Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
ing times, often dictated by the particular seasonality of rainfall in an area creating
what amounts to a cyclical festival type.
14.3.2
Religious Beliefs
Other festivals are based on some observance to gods, other than those of nature.
Some of these religious festivals have grown out of the cyclical naturalistic festi-
vals, which transformed old rituals into new religious themes, and may often be
intimately linked with an associated political control. These festivals were linked to
a celebration of spiritual beliefs that confirmed and reinforced allegiance to these
convictions through the practices and rituals of the festivals, frequently using a ma-
jor parade or ceremony as the focus of the festival where major religious figures and
icons can be seen or displayed. In some Christian countries individual towns and
cities in a region celebrated their own saint's day, resulting in a succession of festi-
vals on different days in any region. Religions differ in the degree to which festivals
are used as important reinforcement mechanisms for faith. Of all the main religions
Hinduism is the one with the most celebrations and festivals, used not only mark
events in its mythical past but to give thanks to their many Gods in its spiritual pan-
theon (Chanchreek and Jan
2007
). Since many are focused on urban places, these
centres in Hindu countries have traditionally had proportionally more festivals.
14.3.3
Political
Historically, monarchs or secular leaders have always had the central role in this
type, in which the displays, floats, dramas and music were devoted to praising the
elite and giving thanks for the protection they provided. These attempted to create
political solidarity or allegiance to the regime, or in more recent years of celebrat-
ing the political state and its past. The value of political festivals in this respect has
long been acknowledged, for even Machiavelli (
1624
,
1625
) recommended that
princes should always promote festivals to provide enjoyment and support for the
monarch as well as distracting attention from grievances. A variation of the politi-
cally motivated festival can be seen in events that are not designed to reinforce soli-
darity with the dominant regime or the state, but are designed to demonstrate their
opposition against existing conditions. Some of the most obvious examples are the
protests of workers now associated with May Day, although this was originally a
spring fertility festival, so was a cyclical festival in origin. Others include the more
recent Techno-festivals held in Paris and the Essence festival in New Orleans. All
have a very serious intent, but are often associated with festive behaviour to attract
attention from onlookers and reinforce in-group solidarity. These examples of what
amount to protest festivals are really a variation of politically motivated festivals,
that are increasingly used by groups who wish to promote alternative opinions and
assert their rights in multi-polar democracies.
