Glad to Gather

As America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, people will ready their barbeques and crane their necks to a firework-lit sky. Every year, along with a surge of national pride, we see sparklers clutched in the small hands of children; folks dressed in red, white, and blue; pool parties, and concerts. On Independence Day, we recognize not only the freedom of our nation, but the togetherness of a celebration.

If there’s one thing that transcends cultures and language barriers, it is the innate human desire to gather and celebrate. Whether it be with a festival or a parade, we sure know how to throw a party! With unique celebrations that have brought people together for decades, the world sees friendly competitions, artistic showcases, and pageants that commemorate a nation’s history—many within the month of July.

Bastille Day: July 14

From Paris to the smallest village, the revelry of Bastille Day can be felt across France. Much like our own Independence Day, Bastille Day marks the start of the French Revolution in 1789. Named for the fortress stormed by a mob of angry revolutionaries, mere remnants of the Bastille remain as it was torn down brick by brick. Today, Parisians kick off their celebrations at the Place de la Bastille with a massive open-air party. Other highlights include a grand parade along Paris’ Champs-Élysées, picnicking at Champ de Mars park, and watching blue, white, and red fireworks bloom in the sky above the glittering Eiffel Tower.

Feel the celebratory spirit of France while on Grand Circle’s The Seine: Paris & the Heart of Normandy River Cruise.

San Fermín Festival: July 6

The San Fermín Festival is an eight-day celebration held in Pamplona, Spain, that honors the city’s first bishop and patron saint. The festival kicks off with fireworks and the singing of traditional songs and is most well-known for its Running of the Bulls. In this event, which is held every afternoon of the festival, several thousand people participate in running half a mile in fenced off streets while being chased by sprinting bulls. This non-stop celebration includes live music, religious processions, and parties long into the night.

Discover the rich traditions and learn more about the religious history of Spain on Northern Spain & Portugal: Pilgrimage into the Past.

Gion Matsuri: July

Widely regarded as the most famous festival in Japan, Gion Matsuri celebrates Yasaka Jinja Shrine, a famous Shinto shrine in Kyoto. The festival dates to 869, when it was originally an attempt by Kyoto locals to appease the gods in the face of an epidemic. Now, Gion Matsuri is a month-long celebration filled with food stalls, lantern processions, and gatherings around the shrine. The largest and most anticipated of the events are the two processions of elaborate floats, decorated with treasures from around the globe, which happen in the middle and end of July. This celebration has lasted centuries, and what was once a cure to sickness is now is a world-renowned showcase of artistic heritage.

Learn more about the sacred traditions of Japan on Japan’s Cultural Treasures.

Naadam Festival: July 11

Each summer, Mongolia hosts the Naadam Festival, a three-day competition of wrestling, archery, and horse racing. The tournament traces its history back to ancient times, when nomadic tribes would gather once a year for a test of strength and skills required for survival on the steppe. Mongolians come from all over the country to Ulaanbaatar to compete in the games and take part in the pageantry. Another name for Naadam is “The Three Manly Games,” although women can now compete in the archery and horseback-riding events.

Explore the ancient landscapes of Mongolia on Mongolia & the Gobi Desert.

Guanacaste Day: July 25

This major holiday celebrates the annexation of the province of Guanacaste to Costa Rica in 1824. The inhabitants of Guanacaste, previously part of Nicaragua, requested to be annexed by Costa Rica. To this day, the people of Guanacaste still say, “de la patria por nuestra voluntad”—“our country by choice.” Ticos in cities and towns throughout the country celebrate the day with pageants, parades, dances, music, and more in honor of “the day Guanacaste decided to be part of Costa Rica.”

Witness authentic Central American culture while on Costa Rica: Pura Vida & Rainforest Discoveries.

Discover the history of France from the Revolution to World War II during The Seine: Paris & the Heart of Normandy.