Libyan Festivals & Tourist Events
Festivals are large celebrations with plenty of food, drinks, dance and
music. In one ancient Egyptian festival in the 12th century BC, over
11000 loaves of bread and nearly 400 jars of beer were made available
to the public. Original festivals and feasts were part of a larger ritual
belief, largely determined by lunar or solar cycles. When grains germinate
and produce more grains, year after year, humans thankfully reacted
with owe and admiration in order to guarantee the following harvest.
Most Ancient festivals were religious, while
others were royal, like the Libyan-Egyptian Sed festival which celebrated
the thirtieth year of the pharaoh's rule. Ramesses III
established his own festival to celebrate his victory over the Libyans
who attempted to regain control over the conquered land. Nowadays, most
festivals, except the religious ones, became automated and occur according
to a fixed day of the year, regardless of the position of the heavenly
bodies.
Germa Arts, Heritage and Tourism Festival
| Description: |
The Germa Arts, Heritage and Tourism Festival is normally held in the month of February, and is organised by Wadi el-Hayat Municipality. |
| Date: |
February, 2008 |
Libya Desert Challenge 2008
| Description: |
The 4th edition of LDC will be held between the 3rd and 12th of March 2008, in the Libyan Desert (Ubari - Acacus - Murzuq - Ubari. Category: Cars, trucks and motorbikes speed race. |
| Date: |
3 March, 2008 |
Nalut Spring Festival
| Description: |
Nalut Spring Festival is normally held in late March (29/03/2007), and lasts for 3 days. The festival begins with lighting a flame and the opening ceremony, followed by a parade of local schools and folk groups, before various performers entertain the guests with traditional music and dance at night. |
| Date: |
March, 2008 |
Tripoli International Tourism Expo
| Description: |
The first Tripoli International Tourism Expo (T.I.T.E.) will be held in Tripoli from 12th - 15th of May 2008. |
| Date: |
12 May, 2008 |
Libya Build 2008
| Description: |
The 5th International Building and Construction Exhibition will be held between 19th and 22nd of May 2008, at Tripoli International Fairs Centre. |
| Date: |
19 May, 2008 |
The Revolution Day
| Description: |
The Revolution Day is a general celebration commemorating Gaddafi's revolution and the overthrow of King Idris in the 1st of September 1969; marked with a week of public parades, rallies and events across the whole of Libya. |
| Date: |
1 September, 2008 |
Derg (Derj) Tourist Festival
| Description: |
Derg Tourist Festival for Arts and Heritage is normally held in the month of September, and is organised by the Ghadames Municipality. |
| Date: |
September, 2008 |
Date Harvest Festivals
| Description: |
Date Harvest Festivals are held in various parts of Libya during the month of October. |
| Date: |
October, 2008 |
Kabaw el-Gaser Tourist Festival
| Description: |
el-Gaser Tourist Festival is normally held in the month of October, in Kabaw, Nafousa Mountain. |
| Date: |
October, 2008 |
The Green Mountain International Tourist Festival
| Description: |
The al-Jabel al-Akhdar International Tourist Festival is normally held in the month of October, in Shahhat (Cyrene). |
| Date: |
October, 2008 |
The International Ghadames Festival
| Description: |
The International Ghadames Festival is normally held in mid-October (early November in 2006). It is a colourful event in which people gather to feast, sing and dance. A celebration of local Berber culture and traditions. |
| Date: |
October, 2008 |
River Rally 2008
| Description: |
The 1st edition of River Rally: Nov 08th - 15th 2008. Libyan coast & Desert.
Category: Cars, trucks and motorbikes speed race. |
| Date: |
8 November, 2008 |
Ghat Festival
| Description: |
Ghat is a Tuareg oasis, situated in southern Libya, very
close to Algeria and Niger. The Ghat Tourist Festival is normally
held near the end of December (29 to 31 December), and lasts
for three days. It is an important festival
where Tuareg tribes from Libya,
Algeria and Niger, and tourists,
meet and celebrate the Tuareg
Berber traditional culture. The
Tuareg's best travel companion,
the camel, plays an important
role in the festival.
A unique opportunity to experience the Tuareg way of life and find
out about this enigmatic people.
|
| Date: |
29, 30, 31 of December, 2008 |
Zwara Awessu Festival
| Description: |
Awessu designates the period of the
heat wave between the 12th of July and the 23rd of August according
to the Julian calendar; or the 26th of July to the 5th of September
according to the Gregorian calendar. Hence it is not surprising
that the name
"Awessu" itself has been linked with the eight month
of "August".
The native Berbers of Zwara take to the sea before sunrise,
to witness the rise of moisture from and to swim
in the sea. Traditionally, in old times, the inhabitants of Zwara
go into the sea with their domestic animals (goats and sheep)
to gain the necessary blessing for prosperity and protection
and for cleansing one's sins. Wool garments are also washed
by the beach for purification purposes. Those who cannot go into
the sea for any reason are sprayed with sea water instead. As
the sun begins to rise, the inhabitants of Zwara take sea water
with their two palms joined together and throw it up into the
sky, and then dive seven times under water, as if to avert or
to acknowledge the traditional belief that says: "the sea
needs seven lives a year, which it claims by drowning its victims." This
festival is very ancient and pre-islamic. According to the Berber
Christian theologian St Augustin the ancient Libyans celebrated
Awessu by bathing naked in the sea. This fact has falsely
led to the association of the festival with promiscuity and eventually
its popularity faded away with time, where it was almost
forgotten. Nowadays, the festival of Awessu, if it takes place,
is only an occasion of joy and fun, including sailing and swimming
races, folk dancing & singing,
and feasting on traditional food. For further information see
U. Paradisi's work (La terminologia araba el berbera del mare
a Zuara), published in L'Atlante Linguistico Mediterraneo, Fondazione
Cini di Venezia.
|
| Date: |
August |
|
