Holidays are embedded in the human psyche.  Since time immemorial, man always had a penchant for expressing his feelings of jubilation for a good hunt, or his delight at the discovery of fire, or his reverence of the deities that blessed his every endeavor, in the form of a ritualistic ceremony or a day of break from normal living. 

While each country possesses numerous holidays endemic to their culture and history, listing each one of them will fill up a book.  Instead, a compilation of some popular country holidays are listed below:

1.  Germany’s Oktoberfest

Millions of people troop to Munich in Germany to celebrate this two-week festival that begins late September until the first week of October.  The celebration takes place in the Theresienwiese where a variety of traditional food such as Hendl chicken, Schweinshaxe ham, Würstl sausages, Sauerkraut and more are consumed together with beer, as traditional music plays in the background.

2.  Brazil’s Carnival

Brazil has forty days of Carnival festivities before a solemn observance of Easter.  The word carnival is sourced from “carnelevare” which means to “remove meat,” referring to a cleansing from worldly influences prior to a season of solemn repentance.  The carnival is a kaleidoscope of day and night dance and float parades, colorful costumes, and intense merry-making.

3.  Barbados’ Crop Over

Barbados celebrates the end of the local sugar cane harvest season with the Crop Over festival.  Local culture is mixed with modern elements to fuse art, music and dance into a stunning exhibition of sights and sounds that culminate in the Barbados Kadooment celebration.  The festivities begin in May and end in August every year. 

4.  China’s Dragon Boat Festival

The “Duanwu” or Dragon Boat Festival is held in China every 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.  A dragon boat is a long wooden paddle boat propelled by a team of people.  Dragon boat racing is steeped in folk ritual.  The boats are outfitted with dragon symbols and the beat of a drum sets the pace of the rowing team.  During the festival, huge quantities of rice dumplings and xionghuangjiu wine are consumed. 

5.  France’ Festival of Lights

Lyon in France holds the “Fête des lumières” every December 8 to honor Mary the Mother of Jesus.  People place candles on house windows, and the collective effect of street after street of light is spectacular.  The Basilica of Fourvière is a major attraction during this festival, which is lighted in different colors.  A light show is also part of this Lyon festival. 

6.  Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival

The month of April is filled with picnics and excursions at the many Shinto shrines in Japan.  Visitors enjoy viewing various kinds of flowers in bloom, especially the cherry blossoms.  Traditional flower viewing parties are also held.  Flower viewing is intrinsic to Japanese culture.  The Ikebana flower arrangement is one of the highlights of the festival, together with various games, folk singing and dancing, parades and concerts, food and art shows. 

7.  Mexico’s Cinco de Mayo

Mexico commemorates every May 5 the Mexican victory against French invaders at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.  It is celebrated in honor of Mexican history and heritage, with much dancing, local culinary delights and music. 

8.  Ireland’s Saint Patrick’s Day

Ireland celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day or “Lá Fhéile Pádraig” every March 17 in honor of the most popular patron saint of Ireland.  St. Patrick’s Festival has become an important Irish celebration involving street entertainment, visual art shows, and the annual St. Patrick’s Festival Treasure Hunt.  There are also fireworks displays, theater performances, parades and market exhibits as an endless source of Irish culture immersion. 

Through the years, such holidays have become ingrained in local culture and became tradition.  The result?  Everywhere in the planet there are interestingly different forms of holiday celebrations to delight the visitors’ senses and uplift the spirits.