February, the shortest month of the year can also be extremely intense. How? In Horse, we give you seven ideas to get it. Seven events very varied and almost anywhere in the world. Discover all of them!
1-Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan
In Asian countries it is usual to take advantage of frigid winter temperatures to create ephemeral artistic parks carved entirely from snow and ice. That is the case of the Sapporo Snow Festival that this year takes place between 1st and 12th of February.
This event has been held in the famous Japanese winter season since 1950. That is, it is a real event of international renown, which over the years is growing in quantity and quality of artistic interventions, since it is not just about shaping the ice but to use technology to create the most novel audiovisual effects.
Night visit to the ice sculptures of Sapporo Snow Festival
An outpouring of fantasy and an incredible surprise for the eyes of Westerners, because we are not used to this type of event.
2- The Berlinale in Germany
The Berlin International Film Festival means every year the starting point to the most important film festivals of the calendar. As such, it will be worthy of a broader report in the upcoming days, but so far we advance key information about it.
Poster of the Berlinale 2017
There are planned to be projected hundreds of movies in the different rooms associated with the festival. However, all those competing for the best awards, i.e. the Golden and Silver Bears for best direction and best performances, can be seen at the Berlinale Palast, the elegant theater located at Potsdamer Platz that welcomes all international stars attending the event.
Do you want to see them? Well, you should be in Berlin between 9th and 19th February.
3-The Weddings of Isabel de Segura in Teruel
Another date marked in passion red on the calendar is the 14th of February, Valentine‘s Day or the Lovers’ Day. Well, in the Aragonese town of Teruel it is celebrated in style, but with a historical and legendary base, inspired by the story of the Lovers of Teruel.
Teruel lovers, Isabel de Segura and Diego Marcilla, lived in the XIII century a romance that ended with the death of both of them, as their love was impossible. So far, nothing new. However, what it is really spectacular is that for decades the entire city of Teruel evokes the last days of the couple.
Dramatized recreation of the Lovers of Teruel
The whole city returns to the Middle Ages, all its neighbors dress in a vintage-style, and also many visitors who come increasingly from different parts of Spain and Europe. So much so that the medieval fashion has become an industry in Teruel, making clothes all year and employing entrepreneurs who thanks to the legend, the love and this event have been provided a job opportunity.
And besides that, the theatrical spectacle that will take place again between 16th and 19th of February in the streets of Teruel will be certainly shocking.
4-Seurat exhibition at the Metropolitan in New York
Any day of the year you can visit the Met in New York and contemplate among many other works, the study for A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand Jatte by the Post-Impressionist painter Georges Seurat. Nevertheless from next February 17th and until May 29th many other paintings by the French artist can be seen, as it is scheduled the Seurat’s Circus Sideshow exhibition (The circus spectacle according to Seurat.)
Study of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand Jatte
A great excuse to enter the headquarters of the Metropolitan at the Fifth Avenue, and incidentally discover the circus–themed work of the creator of the Pointillism movement. A trend of the late XIX century, which could be related to the pixels of the XXI century.
5-Envision Festival in Costa Rica
Between the next 23rd and 26th of February one of the most unique festivals of which can be enjoyed in Central America festivals will take place. We talk about Envision, an event that is more than just concerts. It is an experience in community with other people and with the natural environment.
Beach party during the Envision Festival
All this takes place in a festive atmosphere, full of spirituality and creativity of all kinds. Moreover, especially surrounded by the exuberant nature of Costa Rica, as Envision is held in a rural village in the tropical jungle and along the beach. It certainly is a different festival suitable for entire families. And to make the experience satisfying, the number of attendees is controlled, so you must register in their official website.
6-ARCO in Madrid
The International Contemporary Art Fair returns to its annual meeting in the halls of IFEMA in Madrid, between 22nd and 26th of February. There will be hundreds of galleries around the world showing the creations of the most extreme news. An event that any investor in art has had in the agenda for months. And those who are just amateurs can also walk around there in the weekend, when ARCO is opened to the general public.
Poster ARCO 2017
7-Carnivals around the world
If there is a cultural event linked to February, with no doubt this is the celebration of Carnival in different parts of the globe. That is, an almost universal party and yet completely different between cities.
Apparently, the tinsel of Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro has little to do with the elegant Venetian masquerade. The peculiar Creole traditions of the New Orleans Carnival are also very different to the festive atmosphere that is celebrated in the extremely long and cold Cologne Carnival. Not to mention the atmosphere of the chirigotas Cadiz and the sensuality of the rides in Trinidad and Tobago.
Rio Carnival atmosphere
There are carnivals for all tastes and budgets. However, they are always fun and somewhat subversive with its peak on Shrove Tuesday, which this year will be on 28th of February. You have until that day there to enjoy the party, because then comes the Ash Wednesday and from there, the austerity of Lent.
More variety in our seven Highlights of February is impossible. There is a bit of everything: party, art, historical reenactments, music, spirituality, cinema… all this around the globe. As we have said before, the short-February can be a very intense month.
