Festival Burning Man

Expression in an American (The Festival"Burning Man")

One of the most controversial festivals that are held annually in the world, is a vivid and memorable performance under the sonorous name "Burning Man» (Burning Man). Since 1986, when it was founded this action, many thousands of participants gather in the Nevada desert to take a look at the burning huge figures. And this is clearly not a mini-scene, which you can arrange any holiday agency, a large-scale event with the participation of crazy inventors and weirdos of all stripes.

And it all began banal - one of the organizers of the festival, Larry Harvey, have not found a better way to heal his broken heart unrequited love than to burn on the beach wooden model of a person. Look at it it's only a few onlookers, but next year there were already a lot more. Gradually, this ritual "farewell to love" turned into an organized action week, which collects about 50 thousand people.

In the last week of August in Nevada for the participants of the festival is divided semicircular tent city with real streets and squares. The main condition for participation is the full expression - with unusual costumes, strange installations, body art, and constructions of incredible fantastic shapes.

The main transport in the camp - a bicycle, but also allowed the vehicle unusual species. Residents of the town definitely stocking masks and goggles, which are designed to protect their faces from the frequent dust storms.

The culmination of the festival is the spectacular burning of a huge 25-meter figure of a man.

Read More

Festival Scare

Festival Scare in the (US)

For the first time an unusual festival frightened, which is held in the town of St. Charles, was held to raise funds for the needs of the local school. But after four years, the parish church of the city took over the organizational matters for the festival, while actively cooperating in this regard with the school. The event, which exhibits used as a bogey, I liked not only locals, but also many guests Saint Charles, who bought tours in the United States.

For visitors to the festival organizers thought through an unusual route, during which it was possible to see a lot of items, including necessary to determine the best scarecrow.

In 2009, MSN recommended Festival frightened one of the best holiday destinations in the country in the autumn. Many people visiting the festival like experiencing a huge amount of positive emotions caused by unusual appearance scarecrow. These days the streets of the town you can meet people who have a head is a bunch of plugs or a bag with a straw.

Through a beauty contest among the stuffed animals, exhibits divided into two subgroups according to age category creators. To view all the exhibits will need almost the whole day, as many stuffed animals hidden in various locations. Often in their heads hidden job by doing that you can get a prize.

Despite the advancements, including scaring used lasers bioacoustics complexes, kites and gas guns, the most convenient and proven way to solve this problem, it was still good old scarecrows.

It is not surprising that in many countries also hold similar festivals. For example, a very popular festival Scarecrow, held in the English town of Ketlvelle.

Scarecrow-a-kind is a cultural artifact, because the peasants used to scare the old traditional clothes. In Russia, there is even a museum that is dedicated to a bogey.

Read More

The World Famous Motor Race

Indianapolis 500 (The World Famous Motor Race)

One of the oldest regular racing on the planet called «Indianapolis 500" is held annually on the highway "Old kirpichnitsa" and is considered the largest sporting event in the world.

Auto racing traditionally, since 1911, held in Indiana on the circuit Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the town on Memorial Day, which is celebrated on the last Sunday of May.

Take part in the race single definable race cars, which began to spread in the world at the beginning of the last century. A feature of these race cars is the fact that the wheels have rendered abroad body.

It is noteworthy that in the first decade of racing on the "old kirpichnitse", without exception, cars had two pilots, one of which was with the driver, and the other - a mechanic. Innovation in the design of the racing cars was that the power unit was under the seat.

During the eight days before the start of the main race on Saturday held Pole day, which determines the position of the pilots in the main race, each racer has the right to three qualifying heats.

The first day of qualifying race the Indianapolis 500 determines the balance placed competitors from the first to the twenty-fifth, in the second qualifying day played a starting place with twenty-six to thirty-three. Racers, ranked after the thirty-third, are not allowed to compete.

At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can accommodate more than 257,000 spectators, which is the best in the world index for arenas of this type. Length of the route, which has the shape of an oval circuit equals 4,023 kilometers.

The band start and finish according to the organizers of the competition has brick coating, which is a tribute to history, although the main cover tracks - this asphalt.

Read More

Taste of Chicago

Festival "Taste of Chicago"(USA)

Among the culinary festivals held in America, is the biggest festival "Taste of Chicago", which lasts for five days.

For the first time such an event took place in 1980 on Independence Day. Then it lasted only one day, but the success was stunning, so it is not surprising that after quite a bit of time festival "Taste of Chicago" will join the list of popular American traditions.

Every year its scale became more impressive and, therefore, there was also a need for extension of the meeting.

Now the festival gathers all American cities the restaurant industry representatives who wish to become parties to it. It is a mistake to believe that the purpose of this festival is the only American fast food advertising. Of course, burgers and pizza are always out of competition, but also gourmet-vegetarians will eat what.

Traditionally, the open-air festival guests over fifty restaurants offer a taste of their best dishes. Moreover, you can attend the workshops from the best chefs who directly at the Grant Park will tell the secrets of cooking not only American, but also Asian and European cuisines.

