This list features some of the most mysterious festivals in the entire world. Enjoy!
Aphelio - Fire Festival, Scotland
Aphelio is a fire festival. In fact, it is considered the most chic fire show in Europe and one of the most unique in the whole world. It is held in Scotland in the midst of winter. Legend has it that at the beginning of the ninth century, the Vikings landed on the islands, settled and stayed there, for the next 600 years they were engaged in farming. The Scots are still proud of the Viking heritage.
Every year, people from the port city of Lerwick dress up in Viking outfits and stage a torchlight procession. 900 Vikings march to the sea. When they reach their final destination, they throw their torches into the galley of the long ship and burn it to the ground. This is a truly magnificent sight. It all started with the fact that the Vikings buried their leader in this way. After the ritual burning of the galley, the crowd breaks up into small groups, scatter and have fun in local pubs. Here the fun begins: performances, singing and dancing until the early hours of the morning.
Promotional video:
Night on Ivan Kupala, Ukraine
The holiday Ivan Kupala is celebrated on the night of July 7. The name of this holiday combines two elements - Christian and pagan customs. Ivan is Saint John the Baptist, and Kupala is a pagan goddess from Slavic mythology. The word "Kupala" is derived from the Slavic word "bathing". This night is mysterious, it is full of various rituals that are directly related to water and fire.
There is a belief that on this night all the evil spirits that live in rivers, lakes and ponds come out of the water, but it turns out that these are holy spirits. Therefore, it is important to swim before sunrise.
On this festive night, unmarried young girls and women weave wreaths of wildflowers and put them on their heads. And in the middle of the night, they can lower the wreaths into the water, and the guys at this time can try to select the wreaths in order to show that they have some interest and tender feelings for a woman who wants to perform this action.
There is another belief that water and fire can be friends, but this only happens this night. There are also some rituals associated with fire. At midnight, young people jump over the flames of bonfires, thereby showing everyone their courage, faith and courage. Couples in love can also jump over fire, but they must jump and hold hands, and if they open their hands during the jump, this bodes well - such a relationship is doomed to failure.
Day of the Dead, Mexico
Day of the Dead is a real celebration of life. Mexicans believe that death is not the end, but the beginning of a new, afterlife.
This holiday has an interesting history associated with the ancient traditions of the Aztecs, Mayans and Spanish civilizations.
The holiday lasts three whole days. October 31 is the eve of all the dead. November 1 is the day of honoring dead children and babies, the so-called Day of the Innocent, or the Day of Little Angels. November 2 is referred to as the Day of the Dead (or All Souls Day).
These days, everything turns upside down: nights become days, the cemetery becomes the most popular place in the country, children enjoy colorful sugar syrup from chocolate, people dress like the dead, and the dead must be alive again.
Dragon Boat Festival, China
This holiday is one of the oldest festivals not only in China, but all over the world.
During the festival, people eat rice dumplings and drink wine. The holiday is also known as Poet's Day (after the first famous Chinese poet named Qu Yuan).
The Dragon Boat Festival symbolizes the life and death of Qu Yuan, who was not only a poet, but also the minister of Chu during the war between kingdoms. When his state fell into the hands of the enemy, he committed suicide (drowned in the Miluo River). The locals loved him, raced in their boats and tried to save the poet. Unfortunately, they did not have time, but it is said that this prompted people to organize a boat festival.
Victoria Ivashura