Holiday festivals jogs our memory of how wonderful it is to be alive. Even if it’s one day of rest, remembrance, giving thanks or partying, everybody always look forward to the holidays. Holidays breathe new life into our busy schedules.
Read on to find out if your favorite holiday made it to the list.
1. Christmas:
Christmas is an annual festival celebrated to honor the birth of the Christian messiah (Jesus) on the 25th of December. Christmas Day is a public holiday almost everywhere in the world. One beautiful thing about Christmas is that it brings the whole family (nuclear and extended) together to celebrate while also promoting a healthy relationship and allowing them discovers new things about each other.
2. New year:
The new year holiday is always celebrated on the 1st of january worldwide. One reason why the new year holiday is loved by everyone around the world is that people get the euphoria to party on every December 31st to celebrate their past successes and say goodbye to any hardships.
According to research, the new year was tied to farming and religion. When life was most prosperous in spring, that’s when many cultures felt like they had a fresh start. During their festivities, they would feast and exchange simple gifts with their neighbors to ensure the rest of their year could be merry but it is even more fun in the 21st century as people can now find different innovative ways and reasons to celebrate. Most times a few people also celebrate new year on their birthdays which signifies the beginning of a new journey, chapter or milestone.
3. Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr:
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr are celebrated by Muslims. They are technically two separate holidays, you can’t have one without the other. According to Islam, Ramadan is known as a month of fasting while Eid al-Fitr is the festival of breaking the fast. The two holidays help Muslims connect with their religion and their loved ones.
Ramadan begins in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar at the start of the new moon. Eid al-Fitr cannot start until the new moon of the following month, which signifies that a whole month of fasting has been completed. Ramadan falls in early May and Eid al-Fitr follows in early June.
4. Easter:
Christians celebrate Easter as a day to remember Jesus’ resurrection, which the New Testament claims took place three days after his crucifixion. Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and May 8 depending on whose calendar you follow because there are several sects of Christianity. Easter is the end of Lent, a 40-day fast, in both western and eastern Christianity.
Despite having religious roots, Easter has evolved into a more secular holiday in modern times, much like Christmas. The Easter Bunny is the figurehead of Easter, whereas Santa Claus is the face of Christmas. It’s customary for parents of young children to leave an Easter gift basket and say that the Easter Bunny has been to their house.
5.Chinese New Year:
The Chinese New Year is celebrated all across Asia and other Asian populations around the world. Their festivities are so beautiful and charming that plenty of other people with no Chinese heritage join in on the fun too. The Chinese New Year doesn’t have a set date because it follows the lunar calendar but the new year celebration usually take place in late January up until mid-February. This holiday also showcases the Chinese Zodiac signs. Each year is represented by an animal different from the previous year. There are many different ways people celebrate the Chinese New Year. One of the most common traditions is to set off firecrackers, another way is using food such as Dumplings, spring rolls are served to improve wealth, noodles to increase longevity, and sweet rice balls to strengthen family bonds.
Even though Easter is filled with exciting events, devout families set aside time to go to church and pray. Easter is perhaps the most meaningful Christian celebration of the year since Jesus’ resurrection was a miracle.
6.Halloween:
Halloween is a holiday celebrated in various cultures worldwide due to human fascination with death. In America, it is a spooky, lighthearted, and heartfelt celebration, with costumes, candy, and scary games. In Mexico, it is Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a three-day festival where the souls of the dead return. Catholics worldwide celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Soul’s Day, with flowers and candles in graves. Japanese people also enjoy western Halloween traditions, with the Kawasaki Halloween Parade, where over 4,000 people dress up in impressive costumes.
7. Valentine Day:
Valentine’s Day has a rich and dark history, dating back to the 14th century when Saint Valentinus was honored. English poet Chaucer connected the holiday to birds mating, and other figures like Shakespeare connected it to love. Today, Valentine’s Day is an extravagant holiday with common traditions such as giving partners sweet cards, heart-shaped chocolates, jewelry, and cute stuffed animals. Romantic dates are expected, and some restaurants require reservations months in advance. Despite the commercialization, Valentine’s Day remains a perfect time to remind partners of their love and enjoy fun with friends, even if they’re single.
