Showing posts with label Traditions-of-EUROPE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Traditions-of-EUROPE. Show all posts

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Championship Wearing Wives

Championship Wearing Wives (Finland)



Championship wearing wives - a fun sporting event, where participants run a race with each other, carrying his teammates on their backs. The aim of the competition - as soon as possible to carry through their wives prepared obstacles.


Wives are allowed to carry a variety of ways: riding on himself, over his shoulder, or as so-called "Estonian" style when women are upside down in front of him. Also, couples are encouraged to create and invent your own style.


This type of sporting event was first held in the Finnish city Soknayarvi in ​​1995. Since then, the championship has become a traditional women wear in different parts of the world, including the United States and Hong Kong.


Interestingly, the name"championship wearing wives" no more than the usual formality, because in fact the partner of a competitor is not obliged to be his lawful wife. Restrictions apply only to the age of the participants (over 17 years) and its weight (not less than 49 kilograms). If the woman is still weighs less than 49 pounds, then it is usually mesh backpack, which helps to achieve the desired "weight class".


With regard to the history of the emergence of the holiday, the legend reads. In the XIX century in Finnish forests hunted a gang of robbers led by Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen. Guys love to lounge around in the markets local villages, gradually filling the pockets that is bad. When once Nerkko and his accomplices have caught, they received more radically - grabbed food and women and set off into the woods. Naturally, with such a "heavy" baggage they could not escape far. In modern times, this banal to tears, but funny story got a second life in the guise championship wearing wives.


Today at the event come to see up to 7 thousand people.




Championship Swimming

Championship Swimming in the Swamp (UK)



Diving in the swamp - a sporting event, in which participants have to swim two water-filled trenches, cutting off the way through the peat bog. As with any competition, the winner is the one who will be able to reach the finish line first.



Before the start of the swim, all participants must wear a snorkel and fins. Most swimmers tend to bring with them wetsuits, although their use is not mandatory.


The tradition of championship diving into the swamp began in 1985. Now every year in August, several dozen participants gather at the peat bog Waen Rhydd (Wales) and sent in pursuit of victory.


The world record in this unusual sporting event keeps Andrew Hollms. He was able to cover the distance of 110 meters long in just 84 seconds. Among women, champion is 18-year-old Dineka Maguire, who swam the distance in 87 seconds. The fairer sex does not have quite a bit to beat the men's record.


It should be noted that the competition for diving into the swamp are not only in Great Britain, but also in Sweden and in Australia. Swamp is also becoming a major obstacle in a number of similar events (or marsh triathlon championship bike ride through the swamp).




Horse Riding and Swimming

Horse Riding and "Swimming" in the Fire (Spain)




Spaniards, like no, love bright and spectacular festivals. On the night of January 17 in the small town of San Bartolome de Pinares Spaniards celebrated the feast day of St. Anthony, who is considered the patron saint of animals. In honor of this celebration was held a centuries-old rite - "swimming" horses in the fire. After the church bell strikes midnight, fearless riders are beginning to demonstrate their skills by jumping through a flaming fire together with his loyal friends.




One might think that the traditional ritual of "bathing" horses in the fire no more than an extreme fun and effective presentation. However, the Spaniards believe that compliance with this tradition will save all the animals from disease and bring good luck for the whole year.




Fires fueled by the entire village to riders could overcome them like water. This year, through the narrow streets of San Bartolome de Pinares about a hundred horsemen galloped in order to honor St. Anthony. As is well known, St. Anthony was very pious man, in every way helped poor people and gave them his fortune. A native of Egypt, in his declining years went into the wilderness, where he spent his last days.


Many animal advocates claim that this tradition of celebrating the Day of St. Anthony causes stress in horses, and therefore want to protect the animals from the event. But locals are not going to change their traditions and not see them as danger to horses. Powerful argument in their favor is the fact that during the ritual "bathing" in the fire there was not a single traumatic event.





Christmas

Christmas in the Czech Republic



In the Czech Republic, as well as any other Catholic country, Christmas - a long-awaited holiday, which turns into a whole extravaganza. The streets here are sparkling lights, and people - smiles. Those who decided to spend the Christmas holidays in Czech, it would be useful to know how celebrate Christmas in this country, but rather in her heart - Prague.

Christmas Eve ascetic Prague just do not know: everything begins to shine with bright colors. On the areas set fancy eating, streets begin to shine colorful lights, and the owners of cafes and restaurants compete with each other in the original design of their establishments. Walking through the streets of Prague, it seems that you come to the exhibition of Christmas decorations and Christmas trees that cute look out of the windows of houses and apartments, give a unique and homely atmosphere


Gift - it is one of the most important and at the same time one of the most difficult elements of Christmas, because it should come as no surprise hit or cause ray sincere smile on his face. When it comes to choosing a gift in Prague, you will likely need to buy things that symbolize the city that you or your loved ones forever remain fond memories of this trip. Alternatively, you can suggest the following things: proprietary puppet beer cosmetics, absinthe, Bohemian glass dishes, etc. With the purchase of gifts problems should arise, because on Christmas Eve and directly, in most Christmas days Wenceslas and Old Town Square crammed with gift shops.


