There are many famous festivals around the world. The Carnivals in Rio de Janeiro and Venice, Munich's Oktoberfest and London's Notting Hill Carnival are three examples.
世界各地有許多著名的節(jié)日。從里約熱內(nèi)盧和威尼斯的狂歡節(jié)，到慕尼黑的啤酒節(jié)，再到倫敦的諾丁山狂歡節(jié)，這些都是比較著名的節(jié)日。

There are, however, festivals going on somewhere in the world every day of the year. These range from very large events which involve whole cities to local celebrations in tiny villages or neighbourhoods of towns or cities. We have selected a few of the more unusual, colourful festivals from around the world.
每年甚至每天在世界上的各個角落都在慶祝不同的節(jié)日。節(jié)日的規(guī)模大小不一，從全城慶祝的重大活動，到小村莊或者市鎮(zhèn)街區(qū)，再到當(dāng)?shù)剌^小規(guī)模的慶典活動。我們在這選擇了一些與眾不同的，來自世界各地豐富多彩的節(jié)慶活動。

Australia Day Cockroach Races: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
澳大利亞國慶節(jié)-蟑螂賽跑大賽：布里斯班，昆士蘭州，澳大利亞

"Racing is simple....the races are held in a circular track and roaches are then let go from an upturned bucket in the middle...first to the edge is a winner. Things are made a little more difficult in the steeplechase events where a circular fence (garden hose) is used to enhance the spectacle and test the roach talent."
“比賽規(guī)則很簡單...是在一個圓形軌道中進(jìn)行，蟑螂們從圓形場地中點起跑，最先到達(dá)外圈的就勝出。在障礙賽跑中，把表演推向高潮并考驗蟑螂天賦之高的圓形圍墻（橡膠軟管）會讓比賽變得更加困難。”

Canberra Sled Dog Classic: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
堪培拉雪橇犬經(jīng)典：堪培拉 澳大利亞首都直轄區(qū) 澳大利亞

Dog sledding is one of the fastest growing sports on the east coast of Australia. As there's no snow (the trail is earth and sand and is smooth and wide with a few hills and turns), the sleds have wheels instead of runners, but the excitement is the same.
狗拉雪橇是澳大利亞東海岸發(fā)展最快的運(yùn)動之一。雖然沒有雪（運(yùn)動場地只有沙土，又寬又滑，偶爾還會有小山丘和轉(zhuǎn)彎），只有帶有輪子的雪橇，但活動依然令人激動不已。

Darwin Beer Can Regatta: Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
達(dá)爾文啤酒罐賽艇會：達(dá)爾文 北領(lǐng)地 澳大利亞

This local charity event brings together great engineers and great drinkers. Participants construct everything from life-size beer-can canoes to beer-can Viking warships (complete with fire hoses) during this off-the-wall regatta.
這個當(dāng)?shù)氐拇壬苹顒訁R集了很多的工程師和飲酒者們。在這瘋狂的賽舟會上，參與者用一切可以找到的東西制成各種物品，從真人大小的啤酒罐獨木舟到啤酒罐海盜戰(zhàn)艦等等（配有消防水管）用來參加活動。

Festival of Snakes, Abruzzo, Italy
游蛇節(jié)，阿布羅佐大區(qū)，意大利

"Each year in the tiny hamlet of Cocullo, surrounded by some of Italy's most undomesticated forests, the villagers prove their devotion by getting down and dirty with as many fork-tongued reptiles as they can."
“每年，被意大利原始的森林簇?fù)淼男〈迩f科庫爾羅，村民們會擺弄各式各樣的蛇來證明他們對活動的無限熱情。

Henley-on-Todd Regatta: Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
帆船賽：艾麗斯斯普林斯 北領(lǐng)地 澳大利亞舟

