Festivals 2009
Festivals are an organisation nightmare, but a fan’s annual dream and across the globe there are more festivals than you can shake a stick at. So for the avid traveller - or plain old festival addict - I have come up with what you should be checking out during the second week of February
Saidai-Ji eyo (Naked Festival)
Trust those Japanese folk to come up with a wonderful naked festival! I mean, why couldn’t Tony Blair have sanctioned such an event! I know I’d be heading down there!
When: Third Saturday In February
Where: Kannon-In Temple, Saidai-Ji, Japan
What: Okay, so the term ‘naked’ isn’t really true, as the men are clad in just a loincloth… sparse clothes, but still not naked. So if you ask me, that’s totally false advertising.. But I prefer men in just one garment anyway!
Despite the fact that the event takes place in the depths of winter, hoards of Japanese men come out to take place in this half battle / half orgy event which see’s thousands of blokes fighting over two pieces of wood.. Or sacred Shingi as they refer to them… whilst having freezing cold water poured over them.
Despite the fact that there are simply oodles of half naked blokes fighting over sticks, and I mean, literally fighting, there are no women present - I guess we’d be a distraction - and the winner at the end of it all is supposed to get a year of good fortune and happiness (and most probably hypothermia.)
Carnaval De Binche
When: Shrove Tuesday
Where: Binche, Belgium
What: Yet another painful festival is the Carnaval De Binche which see’s grown men swanning around Binche wearing masks with green eyes and waving a bunch of sticks to ‘warn off evil spirits.’ Yeah. Right.
The blokes - who like to be called Gilles - slow dance through the town, decked out in all their finery, accompanied by local boys with baskets of oranges… and I bet you can guess what happes next… yes, the little lads pelt the crowd with the tangy citrus fruits which is supposed to bless the forthcoming summer.
Despite sounding like a time for kids to take out their anger on their peers with oranges, the festival is actually a serious celebration and requires months of preparation (well I’m sure Asda can’t stock enough oranges all at once!) and codes of conduct.
What else?
Art Deco Weekend
When: Third weekend of February
Where: Napier and Hastings, New Zealand
What: Art Deco is a bit like Marmite; you either love it or hate it… and ever since 1931, Napier has been a hub of Art Deco love. So every February the town and neighbouring Hastings, get to show off their love for the Art movement in a wonderful festival.
Al Capone would be so proud if he could see the costumes on show here… there is enough fur trim to keep a polar bear extra warm this coming winter; better make sure PETA isn’t strolling by then!
The weekend features dinners, dances, balls and bands whilst the whole town goes back about 70 years and watches rickety old cars drive down the streets and old aircraft stroll the skies. Wonderful.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison