Festivals are the time of year where people from all walks of life mingle, have fun, and basically just have a good time in celebration of something special. Whether it’s to celebrate the last night of the year or to welcome the opening of a new season, there’s no lack of jovial spirit once you immerse yourself in the festival mood. Different countries all around the world have festivals of their own to commemorate special occasion. Traditions and customs may vary depending on each country, but usually, the affair is filled with lots of music particularly loud singing and energetic dancing, a surplus of delicious food, and fireworks.
You may be familiar with popular festivals in your hometown or abroad, but have you ever attended a festival held at night? Just imagine hundreds of people partying the night away under a blanket of stars. Sounds pretty interesting, right? If the closest you’ve ever been to joining a nocturnal festival is when you go trick or treating during Halloween, you might want to mark your calendars and check out a couple of events that we’ve recommended below. Not only would this be a great time to plan your next vacation or romantic getaway, it’s also a terrific way of learning about the culture and traditions of a foreign town by participating in one of their customs.
What are you waiting for? Pack your gear, buy your plane ticket, and for once in your life, be thankful for jetlag!
WHAT: LANTERN FESTIVAL
WHERE: CHINA
China has one of the oldest civilizations in the world and therefore it is no surprise that they have numerous festivals celebrating various occasions, people, and even objects like the humble Chinese lantern. This event is held after the Chinese New Year, approximately on the 15th night of the new year’s first month. All across the country, lanterns are lit; from small villages to bigger towns, the entire place is illuminated in the warm glow of lanterns. What makes this especially interesting for tourists is that the lanterns we’re talking about don’t just include the basic red ones; modern lanterns now come in various shapes and sizes, all of which are cleverly designed. Some lanterns come in the shape of fiery dragons, delicate butterflies, and beautiful birds. Each one has a riddle posted on it, and a prize is given to the person who manages to solve the puzzle.
WHAT: NEW YEAR’S EVE
WHERE: RIO DE JANEIRO in BRAZIL
If you’re getting tired of the New Year countdown in your hometown and want to try something a little bit different next year, you can always book yourselves early for a flight to Rio de Janeiro and welcome in another year with a light and music. Year after year, around two million people make their way to Brazil’s Copacabana Beach on the last night of the year to watch the colorful fireworks light up the otherwise dark and desolate sky. Aside from the booming fireworks, loud music is played which we all know is the cue for anyone in Brazil to swing their hips and start dancing the samba.
It’s tradition for the locals here to dress themselves in white and present an offering to the Sea Goddess known as Iemanja just before the clock strikes midnight. The crowds gather at the shore and cast out a number of things such as perfume, rice and flowers that are placed in small paper boats that drift out into the vast sea. The entire setting is made even more beautiful because of the many candles that are lit and set adrift as well.
WHAT: TET
WHERE: VIETNAM
Celebrating New Year’s Eve is a special time for renewal in Vietnam. In the hours approaching midnight, the Vietnamese people are busy sweeping their houses clean and putting up colorful decorations as if to bid goodbye to the problems that have beset them the previous year and welcoming the new one with hope and optimism. If you often find yourself making new year’s resolutions and have trouble sticking to them, maybe it would be wise to spend the last night of the year in Vietnam and celebrate Tet. Here, families gather together to celebrate this special occasion. Everyone makes it a point to forget the troubles that have been bothering them for the past year and face another year with a clean slate. At home, families pray together always keeping their ancestors in mind; and outside, the celebration is highlighted by brilliant fireworks that light up the sky.
WHAT: NOCHE DE BRUJAS
WHERE: VERACRUZ, MEXICO
If you get a real kick out of Halloween, chances are you’ll have a great time merrymaking with the witches at the Noche de Brujas festival in Veracruz, Mexico. When translated, Noche de Brujas means Night of the Witches, and it focuses on anything and everything magical. This is the one night of the year where all of Veracruz’s wizards, healers, witches and fortune tellers gather for a little bit of magic and lots of fun and entertainment. Travelers who are interested in checking out this truly unique event won’t be disappointed with the intriguing things that are in store for them here. Here, you can even be “hands on” and try some stuff that you’ve definitely never done before such as casting a simple spell, or even bestowing a mild curse. Otherwise, you can learn how to mix some herbs as remedy for certain illnesses.
WHAT: SUMMER SOLSTICE
WHERE: GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND
Every year, a crowd of hundreds of people belonging to the Druid community gather at the Glastonbury Tor and celebrate summer solstice or the longest day of the year. Participants gather in one circle to perform certain rituals: children toss petals, other sprinkle some holy water and at the end, fire is used to bless the service. This event is always held at the Glastonbury Hill, whose legend dates back to thousands of years, to the Arthurian times.
WHAT: CHICHIBU YOMATSURI
WHERE: CHICHIBU CITY in JAPAN
There are a number of festivals in Japan that are celebrated at night. However, the Chichibu Yomatsuri is particularly unique to Chichibu City. This event is meant to honor the six gods that are known as the protectors of the city. Every year, the locals build six elaborately decorated floats that are paraded in the city streets; each one is meant to represent a god. The floats are decorated with intricate carvings, lanterns, and even tapestries. It doesn’t take much to notice that their parade differs from lots of parades we’re used to watching at home and on TV. Instead of having motors and running on wheels, these heavy floats are actually hauled by hundreds of devotees all chanting and making their way to the city hall.
For spectators, a number of stalls are set up where you can buy some rice wine locally known as sake. If watching the devotees pull the float makes you hungry, you can buy some snacks from food stalls as well. Of course, no Japanese festival is complete without colorful fireworks shooting up into the sky.
WHAT: LAYLATUL BARA’AH
WHERE: PAKISTAN
In Pakistan, there is one night in the entire year that is dedicated to seeking forgiveness. It is locally known as Laylatul Bara’ah, otherwise known as the Night of Salvation, and is celebrated during the Islamic calendar’s eight month or the Sha’aban. This festival takes its root in religious practices, where faithful Islamic followers are encouraged to take a while and reflect on their actions. Everyone is asked to seek pardon for any wrongdoings they remember having done in the past. Mosques everywhere are filled with people offering prayers; it isn’t uncommon for people to spend the night inside a mosques. This is also the time of year when cemeteries in Pakistan are filled with people offering prayers for their loved ones. Contrary to the common practice during festivals, participants fast during this time. This festival may be a bit solemn compared to the others on our list, but it surely does not lack for spiritual input.
WHAT: SAN JUAN
WHERE: SPAIN
The Festival of San Juan that commemorates the start of the summer season is a relatively popular event in Spain that is celebrated with light and music. In the afternoon, people start working by building bonfires that will be lit later on in the evening and kept burning up until the wee hours of the morning the next day. Music is played and meant to fill the city streets to keep the atmosphere lively. If you’re feeling burdened by certain troubles and are willing to perform a risky act in the hopes of magically solving them, tradition says jumping over any bonfire for three consecutive times should do the trick.
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