Human Planet Explorer
Spring
The arrival of spring is celebrated in different ways around the world, from paint throwing during the Hindu festival of Holi to dressing up in outrageous costumes for Brazil’s Mardi Gras. In England, surfers celebrate the Spring Equinox by riding the Severn Bore, a tidal wave that rolls down the River Severn.
Watch a selection of clips from past BBC programmes that explore how people celebrate springtime around the world.
Introduction
Spring
Watch and listen to clips from past programmes Video (4)
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Lift off at the Inupiat Festival
Frozen Planet were in Barrow, Alaska at the time of their annual Spring whaling festival, which culminates in the Nalukataq, or blanket toss.
Frozen Planet were in Barrow, Alaska at the time of their annual Spring whaling festival, which culminates in the Nalukataq, or blanket toss. In this celebration, members of the community get thrown into the air from the top of a 'blanket' formed from the skin of one of the whaling boats. Director Elizabeth got to have a go.
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Mussel gathering under sea ice
The people of Kangiqsujuaq venture under the sea ice during extreme low tides to gather mussels.
The people of Kangiqsujuaq in Canada go to great lengths to add variety to their diet, venturing under the sea ice during extreme low tides to gather mussels. They have less than an hour before the tide rushes back in.
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Surfing the Severn bore
Matt Baker heads for the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire to surf the Severn Bore.
Matt comes face-to-face with the tidal wave which makes its way up the river several times a year. It is a natural phenomenon that mystified ancient people and is still a draw for thrill seekers today.
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Holi festival
Comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar experiences Holi, a spring Hindu festival.
Comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar experiences Holi, a spring Hindu festival celebrated by people throwing coloured powder and water at each other.
About Spring
Spring is one of the four conventional temperate seasons, following winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. When it is spring in the northern hemisphere, it will be autumn in the southern hemisphere. At the spring equinox, days are close to 12 hours long with day length increasing as the season progresses. Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and also to ideas of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and regrowth, with festivals such as Carnival, Easter and Holi being celebrated at this time.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. If you find the content in the 'About' section factually incorrect, defamatory or highly offensive you can edit this article at Wikipedia.
Related festivals [1]
HoliRelated BBC Food [6]
March
April
May
Easter
St David's Day
St Patrick's DayCollections
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