The Circus

Aparana asked:


The ever vivacious Goa is a land of many sparkling festivals that give the Goans one more chance to celebrate the moments of life. Round the year, people are seen merrymaking and feasting in lieu if one or another festival. The festivals of Goa are a way of socializing and winding out. But the festivals are not devoid of any religious importance. They are of course woven round some socio - religious basis. Let us know more about some of the famous festivals of Goa.

Goa Carnival: Carnival is a Latin which means ‘giving up meat’. Many people of Goa believe that the concept of Goa carnival came form the Roman festival Satrunalia. The festival started initially by Portuguese included throwing of flour, eggs, oranges, lemons, mud and dirty water at each other. It was thought of as getting rid of old and dirty things before Lent. Today, the festival involves a musical extravaganza where you have lot of music, masked dance, cross dressings, and mock battles. Many cultural functions and competitions are held and King Momo does the award ceremony.

Shigmo: If you like Holi, then you will love to be in Goa at the time of shigmo which is a Goan style of Holi. Shigmo also known as Shigmotsava, is a harvest festival that heralds spring. Celebrated on full moon days, this is regraded as the biggest Hindu Goans festivals. Processions, songs, dramas, dances, bonfires, festoons and banners are all an integral part of the festival.

Christmas: Celebrated by both, Hindus and Christians of Goa, this is the biggest festival of Goa. Christmas which is synonymous to season of goodwill and festivity brings joviality to the faces of Goans. With carols singing and concerts, the festival start around mid December. The market places, the villages, houses, streets everywhere there is illumination and decoration. Beach parties are a special attraction of Goa Christmas.

Saptah Festival: This is yet another famous festival of Goan Hindus. The festival falls in the shravan month of Hindu calendar that is in the month of September. The legendary festivals lasts for six days and has some anecdotes associated with it.

Ganesha Chaturthi: Held to commemorate Lord Ganesha, this festival is celebrated to thank the God and is associated with a good harvest. People start preparations for the festival very early and welcome God with enthusiasm.

Easter/ Good Friday: The Goan Catholics revere this festival much. It is the end of the Lent which is a significant observance in pious Catholics. After 40 days of Lent, the people of the state, end it on the day of Good Friday and it is followed by Easter.



LINWOOD

Ryan Wiseman asked:


Before Universal Orlando, before SeaWorld Orando and yes, even before Walt Disney World and its four theme parks - Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom . . .

Many great (and not-so-great!) Central Florida attractions have come and gone over the years such as Circus World, Boardwalk and Baseball, Jungleland Zoo, King Henry’s Feast, Mystery Fun House, Splendid China, Stars Hall of Fame, Terror on Church Street, The Guinness World Records Experience, Wings & Wheels Museum, Xanadu: Home of the Future, Skull Kingdom and Hard Rock Vault, among others.

However, a couple of classic attractions that were around well before Walt Disney World celebrated its grand opening in 1971 have stood the test of time and continue to attract new generations of visitors. For example, Gatorland is a 110-acre wildlife preserve and theme park that first opened its doors in 1949. Despite suffering a massive fire in November 2006, Gatorland has already reopened and today features fascinating live shows such as the world-famous Gator Jumparoo and Jungle Crocs of the World, as well as reptile habitats, nature walk, boardwalk, aviary, petting zoo, train ride and much more. Known as “The Alligator Capital of the World,” Gatorland is located at 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando and open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Another classic roadside attraction, Jungle Adventures, first opened in the 1960s as Gator Jungle. A 20-acre wildlife sanctuary, Jungle Adventures offers live wildlife shows, animal habitats, a Native American Village and jungle cruise. Open daily from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Jungle Adventures lies approximately 17 miles East of Orlando in the town of Christmas at 26205 East State Road 50.

Near downtown Orlando lies another gem, the beautiful Harry P. Leu Gardens, which were donated to the City of Orlando in 1961. The Harry P. Leu Gardens boast Florida’s largest formal rose garden and the country’s largest collection of Camellias, as well as 50 acres of tropical plants and ancient oaks. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the restored 19th-century Leu home is now a museum. The Harry P. Leu Gardens at 1920 North Forest Avenue are open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

Citrus Tower, which first opened in July 1956, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Visitors to the Citrus Tower are still welcome to ride an elevator 226 feet to an observation deck for spectacular views of the Clermont countryside (however, today you are more likely to see sprawling suburbs than citrus trees!). Open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM, the Citrus Tower at 141 North Highway 27 also features a gift shop and Mexican eatery.

