DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   The attractions of snakes seems to be a huge pull factor, and seemingly the whole world's major ophidiophillaccs (snake lovers) often accompanied by their snakes, alongside keen photographers, descend on the small medieval town of Cocullo , in the Abruzzo Majella Mountains , ready to take part in this festival which has been re-enacted in its current Christian format each year, apart from 2009.    There are three supposed origins to the Cocullo Snake Festival ....In the 11th century, apparently Saint Dominic cleared the local fields which were being overrun by snakes, and as a sign of thanks, since 1392, the locals parade his statue and snakes around the streets.  The second version dates to 700 B.C., locals experienced the same problems in tending to their field and Apollo ordered the village to entwine the snakes around his statue so that they would become tame and be able to farm once more.  The first origin dates back some 2000 years to the Marsi w

   The Takayama Festivals in Takayama, Japan, started in the 16th to 17th century.  The origins of the festivals are unknown; however they are believed to have been started during the rule of the Kanamori family .  Correspondence dated 1692, place the origin to 40 years prior to that date.  One of the festivals is held on the 14th and 15th of April and the other on the 9th ad 10th of October.    The Spring Takayama Festival is centered on the Hie Shrine .  The shrine is also known as the Sanno Shrine , and the spring festival is also known as the Sanno Festival.   The Sanno Festival is held to pray for a good harvest and the Autumn Festival is for giving thanks.    The Autumn festival is centered on the Sakurayama Hachiman Shrine and is referred to as the Hachiman Festival .  It is held after the crops are harvested.  The fall festival is one of the three largest festivals in Japan.  The other two are Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Matsuri.

   Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on April 25th every year to honor members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.  It is now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries.  Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.       History    Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.  The acronym ANZAC, stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps , whose soldiers were known as Anzacs.  Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand.  This is a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name.

   Omizutori , or the annual, sacred Water Drawing Festival , is a Japanese Buddhist festival that takes place in the NIgatsu-do of Todai-ji, Nara, Japan.  The festival is the final rite in observance of the two week long Shuni-e ceremony.  This ceremony is to cleanse the people of their sins as well as to usher in spring of the New Year.  Once the Omizutori is completed, the cherry blossoms have started blooming and spring has arrived.      The rite occurs on the last night of the Shuni-e ceremony, when monks bearing torches come to the Wakasa Well , underneath the Nigatsu-do Hall, which according to legend only springs forth water once a year.  The ceremony has occurred in the Nigatsu-do of the imperial temple at Nara, of the Todai-ji, since it was first founded.  These annual festivals have been dated back to the year of 752.  The earliest known records of the use of an incense seal during the religious rites in Japan were actually used during one Omizut