An unbelievable ancient Greek fire-walking ritual.
Having danced themselves into an trance like state, locals in the villages of this area of Northern Greece and Southern Bulgaria then dance across hot coals in honour of Saint Constantine and Saint Helen. Clutching icons of the saints, they walk across the burning ground unharmed.
More on Anastenaria
by Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Αναστενάρια by kostas tsakalidis, on Flickr
These deities are in for a rough ride!
The Sanja Matsuri is one of Tokyo’s traditional “Three Grand Festivals”, where elaborate gold and black lacquered mikoshi (portable shrines) carrying the local deities are paraded through the streets of Asakusa in several processions to bring good luck and prosperity to the area and its inhabitants. The bearers jolt the mikoshi up and down as they go as it is believed that the rougher the ride, the more blessings will be bestowed by the deities.
More on the Asakusa Sanja Matsuri « May « Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Sanja Matsuri by oceanbaby, on Flickr
Look out for lamb shaped clouds today and sunshine is a sign of a good summer to come
More Ascension Day weather predictions, well dressings and old wives’ tales by Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Penny Hedge in Whitby harbour 2009 by Nekoglyph, on Flickr
You can eat the decorations after this party!
Pahiyas means “decor” and every May 15, the fronts of houses in Lucban, Philippines are are elaborately decorated with a brightly colored rice wafer, called kiping.
More on the beautiful Pahiyas Festival by Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Pahiyas by susancorpuz90, on Flickr
This Italian candle race is fixed!
The Festa dei Ceri is an lively annual “candle” race (or Corsa dei Ceri) in the beautiful medieval hill town of Gubbio in the Umbria region of Italy. Accompanied by much hearty revelry and festive spirit, three teams of men race three huge “candles” through the city up to the cathedral on top of Monte Ingino.
More on Festa dei Ceri by Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Gubbio – festa dei ceri by Simone & Pino Berettoni, on Flickr
Who is the best dressed Carabao in town?
At the Carabao festival in Pulilan, Bulacan in the Phillipines, the farmers pay tribute to their water buffalos, (known as carabaos) by giving them a makeover for all their hard work tilling the land.
More on the Carabao Festival by Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Bulacan by _ jeryc garcia _, on Flickr
Pack your crash helmet and may the best rocket win!
To the villagers of Yasothon firing ginormous rockets into the sky is apparently the best way to lure the rain gods, and things can get very noisy and rather hectic at Phaya Thaen Park when the Yasothon Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival takes place.
More on the Yasothon Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival by Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Rocket Untangling by simonparisphotography, on Flickr
All the single ladies dancing in the street
The single women of the town of San Roque, Valenzuela in the Philippines dance in a street procession lasting all day and all night.
Legend dictates that if a girl wishes to find a boyfriend or a husband she must join the street dance so her wish is granted by San Roque.
More on the Feast of San Roque by Somewhere in the world today…
Picture: Pabasa 2008, Magdalen 0031 by hrlmorales, on Flickr
Shiawasena kodomo no hi! Happy Children’s day!
On May 5th for Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day), Japanese families celebrate their children by flying fabulous Koinbinori on a pole.
Hundreds of these colourful carp flags flutter in the wind across the landscape, above the roofs of houses, outside shops, and in the countryside or strung out over rivers.
More on Kodomo no Hi by Somewhere in the world today…
Kodomo no Hi Omedetou Gozaimasu
Taru Mikoshi by davegolden on Flickr.
Apparently this is the San Francisco Cherry Blossom festival, but it looks more like a Hadaka Matsuri (Japanese Naked festival!) to us!