Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, Tibetan Losar, also called Spring Festival, is a festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. |
Veggie Dumplings
(vegan)
(vegan)
Maha Shivratri is predominantly a Hindu festival, celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva, the God of destruction. Shivratri is celebrated in every month of the luni-solar calendar, in accordance with the Hindu calendar but once a year, in late winter Maha Shivratri is celebrated to commemorate the oncoming summer in February or early March |
Purim, or the Festival of Lots, is celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Adar. It commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, an Achaemenid Persian Empire official, as told in the book of Ester. The holiday is celebrated by exchanging gifts or mishloach manot, donating to charity, reciting the book of Ester, reciting addition prayers called the Al HaNissim, and eating a celebratory meal known as se'dat Purim. |
Many Jewsih people dress in costume for the festive se'dat Purim meal, which is often accompanied by imbibing large quantities of wine. The custom stems from a statement in the Talmud attributed to a rabbi named Rava that says one should drink on Purim until he can "no longer distinguish between arur Haman ("Cursed is Haman") and baruch Mordechai ("Blessed is Mordecai").
One of the most widely eaten foods on Purim is hamantaschen, or Haman's pockets. These triangular cookies are said to resemble the hat worn by Haman.
One of the most widely eaten foods on Purim is hamantaschen, or Haman's pockets. These triangular cookies are said to resemble the hat worn by Haman.
St Patrick's Day, or the Feast of St Patrick, is celebrated by Irish Christians on the official death day of St Patrick, March 17 to commemorate Saint Patrick bringing Christianity to Ireland. It was made a Christian feast day in the 17th century, when Lenten restrictions (of imbibing in alcohol) were lifted for the celebration, which contributes to the modern day celebrations of parades and excessive drinking. St Patrick is said to have taught Irish pagans about the Holy Trinity using shamrocks and today wearing green on St Patrick's day is still in practice. |
Lailat al Isra and Mi'raj are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islam, the prophet Muhammad
took during a single night around the year 621. Within Islam it signifies both a physical and spiritual journey. In the Isra part of the journey, Muhammad is said to have travelled on the back of a winged steed to Al-Aqsa Mosque where he leads other prophets in prayer. In the next part of the journey, the Mi'raj, he ascends into heaven where he individually greets the prophets and later, speaks to God, who gives Muhammad instructions to take back to the Muslims regarding the details of prayer. |
Holi, or the Festival of Love, Festival of Colors, or the Festival of Spring, is an ancient Hindu holiday celebrating the love of Radha Krishna, as well as the victory of Vishnu and Narasimha Narayana over Hiranyakashipu (a king whose name translated to clothes in gold).
Held to celebrate the end of Winter, beginning of Spring and new life, and repairing of relationships, Holi lasts for a night and a day, beginning on the full moon Purnima. Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil be destroyed. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi (Dhuleti) – a free-for-all festival of colours, where people smear each other with colours and drench each other. |
Dìa del Reyes is celebrated in Mexico on January 6 to honor the Epiphany, or the arrival of the three kings to Bethlehem to visit the new born Jesus Christ, which is associated with the revelation that Jesus was the son of God, and represents the close of the Christmas season.
This feast day is celebrated with a Rosca de Reyes, a cake in the shake of a ring that has a small baby figurine baked into it, representing Jesus. The person who gets the slice with the symbolic baby Jesus must host a party on “Día de la Candelaria”(Candlemas Day) on February 2nd. At this party, the host traditionally serves tamales and hot chocolate. Depending on the region in Mexico, “Día de la Candelaria” varies in traditions and celebration. |