People love to celebrate. Whether it's a birthday or a wedding, we enjoy having a reason to relax and have a good time. This is especially true for festivals that welcome spring and summer. Here are some celebrations you may not know about.
Carabao is a buffalo(水牛) found in the Philippines, and the Carabao Festival is a day of dancing and revelry(狂欢)in May that celebrates the strong animal that plays such an important role in Philippine farming economy. The animals are cleaned before a parade in which 20 or more of them—many decorated with paint and colorful ribbons—walked through the streets.
Cooper's Hill is a steep, grassy knoll(圆丘) near Gloucester, England, which is longer than a football field. Cooper's Hill is a late May event in which participants race one another to beat a nine-pound cheese round to the bottom of the hill. The event attracts lots of contestants but is harder than it sounds. Lots of contestants bite the dust before they reach the finish line. The winner gets the cheese.
The Boryeong Mud Festival takes place each summer near Seoul, Republic of Korea. Tons of mud are trucked from the Boryeong mud flats to a beach area near the event. People participate in lots of activities, including a mud pool, mud skiing and mudslides. By the time the celebration is over, anyone coated in soft or dried mud can take a short walk to the beach for a quick bath.
La Tomatina is an organized tomato fight that takes place in Bunol, Spain, every August. The festival's origins are unclear, but that hasn't lessened anyone's enthusiasm. The battle lasts for about an hour, and participants have to throw squashed(挤烂的) tomatoes to reduce the risk of injury. After the fight, both the people and the streets are covered with tomato guts. Fire trucks then begin the difficult task of washing everything.