Glass-bottom boats have been cruising along Silver Springs near Ocala since the 1870s. In addition to its world-famous glass bottom boats, Silver Springs today features live shows, animal habitats, botanical gardens, attractions and rides. Billed as “Florida’s Original Theme Park,” Silver Springs is located at 5656 Silver Spring Boulevard in Silver Springs and open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Another great day trip from Orlando is Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, which opened in 1936 as Florida’s first theme park. Cypress Gardens is located in Winter Haven, which lies about an hour Southwest of Orlando. In addition to amazing water-ski shows, Cypress Gardens features thrill rides, kiddie rides and attractions, live shows, botanical gardens and live concerts at the Star Haven Amphitheater, as well as the adjacent Splash Island Water Park. Cypress Gardens is located at 6000 Cypress Gardens Boulevard and open daily at 10 AM.

“Each of these classic Central Florida attractions make the perfect day trip after you’ve already visited Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando,” said Kyle Collins, Director of Interactive Marketing for HotelsCorp.com. “And by purchasing discount attraction tickets before you arrive in Orlando, you and your family can enjoy substantial savings on your vacation getaway.”



BLAINE

Roger King asked:


Looking for somewhere to go on the 15th of October? Look no more; Los Angeles Carnival is a multicultural event that’s held every October, at the Westchester Park. Mostly the Caribbean islands get together and organized the parade. The costumes are made from all types of colorful materials; all hand made to perfection. Many hours are delicate towards getting the bands and costumes ready for the parade.

Live musicians on conventional instruments play music of the steel bands in addition to other live music. Who or whatever you play is portrayal of that entity. People of all nationalities such as Trinidad, Grenada, Guyana, Barbados, Antigens, Dominican Republic, Belize, and lots more all come together for this celebration. The street is closed to traffic while the bands and colorful costumes march the streets of Westchester, ending up at the Park.

Los Angeles Carnival is definitely a family event pack day for every one. There are a lot of arts and crafts at the park…along with all the different Caribbean foods from around the world. The bands and costumes are judge for originality, and creativity as they march along the streets. So come on and hold on to the big truck, and wave your hands in the air!

If you are missing Carnival from your home Island…then Los Angeles Carnival is the place to be on October 15th 2006. Plan on having a fun full day of music, dancing, food, and drinks. The festival usually starts at around 11am and ends sometime after 6pm in the evening.



BARNEY

Andre Skowronski asked:


Copyright (c) 2008 Andre Skowronski

During Brazil’s Carnival, one of the most disputed (and sometimes controversial) unofficial contests is deciding who was the “ultimate muse”, after the four-day party holiday is over. Brazilians, international press, and publicity agencies, reflect upon who was the most dazzling drum queen or parading muse in Rio’s Sambadrome. There is no official title for this informal contest, but national media always try to elect Carnival model number 1. Many criticize this “new” beauty frenzy. People question why does this vibrant contest even exist? Is it a sin to be a muse in the Brazilian Carnival? Is it there any problem in being attractive, sensual or graceful? This is main topic of this article.

Celebrities, actresses, models are usually selected and the top Brazilian beauty during the Carnival holidays. Carnival muses are extremely well paid by the publicity market and pampered by top samba schools. The beer, retail, cosmetics and fashion industry are some of segments that constantly rely on Brazilian models to support their brands. Actresses, celebrities, and performers legitimately see carnival as an opportunity to cash in the investment they have made along their carrier in their mythical attributes. Many of them enhance their media visibility in the samba parade, while being evaluated for movie and TV soap operas casts and TV shows. Nothing wrong with that! Although we have seen some infuriated perspectives, beauty has its decisive place when appropriately shown.

A famous quote by “The girl of Ipanema” songwriter Vinicius de Moraes says: “The ugly will pardon me, but beauty is fundamental,”. Nothing new since “Beauty is truth, truth is beauty” from Keats “Ode on a Grecian Urn”.

Amanda Fran?o - model and talk show presenter

Juliana Paes - Model and Movie Actress

Sabrina Sato - model, TV presenter and comedian

Graziella Massafera - model and TV actress

Natalia Guimar? - Miss Brazil

Mirella Santos - model and dancer

Gracyanne Barbosa - Model and Mangueira Drum Queen

Paola Oliveira - TV Actress and Model

All of these beauties reached the limelight in Brazil (and abroad) not only because of their natural gifts, provided by genes, sweat and tears. They have true talents such as representing, dancing, modeling and other artistic expressions. Beauty alone is incapable of lending more than the Andy Warhol’s original 15 minutes of fame. Muses have much more to offer in their souls than symmetric lines and sensual poses.

