Glastonbury, the world's biggest music festival, is almost as renowned for its muddy setting as it is music. The festival is often credited with inventing "mud surfing".
Glastonbury —
Glastonbury, the world's biggest music festival, is almost as renowned for its muddy setting as it is music. The festival is often credited with inventing "mud surfing".
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Not to be outdone, each year mud enthusiasts descend on Daecheon Beach in South Korea for the annual Boryeong Mud Festival. Last year, 2.6 million people participated, many diving in to the mud marathon, mud wrestling, and several other mud-related activities on offer.
Boryeong Mud Festival —
Not to be outdone, each year mud enthusiasts descend on Daecheon Beach in South Korea for the annual Boryeong Mud Festival. Last year, 2.6 million people participated, many diving in to the mud marathon, mud wrestling, and several other mud-related activities on offer.
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Every February in the Italian village of Ivrea, participants of the local Carnival engage in the annual "Orange Battle". The battle commemorates a popular rebellion against a local tyrant dating back to 1266 A.D.
Orange Battle —
Every February in the Italian village of Ivrea, participants of the local Carnival engage in the annual "Orange Battle". The battle commemorates a popular rebellion against a local tyrant dating back to 1266 A.D.
Giuseppe Cacace/Getty Images
As oranges are hard, and can make for a painful weapon when thrown at full speed, many participants don protective clothing.
Orange Battle —
As oranges are hard, and can make for a painful weapon when thrown at full speed, many participants don protective clothing.
Giuseppe Cacace/Getty Images
Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated at the beginning of Spring in India (March 19 next year). The Hindu celebration is easily one of the brightest on the calendar. Each year, thousands of participants throw colored powder at each other, often ending the session looking positively tie-dyed.
Holi —
Holi, the festival of colors, is celebrated at the beginning of Spring in India (March 19 next year). The Hindu celebration is easily one of the brightest on the calendar. Each year, thousands of participants throw colored powder at each other, often ending the session looking positively tie-dyed.
Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Holi is so popular that the tradition has started to make its way around the world. Last year, Indian-American revelers celebrated Holi in New York City.
Holi —
Holi is so popular that the tradition has started to make its way around the world. Last year, Indian-American revelers celebrated Holi in New York City.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
A water fight takes place every year during Songkran, the Thai New Year. Attendees splash each other, and some even break out the water pistol. Elephants -- who are especially effective at dousing water -- join in the fun as well.
Songkran —
A water fight takes place every year during Songkran, the Thai New Year. Attendees splash each other, and some even break out the water pistol. Elephants -- who are especially effective at dousing water -- join in the fun as well.
PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images
Residents of Ibi, Spain have been hosting Els Enfarinats, a food fight with flour, eggs and water, for over 200 years. The event is part of the town's Day of the Innocents celebrations on December 28, and involves participants dressing in mock military dress and staging a faux coup d'etat.
Els Enfarinats —
Residents of Ibi, Spain have been hosting Els Enfarinats, a food fight with flour, eggs and water, for over 200 years. The event is part of the town's Day of the Innocents celebrations on December 28, and involves participants dressing in mock military dress and staging a faux coup d'etat.
JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images
During the Haro Wine Festival in Spain, which starts June 29 this year, participants engage in La Batalla de Vino, or a wine battle. Revelers dressed in white at the start of the day will finish looking like a drenched plum. The festival supposedly dates back to a 13th century land dispute that concluded with the parties throwing wine at each other.
Haro Wine Festival —
During the Haro Wine Festival in Spain, which starts June 29 this year, participants engage in La Batalla de Vino, or a wine battle. Revelers dressed in white at the start of the day will finish looking like a drenched plum. The festival supposedly dates back to a 13th century land dispute that concluded with the parties throwing wine at each other.
Every year, more and more cities participate in International Pillow Fight Day on April 6. London is no exception, and last year, a mass public pillow fight took place in Trafalgar Square.
International Pillow Fight —
Every year, more and more cities participate in International Pillow Fight Day on April 6. London is no exception, and last year, a mass public pillow fight took place in Trafalgar Square.
Oli Scarff/Getty Images
The World Bodypainting Festival meets in Pörtschach, Austria every year with the aim to demonstrate that body art is more than just "coloring in some bodies," but is an elevated art form all its own.
World Bodypainting Festival —
The World Bodypainting Festival meets in Pörtschach, Austria every year with the aim to demonstrate that body art is more than just "coloring in some bodies," but is an elevated art form all its own.
Gerhard Stockinger
Many of the festival participants are professional makeup artists. They achieve their desired effect by spray painting their models, or using a sponge.
World Bodypainting Festival —
Many of the festival participants are professional makeup artists. They achieve their desired effect by spray painting their models, or using a sponge.
Courtesy World Bodypainting Festival/Photo by Andrea Peria
Some artists also choose to augment their designs with elaborate headpieces. Last year, the festival attracted 30,000 attendees from 44 different countries.
World Bodypainting Festival —
Some artists also choose to augment their designs with elaborate headpieces. Last year, the festival attracted 30,000 attendees from 44 different countries.
Courtesy World Bodypainting Festival/Photo by Andrea Peria