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10 Holidays Celebrated All Over The World

10 Holidays Celebrated All Over The World

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Some holidays are unique to certain religions, cultures, or countries but a few are celebrated all over the world. There are no holidays that are absolutely universal, but you’ll see many celebrated in at least a handful of countries. And while it’s always fun to hear about holidays in different parts of the world, there is something comforting about knowing that you can enjoy your favorite holiday across the globe.

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ThinkStockPhotos

New Year’s

It’s one of the few holidays that is celebrated almost universally, with the exception of cultures that follow a lunar calendar (Judaism, for one, celebrates its new year on Rosh Ha’shanah, which often falls in September). When the final hours of Dec. 31 wind down and the new year begins, revelers across the globe cheer as the final countdown nears.

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ThinkStockPhotos

Christmas

Due to the high number of Christians across the globe, one can find Christmas celebrations in nearly every country in the world in one form or another. And while many bemoan the commercialization of the holiday, the fact remains that it is a significant religious holiday for many, and is celebrated as such (but the cheery songs, presents, and movies don’t hurt matters either for those that aren’t celebrating!).

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GuardianLV.com

Halloween/Día de Muertos/All Hallow’s Eve

Halloween in the U.S., Día de Muertos in Mexico, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day, and countless other iterations around the world are celebrated on Oct. 31, Nov. 1, and Nov. 2 in one form or another. Some forms, such as Mexico’s Día de Muertos, honor the dead. The American Halloween is less about a somber holiday and more about kids dressing up and getting candy. There’s a bit of a departure between the two, but their origins are closely related enough to make the list.

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ThinkStockPhotos

Ramadan

Much like Christmas, practicing Muslims in every country of the world make it very likely that you will always find Ramadan celebrations anywhere you go. Muslims worldwide celebrate Ramadan by fasting during the day and enjoying meals with one another and other friends and family after sunset for 29 or 30 days (depending on the moon). The Quran is read repeatedly during this time, and it is considered the holiest month of the year in Islam.

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ThinkStockPhotos

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is celebrated in many different countries on various days throughout the year, most often in March or May, and this holiday’s roots go way, way back. Though the American Mother’s Day began only in the 20th century, celebrations of mothers have occurred for centuries such as the Roman festival of Hilaria, the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration, and many more. A corresponding Father’s Day is celebrated in fewer countries than Mother’s Day.

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AboutBrasil.com

Carnival

In dozens of countries, you’ll find enormous Carnival celebrations in various forms. Parades, dance parties, feasts, and incredible costumes all embody the spirit of the holiday, which leads up to the beginning of Lent. It is held in areas with Catholic and Eastern Orthodox populations and the largest celebrations are often found in South America, particularly in Brazil. But New Orleans is famous for its huge party.

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ThinkStockPhotos

Chinese New Year

Although the biggest celebrations will of course be in China, Chinese New Year celebrations will be found across the globe, complete with the yen exchange, traditional foods, paper dragon and lantern parades. It’s yet another mark of how interconnected our world has become with a constant exchange of cultural ideas.

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ThinkStockPhotos

Passover

There’s a song that says, “Wherever you go, there’s always someone Jewish.” and despite the comparatively small number of Jews in the world, it’s miraculously true a lot of the time. Therefore, there are celebrations for Jewish holidays all over the world, and Passover is no exception. You’ll find Seders, matzah and gefilte fish almost anywhere you are.

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Huffish.Wordpress.com

Summer Solstice

Much like new year celebrations, this calendar celebration has celebrants around the world as different cultures mark the longest daylight hours of the summer in different ways. Many European countries celebrate Midsummer or St. John’s Day (especially big celebrations can be found in Scandinavia and Sweden in particular). Persian cultures celebrate an ancient festival known as Tiregân. Eastern Europeans have Kupala Night.

En.Wikipedia.org
En.Wikipedia.org

Labor Day

Nearly every county celebrates its labor force in one way or another at various points throughout the year, and the holiday has its origins in the labor union movement. Many countries link it with International Workers’ Day on May 1, while others such as Canada and the U.S., celebrate on the first Monday in September. Still others such as Australia, the Bahamas, Jamaica and New Zealand celebrate on different days throughout the year.