Holidays and Festivals in Bolivia

  1. Independence Day : August 6 (1825) - Dia de la Independencia

  2. You might find it funny, but sometimes people themselves celebrate with more enthusiasm the local holiday, for Departamento La Paz - it's July 16th, on which is remembered the death of Pedro Domingo Murillo (1809), an early fighter for independence. - Dia de La Paz

  3. Of course Christmas - Navidad - (December 25)

  4. New Year's day - Ayo Nuevo -(January 1st) (more celebrated than Christmas)

  5. Carnavales (huge festivities and dances, people play with water a LOT, picture included) is moveable, this year it was the week begining February 14.

  6. Easter or Holy Week (Pascuas or Semana Santa) is also moveable. Main days there are Viernes Santo (Easter Friday) and Domingo de Resurección (Sunday of Resurrection)

  7. May 1st (Dia del trabajo, Labour Day)

  8. October 12 (Dia de la Raza - Race Day (really!) - Columbus day)

  9. November 2 (Todos Santos - All Souls Day - Day of the Dead)

Carnavales - 14th February

Most holidays take about 3 days solid drinking and feasting, at least. When I took those pictures of Carnaval water play I felt a bit like a war zone correspondent, people "shooting" each other all over the place, and didn't want the digital camera to get hurt ! I stood right by, almost hugging two policepersons, with the foolish notion that they would be respected. I left, dry, before anything happened, but it looked very enjoyable.

Written by Yamandu Ploskonka

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