Abstract3
Background.4
Hypotheses..4
Methodology4
Discussions...4
Results..7 Conclusion.8
References9
ABSTRACT
Festivals make part of the lives of people in different societies whether modern or traditional. They have been manifest in all societies from time immemorial, ingrained in their belief systems and ways of life. The participants vary depending on age, economic background, social background, academic achievements and professional achievements (for instance the professional position of a rain maker in the African societies). However, the main question is; what really makes these festivals unique and keeps people interested in them. This study tries to explore in reference to my own believes experiences and expectations. In this research study, interviews, survey and content analysis were used in data finding. Thus, this research has been analyzed according to the available data.
There is need to review our festivals. This will help us renew people’s attitude towards traditional festivals as well.
Background
There is an increase in the number of people celebrating western the western festivals thus losing touch with their traditional festivals across world over. Most people say that they find it hard spending their holidays and leisure times in their traditional ways. For instance, nowadays, people would go for the world wide festivals like the mother’s day, father’s day and the likes. However, it is very obvious getting people complain about their traditional celebrations, some even see them as misplaced happenings in their time frames (Quinn, 2005)
The adversely affected by this are the youths; mostly people in their 20s and 30s. What could be the possible reason for the change of events? Is there any difference in the traditional festivals and the western festivals?
Hypothesis
- Festivals are social events.
- Festivals bring people enjoyment.
- Festivals have cultural aspect.
Methodology
In carrying out this study, interviews and surveys were used. In the interviews, the target groups were the young adults aged between 18 and 25. Random sampling was done in enabling in carrying out the interviews.
Discussion
Festivals are social events in which many people sharing cultural, religious or professional values come together to celebrate and is centered on and celebrates the unique aspect of the community and the festival. The term is historically interchangeable with the word feast. Every festival is made individual and special by the people participating in the festival and the purpose of the festival. For instance, if the community taking part in the festival have believes in supernatural powers, they tend to show veneration to their ancestors and gods which will make such a ceremony unique compared to a ceremony among Christians which centers in the believe in existence of one supreme being. Equally, a community that believes in frequent attacks by evil spirits is more likely to hold ceremonies that are aimed at exorcising the evil spirits which makes it different from a festival held by people to whose purpose is to solicit for rain from their gods following a long period of drought. The period of the year in which this festival is celebrated also will make it unique. For example, the celebration of the new year festival is unique since it happens just at the start of the new year, compared to other celebrations that happen within the year; for instance the Easter ceremony among the Christians. The age of the participants in the festival also makes it unique. For instance, children festivals held in big cities during holidays have its main participants being children unlike many of the festivals where the main participants are adults. Most of these festivals bring people together to celebrate and enjoy the moment (Quinn, 2005).
In attending a festival, I would like to see entertainment like plays, music, poetry, and dance. All these activities would bring out the theme of the festival. If taking part in children’s festivals, I would like to see many small kids running around with painted faces, merry go rounds, roller coasters, clowns, a lot of food, cotton candies, drinks, music and dunk tanks. In a traditional festival I would like to see traditional outfits, speaking of native language, indigenous foods and people who are happy to share their culture. A dance festival should have good music and equally good dancers. The dancers need to be in their dancing attire. The music needs to complement the dancers just so that they are not in synch with the beats. In a sports festival, participants from all age groups should be involved so that everybody enjoys themselves. The different groups should compete in games such as baseball, swimming, lacrosse and football. A crowd is also encouraged to cheer their teams with songs and dances. Prizes and gifts should be awarded to the winning team to motivate them and make the event more enjoyable.
If you had visited a festival what did you like about it?
Recently when I attended a children’s drama festival in October this year, many of the performances were by children. Several aspects of the festivals were eye opening. First, the plays were very entertaining. I also liked the fact that the plays depicted what happens in our daily lives. Also, it served as an avenue to identify emerging talents among children, like skills in acting and public speaking. Apart from it being centered on children, I interacted with many people and got to make new friends we had a meal and drinks and listened to music together. This created a good rapport among the parents and boosted the friendship and co-operation among the children, which goes a long way in improving cohesion in society from a tender age. The fact that the festival brought children and adults from different social, economic and religious background and the performances were staged by children, it served to remind people of the need to accept each other in society irrespective of their religious, economic and social background as exhibited by children who are not aware of such stratifications in society
People exhibit different expectations from festivals. Very many people in their desires to attend festivals would like to see culture of people reflected in them. They can tell these from their dressing, food and music. This makes the visitors and the observant directly connect to the way people those people live, their values and beliefs as well. However, this is different from what people anticipate to see in funfair. At a fun fair, people will expect roller coasters, thrill rides, shooting gallery games, animals, games, tractor rides, live music and drunken tanks.
Though, people feel that religious festivals should show different characteristics in them. For instance, during Easter celebrations for Christians, people will are expected to be may be in a church, sharing meals and singing the Christian songs.
People may attend festivals due to curiosity. They may feel to know and understand why a certain group of people believe in certain aspects. For instance, one participant said that he would attend an African rain making ceremony in a bid to understand why they believe in the gods “giving” them rain. In addition to that, people go to festivals for self enjoyment. For instance adults like the children as well because they are really entertaining with activities as dancing, the music and the food. People also go to festivals especially when they are participants in that festival. Apart from these reasons, people can also be obliged to attend festivals when they are invited as guests or taking a relative/friend to such festivals. However, there are some educative festivals which people may also opt to attend due to the additional value that they are likely to get from the festivals. When the festival at hand is of additional value to the research done or academics in general, people will attend.
Results
This study finds festival to be a way of expressing the glorious heritage of different social groups. However, it proves to be very expensive. Festivals are purposely to rejoice in special moments with our loved ones. Festivals improve the social and connect people to their backgrounds. In addition to these, they do provide relief from our daily routines which sometimes can be too monotonous and hectic. They also help in passing knowledge from one generation to the other.
This research finds that in a way or the other, festivals will express a cultural aspect. For this reason, there are very many different types of festivals that people may have; depending with the cultural aspect to be addressed. Due to this, festivals build the community bond and bring the sense of belonging to the people (Alexander, 2006),
In general, festivals are universally related to happiness, peace and harmony.
Conclusion
Festivals are profane or sacred celebrations which have observances
In festivals, the communities celebrate their values, identity, continuity and ideologies.
However, the modern approach to festivals views festivals as any themed public celebrations. Thus with this modern perspective of festivals, this term has been misused and been commercialized (Delanty, 2009).
References
Alexander, J. et.al (2006), Social Performance; Cultural Pragmatics and Ritual, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Delanty, G. (2009), Cosmopolitan Imagination: Renewal of Critical Social Theory, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Ilkzuk, D. (2007), Festival Jungle, Policy Desert? Research report, Cultural Information and Research Centres Liaison in Europe – Interarts
Klaic, D., Bollo, A. and Bacchella, U. Festivals: Challenges of Growth, Distinction,
Tartu City Government, Estonia
Quinn, B. (2005), ‘Arts Festivals and the City’, Urban Studies, 42(5/6): 927-43.
Santoro, M. (2009), ‘The Dark Side of Festivals’; a workshop presentation ‘Public Culture and Festivals’, February 26-27, Vienna
