A Leap of Faith: 8 Religious Ceremonies from Around the World

travelpulse.com. A Leap of Faith: 8 Religious Ceremonies from Around the World

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For many people religion provides a sense of belonging, a reason to dance and sing or even light a ship on fire.  That’s where these eight festivals come in. Their traditional celebrations create a once-in-a-lifetime event that encourage tourists to join in on the action. Whether you’re captivated by the vibrancy that encompasses these eight festivals or the passion of the believers, you’ll have to admit that they make for one great show.

Ethiopia: Meskel Festival

The day is Sept. 26, which marks the first day of the Meskel Festival, with bonfires set throughout the villages of Ethiopia. However, many of the country’s inhabitants migrate to Meskel Square, where a huge fire just beneath a a cross glistens amid a crowd of dancers and singers who also seem hypnotized by the intensity of the flame.  This two-day orthodox celebration takes place in honor of Queen Helena (mother of Constantine the Great) for finding the holy cross on which Christ was crucified. In the midst of celebrating the heroic queen, the participants anxiously hope that the rain will come and extinguish the bonfires, signifying a prosperous year ahead.

The following day, long after the fires have simmered into black ash, calls for spending time with family while eating and drinking, but abstaining from meat. Many worshippers are also seen sporting crosses on their foreheads made from the ashes of the blaze.

Taiwan: Ghost Festival

You don’t have to wait for Halloween to dress up in your scariest costume because in Taiwan the spirits of the dead are celebrated for an entire month. On the seventh month on the lunar calendar, formerly known by the Chinese as Ghost Month, ghosts leave hell to rejoin their families and run amok throughout the area. 

In order to please them, the Ghost Festival provides the spiritual beings with a feast as well as a ceremonial welcoming with an elaborate street parade adorned with fireworks, floats and music to ease their pain and most importantly delight their dead souls. Occurring on the 15^th day of the month, this gives believers more than enough time to appease the deceased before their ghostly bodies return to hell on the last day of Ghost Month. 

Bolivia: Carnaval de Oruro

From the bright costumes and traditional dancers lining the streets, you may think this colorful celebration is one wild party. This is not far off, as evidenced by the dancing devils taking over Carnaval de Oruro.  Eight days before Ash Wednesday, music sounds through the streets of Bolivia as the traditional diablada (devil’s dance) means the show has officially begun. 

Soon after, dozens of devils frolicking in haunting masks decorated with eyes bulging out of their sockets, long hair and huge teeth — scary enough to give anyone nightmares — move rhythmically through the large crowd.  This sight is typically met with the mesmerizing dance of the devil’s wife, China Supay, who unleashes her best moves in an attempt to seduce the Archangel Michael.  Along with historical performances, plays are reenacted to depict the triumph of the Conquistadores as well as the Archangel Michael’s victory over the devils, which also convey the powerful message that good always trumps evil.

Morocco: Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

What’s celebrating religion without music?

At the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, these two go hand-in-hand as cultures collide to put on one enchanting, mystical experience. From June 13-21, Morocco’s landscape will be rocked by international artists like Nomadic Voices of the Steppes and the Mountains, El Gusto, Ladysmith Chicago Gospel Experience and Françoise Atlan and the Al Quds Ensemble.

As these many musicians join forces to create one universal language through the art of music, the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music becomes an amazing journey into a world powered by spirituality, artistry and above all unity.

India: Navaratri Festival

This nine-day celebration is devoted to Goddess Durga to honor the energy that flows throughout the earth. The Navaratri Festival combines food, folk dancing and local music to worship every characteristic of the Hindu deity equally.  The first three days are devoted to Durga, which keeps her worshippers on a narrow path by cleansing them of their impurities and other sins. Lakshmi is adored on the next three days among those hoping to become prosperous, and the last days of the festival are celebrated in honor of Saraswati who bestows wisdom on her loyal subjects.

Acknowledging God as a woman who protects her believers the way a mother nurtures a child, the Navaratri Festival creates a one-of-kind spiritual event that is as colorful as it is captivating.  So if you’re paying a visit to this festival, you’ll want to give her your utmost respect. After all, a woman scorned is nothing compared to the anger of a goddess that controls the flow of energy across the earth.

Philippines: Sinulog Festival

The Sinulog Festival embodies the power of dance to commemorate the deity Santo Nino.  The magnetic dance of the Sinulog conventionally links the past to the present while drums reverberate as beautifully dressed revelers flood the streets to express their love for the beloved god.

Not only is music heard from miles away, but also the boisterous sounds of celebrators screaming “Pit Senor, Senor Santo Nino!” in order to be acknowledged by Santo Nino.  If you too are hoping to grab the god’s attention, then its best you make your presence known by joining in with locals and shouting from the top of your lungs, as well as dancing vigorously to the hypnotic drumming.

Mexico: Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe

If you believe in miracles, you may want to be in Puerto Vallarta during Dec. 1-12 to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe who reemerged in the presence of one of Mexico’s residents.  To remember this glorious occasion, the streets of the city become flooded with pilgrims making their way to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe where a mass is performed.  

From musicians offering their artistry to worshippers praying in the middle of street, the holiness that encompasses this annual festival will make you follow the large crowd out of curiosity alone. Not only is the Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe one of Mexico’s most important celebrations, it is revered as one of the most sacred as well.

Scotland: Up Helly-Aa

Hell has officially landed on earth by the way these celebrants light up the night with their flamed torches.  The Up Helly Aa is one event that will be worth the visit as Viking-styled Guziers proudly march through the villages of the Shetland Islands singing their hearts out with torches and medieval weapons in hand. 

Beginning every year on the last Tuesday in January, a Guizer Jarl or a chief is appointed who then leads his troop to a ship which set on fire with the torches. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like a Viking here is your chance to get carried away in this unique culture where you can dress up, drink, and march to the heritage that only a Viking can provide.