International Celebrations

Twelfth Night on Jan. 5 marks the official end of the holiday season. Throughout the world it's a time for light-hearted fun, rowdy games and dressing up in outrageous costumes - all customs...

One of several Chinese legends has it that Buddha proposed a race for all the animals: The first 12 animals to cross a river of his choice would each be appointed one of 12 years, constituting one...

The proud dragon is the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac. Here's how to spot one of Chinese astrology's most dignified and outspoken animals. (Alternatively, spoilsports can try to...

The US isn't the only country with a colorful past that gets celebrated in July. On July 14, 1789, angry citizens stormed the Bastille in Paris, France and declared their independence from their...

January 25 marks the birthday of Scotland’s favorite son, poet and balladeer Robert Burns, who is the writer of "Auld Lang Syne," one of the most famous songs of all time. He is toasted on the...

Brazilians call Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City) and with good reason. Breathtaking mountain vistas, lush tropical forests and world-famous beaches like Ipanema and Copacabana...

Carnival is to Mexicans what Mardi Gras is to Americans. It is a celebration that lasts for five days and nights, starting on Ash Wednesday and ending the evening before Lent begins. Several...

The French nation celebrates Bastille Day on July 14 to memorialize the 1789 storming of the Bastille, a Paris prison. The Bastille symbolized the oppressive regime of the French monarchy and its...

Inty Raymi, Kichwa for the Festival of the Sun, is an ancient tradition now celebrated by the indigenous and mestizos alike in the Andean regions of Latin America. This festive gathering of dance,...

If you love to dress like people did during the Middle Ages and put on plays, then you should organize a Renaissance Faire if there aren't any near you. You can use the faire to raise money for...

On July 4th, it's red, white and blue. On Christmas it's green and red. It's the Empire State Building and since 1932 its spire colors have changed in time with the holidays. But just what is the...

Want to buy something for someone that they'll remember forever without going comletely bankrupt? Then you're reading the right article! Read on to find out more.

Midsummer's Eve is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden. The event takes place the end of June, near the Summer Solstice. The feast officially begins after the traditional dances around the...

The National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., is held every spring to commemorate the gift of Japanese cherry trees to the city from the mayor of Tokyo. The original cherry trees were...

Whether you're throwing a toga party or just a Greek-themed party, be prepared for an internationally flavored event. When it's time to play games, give your guests a little taste of Greece, and...

Laughter is the greatest medicine. On January 24 at 1:24 p.m., you are encouraged to “Throw your hands in the air and laugh out loud!” Here are a few ways to celebrate the laugh heard round the world.

The Hindu Festival of Colors, also known as Holi or Phagwah, is celebrated in India on the first three days after the first full moon in early March (the date varies with the Hindu calendar). It...

Florence, the capital city of Tuscany, is home for its medieval and Renaissance art and architecture. This was the home of Michelangelo, Gallileo and the Medici and reminders of those periods...

Ostara is a pagan holiday and celebrates the vernal or spring equinox. Many of the traditions of Easter have grown out of the pagan celebration of Ostara. The Easter bunny and painted eggs are...

Dyngus Day is a quintessentially Polish holiday, which in modern times involves both squirt guns and polka. Celebrated on Easter Monday anywhere where there is a significant Polish population, a...

Although you may have heard the name, you are probably asking yourself, "what is Bastille Day?" According to About.com, Bastille Day is a French national holiday that commemorates the...

Carnival is Brazil's main annual event, and covers a span of 4 days. The dates for this colorful and wild festival change each year. If you're planning to celebrate one of the world's most well...

Chinese moon cake festival is a popular and traditional East Asian holiday. It is a 3000 year tradition and many people in Asia today still celebrate it like their ancestors did. It is one of...

September 19th is International Talk Like A Pirate Day, so everywhere you go, you will be hearing things like, "Yar, ye scurvy knave!" and "Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum." Join...

The Palm Springs International Film Festival is one of the biggest film festivals in the country. More than 122,000 film buffs attend this nine-day event each January. The festival features more...

Luaus have been a celebration of all things Hawaiian. Years ago, the Hawaiians celebrated major events with a feast called the luau. Food was prepared and people performed with various forms of...

Universal Children’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954, Universal Children’s Day is to be observed as a day of...

You can research the entire history of St. Nick elsewhere, but I want to focus on one specific aspect of his life. He supposedly was a secret gift-giver, and our modern day Santa Claus is based on...

Tired of Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanza? Celebrate Festivus, for the rest of us.

Given the huge amount of emotion, money and time invested in getting a loved one through school, it would almost be a sin to let the event come and go without a celebration. Holding a graduation...

The winter solstice, the longest night of the year, is a significant holiday within the pagan community, as well as other cultures. Many countries mark this day with rituals, celebrations,...

A Hawaiian luau is an ideal way to celebrate a birthday, graduation or anniversary. Hawaiian luaus are fun anytime of the year, although they are best celebrated in the warmer summer months. To...

A quinceanera is a lavish event that celebrates a young woman's 15th birthday. In the Hispanic culture, this special day is a rite of passage because the teen enters womanhood. Many quinceaneras...

The Maypole Festival, or the spring celebration of May Day, has been a traditional holiday in Europe for centuries. Although not quite as popular in America, many children still enjoy celebrating...

March 8th is the international Women's Day and it is a festivity to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women and it is celebrated in 34 countries. According to Wikipedia...

Bollywood is the film industry of India, located in Mumbai, and is very much like Hollywood in the United States. Bollywood is known for releasing an astounding number of films annually and...

International Women's Day is celebrated every year in Russia on March 8. This important holiday is celebrated in many countries around the world to recognize women for their strength,...

Flag Day is a holiday in the United States which celebrates the adoption of the American flag. The holiday is celebrated around the country with parades and memorial services for those who have...

Earth Day is an annual holiday celebrated by many countries on April 22nd since it was started by US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. The United Nations has celebrated a similar holiday on the...

Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday of November, the Sunday closest to November 11, which is Remembrance Day in Great Britain and Veteran's Day in the United States. Whatever the name, it...

The Day of the Dead, also known as El Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican public holiday honoring the deceased. It is celebrated on November 2 (a date close but unrelated to Halloween). While...

Japanese wind socks are often seen flying on Children's Day, May 5th, to celebrate and bring luck to the young boys in a family. Make a Japanese wind sock, or koinobori, to fly at your home any...

Is anything more festive than the colors, sounds and tastes of Mexico? A Mexican fiesta can be an ideal birthday party theme, a way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or a theme for any time you want to...

Carnival is a time of indulging and revelry celebrated the week before Lent, usually in areas of high Roman Catholic population and most famously in Venice. For centuries, masquerade has been...

Venetian mask artisans continue to keep this vibrant part of Venetian history and culture alive, crafting plaster masks using pre-Industrial Era methods. Decorating materials range from simple...

From the earliest history of humans, dance has played an important part of the cultural and religious life. In primitive cultures, dance was often used to celebrate the stages of life, such as...

Much like bar and bat mitzvahs, sweet sixteens, confirmations and debutante balls, the quinceanera symbolizes a girl's coming of age. At the age of 15, the quinceanera girl celebrates with family...

Every culture has its own rites of passage, and one of the most important is the entry into adulthood. For Mexican, Cuban, and other cultures, teenage girls (about age 15) present a "quinceanera"...

As a single mom on a perpetual budget, holidays presented challenges. My kids wanted "store bought" costumes like their cronies. I wanted to make their outfits and save the cash for luxuries like...

Canada has a very rich history that Canadians celebrate often. One of these events is Canada Day. Canadians celebrate Canada Day similar to the ways Americans celebrate their Independence...