Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales

Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Dec 22, 2023 By Rajnandini Roychoudhury
Originally Published on Mar 16, 2022
Fact-checked by Naman Khanna
Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales dedicates the day to the souls of all whales who lost lives.

Where is Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales observed?

Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales is supposedly observed in Alaska and other places where whaling is still relevant.

Who is Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales observed by?

Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales' is conflicted as many people believe the Inuit people from Alaska celebrate it, but in a National Geographic research, it was revealed there is no such event related to the souls of the whale. Nevertheless, people respecting the marine life spirits recognize the day and observe it.

When did Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales first start?

There are no records of when the Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales started.

Who started Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales?

Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales' original creator is not known. Still, it is safe to assume the person as an animal-loving entity who sympathizes with lost whale lives and is against the cruel process of whaling.

History And Timeline

Animals have been a part of the human hunt and daily consumption since the Stone Age, but the decreasing population of animals was not the concern at that time. However, times changed, and so did whaling, which started from necessary to relieve hunger but is now used towards the Industrial Revolution.

Hunt For Whale Meat

People from Norway, Japan, Korea, and North America were related to the earliest references to whaling for whale meat and oil.

4,000 Years Ago

Using Harpoon For Whaling

Small whales were killed using drogues, harpoons, and lines.

6000 BCE

Rocket Harpoon Invented

Rocket Harpoon was created by Captain Thomas Welcome Roys for whaling.

1860s

The Whaling Commission Established

The International Whaling Commission was started dedicated to commercial whaling.

1986

The Exhibit Started

New Bedford Whaling National Historic Site was established in the whaling city, New Bedford, to exhibit its whaling history. The city was also called 'City that Lit the World' as it was the prime port of whaling, and the whale oil product received from it was used worldwide to light up lamps.

1996

Traditions And Customs

There is no precise data on traditions and customs related to Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales, but people claim there are various groups of native people who participate in rituals to respect the whale spirits before or after hunting.

One such event in the Inuit community is praying to Goddess Takánakapsâluk. The ceremony is related to the birth of sea creatures and the ruling Goddess Sedna, who gave life to the creatures.

In the tradition, Inuit people pray for luck, peace, and giving thanks to the whales' spirits.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales

You can observe Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales by proactively participating in causes related to spreading awareness against whaling. Post pictures, share on social media, and join support groups to learn more about them.

Books are extremely helpful to educate about whaling history and current scenarios, so before you mention anything, ensure its accuracy to back it with facts.

Facts And Stats

Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales is observed every year on December 10.

This year the day would fall on a Saturday.

Every year, over a thousand whales are killed for the purpose of industrial goods and food, and that is why this day is of importance as it spreads awareness.

What is the motto of Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales?

The motto of Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales is to observe a day in memory of all the majestic whales that lost their lives due to whaling or other reasons.

What is the importance of observing Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales?

Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales is observed to pray for the spirits of all the innocent animal lives lost to hunters. The festival also recognizes the scary growth of whaling and raises awareness against excessive whale hunts.

What are some events related to the Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales?

Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales are closely related to a few other marine life events found in the national calendars, such as Marine Mammal Rescue Day.

Does this day help preserve the ecosystem?

Yes. Although the day seeks apologies from the lost lives of the whales that died due to whaling and hunt, Festival For The Souls Of Dead Whales is also a reminder to keep the most significant part of marine life and the entire ecosystem intact.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Thursday, December 10, 2020
  • Friday, December 10, 2021
  • Saturday, December 10, 2022
  • Sunday, December 10, 2023
  • Tuesday, December 10, 2024

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Written by Rajnandini Roychoudhury

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

Rajnandini Roychoudhury picture

Rajnandini RoychoudhuryBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Master of Arts specializing in English

With a Master of Arts in English, Rajnandini has pursued her passion for the arts and has become an experienced content writer. She has worked with companies such as Writer's Zone and has had her writing skills recognized by publications such as The Telegraph. Rajnandini is also trilingual and enjoys various hobbies such as music, movies, travel, philanthropy, writing her blog, and reading classic British literature. 

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Fact-checked by Naman Khanna

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Naman Khanna picture

Naman KhannaBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

An English literature graduate from Delhi University, Naman's broad interests include mathematics, science, and social science. With his knowledge and expertise in multiple subjects, he is an asset to our fact-checking team. Naman is set to pursue his postgraduate degree in English literature soon.

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