Page 83 - Off the Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 1 of 2)

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FESTIVALS AND PARTIES

ABOVE Kimono-clad musicians are borne along on a float in a parade during the Gion Matsuri festival, Kyoto, Japan
LEFT A Taj Mahal made of oranges and lemons: one of the feats of fruity virtuosity at Menton’s citrus festival, France

CITRUS FESTIVAL, MENTON, FRANCE In late February each year this small town on GION MATSURI, KYOTO, JAPAN The highlight of the ancient, month-long Gion festival
the French Riviera celebrates all things citrus. Floats bearing immense constructions is Yamahoko-yoko, in which vast floats – some weighing more than 9 tons – are
made from oranges and lemons are paraded through the streets on Sundays, and paraded through the streets, adorned with 15th-century tapestries. Throughout July
elaborate fruity sculptures are assembled for all to see at the Biovès Gardens. During the streets throng with festival-goers dressed in traditional summer kimonos and
the evenings carnival bursts into action at the Moonlit Parade, with acrobats, costumed wooden shoes; delicious smells of yakitori (skewered chicken) and traditional battered
musicians, and dancing filling the seafront promenade. The tradition dates back to the octopus waft from vendors’ stalls. The parade dates back to the year 869 when Kyoto
1920s, when the town was Europe’s leading supplier of lemons. fell victim to a terrible plague, and a procession was initiated to appease the gods.

EID, DAMASCUS, SYRIA To celebrate CARNIVAL, BASEL, SWITZERLAND It’s 4am on the Monday after Ash Wednesday
the end of Ramadan, the city’s maze-like (Feb–Mar), the city’s lights are switched off, and the party begins with a procession
medieval streets are strewn with ribbons, illuminated by huge, colorful lanterns. This is Fasnacht, an elaborate three-day festival dating
and locals dress in their finest clothes. back to the 14th century. Basel’s old town resonates with the sound of drums and piccolos,
Visits to family take up most of the day as musical troupes wend their way through the winding streets, their faces obscured by
but, gradually, the streets fill with stalls elaborate papier-mâché masks. It’s very much a local affair, with participants drawing on
and music, and fireworks light up the sky. topical stories to poke fun at local personalities and politicians with their satirical verse.

MUD FESTIVAL, BORYEONG, SOUTH CARNIVAL, GUALEGUAYCHÚ, OUD FESTIVAL, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL PUSHCART DERBY, DISCOVERY BAY,
KOREA Each July, Daecheon Beach and ARGENTINA Everybody’s heard of Rio, Named after the short-necked lute JAMAICA The humble pushcart, used
the figures partying along its sands are but few are familiar with the annual traditionally played across the Middle East, for transporting fruit and other wares, is
daubed black with mud. An atmosphere street party in Gualeguaychú, held over Oud, held in November, uses music to ubiquitous in Jamaica. It comes into its
of abandon pervades as tourists hurl ten successive Saturdays in January and reach beyond religious and political own each August, when pushcart owners
themselves gleefully down a mud slide February. An undiscovered joy, the town’s divisions to showcase the rich ethnic and compete in a frenetic derby, watched by
and take each other on in mud-wrestling festivities are authenticity incarnate, with social traditions that inspire music, poetry, tens of thousands of spectators and
contests. The festival attracts over a million lithe footwork, skimpy costumes, and and literature in Jerusalem today. Concerts accompanied by live music and marching
visitors, and has buoyed a local economy pulsating music aplenty, but no hordes feature modern and traditional music with bands. They are said to have inspired the
traditionally reliant on agriculture. of camera-wielding visitors. Bedouin, Flamenco, and Sufi influences. creation of the national bobsled team.

VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL, PHUKET, TENERIFE CARNIVAL, SANTA CRUZ, PARRANDA, REMEDIOS, CUBA On
THAILAND Over this nine-day festival CANARY ISLANDS Tenerife’s February Christmas Eve, little colonial Remedios
(in Sept–Oct), you might spot entranced carnival is among the hardest to beat for explodes with pyrotechnics and a
men walking over hot coals, or a woman noise and sheer enthusiasm. The parade cacophony of cowbells, trumpets, and
with her cheeks pierced by a long skewer. route is an exuberant river of shimmying drums, while dancing and floats crowd
Such acts, along with abstinence from costumes, bands, and dancers; the its streets. The festival began when a local
meat and alcohol, are believed to offer Carnival Queen’s dress so heavy and priest, dismayed by poor attendance at
protection from evil. Stalls of vegetarian elaborate that it is affixed with wheels. Midnight Mass, sent children out with
food share the street with processions The event closes with fireworks and the whistles and tin cans to wake everyone
and fireworks in this colorful celebration. burning of a vast papier-mâché sardine. up and force them to church.

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