I leave you to make the final call who is the ultimate carnival muse in 2008. The important point to notice is that most of these muses deliver wonder and magic to earth largest popular show, which is the Brazilian Carnival. I believe Brazilian women are authentic in every aspect of their vibrant personalities. Brazilian Carnival is obviously much more than this. (In the collective unconscious abroad, Brazilian carnival is sometimes linked to nudity).

Brazilian women are indeed magically esthetically gifted, and again, I personally think there is nothing wrong with that. Beauty has been worshiped since the Greeks, Romans, and even before, when our ancestors walked the African plains. Many evolutionary psychologists point out today that back in the pleistocene days, beauty was an important fitness indicator. In essence, the beauty debate is a much more complex issue than a simple dichotomist approach can imagine.



JOESPH

Erick Laseca asked:


While millions of tourists flock to Mexico every year by land and air, the country has also become the world’s top cruise destination, with cruises becoming more popular and lifestyle specific every year.

According to recent statistics released by Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), some 6.5 million passengers arrived to Mexico’s ports in 2005. The most popular port is by far on the island of Cozumel, located just south of Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean. According to Mexico’s Communications and Transportation Secretariat, 754 ships arrived to Cozumel in the first ten months of 2006, carrying some 1.5 million passengers. The second most popular port is Costa Maya on the Mexican Caribbean, which received 263 ships, carrying more than 500,000 in the first ten months of 2006.

Mexico boasts two dozen port cities. Apart from Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are the most popular ports along the Pacific coast, while Costa Maya in Quintana Roo State and Puerto Progreso in Yucatan State are the most popular on the Caribbean side. In addition to being bustling metropolises in their own right, offering the best in shopping, cultural activities and cuisine to the traveler, most ports are also located just a stone’s throw from the country’s leading archaeological treasures and other attractions. Part of the popularity of cruises can also be attributed to the traveling public’s desire to experience more destinations in one vacation, with most cruises offering stops in at least three or four different destinations.

According to Sectur, in the past two decades the number of cruise ships stopping in Mexican ports has increased dramatically, with most major cruise lines now serving the Gulf, Central Pacific and Caribbean, having incorporated these popular destinations into their itineraries. In 2005, the Mexican government invested more than US $7 million in the development of the Port of Chiapas, Mexico’s newest cruise destination. The port welcomed its first passenger vessel in February 2006.

As the number of cruise passengers increases, the demand for a variety of services and themes have also increased, what the cruise industry often refers to as lifestyle cruises.

Below are just some samples of new cruise offerings:

Sun salutations

The Radisson Seven Seas hosts several lifestyle cruises, among them a yoga cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Cozumel, featuring Michael Lechonczak and Robin Whitney Levine, a New York City-based husband and wife yoga team, who will bring the art and science of yoga to guests of the luxurious 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner. Their daily onboard program will offer a variety of options for men and women, yoga beginners and experts of all ages. Classes on meditation and aromatherapy will round out the mix.

Food & wine

The Radisson Seven Seas also offers a special Food & Wine spotlight cruise on the Mariner in March. The cruise, which sails from Los Angeles and stops in Cabo San Lucas, Acapulco and Huatulco in Oaxaca, features a Cordon Bleu cooking school and Sonoma Valley wines. Max McCalman, chef formageur from New York’s Picholine Restaurant will provide expert tips, instruction and 24/7 wine tasting.

Mickey on board

Disney Cruise Line is also increasing its presence to Mexico, offering a variety of cruises to Mexico including calls to Cozumel on the Caribbean side, as well as calls to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific side. Disney offers special programs for children, teens and as well as adults, offering something for the entire family. The Disney Magic ship to Mexico’s western ports has been enhanced by a 24-by14 foot jumbo LED screen for poolside movies and an expanded fitness and spa center for adults.

Low carbs and smart kids

Carnival’s Fun Ships will make more than 1,100 calls to Mexican ports in 2005, with Mexico being by far the most popular destination for Carnival. Carnival has also diversified its offerings by adding low carb meals to its menus and expanding its kids programs to focus on art, music, science, reading and physical fitness.

