parade — World News, Travel and Social Action

For over 700 years, Catholics have been gathering in Belgium to watch the Procession of the Holy Blood. The event features reenactments of biblical stories and centers around a holy relic, a scrap of cloth said to be stained with the blood of Christ.

Volunteers dressed to act out biblical stories at the Procession of the Holy Blood. VISITFLANDERS. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Each spring, thousands gather in the streets of Bruges, Belgium, to witness the Procession of the Holy Blood. The procession centers around a vial containing an ancient cloth said to be stained with the blood of Christ, which is paraded through the streets by more than 1,700 religious leaders who sing, dance and act out biblical scenes.

The “Relic of the Holy Blood,” as the cloth is known, has been kept in Bruges’ Basilica of the Holy Blood since the 1200s. According to legend, the blood liquefies on Fridays, the day of the crucifixion. The church is open on Fridays for believers to come through and worship. Once a year, the relic is removed from the church and paraded through the streets.

The Procession of the Holy Blood takes place 40 days after Easter, on Ascension Day, which is marked by Christians as the day that Christ ascended to heaven before his disciples. The first Procession of the Holy Blood took place in 1304, and the story of the relic itself dates back even further, to when the cloth stained with Christ’s blood is said to have come to Bruges.

According to the story, Joseph of Arimathea used a cloth to wipe drops of blood from Christ’s body at the crucifixion. During the Second Crusade, Count Thierry of Flanders came into possession of the bloodstained cloth and brought it back to Bruges in around 1150. There is no record of the relic until the mid-1200s, however, leading some to believe that it actually came to Bruges following the sack of Constantinople by the army of Count Baldwin IX. Regardless of how the relic made its way to Bruges, it has become the heart of an annual procession for over 700 years.

In modern times, the Procession of the Holy Blood is divided into four parts, intended to tell the story of the holy relic to observers. First, volunteers perform stories from the Old Testament, then from the New Testament. The third part of the procession details how the holy blood came to Bruges. Finally, at the end of the procession comes the Relic of the Holy Blood itself, held in a shrine and accompanied by the members of the Noble Brotherhood of the Holy Blood.

The shrine holding the Relic of the Holy Blood. Processsion_of_the_Precious_Blood_of_Jesus_Christ-The_Blood. CC BY-SA 2.5.

Though the subject matter of the procession is somewhat somber, the event itself is a festive one, with costumes and music reminiscent of medieval times. The Procession of the Holy Blood draws anywhere from 30,000 to 45,000 spectators from around the world eager to catch a glimpse of an important religious relic. In 2009, the procession was added to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In 2021, for the second consecutive year, the centuries-old Procession of the Holy Blood did not take place. Though the event was initially scheduled for May 13, it was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic and the large crowds the procession typically attracts. The last time the procession was unable to proceed for more than a year at a time was during World War II.

What better time to explore a new city than during a magnificent festival of lights? These seven festivals are annual events sure to immerse visitors in vivid lights and unique cultures.

The Sydney Opera House during Vivid Sydney. Filipe Castilhos. CC BY-ND 2.0

Lights are an important part of culture and art around the world. They symbolize new beginnings, celebrate historic traditions and are glimmering, eye-catching sources of entertainment. Many countries host annual festivals with lights at their center. These seven light festivals display floating lanterns, light sculptures, intricate projections and even raging bonfires. The lights on display vary from festival to festival, as does the history behind each event, but every event is sure to dazzle visitors.

Fireworks and ninots at Las Fallas. Keith Ellwood. CC BY 2.0

1. Las Fallas de Valencia, Spain

Each year over a million revelers gather in Valencia, Spain, for this five-day fire festival. Las Fallas begins on March 15, when more than 700 “ninots,” towering statues made of cardboard, papier mache, wood or plaster, are set up around the city. The ninots are eye-catching: often multiple stories tall, colorful and exaggerated depictions of current events and satirical scenes. Las Fallas originates from an old carpenter's tradition of burning materials on March 19 to celebrate the arrival of spring. The carpenters’ bonfires of old wood and rags developed into the elaborate ninots seen today. On the final day of the festival, March 19, all but one of the ninots are set ablaze in the festival's dramatic climax. The ninot that is spared from the fire, known as the “ninot indultat,” is chosen by popular vote and preserved in Valencia’s Fallas Museum alongside ninot indultats from years past. While the ninots and their burning are the festival’s main attraction, they are far from all that Las Fallas has to offer. Daily firework shows light up the sky, and music, parades and delicious authentic food are sure to keep visitors entertained.

A projection during Lyon’s Festival of Lights, 2007. Aurel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

2. Festival of Lights, France

France’s Festival of Lights, a tradition in the city of Lyon, is a pre-Christmas celebration dating back to 1852. In 1852, a statue of the Virgin Mary was scheduled to be erected on Sept. 8, but the statue’s delivery was delayed by flooding. The event was postponed to Dec. 8, the date of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Due to inclement weather, the official ceremonies again had to be postponed. But as night fell, the weather cleared, and citizens of Lyon placed lit candles on their windowsills and balconies in a show of unity. Since then, Dec. 8 has become a day known for illumination in Lyon. The tradition escalated in the 1960s, when shops began window-lighting competitions, making the lights in Lyon more elaborate and widespread. The illumination of the city has spread in the years since, and every year around Dec. 8, light displays spotlight city squares, streets, bridges and even rivers. Much of the light at the festival comes in the form of projections on building facades, created by visual artists, that transform Lyon into a dreamlike world of glittering color.

