January

Ati-Atihan takes place the third Sunday of January in the small town of Kalibo in Akalan, Philippines. The three-day festival features traditional songs, dance, and colorful dress► of the native people as part of this energetic festival dating back to the 13th century. (see more)

Beginning Sunday, and for the days leading up to Fat Tuesday in March, an epic battle takes place over the streets of Ivrea in Northern Italy; an event steeped in history, The Battle of Oranges is the largest food fight in the country. (see more)

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Playa de Carmen is an epic place to ring in the new year. Combine that with the BPM festival, a growing electronic music festival set on the beaches of Playa de Carmen and the Mayan Rivera and it's a very good time. (see more)

“Congratulations and be prosperous” is the translation of the traditional new year’s greeting of “Kung Hei Fat Choy”. The Chinese new year is based upon ancient calculations that predict the end of the winter season and the start of spring, which is the first day of the first month. This is the biggest and most celebrated Chinese Holiday at home and abroad. The celebration ends with the Lantern Festival 15 days later. (see more)

* Due to political conflict the festival can not be held in the normal location and will function as a caravan of peace. Check the website for details. (see more)

During January of every year the city of Harbin transforms into a winter wonderland► filled with castles, towers, and sculptures crafted from ice and snow. The festival was started in 1985 and lasts for around a month in the dead of winter. This festival along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival make up the largest such events in the world. (see more)

Jam Cruise combines the luxury of a cruise line with a roving music festival. The festival sets sail the beginning of January from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and takes festival-goers to beautiful locations in the Bahamas, Central America, and Mexico. (see more)

Underneath the glow of the northern lights and over 100 miles north of the Arctic circle lies the town of Kiruna, Sweden which hosts Europe's largest snow festival. These are training grounds for space and home to one of the premier "Ice Hotels". Landing here feels more like arriving on "Planet Hoth" than Earth. (see more)

This is the largest single gathering of humanity in the world. Every 3 years, Hindus gather in the tens of millions on the banks of the Ganges,► the river that according to legend, collected the drops of immortality that fell from the kumbh (pitcher of life) in ancient times. The gathering is centered in Allahbad, Hardiwar.  Take a crowded bus or train from New Delhi (DEL). (see more)

Rainbow Serpent Festival is a famous electronic music festival held in Beaufort, Victoria over the long Australia Day Weekend. The music is primarily psych-trance and minimalist techno, though dub, trance, and house music sneak into the lineup. There are over 100 acts to choose from to keep you dancing late into the night. (see more)

Every January since 1981, independent filmmakers from across the U.S. converge on the small town of Park City, Utah to exhibit films made outside of the traditional Hollywood system. The primarily independent films compete for exposure and a chance to be touted as the next big thing. (see more)

Each year, on the full moon of the 10th month of the Hindu calendar, thousands make the journey to the southern Indian city of Palani for Thaipusam for the chance to have a wish granted by Lord Subramanya. Singapore, Malaysia, and other countries with Tamil Hindi populations celebrate this bizarre holiday. (see more)

Each year, the Wild & Scenic Film Festival draws top filmmakers, celebrities, leading activists, social innovators and well-known world adventurers to the historic downtown of Nevada City, California. The theme for the 2013 festival is “A Climate of Change”. Along with our usual line-up of beautiful, engaging and eye-opening films, we will have a particular focus this year on climate change, as well as highlighting the change makers who are creating a more livable future. (see more)

This event commemorates an ancient battle between feuding monks that resulted in an entire mountain being burned. This is a sacred event and beautiful to watch. The grass hills of Mt. Wakakusa-yama in Nara are set on fire ►with a sacred flame from the Kasuga Taisha shrine, which burns for about 30 minutes and is followed by fireworks.  (see more)