Of course, fundamentally wrong in asserting that Christmas is not worth visiting attractions. For example, a lot of good memories will leave you visit the Charles Bridge, and festive Mass at the Cathedral of St. Vitus remembered for a lifetime.


Another important question - is the right choice of Christmas food and drinks, because the Czech Christmas traditions Czech unthinkable without. Among the traditional dishes can be isolated from carp soup and wine sausage, which is used in the production of beef, pork and white wine. For dessert in the Czech Republic to serve honey cakes, nut cookies with rum, vanilla bagels and other sweets. Drink all of these goodies you can punch or Christmas mead.


Christmas in the Czech Republic is now for you is no longer a mystery. After reading the article, you learned that the drink, eat and give over this fabulous holiday. We wish you a Merry Christmas to carry out successfully in one of the most amazing cities in the world - Prague!




Festival tomorrow land

Festival Tomorrow land Sweet Dream Clubber(Belgium)




An important cultural event in modern Europe is a music festival Tomorrow land, which is traditionally held in Antwerp, Belgium. Here come the world's best musicians representing such genres as dub step, trance, house, techno and many other electronic dance styles.


Festival Tomorrow land is one of the largest in the world, he passes in the last week of July. The history of this musical party of European importance originated relatively recently, in 2005. Then Tomorrow land lasted one day, it has gathered more than ten thousand fans of different musical styles.


The success of the festival did not go unnoticed by the organizers immediately increased area of ​​Tomorrow land, as well as its duration. Music festival of electronic music began to pass for three days.


The results did not take long to wait, in 2007 the festival has arrived more than fifty music fans from all over the world, they like a magnet that attracts high level performers here, as well as a fantastic festive atmosphere.


But this figure is not a record, because in 2012, this music festival came to 180 thousand visitors. During the tomorrow land there just crazy hype about tickets, because it is the place where top DJs actually going to the world level.



Striking landmark festival tomorrow land considered unique memorable scenery is the perfect backdrop for the music.




Monday, February 16, 2015

Holiday Fragrance and Beauty

Toulouse Violet Festival Ancient Holiday Fragrance & Beauty

(France)

In early February, the French city of Toulouse is a traditional festival of violets, whose history is rooted in the mists of time. The first race, which defines the best floral arrangements, according to the chronicles, were held in 1323, and since 1811 this holiday was called "Violet Toulouse." In 1901, in Toulouse created the first cooperative, which began to specialize grow violets. The fame of this tender and fragrant flowers spreading around the world from here.
In 1960, Violet has become an emblem of the city of Toulouse decorating, from this time began the use of this wonderful flower in the industrial production of liqueurs, spirits and sweets. With the aim of finding new markets created by the association "Land of violets," in 2003 was officially approved by the Feast of violets, early starts functioning National Museum of violets, where visitors can see the different varieties of this beautiful flower.
In the middle of winter, when there are hard frosts and heavy snowstorms, born in Toulouse tale consisting of beautiful and fragrant flowers. Guests of the festival can see how huge themed compositions, and separate romantic bouquets to its varied colors are dazzling.
But not only the lovers of flowers visited Toulouse Violet Festival, here you can find beekeepers, doctors, perfumers and winemakers. These professions are considering prospects of violets in medicine, cosmetics and culinary experts examine the impact of even the smell of a flower on the human body.
But the main event of the festival is a competitive program, where members of the festival jury are unique bouquets made of violets, as well as dishes, which were used in this amazing flower petals.
Every year at the festival can see the new varieties of flowers and complex compositions, brought participants from many parts of the world. Historians believe that the love of the French violet communicated by the ancient Gauls, who considered it a symbol of innocence, purity and modesty.



Sunday, February 15, 2015

Love of Freedom

Citrus Fights a Manifestation of the Love of Freedom

(Italy)

Orange lovers should definitely visit the northern Italian city where the annual carnival cheerful titled "Citrus fights", which is dedicated to not only the beginning of spring, but also symbolizes the freedom of local residents.
Assignment of participants who previously divided into two groups, is throwing oranges at each other, but one representing the Royal Guard, should be dressed in traditional costumes and be in a chariot drawn by horses, but the other problem - to represent hiking rivals. 
In this way people try to remind everyone of ill confrontation that occurred in the middle Ages between the citizens and the royal army. Take to the streets in protest of ordinary citizens caused violent behavior with respect to the ruler of his people.
Unlike those old events at the festival today will not be able to see crossbows or swords instead of guns people use oranges. Upon completion of the "battles" all participants friendly shake hands with each other and then, together, continue to parade. Throughout the holiday residents of the city played an interesting, and most importantly - edifying spectacle.
The culmination of the carnival is burning high straw poll. During this action, special attention is drawn to the flame of the fire, because people honestly believe that it was from the flames rising up will depend on their well-being in the next year, so the higher the fire rises, the more fun it becomes public.