Festival Cards

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Christmas

The Christian celebration of Jesus’ birth.


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.

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