner of all demons, that is, people in a devil costume. They behave noisily, run on rooftops, calling on the townspeople to commit sins.
4. Day of the Dead - Santa Muerte (Holy Death) - Mexico
Day of the Dead has recently become a very popular holiday in the United States and is associated with skulls and skeletons. He is of Mexican origin.
This is a day to honor the memory of deceased family members and friends. Parades and processions with skulls and skeletons made of sugar and bread are held throughout Mexico from October 31 to November 2. In recent years, the holiday has become very widespread in Mexico and has grown into a festival. The Day of the Dead or the Day of the Holy Death is referred to as Satanic holidays, since the Catholic Church does not recognize demonic beings. Despite this, Death in Mexico has its own days of veneration: November 1 and August 15.
3. Burning a stuffed man - Black Rock, Nevada
Each year, a tent city appears in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada, and disappears a week later.
The fact is that people gather here for the Burning Man festival. The essence of the idea is in understanding the 10 principles of radical implication and radical self-expression. This tradition dates back to 1968, when on a beach in San Francisco, several friends burned a wooden stuffed man about 3 m high and a stuffed dog. According to the organizer, artist Lee Harvey, he organized the burning as an act of radical self-expression. Every year it was repeated, more and more people joined the action, so the celebration moved to the Black Rock Desert. This year, a ticket to this festival cost $ 400, despite the cost, all tickets were sold out in 44 minutes. The festival was attended by about 65 thousand people. At its core, it is an art festival. During its holding, nothing is sold except water and ice,as people exchange and give gifts to each other. Mostly hippies and people who are tired of civilization gather for the holiday.
2. Walpurgis Night - Brocken Mountain, Germany
In German folklore, Walpurgis Night is the night when witches gather at the summit of Mount Brocken, at the highest point of the Harz mountain range. They believe that witches there communicate with the devil. The holiday is held on April 30th.
On this day, the town, which is located at the foot of the mountain, is overflowing with guests, tourists who, together with the locals, take to the streets to joyfully meet the spring. According to legend, if it snows on this day, it is dark and cold - these are the pranks of witches and demons. During the festival, many put on costumes, make bonfires and celebrate the end of winter.
1. Summer Solstice - Stonehenge
Stonehenge is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, and most famous place where people gather on the summer solstice. It is believed that they have been gathering in this ritual site for 5,000 years. And today in Wiltshire, England, guests come from all over the world, from all over the UK, especially those who consider themselves modern druids.
Last year, about 23,000 people attended the summer solstice. Scientists claim that the people who built this ritual site had a good understanding of astronomy. Some radical Christians believe that this holiday is associated with paganism, and, therefore, with the devil.