Globe Trottin' Kids

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.

Rosh Hashanah
2025-10-22
Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated on the first and second days of the seventh month of the Jewish religious year.
In 2024, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 22 and ends at sundown on September 24.

Oxi Day
2025-10-28
Oxi Day, the “Day of No,” is an important part of Greek history that is celebrated each year on October 28th. It marks the day when General Metaxas said “no” (oxi) to an ultimatum given by Mussolini during World War II.

Halloween
2025-10-31
Halloween is a holiday celebrated in many countries on October 31 each year.
The tradition dates back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
Read about some Halloween traditions from around the world.

Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead
2025-11-01 - 2025-11-02
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a two-day celebration of life and death. While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated throughout Latin America.
Discover the Traditions of Día de los Muertos.

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.

Veteran's Day, US
2025-11-11
Veteran’s Day is an American holiday that honors military veterans (people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces).

Thanksgiving, United States
2025-11-27
Thanksgiving is celebrated in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday in November. It is a day to give thanks for the autumn harvest and other blessings.

Saint Nicholas Day
2025-12-06
Saint Nicholas Day is the feast day of Saint Nicholas. It is observed on December 6 in Western Christian countries and Romania, December 5 in the Netherlands, and December 19 in Eastern Christian countries.

Hanukkah
2025-12-14
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish celebration that lasts for eight nights (December 14 – 22, 2025). It commemorates the miracle of the oil in the Second Temple in Jerusalem and involves the lighting of the menorah, playing dreidel games, and enjoying festive foods.
Click here for information and activities.

Christmas
2025-12-25
Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is marked by festive traditions, gift-giving, and gatherings with family and friends.
Check out:
Multicultural Versions of the 12 Days of Christmas
Jólabókaflóð: A “Christmas Book Flood”
World of Cookies for Santa

Boxing Day
2025-12-26
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the day after Christmas Day. It is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Originally it was a holiday to give gifts to the poor, but today Boxing Day is mostly known as a shopping holiday.

Kwanzaa
2025-12-26
Kwanzaa is an annual holiday, celebrated primarily in the United States, affirming African family and social values. It takes place through January 1.

Ōmisoka, Japan
2025-12-31
Ōmisoka —or ōtsugomori —is a Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year.
It is customary for people to clean their homes, eat soba or udon noodles, and bathe at night to rid themselves of uncleanliness. Bells are struck 108 times to bring in the new year and lift people from suffering.

New Year’s Day
2026-01-01
New Year’s Day on January 1 is celebrated by people around the world. It is a widely recognized and observed holiday in many countries and cultures. The celebration often includes various customs, traditions, and festivities to mark the beginning of the new year.

Shōgatsu, Japan
2026-01-01
Shōgatsu, or Japanese New Year, is one of the most important holidays in Japan, celebrated from January 1–3 with family gatherings, traditional foods, and special customs.
Activities include cleaning homes beforehand, decorating with kadomatsu (pine and bamboo arrangements), and visiting shrines to pray for good fortune in the coming year.
It is a time for renewal, reflection, and cultural traditions, such as enjoying osechi-ryōri (special New Year dishes) and playing traditional games.

Independence Day, Haiti
2026-01-01
Haitian Independence Day is celebrated on January 1st to commemorate the day in 1804 when Haiti declared independence from French colonial rule, becoming the first independent Black republic in the world.
Lit Connection: Freedom Soup: A Taste of Haitian Independence

Orthodox Christmas
2026-01-07
Orthodox Christmas, celebrated by many Eastern Orthodox Christians, follows the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar. It is a deeply spiritual holiday centered on church services, hymns, and fasting, culminating in a festive meal with family.
Customs vary by region but often include blessings, candlelight processions, and the sharing of traditional foods that reflect cultural and religious heritage.

Martin Luther King Day
2026-01-19
Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday in the United States on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr.
Related Post: Celebrate the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Through Song

Burns Night
2026-01-25
Burns Night is celebrated in Scotland to honor the life and contributions of the bard (poet) Robert Burns, born on January 25, 1759. Burns’ best-known work is Auld Lang Syne.

Australia Day
2026-01-26
Australia Day marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and the beginning of European settlement in Australia.
It is observed with national pride through events like parades, barbecues, and fireworks, as well as ceremonies for welcoming new citizens.
The day also invites reflection on Australia’s history, including discussions about Indigenous cultures and the impact of colonization.

Republic Day of India
2026-01-26
Republic Day of India has been celebrated since 1950. This day honors India’s constitution and is celebrated with grand celebrations, including a spectacular parade in New Delhi featuring cultural performances, military displays, and floats representing India’s diversity.
It is a time of national pride, honoring the country’s democratic values and rich heritage.

Tu B'Shevat
2026-02-01
Tu B’Shevat, also known as the “New Year of the Trees,” is one of the four “New Years” of the Jewish calendar.
It is a time to appreciate nature and environmental stewardship, often marked by planting trees and eating fruits associated with Israel, such as figs, dates, and pomegranates.

Waitangi Day
2026-02-06
Waitangi Day, a public holiday in New Zealand, celebrates the Treaty of Waitangi, regarded as the nation’s founding document.

Valentine's Day
2026-02-14
Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14 in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, and other countries around the world.

Presidents' Day
2026-02-16
Presidents’ Day, celebrated annually on the third Monday in February, honors all the presidents who have served in the United States.

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

Ramadan
2026-02-17
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. During Ramadan, believers abstain from food and drink from dawn until sunset, breaking their fast with a meal called iftar each evening.
Click HERE for Information & Resources

Seollal
2026-02-17
Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays. It typically falls in late January or early February, marking the beginning of the lunar calendar year. The celebration lasts three days, including the day before and after Seollal.

Tết
2026-02-17
Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán, is the Vietnamese Lunar New Year and the most significant holiday in Vietnam. It marks the arrival of spring and the start of a new lunar calendar year. Typically celebrated in late January or early February, Tết is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and welcoming good fortune.
