Index IntroductionTypes of FestivalsSeasonal FestivalsNational FestivalsFestivals Using AnimalsYulin Dog Meat FestivalGeneral ConcernsEthical ConcernsNatives of Yulin, Guangxi, ChinaCultural and Traditional RelativismTourismReferencesIntroductionFestivalsThe Collins English Dictionary describes the festival as a period or day of celebration that often has a religious and cultural relationship. Additionally, it is a day when people commemorate an event, such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant events (festivals, n.d.). Furthermore, festivals are ways to express glorious celebrations that reflect culture and traditions. It is a way of passing on the legends, traditions and knowledge of a previous generation to the next generation. Finally, it is a way to build social contact with one's context and family and a day to say goodbye to the daily commitments of life (Festival, 2012). Cudny (2014) cited the works of Sofield et al. (1998), where they stated that festivals have been part of humanity since hundreds of years ago, 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayTypes of FestivalsSeasonal FestivalsSeasonal festivals depend on seasonal cyclical 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 behave towards nature (Festival, 2012). Furthermore, these festivals vary according to the environment, climate and nature conditions. Harvest, winter, autumn, bounty, and spring festivals are some of the holidays 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 that signifies historical changes. These holidays are commonly accompanied by a public holiday and were established to instill patriotism in its citizens. The foundation, independence and death of a national hero belong to this category. Religious holidays. Religious holidays are holidays that have religious foundations. These festivals commemorate and glorify a certain religious personality or an event that has religious ties. Furthermore, it is a time when people thank their deities and patrons for the blessings received and ask them for guidance. Festivals like these are celebrated only by a certain religious group and are commonly small-scale. Festivals are celebrations and a festival is not limited to one category. There are types of festivals that can have religious basis and national significance. Where others may be seasonal and may also have religious roots. Festivals are not limited to just one interpretation, they usually overlap and are not relative to each person. Festivals Using Animals There are many types of festivals around the world. Each festival has its own unique characteristics and varies from its execution. Furthermore, as our world evolves, festivals are also reconstructed and invented. Some festivals only require the participation of humans, while others require the participation of sentient beings. Parties involving animals are common nowadays. People believe that we are responsible to these sentient beings, so it is right to take care of them and nurture them. These festivals are believed to benefit animals. Someof the world famous animal 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 Festival of Chilean birds in Chile (Kunz, n.d.). These festivals are animal-centric and celebrate the bond between humans and animals. While holidays that celebrate animals are common today, there are also holidays that harm animals. This type of celebration is part of the tradition and culture of some peoples. People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has published a list of festivals that offer entertainment at the expense of animal welfare. These include: Kots Kaal Pato in Mexico - where iguanas and possums are stuffed into a pinata and beaten with a stick, Gadhimai Festival in Nepal - where goats, chickens, buffalo and other animals are slaughtered, Toro de la Vega in Spain - where i bulls are chased and stabbed to death and at the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. People who participate in this type of festival use animals as sacrifices and also as a source of entertainment. Yulin Dog Meat Festival Through the use of animals in some festivals, animal welfare has become significant. One of the most controversial animal festivals during this time is the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, or what people commonly know as the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. Here, in this research study, the significance of the Yulin Festival will be addressed. It covers the background and history, its impact, the controversies behind this annual event, both the negative and positive aspects, as well as concerns about animal welfare in this type of event. This article aims to outline all aspects of this topic and to provide a better understanding of this type of practice, both considering the negative and positive positions. China has a rich culture and tradition that can be traced back as far as the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. Due to its diverse culture, the Chinese have different festivals that include national, seasonal and religious festivals. From Chinese New Year to animal-related holidays like 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 festival where participants eat dog meat and lychee. The act of eating dog meat in China started from the North and has been practiced since 1700 BC (Koetse, 2015). Approximately 10 million pieces of dog meat are consumed in China each year (Brady, 2018). General Concerns Animal Welfare The American Veterinary Medical Foundation has described animal welfare as an animal's state of living and being. An animal enjoys good well-being if it is free from suffering, such as disease, pain, stress and fear, and if it is able to express innate behavior, is healthy, safe, well nourished, etc. in the hands of man. It is when we consider their well-being, our nutrition, give them adequate housing, treat and prevent their diseases and proper management. Furthermore, animal welfare can be described as the humane management and treatment of animals. The issue of animal welfare in Yulin Festival arises when it has gained popularity due to its positive and negative reactions globally. Animal welfare groups have highlighted the five animal freedoms from the Farm Animal Welfare Council in the United Kingdom and consider them the gold standard for animal welfare. The five freedoms include: Freedom from hunger and thirst Freedom from discomfort Freedom from pain, injury ordisease Freedom to express normal behavior Freedom from fear and distress A more in-depth study on animal welfare will be discussed in the last part of the paper under the positive and negative reaction of the Yulin Festival.Ethical ConcernsEthics is a branch of philosophy which deals with the principles underlying morality. It is linked to the rightness or wrongness of an act. The Yulin Festival has held an ongoing debate on its ethical concerns. People who support the Yulin Festival say that morality is not relative. That you cannot judge one's tradition based on your tradition as it can be seen as ethnocentric, having a culturally biased opinion. And morality is only based on the creation of society, so it varies. While others, who are against the Yulin Festival, argue that we humans have the ability to understand, we are the ones who should protect animals and treat them as humanely as possible. Global reactions, claims, facts and reports Lychee and Dog Meat Festival have sparked a controversy and debate between two points of view. A more in-depth discussion of the festival's concerns will be provided in this part of the article. Angles, whether from the negative or positive aspects or the pros and cons of this tradition. For the Yulin Dog Meat Festival and its positive aspectsThe most obvious side of the Yulin Festival in the global debate is its cons and negative aspects, but here we will see and discuss the reasons behind those who are in favor of this kind of tradition .Natives of Yulin, Guangxi, China The natives of Yulin, or formally romanized as Watlam, began the tradition of this ten-day event on the summer solstice; where they will eat litchi, dog meat and cat meat. Although many oppose this, they still have reasons behind their annual tradition. In an article titled “Eating Dog Meat: Check Your Cultural Biases Before Protesting Too Much,” Innocent Mutanga (2016) explains why we should not judge and forced Yulin residents who practice dog meat eating to conform to what we consider moral. Mutanga (2016) stated that it is a matter of cultural education. There are some people who have grown up where dogs are part of their lives, while there are others where dogs are part of their diet and just to guard their homes. In the case of Yulin natives, they still value the bond between a human and a dog and still have the concept of animal companionship. But in their defense there are also dogs destined for slaughter according to this type of tradition. These dogs are those raised on a farm, but not those kept as pets. For them, dogs that do not have an owner and are raised on a farm are livestock. We still slaughter and eat chickens, pigs, cows, and other farm animals, yet some of us choose to turn this livestock into a pet. Another position raised by Mutanga is safety. In Guangxi province, farm-raised dogs are rampant. They slaughter these dogs due to the uncontrollable increase in their population which could lead to future dangers, such as rabies and other diseases. It could be that Yulin residents are simply protecting their health and interests; as all humans would. An example he gave is the negative reaction of people around the world when a lion dies, but for him, originally from Zimbabwe, lions should be killed because they devour cows and endanger their livelihood. Ultimately, cultural upbringing, as well as priorities, influence the decision as to why dogs should be for them/