Taste of the World
It is an amazing adventure when traveling abroad. One of the invaluable lessons travelling overseas is learning that every country and culture has its own oddities and eccentricities, but is of equal importance to all other threads in the quilt of humanity. Each regional colour works together in weaving a cultural story of the world. Every culture is different in their customs, celebrations and most interestingly, their holidays. In this article we will look at the three prominent cultures, South Americans, Chinese and Indians in the way they celebrate their holidays.
South America holidays are mainly Catholic in nature. Some of the most popular holidays in South America are Saints festivals; Dia de Todos Los Santos for instance celebrates all Catholic saints, but each day of the year celebrates a specific saint. People are often named for the saint whose day they were born on. One of the most well-known festivals in South America is Carnaval, the equivalent of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. This festival celebrates the day before the forty-day Catholic festival of Lent and involves vast celebrations of excess, samba music, and parades.
Holidays in China can be very different for the locals and are very dissimilar to other regions. China is recognized for its unique culture where the religious and conventional meets the contemporary and the eccentric. The chinese celebrate their holidays with great spiritual importance. The spring festival, or Chinese New Year, is the largest holiday celebrated in China. Everyone in China take Chinese New Year very seriously and hold the day sacred, partaking in rituals and customs to ensure a lucky year ahead. Modern holidays like Women’s Day are also embraced where all women in China are permitted to take time off.
Holidays in India have a different tone than either of the aforementioned countries. These holidays range from those associated to Hinduism to Christian holidays, to Muslim festivities. For people in India, holidays come every day of the year. A civic holiday celebrated by most is the birthday of celebrated civil rights leader, Mohandas K. Gandhi. Gandhi’s natal day has been declared as a day of non-violence, and no liquor is traded on this day in his respect.
Travelling is made more interesting when you learn more about the unique cultures. These holidays are a short list of the many marvellous and exhilarating holidays seen abroad.
