Other International Holidays

Chinese Lantern Festival, or Yuan Xiao, is part of the Chinese New Year celebration. Yuan Xiao occurs on the 15th day of the first lunar month and is a favorite of both children and adults. All...

Winter is dark in Scandinavia, and each year on December 13, Swedes celebrate St. Lucia, the saint of light from Sicily who brings light, food and good cheer. The eldest daughter of each family...

For 30 years, the Bostonia has been a celebrated quartet throughout the greater Boston area. The quartet consists of players of two violins, a viola and a cello. The Bostonia (called Bostonia...

The most widely and festively celebrated national holiday in Mexico is Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16. Also known as El Grito de Dolores, this holiday is celebrated with parades, festivals...

In Hispanic culture, when a girl turns 15, a celebration is held called the quinceanera, symbolizing the girl's passage to womanhood. While a quinceanera has religious and historical origins, in...

September 19th of every year people everywhere celebrate the little known holiday "International Talk Like a Pirate Day". This year don't be left out in the cold. Learn your pirate...

For a Cub Scout pack, few events are bigger than the Blue and Gold Banquet. Celebrating Scout Anniversary Week with a Scouting birthday party usually occurs at the February pack meeting. This...

Wrapping presents is as much fun as buying the gift and surprising someone! Use fabric, tissue, newspaper, brown paper bags, just to give you an idea. then the embellishment is endless. Flowers,...

A clam shell is often used in baptism ceremonies as the instrument used to pour water on the head of the baptized. The origins of this practice are a bit cloudy even among the clergy who use it. ...

Besides being tired after that great event, did you find that you have a bunch of leftover party toothpicks you have no need for? Even some that look used, but you can’t tell? Need something to...

Food gifts are most appreciated during the holidays. It seams that with everything going on in life, people rarely have time to bake for the holidays, as they used to. When you give any homemade...

May Day is not a common holiday in the United States, however, the festivities go back to ancient times. Children, especially girls, enjoy celebrating May Day as it allows them to get dressed up,...

Migajon a traditional craft using bread paste dough molded into useful and decorative objects such as flowers, toys and bridal tiaras. Thought to have originated centuries ago in Ecuador, migajon...

Mayday is a Pagan holiday that occurs on May 1. The Maypole is a tall wooden pole decorated with several ribbons suspended from the top, festooned with flowers, or adorned with other symbols or...

Every season has a holiday or two that we celebrate. They are all significant in some way but there is none that is more significant than Earth Day. With the growing Eco concerns and health...

The World Health Organization is part of the United Nations and acts as an authoritative agency regarding public health and the agency’s mission statement is “the attainment by all peoples of the...

The purpose of daylight savings time is have the extra time during the day to save energy. The time can change between February and April depending upon which continent you live on. This guide...

Preparing for the New Year, is a time of excitement and celebration. Are there new life changes that you would like to start? Embrace New Year's Eve as a time to celebrate your resolutions and...

Everyone loves a party, and nothing is more festive than a party with a Mexican fiesta theme. Mexican food, music and culture are becoming extremely popular, and it's easy to see why. The food is...

Midsummer Day in Lithuania is a celebration of the Summer Solstice as well as being a holy day sacred to St. John, but the real festivities take place on the evening prior to the date itself. On...

Midsummer in Norway, also known as Sankthansaften or Jonsok, is a holiday celebrated nationwide, usually on the night of June 23. At this time of year, right around the solstice, days are at their...

The death of science fiction writer and social critic, Douglas Adams is celebrated annually on May 25th in the form of Towel Day. In his acclaimed novel, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy,"...

Wisconsin is home to hundreds of Irish pubs and restaurants that are the best venues for your Saint Patrick's Day celebration. You'll find a number of Celtic and Irish-inspired attractions around...

In 1975, the United Nations officially sanctioned International Women's Day on March 8, though events had been established over the world well before that. In some countries, it's a day for men to...

Papel picado is the ancient Mexican tradition of cutting scenes into paper to use as decoration at various holidays. The advent of tissue paper made this art especially popular. The colors and...