Lanterns in China. John Carkeet. CC BY 2.0

3. Lantern Festival, China

China’s Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the first lunar month, typically falling in February or March, marks the end of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). As the name suggests, glowing lanterns are the centerpiece of the festival. During the festival, lanterns in all shapes and sizes adorn China’s cities. The lanterns display artwork depicting traditional Chinese images like animals, fruits, flowers and people. The lighting of lanterns represents illuminating the future. The Lantern Festival dates back over 2,000 years, to the Western Han dynasty. Emperor Wen made the 15th a national holiday in celebration of the return to peace, and every household began to light candles and lanterns. A later ruler, Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han, was a devout Buddhist, and learned that monks would light candles for the Buddha on the 15th. Emperor Ming ordered that the palace and temples light candles on the 15th as well, and that citizens hang lanterns. The two events combined to form the Lantern Festival that is celebrated today. In addition to the lighting and admiration of the lanterns, visitors to China’s Lantern Festival can watch lion dances, eat “tangyuan” traditional dumplings, and try to solve riddles affixed to lanterns in order to win a prize.

Children with their lanterns on St. Martin’s Day. Raul Lieberwirth. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

4. St. Martin’s Day, Netherlands

St. Martin’s Day is a children’s festival celebrated every Nov. 11 in honor of St. Martin, who was traditionally regarded as the patron saint of the poor and a friend to children. Nov. 11 is the day of St. Martin’s passing, but the atmosphere of the festival is joyful, not somber. The festival is similar to American Halloween, with children going door to door to collect treats such as candy, fruits or pancakes. Unlike Halloween, however, children do not dress up in costumes. Instead, they carry lanterns and parade around the neighborhood. Adults place similar lanterns outside their homes to show that they are offering treats to the revelers. Historically, children’s lanterns were made out of hollowed-out turnips and sugar beets hanging from a stick. These days, most children make and decorate their own paper lanterns at home or school, or lanterns can be purchased at grocery stores. Rather than saying “trick or treat,” children in the Netherlands sing songs to earn their treats. There are a few common songs for the festival, but children can sing any song they like, even ones of their own creation.

People releasing their candle-lit krathongs in Thailand. John Shedrick. CC BY 2.0

5. Loi Krathong, Thailand

On the evening of the 12th lunar month, which usually falls toward the beginning of November, the whole country celebrates Loi Krathong, Thailand's Festival of Lights. Loi Krathong translates to “floating basket,” and it is a celebration of renewal, leaving behind the old and welcoming in the new. Thousands of lotus-shaped boats made from banana leaves called “krathong” are lit with candles and set afloat in waterways. In the north of Thailand, the krathong are joined by lanterns released into the sky for another light festival, Yi Peng, which often coincides with Loi Krathong. Most Loi Krathong celebrations are concentrated around waterways, since they are necessary to float the krathong. According to legend, Loi Krathong originated with Nang Nopphamat, a beautiful lady of the court in an ancient city. Wanting to catch the attention of the king, Nopphamat constructed a boat out of lotus leaves, placed a candle inside, and floated it down the river, creating the krathong. Today, the festival includes beauty contests in honor of Nopphamat, as well as parades, fireworks and, of course, the floating of the krathong.

Bonfires and fireworks on Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes Day. Nyall & Maryanne. CC BY-NC 2.0

6. Bonfire Night, England

This celebration, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, takes place each year on Nov. 5. Bonfire Night marks the anniversary of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, a plan by Catholic conspirators to blow up the British Houses of Parliament. Guy Fawkes was one of the conspirators. He was captured and taken into custody the night before the attack and eventually tried, convicted and executed. The other conspirators met the same fate, or were killed resisting arrest. Today, Guy Fawkes Day is celebrated with fireworks, food, parades and bonfires, hence why the celebration is also called Bonfire Night. Effigies of Guy Fawkes, made from old clothes stuffed with paper and straw and commonly called “The Guy,” are thrown on the bonfires. The bonfires are also used to heat soup and cook potatoes to feed the crowds that gather to watch the brilliant fireworks displays.

Vivid Sydney projection at the University of Sydney. Goran Has. CC BY 2.0

7. Vivid Sydney, Australia

Vivid Sydney is billed as a festival of light, music and ideas. Each year, more than 2 million visitors flock to Sydney to watch live music performances, attend creative workshops, talks and conferences, and see some of the city’s historic sites go up in lights. The festival lasts for 23 days, and the Sydney Opera House, Customs House and Taronga Zoo, among others, are all illuminated nightly at 6 p.m. Over the course of the festival, Sydney becomes a work of art, displaying light sculptures, large-scale projections and light installations. To best take in the massive array of lights, visitors to Vivid Sydney can follow the Vivid Light Walk, a route that stretches from The Rocks, a historic neighborhood by the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to the Sydney Opera House, winding through a number of attractions on the way. Several of the light installations are typically interactive, adding another dimension to the fun.