December 10: discover Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales

The Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales, celebrated every December 10, is a unique event that honors whales that have died due to human activities like whaling and pollution.
It’s a day to remember these majestic creatures and their contributions to the ocean’s ecosystem, reflecting on the impact humans have had on marine life.
It is celebrated for several reasons, first of all raising awareness about the plight of whales, many of which are endangered due to past and ongoing threats from human activities, and it encourages people to think about the importance of conservation and the need to protect these creatures for future generations.
Moreover, it emphasizes the cultural significance of whales in various communities around the world, showcasing their role in traditions and ceremonies, serving also as a poignant reminder of human actions’ environmental consequences and calling for reflection on how we can reduce harm and promote sustainability in our interactions with the ocean.
Through activities like whale watching, art projects, and educational events, participants engage with the cause and spread the message of conservation and respect for marine life.

The Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales has an interesting past, beginning as a way to honor whales that died due to human actions.
Although its exact origin remains unclear, many believe it started with communities who hunted whales for survival.
While the exact origin of whaling is unknown, records show that humans have been hunting whales for thousands of years, above among people living in aquatic regions. While it is a cultural norm for most countries, it’s also well known as one of the leading causes of whale deaths.
Four thousand years ago, aboriginal communities in Norway spearheaded whaling for food and oil, and people discovered that every part of the whale is usable — from its meat, skin, and blubber to its organs, which are a good source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats.
Whaling quickly rose to prominence as other neighboring regions started adopting it. In warmer climates, the whale’s baleen was used for roofs, and the bones were repurposed into carving tools.
As a result, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, the entire northern European region adopted whaling.
Whalebones were primarily used for corsets and hoop skirts, and whale oil was extracted from blubber and head cavities.
These were deemed valuable commodities and spiked the country’s economy and, at this point, it became a lucrative industry.
In the mid-1700s, whaling became a significant industry and Americans expanded their operations to the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
However, this massive hunting led to a sharp decline in whale populations and, by the early 1900s, technological advancements, including steamships with gun-loaded harpoons, made whaling more efficient (but also more destructive) with many whale species that faced the threat of extinction.
It wasn’t until 1971 that the U.S. outlawed whaling after deeming eight whales as endangered species.
Nowadays, the act is considered illegal in most countries.

The festival emerged as a response to this crisis, with people who wanted to raise awareness and honor all the lost whales and, over time, it evolved into a global event.
Today, it serves as a reminder of the importance of marine conservation, encouraging people to reflect on their impact on the ocean and promoting efforts to protect these magnificent creatures.

Images from web – Google Research