We discuss fascinating Spring festivals and traditions from around the world. From the more sober Holy Week in Spain to the Thai New Year festival, Songkran, where people pelt each other with water, this episode has a bit of everything, so you definitely don’t want to miss it! A special thanks to Patti, who told us a little bit about the Songkran water festival. And thank you so much to our listener, Kiara, who submitted her hysterical story about the significance of checking on the translation before you assume you’re using a word correctly! To submit your own Lost in Translation segment, go to our contact section and shoot us a message! Or you can submit a voice memo to: languagenerdsdoearth@gmail.com.
Take a look at some of the festivals we mentioned in the episode!
Elaborate and beautiful,not to mention heavy, “floats” used in processions for Holy Week in Spain.
photo credit: www.forocoches.com
This eerie robe and hood is worn by penitents who march in processions (Spain).
photo credit: www.gomadrid.com
Members of the religious brotherhoods walk carrying the “paso,” which typically weighs over a ton (Spain).
photo credit: www.cadizdirecto.com
Holi being celebrated in India. Those colors are just SO gorgeous.
photo credit: www.freepressjournal.com
This gorgeous float at Bloemencorso in the Netherlands is made completely of—can you guess?—flowers! photo credit: www.thisiscolossal.com
In Switzerland a giant snowman is set on fire to celebrate the end of winter. That’s a pretty great way to celebrate Spring, we think.
photo credit: www.worldofjulia.com
In Bosnia, people gather outside to eat scrambled eggs. What food could represent renewal better than eggs?
photo credit: www.steemkr.com
In Poland, this effigy of Marzanna, the Slavic goddess of winter, is burned before being drowned in the river. This represents the killing of Winter and the arrival of Spring.
photo credit: http://detektywprawdy.pl/
People travel to Mexico for the Vernal Equinox (March 20th or 21st) to celebrate at places like Teotihuacán or Chichen Itza.
photo credit: www.topmexicorealestate.com
To reign in the Thai New Year, people take to the streets and hurl huge amounts of water at each other. This looks like so much fun!
photo credit: www.weblogtheworld.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS