If there’s one thing that people from all cultures have in common, it’s this – they love to celebrate.
Click start to play today’s festive Word Search and spot all the festivals.
Here are a few festivals that have become world-renown for their exuberance and exhibition:
1. La Tomatina, Spain
The ‘Battle of the Tomato’ may not be as well-known as Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls, but it puts up just as much of a spectacle. Dubbed as the world’s biggest food fight, La Tomatina occurs on the final Wednesday of August each year, in the narrow streets of Bunol, Spain. There, over 22,000 revellers launch 140 tons of ripe tomatoes at each other, as the streets run mushy red. The festival has several adjacent activities, like paella cook-offs, parades, open-air parties or verbenas, and fireworks.
2. Songkran, Thailand
On April 13, Thailand marks the Buddhist New Year with the world’s wettest festival. Known as the Water Splashing Festival, Songkran involves parades, dances and other forms of entertainment, but it’s best known for its full-fledged water war. Eager participants try their best to drench each other with squirt guns, buckets and water balloons – a fun way to beat the heat and build bonds. The festival takes place is public squares all around Thailand.
3. Gion Matsuri, Japan
Taking place during the entire month of July, Gion Matsuri is possibly the most famous festival in Japan. It dates back to 869, when it was conducted as a religious ceremony to appease deities during a raging epidemic. The festival involves a grand procession of floats, street parties, and a street food festival. The floats that are paraded through downtown Kyoto, in particular, are crafted so beautifully, they are sometimes referred to as ‘mobile art museums’. People from all across the country – and the world – visit Japan to view the spectacle.
Have you experienced any of these festivities? Play today’s Word Search and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
