The document provides information on various religious and cultural festivals and holidays celebrated around the world. Some of the key events mentioned include Christmas, Chinese New Year, Independence Day, Easter, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Ramadan, Valentine's Day, Eid, and Halloween. The document notes when each event is celebrated annually based on religious calendars or specific dates.
The document provides information on various religious and cultural festivals and holidays celebrated around the world. Some of the key events mentioned include Christmas, Chinese New Year, Independence Day, Easter, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Ramadan, Valentine's Day, Eid, and Halloween. The document notes when each event is celebrated annually based on religious calendars or specific dates.
The document provides information on various religious and cultural festivals and holidays celebrated around the world. Some of the key events mentioned include Christmas, Chinese New Year, Independence Day, Easter, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Ramadan, Valentine's Day, Eid, and Halloween. The document notes when each event is celebrated annually based on religious calendars or specific dates.
The document provides information on various religious and cultural festivals and holidays celebrated around the world. Some of the key events mentioned include Christmas, Chinese New Year, Independence Day, Easter, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Ramadan, Valentine's Day, Eid, and Halloween. The document notes when each event is celebrated annually based on religious calendars or specific dates.
Every year, Christmas Day is celebrated on the 25th of December. Chinese New Year
Every January or February, the Chinese
celebrate their New Year. Independence Day
In the USA, the 4th of July marks the day
when America became independent from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Easter
At Easter, Christians remember Jesus’
death and rising to life again. Easter is usually celebrated over two days: Good Friday, which is celebrated every year between 22nd March and 25th April and Easter Sunday, which is celebrated the following Sunday. These dates change each year because they follow the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the Jewish festival that
celebrates the rededicating of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The exact date of Hanukkah changes every year to follow the Hebrew calendar but will always be on the 25th day of Kislev (a date from the Hebrew calendar). This is usually celebrated between late November and December. Thanksgiving
Celebrated in the USA, it was
originally a festival to give thanks to God for a good harvest. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Guy Fawkes Night
This is a British celebration that marks
the failed attempt to blow up Parliament. This can also be known as Bonfire Night. Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated every year on the 5th of November. Diwali
Diwali is the Hindu festival of light.
Using the Hindu lunar calendar, Diwali is recognised on the 15th day of Kartik, the holiest month in the Hindu calendar. Every year, this falls in either October or November. Ramadan
Ramadan is the Islamic month of
fasting. Using the Islamic calendar, which is based around the lunar cycle, the celebration of Ramadan changes every year. Each year, Ramadan begins about eleven days earlier than the previous year. Pancake Day
Celebrated on Shrove Tuesday, the day
before Christians fast for Lent. Pancake Day changes every year as it depends on when Easter is but it is usually celebrated between 3rd February and 9th March. Valentine’s Day
Saint Valentine’s Day is a celebration of
love. It is on the 14th of February. Burns Night
This is the Scottish celebration of the
life and poetry of Robert Burns. Burns night is celebrated annually on 25th January, which was his birthday. Eid
Eid is the second most important festival
in the Muslim calendar. Eid is a time to remember God’s love and kindness. It is a time for sharing. Eid falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal (a date from the Islamic calendar). Therefore, this date changes every year. Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the
Mexican victory of the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated every year on the 5th May. St. Patrick’s Day
This is a cultural and religious
celebration held on 17th March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick. Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day is a traditional holiday
originating in the United States that is celebrated on 2nd February. Remembrance Day
This is a memorial day that marks the
day the First World War ended. Every year, a two-minute silence is held at 11 a.m. on the 11th of November to remember the people who have died in the wars. Kwanzaa
A secular festival observed by many
African Americans from 26th December to 1st January as a celebration of their cultural heritage and traditional values. Father’s Day
A celebration to recognise the impact
fathers and father figures have on their children’s lives. Although celebrated on various dates around the world, many countries identify Father’s Day as the third Sunday in June. Canada Day
Celebrated on the 1st of July, it marks
the day when the Constitution Act joined three provinces into one country: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Canada province. Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring
the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. Mother’s Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday. This is usually between late March and early April. Halloween
Halloween is a celebration observed in
a number of countries on 31st October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. Australia Day
The official national day of Australia,
celebrated annually on 26th January. There are many celebrations and, on this day every year, an important Australian is given the award of ‘Australian of the Year’. ANZAC Day
A national day of remembrance in
Australia and New Zealand, held each 25th April. On this day in 1915, many soldiers from these countries (known as ‘ANZACs’) died at a place called Gallipoli. Now, this day is for remembering all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who have died during conflict. Bastille Day
This day of freedom is celebrated in
France every year on 14th July. On this date in 1789, angry protestors attacked a prison in Paris called the Bastille to protest the King of France’s harsh rule. This was the start of the French Revolution. Moon Festival
This mid-autumn day is celebrated by
