Feathers Will Fly on April 2
By
Eric Shackle
Saturday, March 19, 2011
From ERIC SHACKLE, in Sydney, Australia.
Thousands of feather-brained folk with nothing better to do will hit one another with feather-filled pillows on April 2 -- International Pillow Fight Day.
These free-for-alls will take place in scores of cities, ranging alphabetically from Amsterdam, Hollamd, to Zurich, Switzerland.
You can find a long list of participating cities here.
In London, annual pillow fights are held amongst the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. And in New York, they take place in Union Square.
In theory, you're supposed to limit your targets to other pillow-players, but innocent spectators are often hit.
These days, many pillows are filled with materials much heavier than feathers, and are much less fun. Which recalls the ancient riddle: Which is heavier -- a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks?
The Amsterdam Pillow Fight website hits the right note when it says:
For the 3rd year in a row we will have a massive pillow fight on the Dam Square, because it's World Pillow Fight Day!
This free event is all about fun and it is celebrated on the same day in many cities around the world. It's even more fun if you bring your friends, so invite them through the menu on the right. Everyone can join!
There are usually free after parties happening after the pillow fight that last deep into the night. ...Keep your eyes and ears open for some serious pyjama partying ;)
Our world is increasingly obsessed with regulations, security and commercialism. This threatens our freedom and creativity.
That’s why we must reclaim the streets as a place where everybody can simply have fun - without meddling authorities or corporate sponsors. So grab your pillow and join us in this feathery blast!
Years ago, pillow-fight duels between pairs of muscular young lifesavers were a popular feature of Australian beach carnivals.
The lifesavers straddled slippery beams erected about six feet above the sand, and beltd each other with pillows until one of them was toppled from his perch.
POSTSCRIPT. Pillow fights are popular in China, too.
"In recognition of Women's Day, which is coming up, Window of the World Park in Changsha, capital city of Hunan Province, launched a pillow fight for women on March 3," Wang Qianyuanxue wrote in People's Daily Online.
"Every female visitor can bombard each other in the appointed place with pillows provided by the park to release pressure from their daily life and career.
"After one fight, the feathers that have scattered on the ground will be put back into the pillows in preparation for the next fight."
LINK: Chinese women release pressure For more with pictures, click here.
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