/
13
WOOHOO
join the fun
Off toa
good start
BEGIN THE YEAR
WITH A PRAYER
FOR LUCK, A
STREET PARTY
AND PLENTY OF
FIREWORKS
Toka Ebisu
OSAKA
JANUARY 9 TO 11
During this festival, businessmen
from across Japan make their
way to Osaka’s Imamiya Ebisu
Shrine to pray for success.
Partake in the good fortune
by watching the Good Luck
Palanquins parade or shop
for charms such as
fukusasa
(good luck bamboos),
daruma
(dharma) dolls or
maneki-neko
(beckoning cats).
Dinagyang
Festival
ILOILO
JANUARY 23 TO 25
Head down to Iloilo on the
fourth weekend of January
and join in the dancing
and the feasting.
www.
dinagyangsailoilo.com
Australia Day
SYDNEY
JANUARY 26
Join your mates in Sydney
as they celebrate national
day. Check out
www.
australiaday.com.au
for
a complete listing of
commemorative activities.
Sinulog Festival
CEBU
UNTIL JANUARY 31
Aside from the grand parade,
which is the highlight of this
month-long fiesta, you can look
forward to a choral competition,
cultural shows and a pyro-musical
show.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES & CORBIS
Wakakusa
Yamayaki
NARA
JANUARY 24
Hop on a train in Osaka and
head to Nara prefecture. Make
your way to Nara Park and
watch the fireworks display and
yamayaki
(mountain burning)
at Wakakusayama. The
tradition is said to originate
in a boundary dispute
between Kofukuji
and
Todaiji temples.
i
THE SANTONIÑO
— THE IMAGE OF THE INFANT JESUS — IS
HONORED IN KALIBO'S ATI-ATIHAN FESTIVAL, ILOILO'S DINAGYANG
AND CEBU'S SINULOG.