Japanese White Day occurs March 14 and involves men giving women gifts that are white, such as chocolate, candy and marshmallows. This tradition is played out as a response to the Valentine's Day...

Saturnalia was a Roman holy day on which religious rites were performed to honor Saturnus, the god of seed and sowing. Saturnalia officially begins on December 17 and lasts for seven days, until...

On November 1, Catholics throughout the Western World celebrate All Saints Day, a day to honor the saints. In Spain, the holiday, sometimes referred to as All Hallows or Hallowmas, is known as...

All Saints Day goes by many names. Also known as Allhallows or Hallowmas, the first day of November is called Wszystkich Swietych, or the Day of the Dead, in Poland. All Saints Day is an ancient...

On November 1 of every year the people of Portugal celebrate the Feast of All Saints. Known also as All Saints Day, the holiday is designated by the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches as a day...

People all over Mexico celebrate All Saints Day on November 1. It's the first of two very festive Dias de Muertos (Days of the Dead). In many parts of the world All Saints Day is a solemn day set...

In Italy, All Saints Day is known as Tutti i Santi Ognissnati. The Catholic holiday, commemorating the Saint Martyrs, is celebrated on November 1. The next day, All Souls Day, is set aside to...

All Saints Day in France is part of a national holiday known as La Toussaint. La Toussaint is a two day festival during which the French celebrate two holidays together: All Saints Day, the day...

All Saints Day in Lithuania is a solemn holiday. November 1 is set aside as a day to recognize the souls of the dead as well as remembering the Saints of the Catholic Church. In Lithuania, All...

November is a month of many observances in Germany. Among those celebrated is Allerheiligentag, or All Saints Day. The traditions and customs of Allerheiligentag are observed with solemnity and...

Austrians celebrate All Saints Day, the Catholic holiday in remembrance of the Saint Martyrs, on November 1. All Saints Day in Austria is part of a week known as "Seelenwoche" (All Souls Week)...

While in many countries, All Saints Day is a solemn holiday set aside to remember the dead, in the Philippines the holiday is a day of festivities. November 1 marks the beginning of the Filipino...

All Saints Day is celebrated by Catholics in many countries on November 1. There are many traditions associated with All Saints Day, but none so widespread as All Saints Day Bread, known in many...

All Saints Day is traditionally celebrated by the Catholic church in honor of the saints who do not have their own feast days. Around the world, this day is also used to remember relatives who...

All Saints Day is not just a day for saints recognized by the Catholic Church. It is also a day to remember those people who made a positive influence in your community, your church, your career...

All Saints Day is a time to think about all the saints in your life. They include the regular people around you who have daily struggles. The problems people deal with regularly are many but...

The readings for All Saints Day are specially selected because of the messages they contain. Most of them discuss the qualities desired in believers in God and show examples of how to obtain them....

Although the Lutheran church honors saints, it does not share the Catholic view of a saint's abilities. Lutherans do not believe that saints can receive prayers or intercede for a petitioner...

All Saints Day traditions are many and varied. You can celebrate it in church, honoring the saints and the martyrs who died for their beliefs. You can pray for those who died before they reached a...

The Catalan countries observe All Saint's Day on the first of November. All Saints is a festive day, and the citizens celebrate the saints with food. You can expect to find panellets in any...

Soul cakes are delicacies from Europe. Traditionally, people made these cakes on All Saints day and, in the evening, placed them on graves of dead relatives to ease their souls. They were also...

Strietzel, a braided sweet bread, originates in Germany. On All Saints day, children look forward to visits from their godparents who arrive with gifts of Strietzel. Part of the fun for the...

Pane Co' Santi is one of the delicacies served on the first of November, All Saints Day. There are both sweet and non-sweet versions of Pane Co' Santi. The sweet version is used for deserts and...

Lucia Day ' aka Saint Lucy's Day ' on December 13 ranks among the most important days on the Swedish calendar. It honors a young Christian girl, martyred in ancient Rome, who is always portrayed...