One thing I love to celebrate are cultural holidays and festivals. These are even more exciting in other countries. I was in Victoria on British Columbia Day (the first Monday in August), and so we got to see a parade, fireworks, and other bits and pieces. Sort of similar to a 4th of July celebration, really, but it was still neat seeing the Parliament Building lit up, the crowds, and all the noise and hubbub.

In Spain, we were in Catalonia during Mercè. While we missed most of the exciting stuff, we did see glimpses, including some of the huge puppets and papier-mâché creatures that parade through the streets. In various cities in the region, there were Catalonian flags, banners of all types, and other decorations for the festival.

Perhaps someday I’ll be able to be in China at this time of year, but for now, I’ll have to celebrate the year 4706 in Los Angeles. It’s too bad the DeafRead conference wasn’t a week or two later (although the hotel prices would definitely have shot up!); then I could have had dinner in Chinatown, or attended the parade (I did that once, several years ago; definitely worth attending at least once. But man, those firecrackers are LOUD!). As it is, I’ll probably head downtown to Los Angeles’ version of Chinatown (or if we have time, Monterey Park or another outlying area with a strong Chinese presence) and find a good restaurant to chow down at.

If you’ve been in another country during a holiday or festival, what did you do and see? Are there any particular ceremonies or events you’d recommend? Can always use suggestions for my next trip…