Frozen wonderland – the best places to celebrate winter festivals around the globe
Winter has always been my favorite season. I love winter dresses, boots, scarves and hats. I also love the festive holiday atmosphere that comes with the coldest days of the year. There are many reasons why I enjoy winter so much but one of them is definitely celebrating various northern festivals all around the globe!
Here are 8 places where you can celebrate some awesome holidays during winter!
1) Sapporo Snow Festival – Japan
Sapporo Snow Festival takes place every year in Hokkaido, Japan, in February. The main purpose of this wonderful event is to create a large ice sculpture museum using only natural snow. This location attracts not only tourists from all over Japan but also from other parts of the world. The sculptures that are created during this festival will be exhibited until March then they will be destroyed to make space for next year’s creations.
2) Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival – China
Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, located in China, is one of the most famous winter events on our planet. It usually takes place every year between January 5th and February 25th; you can expect more than 2 million visitors from all over the world! This amazing festival is a great opportunity to try some tasty local food like ice cream, candies and various kinds of drinks made out of watermelon or tea. You should definitively not miss an opportunity to see the greatest ice sculpture exhibition in Asia!
3) Sapporo Autumn Festival – Japan
This festival is very unique because, unlike other winter festivals, it takes place during autumn. The main reason for this is to give people the opportunity to enjoy 2 amazing seasons in one year. It usually takes place in Hokkaido, Japan, between September and November. The main purpose of this event is to celebrate the culture of living together with various wild animals by eating delicious foods that they have offered throughout the year. These events are not only entertaining but they are also educational!
4) Skål International Mardis Gras Festival – Sweden
Skål International Mardis Gras Festival has many interesting aspects that you won’t find in similar events around the world! This celebration includes eating pancakes, singing songs and dancing in the streets. What makes this festival so special is that only women are allowed to attend it! This amazing tradition has started back in 1995 after some friends wanted to hold a party for New Year’s Eve but they didn’t have enough men for traditional celebrations. At first, women were not so happy about this idea but eventually, they changed their minds after seeing how much fun they had on the first evening.
5) Stelton Snow & Ice Festival – Denmark
This event takes place every February near Copenhagen, Denmark. It combines many great winter activities like ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Not only this, but it also offers some awesome and mouthwatering local food! The most popular of all is Koldt Bord or Cold Table. That’s a buffet that contains various kinds of cold dishes such as salads, meats, and fish.
6) Harbin Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival – China
China is a country that has so many great winter activities to offer! In this particular occasion, I have chosen the Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. As usual, it takes place in Hokkaido between January 5th and February 25th. This festival will definitely impress you with its colorful sculptures made out of ice and huge snow slides for children. The most exciting part about watching these incredible creations is that they are lit up during the night time making them look even more mesmerizing.
7) International Arctic Winter Games – Finland
International Arctic Winter Games take place every winter in different northern countries around the world. Their purpose is to bring people from different nations together through sports and cultural events. The main objective of this festival is to promote awareness about polar regions and the importance of keeping them safe by rising environmental concerns such as pollution and global warming.
8) Diwali Festival – India
Diwali or Deepavali Festival is one of the most popular Indian festivals. It usually takes place during October or November each year. It’s dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi who represents wealth, prosperity, and fortune. This festival is also known as the “Festival of Lights” because people are lighting up candles in their homes for good luck.
Here you have 8 unusual winter festivals that you can attend during your next trip!
Conclusion:
If you are planning on visiting one of these amazing countries during their winter season, try to attend at least one of these festivals! You will have a unique experience that you won’t soon forget. However, do not forget to bring warm clothing along with you because the weather might get very cold in some occasions. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy every moment of your stay!