Gay travel

Atlantis (www.atlantisevents.com) is one of the largest *** travel tour operators offering cruise packages to Mexico. The Mexican Riviera cruise is one of the most popular, offering five Mexican destinations in eight days on the new Radiance of the Seas ship. Rated by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice as one of the best ships in the world, Radiance of the Seas offers among its many amenities a rock-climbing wall, two pools and an African-themed solarium complete with 17-foot high stone elephants and waterfalls. In Mexico, the ship will visit Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San

Lucas.

Clothing optional

For au naturel travelers, Bare Necessities offers a variety of clothing-optional cruises. And nudetravel.com also offers clothing optional packages including information on nudist resorts in Mexico.



Blind cruises

Damar Travel at 800-999-6101 offers cruises for the blind to Mexico.

Below are some of the many cruise lines that dock in Mexican ports as part of their regular routes:

Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, P&O Cruises

About the Mexico Tourism Board

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

# # #

Erick Laseca

Mexico Tourism Board

312-228-0517

erick.laseca@bm.com

http://www.visiitmexicopress.com



HARLEY

Junaid Ashraf Mianoor asked:


Carnival Cruise Line is the world’s largest and most popular cruise line with twenty-one “Fun Ships” travelling via special and affordable roundtrip tours from three to seventeen days to the Eastern, Southern, and Western Caribbean among five other picturesque foreign destinations. Possessing a festive-yet-casual reputation, Carnival offers multiple choices in dining, entertainment and activity. Each Fun Ship has at least three swimming pools, a full gambling casino, on-board duty free shopping, “Nautica Spa” health and fitness service, and a complimentary fleetwide children’s program known as “Camp Carnival”. A daylong line up of activities for all ages enable Carnival to be the sole cruise line with the capacity to provide a Vacation Guarantee to every guest who comes aboard.

Cruising is ideal for solo travelers because it is so easy to meet other people. Nonetheless, couples, friends, honeymooners, families, and business associates take cruises. The Carnival is like a floating resort with all the deluxe hotels have to offer. You can, breathe in the sea air, bask in the sun, or watch the ever-changing seascape. A reservation for fine dining at the dining room awaits you at all times. Nevertheless, you may opt to enjoy a laid-back buffet-style meal at “Seaview Bistros” or the 24-hour pizzerias. Nightlife is also possible on board with the presence of high-energy dance clubs and the sing-a-long piano bar. For relaxation, you may indulge in their spa that offers massages, loofah treatment, hairstyling, sauna, nail treatment, soothing masks, and even micro-facelifts. If you simply want a quiet private moment or savor a romantic night with your loved one, feel free to stroll along the deck under the starry night.

Carnival cabins are twice larger than those of any other cruise line’s cabins are. They have a balcony, twin beds convertible to king sizes, sitting area, dressing room with vanity area, walk-in closet, wall safe, refrigerator, a private bath, television, and VCR. For more comfort, there is wall-to-wall carpeting and cheerful indirect lighting, and a 24-hour room service.

For kids aged two to fifteen, entertainment covers exploring their “FunShip”, enjoying all kinds of games and contests, engaging in workshops on interesting hobbies, attending parties, participating in talent shows, arts, crafts, watching movies, and swimming. Every activity is under the friendly supervision of Camp Carnival counselors. Each counselor are either college-educated, has child-care expertise, or both. They make sure your children are safe, busy, and having a very enjoyable experience.

In addition, Carnival offers wedding packages suitable to every budget. Knowledgeable and approachable wedding coordinators will handle every detail necessary for the occasion. Either weddings are at beautifully designed lounges onboard or Carnival will cater to your choice of breathtaking locations.

Throughout this warranted break from your busy or monotonous life, your attention will remain fixated as though by a spell. Nothing could be as memorable as the pleasure gained on these tranquil yet enlivening and wondrous days with the persons you so dearly love. Carnival intends for your voyage to be as special and meaningful as you are to them so they offer the perfect holiday within your reach.



DARRYL

Michael C. Podlesny asked:


Vacationing in the Southern Caribbean via a cruise ship offers all the amenities, benefits and perks of a one-stop-shopping mega store. In this day and age of mass consumerism, it’s easy to see why the vacationing public is increasingly drawn to this mode of travel. All of the best dining, drinks, and shops are offered in proximity of guests’ staterooms (that’s what they call the staying quarters on the ship.) Tourists can experience sun and sea, luxurious accommodations, and explore a slew of tropical islands all while unpacking once. Here we examine three major cruise lines traveling the Southern Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Since they are all same caliber, traveling to the same islands, many of their outstanding features are similar. For example, all three cruise lines traveling the Southern Caribbean have casinos, extensive spas, casual and fine dining experiences, themed bars and lounges, live entertainment, and supervised youth programs. Average prices per night range from $650-$2000 depending on the location of your stateroom. An interior room will be the most economical, an ocean view falls into the next pricing level and a balcony room is always the splurge.

