FESTIVALS AND IMPORTANT CELEBRATIONS AROUND

THE WORLD

Every year, Rio hosts one of the largest Carnival Celebrations in the world, marked by samba
competitions, musical performances, colorful costumes and a showstopping procession.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. At
sundown it’s traditional to break the fast by eating the fruit of the date palm, mention several
times in the Holy Koran.

On Vesak, which falls in April or May each year, many Buddhist follow the tradition of releasing
captive birds, insects, and animals in a symbolic act of liberation.
Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar in Japan. During Setsubun,
Japanese throw dried beans to drive out demons and bring good luck for the coming season.

Chinese New Year is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the
traditional Chinese calendar. The festival commonly referred to as the Spring Festival. The first
day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20
February.

Began 2000 years ago in Ireland, England, and Northern France with ancient religion of the Celts
(Paganism). On the night of October 31, they believed that the ghost of the dead returned to
earth. (Samhain). In England, poor people would beg for “soul cakes”.
Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the Indian "festival of spring", the
"festival of colours", and the "festival of love". Holi festival is commemorate on February end or
starting March.

The festival of San Fermín, or the Running of the Bulls as it’s more commonly known outside
Spain, officially begins at midday on 6th July every year with the ‘Chupinazo’ which takes place
on the balcony of the Casa Consistorial in Pamplona. The tradition of bull running is connected
to Spain's tradition of bull fighting. In the earlier years of these traditions, bulls were kept in a
bullpen miles from the city's bullring where the fights happened.