We’ll tell you where and when you can go watermelon skiing, eat black and black food and chase cheese.
Pancake Race (Olney, London, UK)
Every year on Fat Tuesday, all Londoners are lured into the street like a magnet by the smell of freshly baked pancakes that literally rush around the city. No, this is not a mistake and you read that correctly. One day in 1445 in the town of Olney in the south-east of England, one of the parishioners of the church baked pancakes on Fat Tuesday, contrary to the rules of the fast. Hearing the bell ringing and getting out of the “pancake trance”, she immediately ran to church to atone for her sins, but it was still not easy for her to part with the pancakes (and she can be understood), so the lady turned the last one right on the go. The residents of Olney were so amused by this spectacle that they turned it into a tradition.
Today the Pancake Race takes place in both Olney and London. The conditions are as follows: the one who runs the fastest and simultaneously flips the pancake in the pan the most times will receive the ringer’s kiss. By the way, in Westminster, such races are held among members of parliament and lords.
Lobster Festival (Los Angeles, USA)
Not every city can boast that it hosts the largest lobster festival in the world. But Los Angeles can, because in 2009 this holiday got into the Guinness Book of Records as a record holder in the category “The largest number of seafood dishes in the open air.” The heart of the September lobster festival is the port of San Pedro, however, oddly enough, lobsters are not caught here – the fresh catch comes from Maine. In addition to delicious and inexpensive lobsters and many other seafood, music and pirate shows, the most unexpected entertainment awaits visitors. For example, the Lobster Parade is an unforgettable sight: happy and proud owners walk down the street in the company of their pets dressed as crustaceans, and the audience squeaks with delight and affection (you can only sympathize with the dogs).
Radish Night (Oaxaca, Mexico)
The city of Oaxaca is famous for its woodcarving craftsmen, and on December 23, viewers have a unique opportunity to look at the incredible carved radish sculptures. The first festival took place already in 1897, but over time, the event only gained popularity. During the Night of the Radish, you can see animals, people, various architectural structures, costumes and fruits carved from radishes. The exhibition presents both radish masterpieces of professional woodcarvers and statues made by ordinary lovers of this root vegetable.
Watermelon Festival (Chinchilla, Australia)
For several years now, the Australian town of Chinchilla bears the proud title of the “watermelon” capital of Australia: about a quarter of the total watermelon crop in the country is grown here. Chinchilla Melon Festival is organized by the city authorities every two years, and the streets of the city are painted in a rich red. The festival welcomes about 15,000 guests, who are invited to take part in the most fun “watermelon” competitions: the competition for the best watermelon helmet, competitions in skiing (skis, of course, must be made from watermelons), throwing watermelons at a target, watermelon basketball and much more. During the festival, more than 20 tons of fruits are destroyed.
La Tomatina (Buñol, Spain)
In the last week of August, tens of thousands of people from all over the world gather in the Spanish town of Buñol to take part in the tomato battle. At this time, there are so many tourists that there is not enough accommodation for everyone, so many come to the holiday from Valencia. Before the start of the tomato frenzy, during which about 145 tons of tomatoes are used, local residents and shopkeepers cover the windows with plastic shields in order to somehow reduce the area of the upcoming harvest. The central square of the city of Plaza del Pueblo at 10 am resembles a dormant volcano, just about ready to wake up and spew tomato lava. A line of trucks filled with tomatoes drives through the streets and stops in the square. According to the rules, first some daredevil must climb a tall wooden post, smeared with soap. At the top of the dodger, a prize awaits – jamon. The water cannons then make a sign for the start of the battle. You can imagine what is happening on the streets of Buñol for an hour (this is how long this chaos lasts), but it is better to give up everything and leave yourself to throw tomatoes.
