In this article, we will bring you to have a sneak peek about another festival that celebrates animals. It is a dog festival! Dogs are every man’s best friend. They deserve their own festival, right? So here are some festivals dedicated to them
Ready to hear the bark! 6 dogs festival around the world
1. St. Roch’s Day
Every year on August 16, Catholics churches around the world commemorate Saint Roch, the patron saint of dogs, on a special day known as St. Roch’s Day or the Feast of San Rocco. Saint Roch was born in Montpellier. His life was marked by a series of miracles and gave away his possessions to travel to Rome to take care of the plague victims. Saint Roch is also widely known for his story with a dog. It is recounted in a story where Saint Roch was dying from the illness and wounds. He retreated to the forest to die. Later on, he met a hunting dog that licked and healed him. The dog also took care of him by bringing him bread to eat. From there, Saint Roch not only known as the patron saint of the sick but also the patron saint of dogs.
One of the countries that celebrate St. Roch’s Day in Bolivia. It is also known as the Fiesta de San Roque. The event is held for eight days straight and there will be a big parade where dogs from all kinds will dress up and march together. Despite this religious background, everyone is welcome to join the festival. Bet you will be delighted to see a parade filled with dogs in colorful ribbon!
2. Kukur Tihar
If the last one is based on Catholic belief, then Kukur Tihar is a Hindu festival in Nepal. Kukur Tihar, or also known as days of dogs in Nepal, is an annual tradition and a part of Diwali or festival of lights. Diwali is a 5-day ceremony, occurred in late October to early November, and Kukur Tihar occurs on its second day.
During Kukur Tihar, people gather and worship dogs of all kinds. Dogs are adorned with flowers, garlands, and gulal and they are offered with lots of their favorite foods. All of these special treatments towards the dogs, even the stray one, are to represent their gratitude for dog’s loyalty and to let them know that they are loved.
Dogs are one of the sacred and worshipped animals in Hinduism. In the Mahabharata, they are known as the steed of Lord Shiva’s manifestation, associated with Yama, the God of Death, that guard the gates of hell, and also as our companion in our way to heaven. To have a better insight into this event, you can also check this article about Kukur Tihar or Days of Dogs in Nepal.
3. Chinese New Year Dog Birthday
Chinese New Year is one of the most popular public holidays around the world. The mythology of Chinese New Year itself is heavily correlated with animals, as each day of the 15 days in it represents the day that an animal (or human) was created. The second day of the celebration is a day dedicated to dogs because it is the day when the first-ever dog was born. It is also believed to be associated with Tsai Shen, the Goddess of Wealth. Hence, people will pray to their ancestors and the married women will visit their parents. During the event, all kinds of dogs, from the home-owned until they stray dogs, will be well-treated and fed with their favorite foods.
4. Tompkins Square Park Halloween Parade
In New York City, an annual Halloween parade has been going on for over 25 years. This Halloween parade is not the usual one, because it is held especially for dogs! Many dog owners will dress-up their dogs in scary yet pretty costumes and gather in Tompkins Square. The event held with a lot of fun activities and also a costume contest with cash prizes! Can you imagine a park full of dogs, dress up in mummy or vampire costumes? How could we resist the cuteness of them?
5. Pafwtoberfest
During September, Pawtoberfest is occurred and take place in Colorado. Pawtoberfest is a fundraising event, consisted of race and festival. It is organized by the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) and aims to encourage local pet adoption. It is a great option for dog owners who want to enjoy a holiday or outdoor festival that is pet-friendly. You don’t always find a 5K run/walk that can let you run with your furry friend by your side, aren’t you?
6. Woofstock
Woofstock is the largest outdoor festival for dogs in North America. It is occurred annually for the whole week in June and filled with thousands of attendees, vendors, and exhibitors. The first Woofstock opened in 2006 with a simple goal which is to organize a family-friendly festival and event for dog lovers in the Roanoke area. A few years later, Woofstock is getting bigger and becoming one of the largest events in the region! Well, it isn’t hard to find a dog lover, anyway… Just tell us where the puppies are, and we will be there in a sec!
That is all about a few dogs festival around the world. Interesting isn’t it? If you are a dog person, then these festivals could be a heaven on earth to you! Attending a dog’s parade in Bolivia, a dog’s day in Nepal or an outdoor festival in Colorado and New York would be a great holiday plan for you in 2020.
Having a special day dedicated to animals, especially dogs is fun. However, what we have to bear in our mind is dog’s day can be every day. We have to treat our dogs and show them our care and love throughout time, not only for a single day, right? Hope your dogs will always be happy and healthy!