Festivals
Events
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Carnival of Brazil
The Carnival of Brazil is a festival held in Rio de Janeiro before Lent and is considered the biggest carnival in the world. The celebration includes vibrant parades, elaborate costumes, music, and street parties.
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Maslenitsa
Maslenitsa is a lively Eastern Slavic festival (especially celebrated in Russia) held during the week before Great Lent. Often called “Butter Week” or “Pancake Week,” it’s a time for feasting, visiting friends and family, singing, dancing, and enjoying outdoor winter games. Read More...
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Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of several Lunar New Years in Asia. It celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. 2025 is the Year of the Snake. Click Here for Information & Resources
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Hina Matsuri
Hina Matsuri is a Japanese celebration also called Doll's Day, Doll Festival, Festival of Dolls, or Girls' Festival. People pray for the health and happiness of girls. Click HERE for more information and related resources.
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Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival traditionally marks the end of the Chinese New Year Spring Festival period, celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month.
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Holi
Holi is a vibrant Hindu festival celebrated across India and other parts of the world, marking the arrival of spring. Participants engage in exuberant festivities, including throwing colored powders and water at each other, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the joyous spirit of the season.
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Las Fallas
Las Fallas is a traditional festival celebrated in Valencia, Spain, known for its elaborate and artistic sculptures called "fallas" that are displayed throughout the city. The festival culminates in the burning of these sculptures in a spectacular bonfire, accompanied by fireworks and lively street celebrations, typically held in mid-March.
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Qingming Festival, China
The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a traditional Chinese festival observed on April 4th or 5th each year. It is a time for families to honor their ancestors by cleaning gravesites, making offerings, and paying respects. The festival, which dates back over 2,500 years, also marks the arrival of spring, and many…
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Hana Matsuri, Japan
Hana Matsuri, or "Flower Festival," is a Japanese Buddhist celebration held annually on April 8 to commemorate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Temples are decorated with flowers, symbolizing the garden in which Buddha was born. A key tradition is the kanbutsu-e ceremony, where people pour sweet tea (amacha) over small Buddha statues, reenacting the…
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Songkran Festival
Songkran, the Thai New Year, is celebrated annually from April 13th to 15th in Thailand. It is best known for its lively water fights, symbolizing purification and the washing away of bad luck. Families gather to pay respects to elders, visit temples for merit-making, and participate in traditional rituals such as pouring scented water over…