Festivals in Asia and Europe are here
Festivals in Japan are here

Festivals in North America

Pictures from left side

U.S.A. Rose Parade, January 1: The first day of the year of U.S.A. starts by this festival. The festival is just proceeded the Rose Ball, final match of football tournaments. Dozen of floats decorated by thousands of rose flowers parade the town of Pasadina, suburb of Los Angels. As the flower floats go by, the street is full of Rose fragrance.
U.S.A., Halloween, October 31: All Saints' Day of Christianity is October 31. It is said all the spirit visit our world. About three weeks before this day, there are many of pumpkins are sold at markets and glossary stores. Families scoop out the inside of the pumpkins to create ghosts pumpkins. On the day of the Halloween, children, disguise as they want to be, visit houses to ask "Trick or treat!", Give me snacks or I will trick you.

Picture from left side

U.S.A., Mardi Gras, February: The biggest festival of U.S.A. is Mardi Gras, the carnival held in New Orleans. There are dozen of float parade and on each float, a king takes 50 men and women who disguise by masks. They through fake jewels to the specters. Those specters scramble for the jewels. The parade go on one month long.
U.S.A., Cherry Blossom Festival, April: Along the Potomac River of Washington D.C., there are 3000 cherry trees which bloom every spring beautifully. The origin of this goes back to 1907 when the first lady of President Taft imported 80 young plant from Japan. American people enjoy picnics under the cherry blossoms. On the main street, there is a parade by floats decorated by paper cherry flowers.
Canada., Pow Wow, August: The festivals of Native Americans are called Pow-wow. The Manitoulin Island, Ontario state, is the preservation for the Native Americans. For the festival, Native Americans gather from Canada and USA. Rituals, costume and dance contests are held.

Festivals in Central and South America

Pictures from left side

Mexico, Gueraguezza, July: Indians around the Oaxaca state host Gueraguezza festival and they pray for good harvest. During the festival, they ware costumes of every color of the rainbow and dance with turning the skirts. Gueraguezza means offerings. This festival is express their thanks to the earth.
Peru, Inti Laymi, June the winter solstice: This festival is a react of ancient Inca ritual of mid-winter. The role of Inca king must speak Kecha, the Inca language, and descendant of Inca. During the rituals, they sacrifice a goat to their God to pray for good harvest.
Brazil, Carnival of Rio de Janeiro, February: The carnival of Rio de Janeiro is the biggest festival in the world. People in this city prepare the festival for a year. Students of Samba schools dance on the street and beautiful girls appears on giant floats.

Festivals in Oceania

picturres from left side

Tahiti, July Festival, July 14: Tahiti Islands in the South Pacific is a colony of France since 1847. On the commemoration day of the French revolution, people in this island host the July festival. During the festival, the ceremony of the coronation of Royal and canoe races are held. In 12 century, the people of Tahiti set out on a long cruise 5000km away to Hawaii islands. Tahitian dance contests are also performed.
Papua New Guinea, Sing Sing, August: AT Mount Hagen in Papua New Guinea, the national festival "Sing Sing" is held every August. "Sing Sing" means sing. Worriers of New Guinea used to sing and to dances before the wars. More than 30 tribes wearing masks and painting their bodies to compete songs and dances.

Australia, Christmas, December

Perth is a beautiful city of West Australia state. 300 days in a year you can see the blue sky in this city. Because the city is located in the southern hemisphere, people have summer Christmas. On Christmas season, fathers disguise as Santa Clause to delight their children.

Festivals in Asia and Europe are here
Festivals in Japan are here

Return to Top Page

The copyright of all the pictures and texts of our homepage are reserved by Haga Library Inc. If you have any question give us e-mail or send us fax to +81-3-3367-0334 or e-mail to Haga Library Inc.