Great Festivals: Globetrekker

Over 3 fun-filled episodes, Great Festivals takes you on an exhilarating trip around the world to experience the most amazing celebrations that the planet has to offer.
GREAT FESTIVALS 1
Come on a festive journey from ancient tribal rituals in Papua New Guinea to postmodern pagan
parties in the American Desert. Onward then to the famous Mardi Gras Carnival in New Orleans,
Ethiopias colourful Epiphany celebration Timkat and dance the night away to the sound of Samba
at the Rio de Janeiro Carnival. Travel further on to witness the little known Inca Inti Raymi Festival
in Peru, walk the famous Pilgrim Trail leading to Santiago de Compostella and observe the annual
Ashura Parade in Pakistan, commemorating the death of the last descendent of the Holy Prophet,
Mohammed.
GREAT FESTIVALS 2
This journey begins in the Philippines where thousands converge at the island of Kalibo for the Ati-
Atihan Festival and continues with the Trinidad Carnival, where loud music and colourful costumes
fill the streets till late. In Spain, we witness Las Fallas, a week-long festival of explosions, fireworks
and parades. Marvel as the city of Valencia is adorned with 15-foot paper-mache figures that are
ceremoniously torched. Experience the best food festivals on the planet - Spains La Tomatina, Italys
Battle of the Oranges, and the Gilroy Garlic Festival. A highlight on the journey is the Oiled Wrestling
Festival in Turkey where over 1000 beefy men, wearing only a pair of leather trousers, compete
to be the last wrestler left standing.
GREAT FESTIVALS 3
Many of the worlds great festivals coincide with the changing of the season including Chinese New
Year in Taiwan, Ghana celebrating the coming of spring by catching a deer with their bare hands and
in Northern Russia marking the end of perpetual darkness. In New Zealand, where sheep outnumber
people, we visit the Sheep Shearing Contest, the Strange Foods Festival and the Maori Regatta. The
Wife-Carrying Competition in Finland, the Calgary Stamp - a Canadian Rodeo - and the UK flying
competition The Birdman of Bognor are all calendar highlights which celebrate the strange. Iconic UK
festivals Glastonbury and Notting Hill also feature.
Whether honouring gods or traditions, or even just looking for an excuse for a big street party, each
part of the world has its share of great traditional festivals.