"This multi-event program attracts many local and international participants from the audience who often finish up on world TV news paddling canoes with sand shovels and in land lubber events like filling empty 44 gallon drums with sand. The Henley-on-Todd is run entirely on a volunteer basis by the three Rotary Clubs based in the Alice. The entire proceeds - over a million dollars in the 30 plus years of the event - are allocated to local, national and international humanitarian projects."
“眾多節(jié)事活動吸引了很多本地和國際的參與者，這些參與者來自世界各地有趣的比賽現(xiàn)場，比如電視新聞中報道的用鏟子劃獨木舟比賽，或是用沙子填滿容量為44加侖的容器。帆船比賽由扶輪俱樂部的志愿者共同運(yùn)營，扶輪俱樂部總部設(shè)在愛麗絲。從30余年的賽事中積累的全部收入超過一百萬美元全部扶持于本地，本國和國際人道主義項目當(dāng)中。”

International Cherry Pit Spitting Contest: Eau Claire, MI, USA
吐櫻桃核國際比賽：歐克萊爾市 密歇根州 美國

"A nutritious sport - is there a better way to dispose of the pit once you have eaten the cherry? Entrants eat a cherry and then spit the pit as far as possible on a blacktop surface. The pit that goes the farthest including the roll is the champ."
“養(yǎng)生運(yùn)動----吃完櫻桃，有什么更好的方式吐出櫻桃核呢？參賽者在馬路上吃完櫻桃后，將櫻桃核吐得盡可能的遠(yuǎn)。吐的距離（包括櫻桃核滾動的距離）最遠(yuǎn)的就是勝者。

Interstate Mullet Toss: Pensacola, Florida, USA
州際扔烏魚比賽： 彭薩科拉 佛羅里達(dá)州 美國

"Pensacola locals and tourists alike have been trying to perfect the art of mullet-tossing for more than 15 years. Ok -- so what exactly is a mullet? A mullet is a bottom-feeding, saltwater fish that people go nuts about every April. Competitors from far and wide come to the Florida and Alabama border town for this head-to-head competition to see who, while standing on the Florida side, can toss the one and a half pound fish into the Alabama side the farthest. Prizes are awarded and all entries receive a free T-shirt exclaiming, "Dear Ma, thanks for the college education!" More than 300 pounds of mullet are used each year. Sounds like a lot of fish? They are recycled! After contestants throw their fish they must retrieve it, and if it's not too mangled they put it back in the bucket. Other festivities include the Mullet Man Triathlon, Mullet Swing Golf Classic, Ms. Mullet Bikini Contest, a wet T-shirt contest, volleyball, skeet shooting, a keg toss, three bandstands and seven bar stations."
“彭薩科拉當(dāng)?shù)厝撕陀慰陀贸^15年去嘗試并完善扔鯔魚比賽。那鯔魚到底是什么？鯔魚是靠底飼為生的海魚。每年的4月，人們都會為之瘋狂。來自各地的參賽者遠(yuǎn)赴佛羅里達(dá)州和阿拉巴馬州邊境的小鎮(zhèn)前來比賽。比賽內(nèi)容：站在佛羅里達(dá)州這側(cè)的參賽者向阿拉巴馬州的方向投擲重達(dá)1.5磅鯔魚，看誰扔的最遠(yuǎn)。勝利者可獲得獎品，每位參賽者都可以免費(fèi)獲得一件T恤，衣服上寫著“親愛的媽媽，謝謝你讓我上了大學(xué)”。每年比賽都會用掉300磅的鯔魚。這聽起來好像有很多魚？不過，比賽完后參賽者還得把魚找回來，如果魚沒有被摔很慘的話，就將它們放回桶里。還有其他關(guān)于鯔魚的慶?；顒永纾乎欞~男子鐵人三項，經(jīng)典鯔魚揮高爾夫，鯔魚比基尼小姐大賽，濕T恤比賽，排球賽，飛碟射擊賽，扔小桶，三個演奏臺比賽和七個站點?！?/p>

