Bales Blog | Top 5 Worldwide Celebrations

Mardi Gras – Brazil
21 February 2013

Mardi Gras is synonymous with the carnival season and nowhere more so than inRio de Janeiro,Brazil, when hundreds of thousands of people head to the city to join in the celebrations. Held 7 weeks before Easter, the annual Rio Carnival is a globally renowned 4-day spectacle of colour and noise.Riois transformed into a sea of samba, street bands and extravagant costumes, in which you can immerse yourself before marvelling at the Samba School Parades. These parades form the highlight of the celebrations with competing schools vying for the attention of the audience and the judges with their colourful floats and dancers dressed in fabulous costumes. Sunday and Monday night are the best times to catch sight of these parades against the backdrop of a truly magical city.

See the extravagant Mardi Gras>>

Holi Festival – India
27 March 2013

One ofIndia's most colourful and well known festivals, Holi takes place on the full moon in March. Each state celebrates in their own unique style but what unites the festival is the spirit of fun and joy at the arrival of spring. On the eve of Holi, called Chhoti, huge bonfires are lit to celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Ash left from this bonfire is also considered sacred and people apply it on their foreheads. People believe that the ash protects them from evil forces. The next day is a blaze of colour with gulal and people pouring water over each other. Passers-by are doused in a heady mix of colours whilst singing, dancing and mouth-watering Indian specialities add to the carnival atmosphere.

Enjoy colourful Holi in India>>

Australia Day
26 January 2013

Australia Day is where the nation comes together to celebrate all things great about their country and being Australian. The day itself marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships fromGreat Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.

The country, whilst relatively young, has developed a wealth of traditions to mark this day and offers over 5000 different events to celebrate. These range from official ceremonies welcoming new Australians after being conferred citizenship, to traditional Aboriginal performances, to watching the historic Tall Ships sail in Sydney Harbour, to the more casual (yet most popular) beach barbeque with endless piles of fresh seafood, sausage sandwiches and a few beers shared with family and friends..

Celebrate Australia Day>>

Cherry Blossom - Japan
March – May 2013

Take part in one ofJapan's most important festivals - Hanami. This is the held all overJapanand literally means "viewing flowers" and in this case Cherry Blossom in particular. This ritual dates back many thousands of years when it was said that the Japanese elite would write wonderful poems inspired by the sight of these beautiful flowers. Japanese people see it as a time to enjoy outdoor picnics in the neighbourhood parks and gardens beneath the cherry (sakura) tree. Performing arts complement the pink hues and enjoying a traditional tea ceremony beneath a cherry tree is an experience not to be missed. Street vendors ply the parks with their delicious local delicacies whilst the evening sees colourful lanterns swaying in the gentle breeze.

Experience the Cherry Blossom festival>>

Timkat Festival - Ethiopia
19 January 2013

The January Timkat Festival is a wonderful manifestation of the Epiphany pageant as thousands of colourfully robed Coptic monks carry replicas of the ‘The Ark of the Covenant’ from their churches to be worshipped and covered with holy water.

Timkat isEthiopia’s most important Coptic festival celebrating the baptism of Christ. This is the commemoration of Christ's baptism, which falls on the 19 January or 20 January in leap years. Replicas of the Ark of the Covenant are taken out in the afternoon of the eve of epiphany and stay overnight with the priests and the faithful congregation. The following morning the water is blessed and splashed over everyone in a ceremony where the faithful renew their vows to the church. If the body of water is large enough, some people will even immerse themselves. Women who have been unable to have children participate in the ritual for fertility. After the ceremony, the replicas are paraded back to its Church accompanied by much singing and dancing. Cloaked in ceremonial velvet and satin robes and carrying sequined umbrellas, priests march and dance carrying replicas of the Arc of the Covenant from nearby churches to a source of water where blessings are dispensed on the gathered crowd. The priests achieve a state of ecstasy through the drumming and chants that is often contagious to the white robed worshipers who gather around them.

Discover the Timkat Festival>>