Because they are so similar it’s important to find the exceptional feature(s) of each cruise line. Weeding out the similarities and bringing key attributes to the forefront will help you decide which cruise line is best for your family or travel group.

The Princess Cruise Line experience, although offer youth programs, facilities and child care is not necessarily geared towards children. A quick glance at their website largely depicts adults lounging, sipping champagne, and dining in fine attire. They boast specialty restaurants, a cigar lounge and a wine caviar bar. Guests can also partake in the Scholarship at Sea, which offers over forty enrichment courses per voyage. Adults can indulge in a number of classes from cooking, visual arts, computer skills, photography and ceramics. A trip aboard a Princess Cruise Ship will offer personal enrichment along with extensive spa, fitness, and salon services.

Norwegian Cruise Lines offer something unique called “freestyle cruising.” This means there are no fixed dining schedules, no dress code except for resort casual, and open ended disembarkation – you can leave the ship at port whenever you are good and ready. They too claim the most luxurious of spas and the best casinos at sea – and they most likely live up to high expectations. This added feature of flexibility however, may be ideal for large groups of varying age ranges, where it may be difficult to get everyone ready for a 5:30pm dinner seating.

Carnival Cruise Lines pack a punch in every one of their cruise ships, or ‘fun ships’ as they’re referred to on their website. Carnival boasts boat loads of activities for all ages with special attention to the youth experience. Camp Carnival is geared towards children ages 2-11, that is broken down into toddler, junior, and intermediate. Children, under watch of camp counselors, can experience arts and crafts, games, and swimming. Club C, ages 12-14, is a program where kids can hang with their peers, go to supervised parties, play games, etc. Finally, Club O2 is the teen experience, for teens 15-17, and was voted 2007 Travel Age West Editors Pick for Best Onboard Teen Program. CLUB O2 mixes friends, music, entertainment, sports and style for the ultimate high seas` top teen cruising experience.

The right cruise line will stretch your dollar, giving you more bang for your buck; the wrong one will leave you disenchanted in the middle of that big blue sea. As with all travel, do your research to find the best deals and experiences!

By: Maryann Loprete

Edited By: Michael C. Podlesny



HARRISON

Jolly Mazumdar asked:


Immerse Yourself In The Colorful Goa Carnival

Goa has always a special pride of place in our hearts. There is much more to Goa than just sun , white silvery sands and golden beaches . In Goa, they say , ‘life is beach’ . The whole world of Goa together with the lifestyle of the people revolve around these virgin beaches .

Beside the attractive Roman Catholic Churches , blue aqua of the sea , one of the great pleasures of visiting Goa is the Goa carnival. Every year in the month of February, Goa is all bustling with the activity. For the entire year Goan people waits anxiously for this three day long Goa carnival. This is a festival of glitz, glamour , music, dance , and colourful and bright costumes , plays and mock battles . This festival is unmatched to any other festival of India.

The original reason behind the carnival was to celebrate the arrival of spring. It is a legacy of the Portugeese which was originated in the 18th century. But it has still maintain its true essence. It was earlier a Christian festival but now with the change of time it is bringing smile on the faces of other community people. Breaking the barriers of caste , creed , age and status , all Goans and tourists enjoy the carnival to its extreme.

With the arrival of king Momo , chosen by the local people, the three day long carnival begins . King Momo makes a traditional decree by ordering his subjects to forget their all tensions and worries and have a good time.

Panji, the capital city of Goa holds this colorful procession . The riots of color , music dance, fancy parades all these things will at once attract your eyes. One of the major attraction of this event are the historic plays enacted by men only. Even the women characters are also played by the men dressed in colorful female attires. Many competitions, functions are organized and king Momo distributed the prizes to the winners. A great quantity of fenny is consumed during this festival.



Whole Goa turns into a party zones. Live music bands and grand ball dance programmes organized in the evening will surely spellbound you. Goan government organizes special tour packages during this festival . Due to heavy rush , all the Goan hotels filled with tourists . So it is wise to book the hotels in advance .

Come and immerse  yourself in the colours of Goa carnnival.

