Winter & Seasonal Traditions
In Japan, people visit temples and eat special buckwheat noodles to celebrate this.
What is Japanese New Year / Oshogatsu?
In Mexico, people honor deceased relatives with bone shaped bread and favorite foods in early November.
What is Día de los Muertos?
In Thailand, people splash water on each other in April to celebrate the new year.
What is Songkran?
In New Orleans, a small figurine is hidden in a cake; the finder hosts next year’s party.
What is King Cake?
In Belize, August 19 celebrates the arrival of the Garifuna people with music, drumming, and dances.
What is Garifuna Settlement Day?
In Iran, families celebrate the longest night of the year with poetry, candles, and pomegranates.
What is Yalda Night?
In India, families cook sweet rice dishes and honor the sun god during this harvest festival.
What is Pongal?
In Brazil, people celebrate with parades, samba dancing, and elaborate costumes before Lent.
What is Carnival?
In Korea, families honor deceased ancestors with food offerings during this autumn harvest holiday.
What is Chuseok / Charye ritual?
April 24 commemorates victims of a tragic 1915 event in Armenia.
What is Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day?
In South Korea, the winter solstice is celebrated with family gatherings and rice cake soup.
What is Dongji / Winter Solstice Festival?
In the Philippines, people eat long noodles for luck and put coins in rice cakes to celebrate the New Year.
What is Media Noche / Filipino New Year?
In India and Nepal, people throw colored powders in the spring to celebrate the victory of good over evil.
What is Holi?
In Ghana, people wear elaborate masks and dance to honor ancestral spirits.
What is Adae Festival?
In Nepal, families decorate cows and hold parades to honor them in autumn.
What is Gai Jatra?
In Peru, dancers in colorful costumes honor a religious figure in December, blending Catholic and indigenous traditions.
What is Señor de los Milagros?
In Ethiopia, a traditional chicken stew called “doro wat” is served during this January holiday.
What is Genna / Ethiopian Christmas?
In Morocco, this festival marks the end of the olive harvest with music, dancing, and storytelling.
What is Moussem / Olive Harvest Festival?
In Mongolia, travelers place stones on hilltop cairns to bring good luck.
What is Ovoo Worship?
In Mexico, this December tradition reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter before Jesus’ birth.
What is Las Posadas?
In Nigeria, this winter solstice-inspired holiday celebrates community with lights and storytelling.
What is Nigerian Yule / Winter Solstice Celebration?
In Argentina, people celebrate spring with park gatherings, music, and barbecues.
What is Día de la Primavera / Spring Day?
In the Faroe Islands, traditional wooden boat races honor Viking heritage in spring.
What is Faroese Boat Festival / Ólavsøka?
In Japan, girls are celebrated in March by displaying dolls and praying for health and happiness.
What is Hina Matsuri / Girls’ Day?
In Japan, February 14 involves women giving chocolates to men as a gesture of romantic interest.
What is Valentine’s Day in Japan / Giri and Honmei Chocolate tradition?