Table of ContentsIntroductionTypes of FestivalsSeasonal FestivalsNational FestivalsFestivals Using AnimalsYulin Dog Meat FestivalGeneral ConcernsEthical ConcernsAboriginal People of Yulin, Guangxi, ChinaCultural Relativism and traditionalTourismReferencesIntroductionFestivalsThe Collins English Dictionary describes festival as a period or day of celebration that often has religious and cultural connections. Additionally, it is a day when people commemorate an event, such as weddings, birthdays, and other important events (festival, n.d.). Additionally, festivals are ways of expressing glorious celebrations that reflect culture and traditions. It is a way of passing on the legends, traditions and knowledge of the previous generation to the next generation. Finally, it is a way of establishing social contacts with our community and our family and a day to free ourselves from the daily tasks of life (Festival, 2012). Cudny (2014) cited the work of Sofield et al. (1998), where they assert that festivals have been a part of humanity for hundreds of years, and according to Falassi (1987), festivals are a reflection of human culture practiced by people throughout the ages (Cudny, 2014, p. 640). ).Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayTypes of FestivalsSeasonal FestivalsSeasonal festivals depend on cyclical seasonal changes. These festivals are celebrated by people because food supplies depend on the lunar and solar calendar (Blayne09, 2010). Seasonal festivals also dictate how people should act towards nature (Festival, 2012). Furthermore, these festivals vary depending on the environment, climate and the state of nature. Harvest, winter, fall, bounty and spring festivals are some of the festivities included in this category. National festivals National festivals are celebrations in which an entire country participates. It is celebrated to commemorate a particular event in a country which signifies historical changes. These celebrations are usually accompanied by a public holiday and were instituted to instill patriotism in its citizens. The founding, independence as well as the death of a national hero fall into this category. Religious festivals. Religious holidays are festivities that have a religious basis. These holidays commemorate and glorify a certain religious figure or an event with religious ties. It is also a time when people thank their deities and patrons for the blessings they have received and seek their guidance. Festivals like these are only celebrated by a certain religious group and are usually held on a small scale. Festivals are celebrations and a festival is not limited to just one category. There are types of holidays that can have a religious basis and national significance. Where others may be seasonal and may also have religious roots. Festivals are not limited to a single performance, they generally overlap and are not relative to each person. Festivals Using Animals There are many types of festivals around the world. Each festival has its unique characteristics and varies in its execution. Also, as our world evolves, festivals are also reconstructed and invented. Some festivals only require the participation of human beings, while others require the participation of sentient beings. Festivities involving animals are commonour days. People believe that we are responsible for these sentient beings, so it is right to take care of them and feed them. These festivals are believed to benefit animals. Some of the world famous wildlife festivals are: Golden Retriever Festival in Scotland, Surin Elephant Round-up in Thailand, Tihar Festival in Nepal, Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand (Thakkar, 2016). ), Groundhog Day in North Carolina and Birds of Chile Festival in Chile (Kunz, nd). These festivals are animal-centered and celebrate the bond between humans and animals. Although holidays celebrating animals are common these days, there are also holidays that harm animals. This kind of festivity is part of the tradition and culture of certain peoples. The group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has published a list of festivals offering entertainment at the expense of animal welfare. These include: Kots Kaal Pato in Mexico - where iguanas and opossums are herded into a pinata and beaten with a stick, the Gadhimai festival in Nepal - where goats, chickens, buffalo and other animals are slaughtered, Toro de la Vega in Spain - where bulls are chased and stabbed to death and at the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. People who participate in this type of festivities use animals as sacrifices and also as a source of entertainment. Yulin Dog Meat Festival Through the use of animals in some festivities, animal welfare has become important. One of the most controversial animal festivals during this period is the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, or what people commonly call the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. Here in this research study, the importance of Yulin Festival will be discussed. This is the context and history, its impact, the