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International Yearly

Parties to Bring in the New Year

Following the Northern Hemisphere’s longest night—the winter solstice—comes January 1, celebrated year-round as New Year’s Day. Beyond the lighted ball dropping in Times Square in New York and a plethora of party hats and badly sung renditions of “Aulde Lang Syne,” the world celebrates the advent of a new year with a medley of festivals.

China: Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival

Now the world’s largest ice and snow festival, this winter gala attracts over 18 million visitors annually. It begins on January 5 and lasts the entire month, with exhibits staying open longer if weather permits. The festival has two main exhibit areas: 1) Sun Island on the opposite side of the Songhua River gives home to an exposition of immense snow sculptures and 2) Ice and Snow World located in Harbin and featuring illuminated, full-sized building made of ice cut from the Songhua River.

Colombia: Blacks and Whites Carnival

In the first week of January, the city of Pasto throws an enormous party that arose from the slave culture following Spanish conquest. Historians state that the celebration arises from the need to express imagination, play, friendship, and joy. The Colombian government banned the festival in the early 19th century in a futile effort to squash native rebellion. The categorization of “blacks” applied to Colombian natives, not just those of African origin. The current polycultural meld arises from January 6, 1926, when senior students from high schools donned carnival costumes and danced to regional music. By 1929, the Carnival parade was established. In November 2001, the Colombian Congress declared the Blacks and Whites’ Carnival Cultural Heritage of the Nation.

India: Bikaner Camel Festival

The Indian army still maintains a herd of camels in Bikaner, once known as Jangladesh, in the region of Rajasthan. Now organized by the country’s Department of Tourism, Art and Culture, this annual celebration honors the legendary ship of the desert: the camel. It includes camel dances, camel races, camel rides during two days that begin with a colorful parade of decorated camels and features a spectacular fire dance.

Japan: Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

The Chinese aren’t the only ones who like ice sculptures. Beginning in late January, the Japanese living near Lake Shikotsu go all out with a festival that features a moss-covered cave draped with evergreens and coated in ice, an amazing variety of illuminated ice sculptures, and fireworks.

Mali: Mask Festival

In western Africa, the country of Mali is home to several native tribes, 700 of which call themselves Dogon. The Dogon’s animist religion encompasses an annual ceremony commemorating the origin of death. Celebrants wear Walu masks, geometric in shape, which depict antelope with long straight noses, triangular eyeholes, round mouths that pout, and long horns.

Scotland: Up Helly Aa, Lerwick

On the last Tuesday in January in the wintry Shetland Islands, the Scottish mark the end of the yule season and commemorate their the Viking roots with a community event that celebrates fire. The festivities begin with an early morning march jarl squads led by the guizer jarl and followed by a civic reception at the town hall, a themed, costumed processions that ends at the burning site at the King George V playing field where they set fire to a replica Viking longship. Once the flames die down, the parties begin and last all night long. The next day is a public holiday to allow celebrants to recuperate.

These and other commemorative events originated as small celebrations of local communities. Their growth into world renowned galas didn’t come about by accident. For guidance on how to build a local community’s celebration into a regional phenomenon, consult Folk Festivals, Their Growth and How to Give Them (1912) by Mary Master Needham and Event Planning Guide by Microsoft Corporation.

By Karen M. Smith