La Tomatina: Bunol, Spain
番茄大戰(zhàn)：布諾 西班牙

"The tomato battle is in honor of Saint Luis Beltran, the patron saint of Bunol. Residents and visitors take part in a tomato-throwing battle that decimates more than 88,000 pounds of tomatoes. This wacky event began with a serious aim as a symbolic protest against Franco. But the Tomatina is now firmly entrenched as an amusing way to end the summer."
“番茄大戰(zhàn)是為了向圣?路易斯?貝爾特蘭-布尼奧爾的守護(hù)神表示敬意而舉辦的。居民和游客都可參加比賽，每年超過了88,000磅的番茄被投入到大戰(zhàn)中。這個古怪的活動以一個象征抗議佛朗哥的嚴(yán)肅目的而發(fā)起。但是現(xiàn)在，西紅柿大戰(zhàn)已成為結(jié)束夏天的有趣慶祝方式?！?/p>

Mighty Mud Mania: Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
瘋狂泥漿節(jié)： 斯科茨代爾 亞利桑那州 美國

"Children's dreams really do come true in the City of Scottsdale. Children aged 1 to 13, get to participate in a mud race to end all mud races. During the running of the Mighty Mud Obstacle course, several mud pits strategically placed, provide wet and really dirty obstacles as kids compete for the fastest time in each heat. There are also mud puddle pools for the tiny tots, and a mini mud course for those six and younger. In addition, Mighty Mudway features water and mud games. There are also water slides, sandcastle buildings and fun for all ages. Moms and dads, remember to send your kids out with old clothes and shoes that lace up or Velcro closures. And have no fear, Rural Metro Fire Department is on hand to literally hose down the muddy children."
“孩子們的夢想可以在斯科茨代爾這座城市實現(xiàn)-那就是泥漿大賽，比賽只對1至13歲的兒童開放。在泥漿比賽中設(shè)置障礙賽區(qū)，泥坑必須巧妙的擺放好，并保持又濕又臟的狀態(tài)，比的就是在這樣艱難的環(huán)境下看看哪個孩子以最快的速度完成比賽。對于年齡較小一點的孩子（6歲甚至更?。?，他們會在另外小些的區(qū)域進(jìn)行比賽。此外，泥漿節(jié)的特點是水和泥，活動還設(shè)置水滑梯，沙塔建筑物等其他活動項目供不同年齡段的小伙伴玩耍。爸爸媽媽們在帶孩子來比賽之前，記得給孩子們穿上舊衣服、鞋子并用系帶系緊衣物。大家們不必害怕，城村消防部門會在活動結(jié)束后用水管沖干凈這些渾身是泥的孩子們。

Songkran Festival, Thailand
潑水節(jié) 泰國

What better way to celebrate the "start of the return of rains" than with a country-wide water fight? Thais celebrate their festival officially from April 13th until April 15th. These three days represent the last day of the old year, the day of transition, and the first day of the New Year. These are days of cleaning the houses and the body, days of merry making, and renewal. Nothing evil has to be taken into the New Year. Formerly one sprinkled or spilled a bit of scented water over the hands or shoulders of elders and friends to ask them forgiveness for coarse or wicked speaking. But in modern times these traditions, which still are held in family celebrations, are hidden behind water battles fought out for days in the streets of every town and city over the country.
有什么更好的方式比整個國家用打水仗來慶祝“雨季的開始”呢？從4月13日至4月15日，泰國正式慶祝潑水節(jié)。這三天，分別代表著舊的一年的最后一天，過渡得日子，以及新年的第一天。這幾天，人們打掃房屋、凈身，開心的迎接新年到來。為了避免將邪惡的事物進(jìn)入新的一年。人們會在長輩和朋友的手或肩膀撒上少許帶有香味的液體，請求對自己惡言惡語的寬恕。近現(xiàn)代，這些傳統(tǒng)在家庭慶祝活動中也一直保持著，同時也被淹沒在大街小巷持續(xù)數(shù)天的潑水大戰(zhàn)之中了。

The New Straits Times Million Ringgit Charity Duck Race: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
新海峽時報百萬林吉特慈善鴨競賽：吉隆坡,馬來西亞