controversies behind this annual event - both the negative and positive aspects, as well as the animal welfare concerns in this type of event. This article aims to expose all angles of this topic and provide a better understanding of this type of practice, considering both negative and positive positions. China has a rich culture and tradition dating back to the 3rd and 2nd millennia. before our era. Due to their diverse culture, the Chinese hold different festivals that encompass national, seasonal and religious holidays. From Chinese New Year to animal-related festivities such as the Litang Horse Festival and the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival. The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival or Yulin Dog Meat Festival, as the name suggests, is a festivity where participants eat dog meat and lychee. The act of eating dog meat in China originated in the North and has been practiced since 1700 BC (Koetse, 2015). Every year, around 10 million dog meats are consumed in China (Brady, 2018). General Concerns Animal Welfare The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has described animal welfare as the state of an animal's life and being. An animal is in good welfare if it is free from suffering, such as disease, pain, stress and fear, and is able to express innate behavior, being healthy, safe, well-fed, etc. . The welfare of an animal lies in the hands of humans. It is when we take into account their well-being, their nutrition, give them suitable housing, treat and prevent their illnesses and take care of them properly. Furthermore, animal welfare can be described as the humane handling and treatment of animals. Animal welfare issue at Yulin Festival arises as it gained popularity due to reactionspositive and negative on a global scale. Animal welfare groups have highlighted the five freedoms of animals by the Farm Animal Welfare Council in the UK and considered the gold standard for animal welfare. Five freedoms include: Freedom from hunger and thirst Freedom from discomfort Freedom from pain, injury or illness Freedom to express normal behavior Freedom from fear and distress Further study on Animal welfare will be discussed in the last part of the article under positive and negative reactions. of the Yulin Festival. Ethical Concerns Ethics is a branch of philosophy that deals with the underlying principles of morality. This is linked to the good or bad of an act. The Yulin Festival has had ongoing debate over its ethical concerns. Proponents of the Yulin Festival say that morality is not relative. That you cannot judge your tradition based on your tradition, because it can be seen as ethnocentric – having a culturally biased opinion. And morality is solely based on society's own creation and therefore varies. While others, who are against the Yulin Festival, argue that since we humans have the ability to understand, it is we who must protect animals and treat them humanely as much as possible. The global reactions, claims, facts and reports have sparked controversy and debate between two points of view. In this part of the article, a more in-depth discussion on the concerns of the festival will be given. From all angles, both from the negative and positive point of view or the advantages and disadvantages of this tradition. For the Yulin Dog Meat Festival and its positive aspectsThe most notable aspect of the Yulin Festival in the global debate is its disadvantages and negative aspects, but here we will examine and discuss the reasons behind those which are favorable to this type of tradition. from Yulin, Guangxi, ChinaThe natives of Yulin, or formally romanized as Watlam, began the tradition of this ten-day event during the summer solstice; where they will eat lychee, dog meat and cat meat. Although many are against it, they still have reasons behind their annual tradition. In an article titled “Eating Dog Meat: Check Your Own Cultural Bias Before Protesting Too Much,” Innocent Mutanga (2016) explains why we should not judge and force the people of Yulin, who practice eating dog meat. dog to conform to what we think is moral. Mutanga (2016) stated that it is a matter of cultural education. Some people grew up where dogs are part of their lives, while others grew up where dogs are part of their diet and only to guard their house. In the case of Yulin natives, they always value the bond between a human and a dog, and they always have a notion of animal companionship. But also, in their defense, there are dogs destined to be slaughtered in these kinds of traditions. These dogs are those that have been raised on a farm, but not those that are kept as pets. For them, dogs that don't have an owner and that have been raised on a farm are livestock. It's the same as how we slaughter and eat chickens, pigs, cows and other livestock and yet some of us choose to keep these livestock as pets. Another position defended by Mutanga is security. In Guangxi province, farm-raised dogs are common. They are massacring these dogs due to the uncontrollable increase in their population which could present future dangers, such/