many people in east and southeast Asian countries, such as China, Korea and Japan, to give thanks for the harvest and to worship the moon. National Sorry Day
This is an annual Australian event
to remember the mistreatment of the country’s Indigenous peoples. It is held every 26th May. St. David’s Day
Saint David is the patron saint of
Wales. St. David’s Day is held on the 1st March every year. People spend it celebrating Welsh history and culture, including parades, eating Welsh foods and the wearing of leeks and daffodils (Welsh symbols). Holi
A Hindu festival also known as the
‘festival of spring’ or ‘the festival of colours’. It celebrates the good defeating evil, new life and love. During Holi, there is lots of singing and dancing and coloured paints and water are thrown around in celebration. Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi is a spring-time festival, usually
held on the 13th or 14th April, that marks the first day of the month of Vaisakha and celebrates the New Year. It is a colourful event and one of the most important days in Sikhism. Sikhs gather and visit Gurdwaras, hold community fairs and processions and share festive foods. Bandi Chhor Divas
Bandi Chhor Divas is a Sikh celebration that
remembers the release of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, from captivity. It is an autumn festival and often overlaps with the Hindu festival Diwali. Bandi Chhor Divas is celebrated with the lighting of candles and lanterns in homes and Gurdwaras, processions and the sharing of food. Gurpurab
Gurpurab are a series of festivals that
celebrate the lives of the ten Sikh Gurus. They are among the most sacred festivals in Sikhism. Assemblies are held in Gurdwaras and the teachings of the Gurus are read. Special hymns are sung and processions are held. Langars (community meals) are held for those celebrating. Hola Mohalla
Hola Mohalla, sometimes known as ‘Hola’, is
a three-day festival held by Sikhs. It usually happens in March, sometimes at the same time as the Hindu festival of Holi. During Hola, a fair is held where people gather to listen to stories, music, poetry and to watch combat displays. A community meal is also eaten and at the end of the day, a procession is held. Maghi
Maghi is a festival that is held to
commemorate Sikhs who died fighting the Mughal Empire in 1705. Sikhs make a pilgrimage to the site of the war and bathe in the sacred water tanks of Muktsar and visit shrines. A fair is also held in their memory. A large march of pilgrims to the Tibbi Sahib Gurdwara, which is sacred to the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, happens at the end of the celebrations. Vesak
Also known as Wesak or Buddha’s Day.
It is celebrated by Buddhists on Buddha’s birthday and for some Buddhists, marks his enlightenment (when he discovered life’s meaning). People celebrate Vesak by going to the temple, performing good deeds, wearing white clothes and lighting lanterns and candles. Maha Shivaratri
Shivarati is a Hindu festival. It is
celebrated in winter before spring arrives. Shivarati means ‘The Great Night of Shiva.’ It is a celebration of the Hindu god Lord Shiva. Hindus will stay awake all night to pray. The next day they will have a special bath and visit the temple. Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela is one of the most
important festivals for Hindus. Millions of people travel to wash in sacred rivers like the Ganges. Hindus believe that by washing in these rivers, their sins will be cleansed. Eid-ul-Fitr
Muslims around the world celebrate
Eid-ul-Fitr in different ways. It is a very special time when family and friends get together. Eid Al-Fitr means ‘the feast of breaking the fast’ and it happens when Ramadan ends. The first day of Eid happens when there is a new moon of the month of Shawwal. Eid al-Adha
Eid Al-Adha is an Islamic festival
celebrated each year by Muslims. Some Muslim families celebrate by putting on new clothes and going to the Mosque. They give thanks to Allah for the blessings they have received. Women and girls decorate their hands with mehndi patterns. Al-Hijra
Al-Hijra is celebrated on the first day
of the Islamic year. Al-Hijra is not celebrated like other Muslim festivals. Muslims take the time to think about new year resolutions. Some Muslims fast during the day and have a meal in the evening. Some send cards and presents to one another. Sukkot
Jewish people celebrate the festival of
Sukkot in the autumn for seven days. To get ready for Sukkot, people start to build a sukkah. This is a tent where Jewish people lived thousands of years ago when they were looking for somewhere to live. Jewish people spend as much time as possible in their sukkah during Sukkot. They eat all their meals in the sukkah and say a prayer to thank G-d. Please note that the spelling G-d has been used in this resource as a sign of respect towards Jewish people so that they can erase or dispose of the writing without showing disrespect to their faith. Passover
Passover is one of the most important
festivals in the Jewish year. In Hebrew, it is called Pesach. It is celebrated in spring to remember how the Israelite people were freed from slavery by Moses over 3000 years ago. Passover is celebrated for seven or eight days with special foods and drinks. Rosh Hoshannah
Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish festival
that celebrates the new year and new beginnings. Its name means ‘Head of the Year.’ It is celebrated in the autumn. No work is allowed on this day and people attend the synagogue. Jewish people eat sweet foods such as apples and honey to help them think about the sweet new year that is just beginning. Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the
year for Jewish people. Jewish people believe that on this day, Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. During this day, the adults fast and visit the synagogue to pray. Children give up something that they like for the day such as TV or sport. St. George’s Day
Saint George is the patron saint of
England. St. George’s Day is celebrated on 23rd April. The story is about a brave soldier called Saint George who rescued a lady from a dragon. Some people fly England’s flag called the St. George’s Cross on this day. Others do a special dance called Morris dancing. On the Sunday closest to St. George’s Day, people will attend a special service at church. St. Andrew’s Day
Saint Andrew became the patron saint of
Scotland over a thousand years ago. St. Andrew’s day is celebrated on the 30th of November each year. The story is about one of Jesus’ disciples called Andrew. He travelled the world telling people about Jesus and the amazing things that he had done. There are many celebrations on this day such as a Ceilidh. This is where people take part in Scottish country dancing.