February Holidays!

Think of the colors red and pink and the shape of hearts, what comes to mind? Any special holidays? Valentines Day! Also known as St. Valentines this day was named after two saints. Both men were imprisoned and killed for being Christians in the 3rd century A.D. There are two myths about this day and no one really knows what happened so long ago. All we know is that roses and chocolates are a must to give to your sweetheart. At the time of Valentines all Hindus celebrate Shiva Ratri. The holiday is marked by a fasting period of 24 hours and they hold four worship ceremonies during the night. Jewish people celebrate Purim. Purim is held to celebrate the historic victory. It's a day for Jews to remember that evil can be defeated if people of good faith work together in unity. Other holidays in February include Groundhog Day, Nirvana Day, Mardi Gras, and more.

January Holidays!!!

Fireworks and partying are ways to celebrate the beginning of a new year. In parts of India, they celebrate Pongal( the rice harvest) in January. During the 3 day festival, cows and bullocks are painted and fed the newly harvested rice. Solnal also known as Korean New Year's Day is celebrated on either the first of January or on the lunar new year. Christian Koreans attend church on Solnal while Buddhists make offerings to their ancestors at their temples.

Week 3! December Holidays

While most Christians around the globe are opening presents on the morning of Christmas Day and celebrating with family on Christmas Eve, African American families exchange gifts and have African cultural feasts and festivities. They are celebrating a tradional holiday called Kwanzaa, which was made for African Americans to honor and remember their heritage. Christmas, here in America, is celebrated by lights, a tree, presents, kisses under the mistletoe, and Santa Claus. Most Christians give presents to family and close friends but people in England, Canada and Britain give Christimas boxes containing food or money to family servants and suppliers. This holiday is called Boxing Day refering to the boxes they give. How nice of them.

Week Two! November Holidays

All Saint's Day is observed as a special or red-letter day in many Christian churches where special services are held to remember all of the saints who do not have a specific day named in their honor. This holiday is said to be only celebrated in France, but i believe it is in Poland too. A Hindu festival called Diwali is also celebrated during November. Its a Hindu tradition to celebrate life,joy, and goodness. While others are celebrating Diwali and All Saints Day, here in America we're baking the turkey and eating it too! Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for what you have and spend a calm warm evening with family. Thanksgiving goes back to the time of Indians and them letting newcomers to America turkey and other foods in order for them to stay alive. Personally, i love thanksgiving and the winter holiday season because its a great time for family to reconnect with eachother. Happy Thanksgiving, Diwali, and All Saints Day <3

Week ONE! October Holidays.

October is a month that contains many holidays for many people around the world. From Rosh Hashanah, to Halloween here in the US, to Dia de la Raza and much much more! The most important festivals of the Jewish religious year are celebrated during the first ten days of the month of Tishri, usually in September or October. The first day is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. From Rosh Hashanah, until the last day, Yom Kippur, Jews think about how they have lived during the past year. They are asked to remember the wrongs they have done and to ask for forgiveness from God. While the Jewish are celebrating their holidays, here in America kids are dressing up as scary monsters and walking house to house to collect candy. Another holiday is the Ramadan, the biggest holiday for Muslims in the whole year. Muslims all over the world unite in a period of fasting and spiritual reflection. At basically the same time of year people all over the world are celebrating traditional holidays in many different ways.

• High Holy Days on the Net
• Holidays around the world
• Ramadan Info