5 AMAZING C U L T U R A L

I V A LS Y O U M US T A T T E N D
FEST
IN YOU R L I F E T I M E
TSEHELNYK KATERYNA
UP HELLY AA FIRE FESTIVAL, SCOTLAND
WHERE: MOST CITIES ACROSS THE SHETLAND ISLANDS, SCOTLAND
WHEN: JANUARY 28TH, 2020
EACH YEAR, ON THE LAST TUESDAY IN JANUARY, THE VIKINGS COME TO TOWN! UP
HELLY AA IS A VIKING-THEMED FESTIVAL THAT IS CELEBRATED IN MOST CITIES IN
THE SHETLAND ISLANDS. HOWEVER, THE BIGGEST FESTIVITIES TAKE PLACE IN
LERWICK, PAYING A TRIBUTE TO THE ISLANDERS’ VIKING HERITAGE (VIKINGS
CONTROLLED THE ARCHIPELAGO FOR OVER 500 YEARS UNTIL 1468).
CARNEVALE DI VENEZIA, ITALY
WHERE: VENICE, ITALY

WHEN: FEBRUARY 8 – 25, 2020

A TRADITION THAT CAN BE TRACED BACK 900 YEARS, THE VENICE CARNIVAL WAS THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN PEOPLE COULD BREAK FREE OF THEIR
SHACKLES. BEHIND THEIR MASKS, THEY COULD BE ANYONE THEY WANTED TO BE, DO WHATEVER THEY PLEASED, POOR AND RICH ALIKE. ALL BOUNDARIES
DISAPPEARED.

EACH YEAR, IN THE WEEKS LEADING TO SHROVE TUESDAY, LOCALS AND TOURISTS TAKE TO THE STREETS OF VENICE WEARING MASKS AND COSTUMES FROM
A BYGONE ERA, WHILE THE CANALS FILL WITH COLORFUL GONDOLAS AND BOATS.
RIO CARNIVAL, BRAZIL
WHERE: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

WHEN: FEBRUARY 21 – 26, 2020

IT IS THE BIGGEST PARTY ON EARTH, AND THAT’S NO OVERSTATEMENT. THE RIO CARNIVAL IS HELD EACH YEAR IN
FEBRUARY OR MARCH, STARTING ON FRIDAY AND ENDING ON ASH WEDNESDAY, PRECEDING THE CATHOLIC LENT.
‘CARNIVAL’ IS DERIVED FROM THE LATIN ‘CARNE VALE’, MEANING ‘FAREWELL TO MEAT’, BUT THE CELEBRATIONS
ALSO MARK THE END OF THE HOT BRAZILIAN SUMMER.
MARDI GRAS, USA
WHERE: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA

WHEN: FEBRUARY 25TH, 2020

LITERALLY MEANING FAT TUESDAY, MARDI GRAS IS CELEBRATED EACH YEAR ON SHROVE TUESDAY, THE DAY
BEFORE THE START OF LENT. IT SYMBOLIZES THE LAST DAY THAT CATHOLICS CAN INDULGE, AND THE END OF
THE CARNIVAL SEASON.
ST PATRICK’S DAY, IRELAND
WHERE: DUBLIN, IRELAND AND MANY OTHER LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE

WHEN: MARCH 17TH

THERE IS ONE DAY IN THE YEAR WHEN WEARING GREEN ATTIRE AND
SHAMROCKS IS MANDATORY, AND THOSE WHO DON’T COMPLY
SHOULD BE PINCHED. THIS HAPPENS THROUGHOUT IRELAND ON ST
PATRICK’S DAY, WHEN THE STREETS FILL UP WITH TRADITIONAL
SONGS, DANCE SHOWS, AND STREET PARADES.

ALTHOUGH CELEBRATED IN MANY OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN THE

WORLD, THERE’S REALLY NO BETTER WAY TO EXPERIENCE ST
PATRICK’S DAY THAN IN DUBLIN.

ST PATRICK’S IS A CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY THAT

CELEBRATES THE PATRON SAINT OF IRELAND AND COMMEMORATES
THE ARRIVAL OF CHRISTIANITY IN IRELAND. IT IS ALSO A CELEBRATION
OF ALL THINGS IRISH. LENTEN RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED FOR THE DAY,
WHICH IS WHY THE HOLIDAY IS OFTEN PROPAGATED AS A TRADITION
OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION. BEER, USUALLY DYED GREEN, AND
WHISKEY ARE TYPICALLY CONSUMED ON ST PATRICK’S DAY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
WATCHING…