Across cultures and continents, people come together to celebrate holidays that mark important events, traditions, and rituals.
From observing the changing of seasons to commemorating religious milestones, holidays bring people joy and allow us to connect with our communities and cultures.
In this article, we will explore 10 of the most celebrated holidays around the world that unite people in festivity.
10. Easter
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is usually observed on a Sunday between late March and early May, depending on the lunar calendar. Easter is also associated with symbols like eggs, bunnies, and chicks, which represent fertility and new life. Many people celebrate Easter by attending church services, decorating eggs, hunting for Easter baskets, and enjoying a feast with their family and friends.
9. Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States and Canada that commemorates the harvest and the blessings of the past year. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the US and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, share food, and spend time with loved ones. Some of the traditional dishes served on Thanksgiving include turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and apple pie.
8. Diwali
Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It is celebrated for five days in October or November, depending on the lunar calendar. Diwali involves lighting candles, lamps, and fireworks, exchanging gifts and sweets, wearing new clothes, cleaning and decorating homes, and performing prayers and rituals.
7. Halloween
Halloween is a secular holiday that originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It is celebrated on October 31st every year by people of various backgrounds and beliefs. Halloween is a fun and spooky occasion that involves dressing up in costumes, carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, watching horror movies, and telling ghost stories.
6. Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is the most important festival in Chinese culture that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the lunar calendar. It usually falls between late January and mid-February and lasts for 15 days until the Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year is a time to honor ancestors, reunite with family members, exchange red envelopes with money, eat dumplings and other delicacies, clean and decorate homes with red lanterns and couplets, and enjoy lion dances and dragon parades.
5. St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday that honors the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the island in the 5th century. It is celebrated on March 17th every year by Irish people and their descendants around the world. St Patrick’s Day is a festive occasion that involves wearing green clothes and accessories, drinking beer and whiskey, eating corned beef and cabbage, attending parades and parties, and listening to Irish music.
4. Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting from dawn to dusk. It is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, which varies from year to year based on the sighting of the new moon. Eid al-Fitr is a joyous occasion that involves breaking the fast with a large meal, giving charity to the poor, wearing new clothes, visiting relatives and friends, exchanging greetings and gifts, and praying at mosques.
3. Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a romantic holiday that celebrates love and affection between couples and friends. It is celebrated on February 14th every year by people of various countries and cultures. Valentine’s Day is a sweet occasion that involves sending cards, flowers, chocolates, teddy bears, jewelry, or other gifts to express one’s feelings for someone special. Some people also celebrate Valentine’s Day by going on dates, having candlelit dinners, watching romantic movies or shows.
2. Christmas
Christmas is a Christian holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
Christmas is a magical occasion that involves decorating trees with lights and ornaments.
Some of the traditions and symbols of Christmas include Christmas trees, wreaths, lights, stockings, ornaments, cards, nativity scenes, and mistletoe.
But it has also become a secular and cultural phenomenon that involves gift-giving, decorations, music, food, and family gatherings.
It is celebrated on December 25th every year by Christians and non-Christians alike around the world.
Many people also associate Christmas with Santa Claus, a mythical figure who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve.
Some of the traditions and symbols of Christmas include Christmas trees, wreaths, lights, stockings, ornaments, cards, nativity scenes, and mistletoe.
1. New Year
New Year is the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, which is used by most countries in the world. It is a time to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another, often with fireworks, parties, resolutions, and wishes. Some of the traditions and customs of New Year include counting down to midnight, kissing someone at midnight, making noise with bells, horns, or pots and pans, eating certain foods for luck or prosperity, and exchanging greetings and gifts.
Across cultures and continents, people come together to celebrate holidays that mark important events, traditions and rituals. These are just a few of the most celebrated holidays around the world. These holidays offer a unique opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions, and they provide a time for celebration, giving, and spending time with loved ones.