Thirteen years ago, Eric Schechter and his friends were brainstorming to find new ways of raising money for local charities when they came up with the idea of rubber duck races. The event, crazy as it may sound, involves racing "cool" rubber ducks down a local waterway and having members of the community "adopt" the ducks for a chance to win valuable donated prizes, possibly even $1 million bucks.
十三年前，13年前，埃里克?謝克特和他的朋友們集思廣益，尋找能夠為當(dāng)?shù)氐拇壬茩C(jī)構(gòu)籌集資金的新辦法，他們想出了橡皮鴨比賽的點子。這件事，聽起來可能很瘋狂，比賽是把一只很“酷”的橡皮鴨子放到當(dāng)?shù)厮溃缓笥缮鐓^(qū)成員“認(rèn)領(lǐng)”鴨子，并有機(jī)會贏得寶貴的獎品，獎金高達(dá)1萬塊錢。

Wife Carrying World Championships: Sonkajarvi, Finland
國際背夫人錦標(biāo)賽：松卡耶爾維 芬蘭

"The idea of the Wife Carrying Competition is Sonkaj?rvi's very own and, in spite of its humorous aspects, it has deep roots in the local history. In the late 1800's there was in the area a brigand called Rosvo-Ronkainen, who is said to have accepted in his troops only those men who proved their worth on a challenging track. In those days, it was also a common practice to steal women from the neighbouring villages."
“背妻子比賽的想法是蘇卡哈維自己想出來的，盡管這聽起來很好玩，但是它可以追溯到很久以前。在十九世紀(jì)，一個在松卡耶爾維叫隆卡伊寧的強(qiáng)盜說，只有那些在具有挑戰(zhàn)性的比賽上充分證明過自己價值的男人才可以進(jìn)入他的部隊。當(dāng)時，也有說法是這項賽事來自古老部落的一種“偷妻”風(fēng)俗。

World Bog Snorkeling Championships and Mountain Bike Bog Leaping: Llanwrtyd Wells, Wales
世界沼澤潛水錦標(biāo)賽和山地自行車沼澤賽：拉努蒂德韋爾斯 威爾士

"It's the muckiest dip you've ever taken! Swim two lengths of a bog wearing a snorkel, or jump on a mountain bike and leap the bogs over a 20-mile course. If bog snorkeling's your game, get ready to flounder your way through 120 yards of peat bog in the quickest possible time. Your attire? A snorkel and flippers, of course. Uhhh - and maybe some swim trunks. And you can't use any conventional swimming strokes. This battle of wills in a dirty, smelly, wet Welsh peat bog trench is not for the faint of heart! If you'd rather be above the bog (though there's no guarantee you won't end up in it), try taking your mountain bike through 20 miles of boggy terrain, in the bog-leaping event. It's your chance to show off your bike-in-a-bog maneuvering abilities! Following your adventures, kind folks are on hand to hose you down. Goodness knows, you'll need it! Happy bogging!"
“這是你參加過的最臟的潛水！在沼澤里戴著潛水管，緊接著在20英里的沼澤場地騎上山地自行車。如果沼澤浮潛是你喜歡的運(yùn)動項目，請以最快速度穿過120米的泥炭沼澤。你應(yīng)該帶什么樣的裝備呢？呼吸管和腳蹼，還有游泳褲。重要的一點是你不能在過程中使用任何常規(guī)的游泳姿勢。在威爾士這個泥濘的、臭氣熏天的泥炭沼澤溝進(jìn)行比賽是意志力的挑戰(zhàn)，這場比賽是不適合心臟不好的人的！如果你愿意參加并努力騎山地車穿過20公里的沼澤地帶。那么展現(xiàn)自己在泥濘中前行的機(jī)會來了！完成過后，善良的鄉(xiāng)親們會用手中的水管幫你把身上的臟東西清洗干凈。天知道，你太需要它了！祝愿在沼澤中快樂前行！”