“Spring” for These Foreign Holidays
With the winter finally coming to a close, shorts, flowers, green grass and warmer weather seem to be calling your name more than ever. But what about celebrations? While many of us are aware that holidays like Easter, Passover or April Fool’s Day are returning for another year, there are other celebrations coming up soon you may not even know about. Whether they’re near you or on the other side of the world, these are some spring celebrations you would not want to miss.
Nowruz
Think the Chinese New Year is the only New Year celebration that’s not on December 31st? Think again. The Persian celebration occurs in the spring- usually around the 21st of March in Middle East and Central Asia. Translating to “New Day,” the traditions begin even before it with families often partaking in heavy spring cleaning and preparing a table known as a Haft Seen Table with traditional symbols of the celebration. The way the holiday is celebrated often depends on where you are in Asia, such as planting trees in China or painting giant eggs in Iran. Even after the holiday ends Persians still spend a good two weeks spending time with their families and enjoying picnics. What more could you ask for?
Las Fallas
Created in Spain to honor Saint Joseph, this celebration lasts from March 15th to March 19th. Also known as Falles, this holiday’s name translates to “the fires,” which of course means there will be fires all throughout Spain. The Spanish go all out with fire, using celebratory explosions, fireworks, the burning of ninots (dolls) stuffed with fireworks and more. If you’re the kind of person who loves anything that burns, this celebration is for you.
Songkran Water Festival
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Las Fallas, if you don’t mind getting your clothes wet, you’ve come to the right place. Another New Year celebration that’s not on December 31st, this traditional Thailand celebration lasts from April 13th to April 15th. The people of Thailand spend their time throwing water at each other as a symbol of wishing them a fulfilling year, and the ways they do so can get pretty creative, including water fights and even getting squirted by elephants. In addition to the all the splashing, there are multiple concerts and ceremonies, and citizens often pay the local temples a visit.
Hanami
Since spring is when the flowers return to the Earth, why not celebrate with the famous Japanese Cherry Blossoms? Though there’s no set date since it depends on where you are, the day of Hanami celebrates these beautiful blossoms and the Japanese take this opportunity to enjoy a delicious picnic under the trees, often with their families and friends. They also drink tea or sake and spend some time singing and just admiring the flowers. If you live in the United States, the holiday is also celebrated in Washington DC as a way to be thankful for when the Japanese provided America with their own cherry blossoms.
Holi Festival
Looking for a way to celebrate the Color Run in another country? The Holi Festival- or Holi- turns a regular human into a rainbow-colored work of art. While it’s unlikely you’ll be running a race, this Hindu festival in India is celebrated from March 1st to March 2nd. The festival is often celebrated with bonfires on the night before, gifts, traditional foods like Saankhein or Puran Poli, beautiful music and, of course, plenty of colored water and powders.
