Globe Trottin' Kids

The Hungry Ghost Festival, China
2025-09-06
The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated during the month-long Ghost Month. It is one of several traditional festivals in China to worship ancestors.
It is believed that on this night, many lost and hungry ghosts come to visit the living. Families honor these spirits by offering food, burning incense and joss paper, and performing rituals to ensure peace and protection.

Oktoberfest
2025-09-20
Oktoberfest is a 16-18 day festival held annually in late September to early October in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is the world’s largest fair.
Other cities around the world hold similar celebrations.

Dussehra
2025-10-02
Dussehra is a Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
This Indian holiday takes place on the 10th day of the seventh month according to the Hindu calendar.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, US
2025-10-04
For nine days in October, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta fills the skies with hundreds of balloons.

Mid-Autumn Festival, China
2025-10-06
The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival and Mooncake Festival, is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar.
Traditionally, the Chinese share cakes (mooncakes) with people they appreciate and love.
It is a national holiday in China, Macau, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Learn more HERE.

Tet Trung Thu, Vietnam
2025-10-06
Tet Trung Thu, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival or Children’s Moon Festival, is a significant Vietnamese celebration. It is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and activities such as lantern parades. The festival is especially focused on celebrating children and is characterized by the sharing of mooncakes, traditional performances, and the lighting of lanterns to symbolize brightness and good fortune.

Diwali
2025-10-20
Diwali is a Hindu and Jain festival of lights that celebrates light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Read more.

Double Ninth Festival, China
2025-10-29
The Double Ninth Festival, also known as Chongyang Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival. It is a day to pay respects to ancestors, climb mountains, and participate in outdoor activities as the number nine is considered auspicious in Chinese culture, symbolizing strong yang energy and protection against misfortune.

Pushkar Camel Fair
2025-10-30
The Pushkar Camel Fair, or Pushkar Mela, is an annual 14-day Hindu festival and one of the largest and most popular festivals in India. Camel trading and religious rituals are the main parts of the fair.

Loy Krathong, Thailand
2025-11-05
During Loy Krathong, a traditional Thai festival, people release small decorated floats, known as “krathongs,” onto rivers and waterways as a gesture of respect and gratitude to the water spirits, while also symbolically letting go of negativity and misfortunes.

Shichi-Go-San
2025-11-15
Shichi-Go-San literally means 7-5-3 in Japanese. The festival, held every November 15, is a traditional rite of passage for Japanese boys turning 3 and 5 and girls turning 3 and 7 years old. It celebrates the growth and happiness of young children.
Read more.

Elephant Round-Up, Thailand
2025-11-21
The Surin Elephant Round-up is held every year in Thailand during the third weekend of November. Activities include elephants parading through the streets, partaking in the famous “elephant breakfast” and demonstrations, games, and traditional events.

Monkey Buffet Festival
2025-11-30
The Monkey Buffet Festival takes place every year in Lopburi, Thailand. During the festival, people offer fruits, vegetables, and candies to the monkeys that live around the ancient temple of Phra Prang Sam Yot.

St. Lucia's Day
2025-12-13
St. Lucia’s Day is a festival of lights celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland on December 13 in honour of St. Lucia (St. Lucy).

Las Posadas
2025-12-16
Las Posadas, (“The Inns” in Spanish) is a Mexican Christmas tradition that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem.
Celebrated from December 16th to 24th, it involves processions, caroling, and symbolic representations of the biblical story, culminating in a feast and breaking of a piñata.

Yalda Festival
2025-12-21
Yalda, an ancient Persian festival, is a winter solstice celebration that takes place on the longest and darkest night of the year.

Dongzhi Festival
2025-12-21
The Dongzhi Festival, also known as the Winter Solstice Festival, is a traditional Chinese celebration marking the shortest day and longest night of the year, typically falling on or around December 21st or 22nd.
Rooted in the ancient philosophy of yin and yang, the festival signifies the turning point when days start to become longer, symbolizing increased positivity and light. Families gather to enjoy special foods such as tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) in southern China, representing unity and prosperity, or dumplings in northern China, traditionally eaten to ward off the cold. Dongzhi also serves as a time for honoring ancestors and celebrating renewal as winter deepens.

La Noche de los Rábanos, Mexico
2025-12-23
La Noche de los Rábanos, or The Night of the Radishes, is an annual tradition in Oaxaca, Mexico for carving festive radishes during the Christmas season.
Click here for information.

Harbin Ice and Snow Festival
2026-01-05
The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is the largest ice and snow festival in the world. It takes place in Harbin, (Northeast) China.

International Kite Festival
2026-01-10
The International Kite Festival, held annually during Makar Sankranti in Gujarat, India, is a vibrant celebration of artistry and culture.
The skies fill with colorful kites of all shapes and sizes as people from around the world participate in friendly competitions and showcase their designs.

Pongal
2026-01-14
Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu, India to honor the sun, nature, and farmers for a bountiful harvest.
Central to the festivities is the preparation of Pongal, a sweet rice dish cooked with milk and jaggery, symbolizing prosperity and gratitude. The festival includes rituals like decorating homes with kolam (rangoli designs), offering prayers, and rejoicing with family and community.

World Buskers Festival
2026-01-23
Buskers, also known as street performers, gather in Christchurch, New Zealand for the ten-day World Buskers Festival. Comedians, jugglers, acrobats, magicians, and more entertain visitors for voluntary donations.

Up Helly Aa
2026-01-27
Up Helly Aa is a traditional Viking fire festival that takes place every year on the last Tuesday of January. It marks the beginning of the longer days and the new year.

Desert Festival, India
2026-01-30
The 3-day Jaisalmer Desert Festival looks at the desert culture of India. It features camel races, polo matches, puppeteers, jugglers, men with long mustaches, turban-tying competitions, and locals wearing colorful traditional dresses.

Setsubun
2026-02-03
Setsubun, the Bean-Throwing Festival, takes place before the first day of spring in Japan. Roasted soybeans called fuku mame (fortune beans) are thrown for good luck.

Sapporo Snow Festival
2026-02-04
The Sapporo Snow Festival is an annual winter event held in Sapporo, Japan, showcasing elaborate and intricate snow and ice sculptures. Millions of visitors from around the world attend the festival, which features large-scale sculptures, ice displays, and various winter activities.

Carnival of Brazil
2026-02-13
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.

Maslenitsa
2026-02-16
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…

Chinese New Year
2026-02-17
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

Hina Matsuri
2026-03-03
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.
