DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

      Bilbao's ‘Great Week' (‘Semana Grande' or ‘Aste Nagusia') is the most important and recognizable fiesta in Bilbao. The celebration begins on the first Saturday after the 15th of August and lasts 9 days. Bilbao's ‘Semana Grande' has been officially celebrated since 1978 and has been taking place continuously year after year with the exception of the year 1983 when Bilbao suffered severe floods. During those 9 days in August the whole of Bilbao is vibrant and full of life and there is a great variety of things to see and do. Bilbao during its fiestas is definitely the place to be!! • The first day of the fiestas will begin with the so-called txupinazo, which, since 2001, has taken place in the Plaza del Teatro Arriaga. This involves the launching of a rocket and the reading of the proclamation of the fiestas. • One of the most interesting things to see is a spectacular fireworks show, which will take place everyday at 22.30 and ca...

 WATCH OUT LADIES!!!!HE'S COMING TO GET YOU!!!!     There are many hairy guys out there (even I have extra!) in the world. Most of them are completely harmless, sort of. However, every now and then, a werewolf might be on the prowl and these are the type of creatures you don't want to take home to mom and dad. Man or woman, a werewolf will likely try to rip you up! You need to know what to do to protect yourself from the hairy beasties. And I do not mean your big bro. How to tell if the person you're with is a werewolf    Just because a man is hairy does not mean he's a werewolf. There are a number of things to look for to help you find if the man stalking you is a werewolf or not. According to Warren Zevon song, The Werewolves of London , a werewolf likes Chinese food, especially the beef lo mein. They also love pina colada's (and getting caught in the rain). The biggest trait that will stand out the most, is that a werewolf has perfect ...

   Obon or just Bon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors . This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.    The festival of Obon lasts for three days; however its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. When the lunar calendar was changed to the Gregorian calendar at the beginning of the Meiji era , the localities in Japan reacted differently and this resulted in three different times of Obon. "Shichigatsu Bon" (Bon in July) is based on the solar calendar and is celebrated around 15 July in eastern Japan ( Kantō : areas such as Tokyo , Yokohama and the Tohoku region ), coinciding with ...

    I know it may be a little early but I also love Christmas. I have been writing alot of articles about Halloween time. So here are some phobias that people may have during Christmas time. Many people dread the Christmas season for many reasons. Although the season is stressful, most people don't have actual phobias connected with the holidays. But Christmas is stressful to many. And it seems to aggravate a lot of phobias. Ochlophobia or Agoraphobia-(Fear of crowds) It also includes fear of lines, traffic jams and even social events. Many people suffer from just the fear of not pleasing others during this season and end up overwhelming themselves with too much responsibility. Katagelophobia-(Fear of ridicule or embarrassment) this might include not giving the right gift, being around family and their comments, Christmas party pranks, etc. Mythophobia-(Fear of making a false statement) slipping and telling a secret you shouldn't, or what someon...

   Mummies are a popular part of modern Halloween imagery. But how much do you really know about them? This Halloween season, entertain yourself and your kids with these thirteen intriguing facts about mummies. 1. According to Egyptologist Salima Ikram , the word mummy comes from the Arabic word for bitumen: mumya . Over time, the word mumya evolved into the name we recognize today: mummy. 2. It is believed that the ancient Egyptians began to mummify their dead as early as 2500 B.C. - but the Chinchorros of South America did it first. 3. The Egyptians believed that the dead could enjoy earthly pleasures in the afterlife. For this reason, many mummies were entombed with treasures, food, and even loyal servants. 4. The jackal-headed deity Anubis was considered to be the god of mummification and embalming. 5. All of a mummy's major internal organs were removed and placed in canopic jars - except for the heart, which was thought to be the center of intelli...

Scorched earth policy: Blazing trails as proceedings get fiery Goodness gracious: Pitched battles watched by onlookers    Pause before a flare-up: Revellers take a breather    It looks like a warzone or at least a riot in full swing. Fireballs tear through the streets painting the night air orange as young men, their faces emblazoned with fearsome patterns, prowl the streets waging in pitched battles against one another. The incendiary missiles explode on impact – sometimes in the faces of their targets. Pyromaniacs take note. If you love fire – and fireworks or trick or treat are too tame for your taste buds – you’ll be blown away by the Bolas de Fuego festival in El Salvador.    Every August 31, the El Salvadorian town of Nejapa is set alight by Bolas de Fuego, meaning balls of fire – though some might consider balls of steel equally essential for taking part. In the kind of event that would’ve been banned or smothered by health ...