7 Great Winter Festivals You Can Enjoy Around The World

Winter's enchanting arrival is imminent. The veil of fog and mist is poised to envelop the surroundings, while the mercury is poised to drop. You've readied yourself with a comforting mug of hot chocolate and snug, fluffy winter attire. However, this doesn't signify that the outdoor merriment comes to a halt. This season ushers in a global carnival of celebration. The grand festivities of Christmas, followed by the spirited New Year revelries, are familiar to all. Beyond these, a multitude of thrilling winter festivals are observed with tremendous enthusiasm in various countries.

Travelers from all corners of the world can enrich their journeys by partaking in renowned winter festivals, immersing themselves in the cultures they encounter. In addition to the delight of Christmas and the more customary New Year traditions, explore these seven outstanding winter festivals from around the globe that infuse warmth and cheer into the wintry chill!

Come, let us embark on a journey into a winter wonderland and relish the festivals unique to each culture and community. Take a look!

# Frozen Dead Guy Days

The winter season takes on a whole new level of fun and excitement with a festival like this one. As each winter draws to a close, a town located west of Boulder hosts a series of winter festivals that are not only popular but also a tad unconventional. This festival spans three days and features a range of events, from smashing vans and snowshoe races to polar plunges and, yes, you read it right, coffin races!

Frozen Dead Guy Days remains a globally renowned spectacle. This locally grown celebration pays homage to Bredo Morstoel, affectionately known as Grandpa, who is preserved in a state of suspended animation and housed in a Tuff Shed perched high above Nederland, kept in dry ice. The festival exudes a distinctive atmosphere, making it undeniably one of the most unique winter festivals worldwide.

# Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival

Iceland is renowned for its snowy winters, but during the most frigid days and darkest nights, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the polar lights, graces the sky. The Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival honors both the wintry realm and the radiant daylight that emerges after an extended period of darkness. This annual event, known as Vetrarhatio in Icelandic, transforms Reykjavik into a vibrant hub of art, music, sports, and culture during its nighttime festivities.

Take in the city's museums, soak in thermal pools, relish concerts, and experience it all while basking in the glow of the Northern Lights. As it celebrates one of the world's most captivating winter festivals, Reykjavik dazzles with exquisite light installations. The city offers a range of excellent hotels to accommodate your preferences and budget.

# Sapporo Snow Festival

The Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan, held in February, is not your typical hometown sculpture competition. Instead, it stands as a grand celebration of everything that makes Japanese winters unique and thrilling. Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido and one of Japan's most sought-after destinations, hosts this exceptional event in Odori Park, which spans the heart of the city. Here, you'll encounter an array of snow and ice artworks in various sizes.

The focal point of the festival is the city's sculpture competition, which is the largest winter festival of its kind and draws over 2 million visitors each year. It's a must-visit winter festival on a global scale. Additionally, you can explore other attractions such as colossal ice slides and expansive snow mazes. As you stroll through the streets at night, you can also relish Japan's comforting culinary delights served from street stalls to keep you warm and content.

# Winter Carnival, Manali

The people of Himachal Pradesh welcome the New Year with immense enthusiasm, and the Manali Winter Carnival serves as a perfect embodiment of this spirit. This festival is unquestionably one of the most distinctive, offering intriguing social encounters and stands as a wonderful opportunity to immerse oneself in this vibrant winter celebration in India. Throughout the festival, you'll witness everyone in a festive mood, creating an opportunity to bask in the splendor of the snow and revel in the festivities.

The Manali Winter Carnival boasts an array of attractions, including winter sports, a winter queen beauty pageant, the voice of the carnival, folk dances, street performances, fashion shows, baby contests, and enchanting magic shows. Additionally, you can savor delectable local cuisines or purchase souvenirs during the carnival.

# Shetland Viking Festival

Up Helly Aa, also known as the Shetland Viking Festival, is an annual event that occurs on the final Tuesday of January. It involves individuals of Scandinavian descent in Scotland who have transformed an ancient Yule tradition into a contemporary occasion to set things ablaze. This festival stands as the largest winter celebration in Europe and predominantly revolves around a grand procession in which the local residents lead a fiery march through the town, culminating in the ignition of torches on a massive longship.

During the evening of Up Helly Aa, nearly 1,000 participants, known as 'guizers,' some dressed in complete Viking regalia, form groups referred to as 'squads.' They don helmets, brandish shields and swords, and each guizer carries a fence post wrapped in paraffin-soaked material. The procession is preceded and followed by lively festivities that ensue throughout the town, ensuring that the area's Viking heritage is celebrated with enthusiasm. This festival is a spirited winter celebration that keeps the chill at bay for the winter revelers of Lerwick through the fiery spectacle of Up Helly Aa.

# The Venice Carnival

The enchanting city of Venice becomes even more captivating during the winter season. This transformation occurs because the city's inhabitants partake in a festival that transports them back to the 12th century. As Venice's equivalent of Mardi Gras, the city bursts into life with music and the alluring elegance of Venetian masks. It stands as one of the most fascinating and widely celebrated winter festivals globally, embraced with tremendous enthusiasm throughout the entire country.

The Venice Carnival originated in 1162, commemorating the victory of the Venetian Republic over its adversary, the Patriarch of Aquileia. At that time, the people of Venice congregated in Saint Mark's Square (San Marco) to dance and rejoice in their triumph. It's worth noting that the use of masks by Venetians to conceal their identities was also prohibited during this historical period.

# Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival

The Harbin Ice Festival ranks among the world's finest winter celebrations and takes place in China. During this festival, China's renowned ice sculptors skillfully craft replicas of well-known buildings using snow. To construct this winter wonderland, over 120,000 cubic meters of ice and 111,000 cubic meters of snow are meticulously employed. This event also stands as one of the most incredible snow festivals worldwide.

Furthermore, the festival offers a plethora of activities such as snow slides, sledding, skating, and the creation of over two thousand snowmen. Throughout the festival, the snow-crafted structures and other artistic works are illuminated with enchanting lights. The centerpiece of this festival is its captivating opening ceremony, featuring fireworks, music, and boundless enthusiasm.