 

 



RONALD

Marketing asked:


Shimla has the only natural ice-skating ring in India. Shimla ice skating rink, Asia’s oldest open ice-skating rink offers excellent opportunities for Ice-skating enthusiasts. The skating club of Shimla has successfully completed its sixty years. Moreover, it is situated in the center of Shimla and hardly takes 10 minutes from The Mall. An Ice-skating Carnival is arranged every year by the Ice-skating Club Shimla.

The Shimla ice-skating rink has the largest open-air area with naturally frozen ice in this part of the world. Ice-skating carnival of Shimla is a gala time for the Shimla people. This carnival starts off in the month of early December and continues till February. Two sessions are arranged everyday with one in the morning and another in the evening.

The Shimla ice-skating rink is the only Asian natural ice-skating rink. There is a hanging balloon at the Municipal building that works as a signal of whether the skating will take place on that day or not. The clear sky and cold climate accompanied by hard and dry ice makes Shimla ice-skating carnival a success every year.

A large number of enthusiastic skaters take an active part in the Shimla ice-skating carnival. Large number of foreigners participates in the carnival. Infact they carry their skating shoes with themselves.

Either you are required to become a member for the season or you could also go for shorter periods and even for single sessions. Skates can be hired at the rink itself and hopefully you will get your size. If you are adept at ice skating you could try your hand at ice hockey or figure skating.

However the uncertain weather change, environment pollution, rising population, and shrinking green cover are threatening the rink. But as far as this season is concerned Shimla and other places near it have been getting receiving intermittent snowfall from much earlier. After last years no snow spell it sure is a blessing.

Meteorological department hopes that this year sessions would cross the three-figure mark could be extend to mid of March. So if you are hoping to visit any hill resort this winter than why don’t you choose Shimla, the former summer capital of British regime and now the capital of Himachal Pradesh is sure going skating.

During the ice-skating carnival of Shimla, fancy dress competition, ice hockey and dance performances make the town of Shimla very lively and colorful. Shimla ice-skating carnival is a favorite event for the sports freaks. During the sessions the place gets crowded with tourists and visitors from various corners of the country.

The ice-skating carnival is celebrated in Shimla with extreme pomp and grandeur



EMMANUEL

William Tucker asked:


Hanging of the Elephant in Erwin, Tennessee

Circus animal abuse is something that has always occurred. Not only does it happen to this day among circuses, but it also happened during the 1900’s. Here, we will take a closer look at one of the most well known cases of animal abuse, in which an animal was put to death for a human’s mistake.

During the year of 1916, the Sparks Brothers Circus came to the town of Saint Paul, which is located in Virginia. With them came Mary the elephant, who was thirty years old and weighed five tons. The circus owner, Charlie Sparks, needed a full-time caretaker for Mary. Of course, during this point in time, it was not necessary to have any type of training or experience with animals in order to become an animal trainer for the circus. The inexperienced Red Eldridge was given the job.

The circus traveled to Kingsport, Tennessee. September 12th was Red Eldridge’s first day working as an elephant caretaker. Although it is not completely known what has happened that day, one story tends to hold true. This is that Eldridge used a prodding stick in order to “control” Mary. Unfortunately, by trying to “control” the animal through this torturous technique, he instead enraged her. Mary grabbed Eldridge with her trunk, swung him through the air, and threw him- causing him to hit a drink stand. Once Red Eldridge hit the ground, Mary trampled on him, killing him instantly.

From this moment on, the poor creature was known and recognized as “Murderous Mary”, and was put in chains due to her behavior. Although it has been determined that after she killed Eldridge, Mary was a calm animal and did not attack anyone else, people still believed that she needed to be put to rest for her actions. In fact, there were a number of different towns who claimed that they would not allow the circus to come until Mary was killed.

Charlie Sparks decided, against his dismay, that the only way to keep his circus in business was to kill Mary in public. On September 13th, 1916, Mary was hung from an industrial crane that was mounted by a railcar. The first time that they tried to hang her, a chain snapped which caused Mary to fall from the crane and break her hip. The second time that they tried to hang her, they were successful. Mary was then buried beside the railroad tracks near the spot where she was hung.

Charlie Sparks was inducted into the circus hall of fame in 1961, irregardless of the decision that he made to put this poor animal to death. The legend of this brutal elephant hanging that happened in Erwin, Tennessee still lives on till this day.

This article is provided freely by: www.tuckerestate.com any reproduction requires credit to our website.



BERNARD