Winter Festivals Around the World
This Hindu festival of lights, celebrated in autumn, symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
What is Diwali?
This African American holiday, created in 1966, celebrates African heritage, unity, and community.
What is Kwanzaa?
In Italy, families celebrate Christmas Eve with this seafood-heavy meal.
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
This country is famous for celebrating Christmas with a tradition of eating KFC, thanks to a 1970s marketing campaign.
What is Japan?
What do you call a snow man with 6 pack?
What is the Abdominal Snowman?
In Mexico, families celebrate this nine-day event leading up to Christmas, reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter.
What are Las Posadas?
Many workplaces now celebrate this inclusive term instead of “Christmas party” to respect diverse traditions.
What is a Holiday party?
In Sweden, children dress as “Star Boys” and girls as “Lucia” during this December festival.
What is St. Lucia’s Day?
In Iceland, children are visited by 13 mischievous figures instead of one Santa Claus.
Who are the Yule Lads?
What do elves do in school?
What are PRESENTations?
This Jewish holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple and is celebrated with lighting candles for eight nights.
What is Hanukkah?
This Muslim holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan, is celebrated with communal prayers and festive meals.
What is Eid al-Fitr?
In Germany, children leave shoes out on December 5th to be filled with treats by this saint.
Who is St. Nicholas?
In South Africa, some families enjoy this unusual holiday delicacy: deep-fried caterpillars of the Emperor Moth.
What are Christmas Mopane worms?
What did the gingerbread man put on his bed?
what is a cookie sheet?
In Japan, families celebrate this holiday on January 1st with traditions like eating osechi ryori and visiting shrines.
What is Shogatsu (Japanese New Year)?
In the Philippines, this is the world’s longest Christmas season, beginning in September.
What is the Ber months celebration?
In China, families celebrate Lunar New Year with dumplings, symbolizing this form of wealth.
What is gold or prosperity?
In Guatemala, people celebrate the December tradition of “La Quema del Diablo,” which involves burning effigies to symbolize cleansing negativity.
What is the Burning of the Devil?
What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire?
What is frostbite?
In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th according to this calendar.
What is the Julian calendar?
This Buddhist festival, celebrated in many Asian countries, honors the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.
What is Vesak?
In Ghana, Christmas is celebrated with this dish made of rice and beans cooked in coconut milk.
What is waakye?
In Venezuela, it’s common for people to travel to early morning Christmas Mass in this unusual way, with streets even closed to accommodate it.
What is roller skating?
Why does Santa hate going down the chimney?
What is "he was claustrophobic?"