Bright tents and awnings, where came the smell of freshly prepared food, like a magnet beckon tasters. Pizza, curry, ice cream and many other delicacies presented at this festival, are a serious threat for lovers slim waist.

Get rid of the accumulated calories will help a variety of cultural events, which are an integral part of the festival "Taste of Chicago".

Read More

The Origins and Present

Thanksgiving (The Origins and Present)

Perhaps we've all heard about Thanksgiving Day - a national holiday, which is an integral part of the culture of countries such as the United States and Canada. In Canada, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October, while in the US eat fried little idea on the fourth Thursday of November. It was Thanksgiving Day gives green light to the rest mass of the holidays, including Christmas and, of course, New Year's Eve.

Thanksgiving Day holiday has religious roots. Once all American families gathered around the table, to thank God for a good harvest and prosperity that has befallen their home. Over time, the holiday has become a national celebration, and people consider it my civic duty to celebrate this momentous day.

The roots of this holiday goes back in American history, to the very first settlers from England, who came to the shores of America in 1620 at the now famous ship "Mayflower." They landed after a hard voyage on a stormy ocean in the current Massachusetts chilly November afternoon and founded Plymouth Colony.

More than half of the estimated hundreds of arrivals were not able to survive the harsh winter and died from cold, hunger and disease. After treatment while held very primitive ways. The survivors founded a colony in the spring with the help of local Indians, primarily Squanto who taught them what crops to grow and how this inhospitable rocky soil, proceeded to land cultivation. Suddenly became a rich harvest of reward for their efforts. The first governor William Bradford colonists offered to spend a day bringing gratitude to the Lord. On the feast of autumn 1621 the Pilgrim Fathers invited the leader and another 90 Indians of the tribe that helped them survive in unfamiliar conditions. This meal, divided with the Indians, and was the first celebration of Thanksgiving Day. Subsequently, the colonists celebrated a good harvest festivals Thanksgiving from case to case.

Officially, Thanksgiving was approved by Congress in 1941, and at the same time Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill, according to which a tribute to God must be given every fourth Thursday of November. As you can see, to this day, nothing has changed.

Have not changed and customs of celebrating Thanksgiving Day. American and Canadian families are also sit at the table and, as expected, each of the family members to thank God for all the good things that happened in their lives. Always present on the tables stuffed turkey and pumpkin pie.

In honor of Thanksgiving Day in the City of Lights New York annually arranged a grand parade, sponsored by advocates for nearly a century department store chain Macy's.

Read More

Gilroy Garlic Festival

Gilroy Garlic Festival

(US) 

About the medicinal properties of garlic knew a long time ago, this is evidenced by the findings of this spice plants in the caves, which are inhabited by people for more than ten thousand years ago, as well as in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

If garlic was not so useful, it would not have found such wide application in many cuisines. On its medicinal properties and possibilities to cure many ailments, no matter how someone known inhabitants of the small town of Gilroy, where involved in the production of garlic.

The locals are so fond of this product that they decided to conduct an annual festival of garlic, a program which is enough rich and diverse.

Guests of this holiday apart from the opportunity to enjoy tasting dishes with this spicy vegetables, may still attend interesting exhibitions, culinary competitions, where everyone has the opportunity to show off his trademark dish of garlic, and also listen to live music or visit the exhibition of art. Yet the most popular contest is the election of the Queen of garlic festival.

In the city park directly in front of the festival there is a huge amount of hay, which, in combination with large wooden canopies create a relaxed atmosphere that allows people to relax and enjoy a delicious meal. This design locals call "farm style".

For more than thirty years, the festival gathers garlic lovers of spicy vegetable, wishing to taste not only giving away small cucumbers, cooked in garlic sauce, but also many other delicious dishes, among which can be found even garlic ice cream.

Read More

America's Chief Forecaster

Groundhog Day America's Chief Forecaster

On the first official Marmot-meteorology, turkey lives on the Hill, first mentioned in Pennsylvania (USA). Then it was decided each year, in early February to hold a festival dedicated to this animal.

Since then, it took more than a hundred years, there are many meteorological stations equipped with modern equipment, but people are still going to the second of February Groundhog near the house, in order to observe its behavior, so that it will be possible to make predictions about the spring.

Everyone who is looking forward to the onset of early spring, very happy if Groundhog Day in the yard overcast, because then got out of the burrow groundhog does not see his shadow, and not return back to his house, which means that the spring will not take long wait. Otherwise, if afraid of his own shadow, the groundhog forecaster hide-back, winter will dominate for at least another six weeks.

Traditional folk festival Groundhog Day is considered to be in the United States and Canada, still today admire this beast and predict the weather is going to people in many countries.

As it turns out, the roots of this holiday are back in ancient times, because of the Gregorian calendar Christians of Europe celebrated the second of February Presentation of the Lord, and this is the day determined the nature of the approaching spring. There is a saying that if that day is cloudless and clear, the year can be two winters.

Tradition also rely on the forecasts of our smaller brethren existed in ancient Rome, only responsible were not marmots, and hedgehogs.

Read More