It’s easy to think festivals are just about drinking and dancing, but festivals are also representatives of what a certain way of life thinks, the way they express themselves. I’ve been to over 60 festivals in 22 different countries, and I still want to experience more. One of the main reasons I enjoy going to international festivals so much is the fact that they are a microcosm of what they represent. Festivals are an opportunity to see as much as possible in a weekend into worlds so different, or even familiar, of my own.

Festivals are a fascinating insight into a group of individuals with a common understanding and the world they are living in. This is also one of the reasons I enjoy international festivals.

I ticked off a huge bucket list festival in Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi a few years ago. I was unwell and not my usual party self, but, it gave me the opportunity instead to sit and listen to the local poets. Through their poetry they enlightened me to some of the issues of the day — calling out their “fat government” and covering everything from housing, to relationships, to the nominal (名义上的) opportunities.

The importance of celebrating festivals abroad isn’t just to gather with your “tribe”. What I learned in a few poems at Lake of Stars Festival were fascinating insights into modern social issues and the Malawi of the present, which I would have had to dig deep to find out. And I probably wouldn’t have bothered to, to be honest.

Even if only for a weekend, what I learned there from the poets and artists gave me a better understanding of what life was like in Malawi.

You never know what you’re going to learn when you visit a new festival. That’s all part of the fun and expectation.

Comedy makes current social issues fun, music makes them melodic (有旋律的), while poetry makes them considered and heartfelt. Festivals bring you them all.

How to plan a party for Mother’s Day

Planning a party for Mother’s Day can be exciting and fun, but if everything is put off to the last minute, it can be stressful. Therefore, we have come up a way to help you plan for it, without adding any more stress to your everyday life!

Four to six weeks before the BIG DAY!

Choose a theme first. Next, make a guest list and pick a date and time.

【小题1】 Decide if you will have it at home, go to a park, or pay for a hall. Think about the day’s activities; what time to eat, what games to play, what crafts to do, etc. Finally you should order your party supplies, including favors, decorations, wrapping paper, plates, cups, etc.

Three weeks before the BIG DAY!

【小题2】

ASK for RSVP’s(不能参加请回复) by a certain date and time. Place a list of those you invited next to the phone to record RSVP’s.

【小题3】

If you haven’t received any RSVP’s, call to make sure they are coming. Make it clear that your helpers can still attend and what their duties will be. Order the cake.

One week before the BIG DAY!

Call all confirmed(确认的) guests and remind them of the big day, double checking directions. Buy food and candies. Make up the goodie bags based on confirmations.

One day before the BIG DAY!

Prepare your foods ahead of time. 【小题4】 In the evening, when everyone is in bed, clean the house and set up the party spot.

Day of the BIG DAY!

Pick up the cake. Blow up and set out balloons four hours before the event.

【小题5】

Week after the BIG DAY!

Send out thank you notes to all the helpers and those who gave gifts!

It may not yet be October, but the world’s biggest beer festival is already happening in Munich, Germany. In spite of its name, Oktoberfest actually begins in the third weekend of September and lasts until the first Sunday in October. This year it started on Sept 21 and will end on Oct 6.

By the end of the two weeks, an estimated (估计) over 6 million people will have arrived at the famous tented fairgrounds for the celebration. While the festival falls in September, the beer is traditionally brewed (酿造) all the way back in March. During Oktoberfest, the rest of the year’s beer is drunk to make room for the new year’s beer.

Each year, over 5 million liter mugs (马克杯) of beer are usually drunk. But even more popular than the beers themselves are the mugs. Security guards take about 150,000 from souvenir hunters every year, but many still go missing. So the fine for stealing the must-have item is up to $60 (368 yuan).

While it may be obvious that Oktoberfest is about drinking massive (大量的) glasses of beer, eating plenty of delicious German foods is another fun festival activity. The most popular meals involve smoked meat and potatoes. Germans often prefer to eat heavy food, using plenty of mustards and sauces. The country has as many as 1,500 different kinds of sausages (香肠). There are also 300 kinds of bread to go with the sausages.

The clothes that Oktoberfest goers wear also make the annual fall festival special. Lederhosen (皮短裤) and tall socks are traditional dress. But no German outfit would be complete without the famous Peter Pan-esque (彼得·潘风格的) hats.