Festivals around the World

As you pull together your calendar for 2012, you might want to consider the cultural experience that is taking a trip to another country to see how they celebrate different events. Odd as it may seem, there are dozens of festivals around the world that will give you an amazing view of life in that area. Sure, not every day is a party like the ones you are likely to encounter, but the ability to understand what is important enough to cause rapturous joy is a window into the heart of the people. With that in mind, here are the dates for a handful of the most famous so you can start planning now.

Famous Festivals Around The World in 2012

Here are some of the most popular festivals celebrated in different parts of the world.

Easter (8th April, 2012)
Christmas gets more attention, but this is the most important of Christian festivities. For believers, it is a celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the grave and victory over death. In many cases, the day begins with a religious service and continues with a family gathering. In recent decades, emphasis in the culture at large has shifted toward the candy-filled Easter eggs hidden all over the yards and homes of those who celebrate.

Holi (8th March, 2012)
The Hindu festival of color is most popular on the Indian subcontinent, but you’ll find celebrations in the close-knit communities of expatriates in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the United States. Designed as a welcome for the goddess of fertility, bright shades of every hue imaginable are accompanied by music and dancing as part of the request for blessing in the coming harvest.

Eid al-Fitr(18th August, 2012)
Marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim New Year festival is a time to celebrate unity amongst those who follow Muhammad’s teachings. This literal “breaking of the fast” is accompanied by large meals and prayer. On top of that, special attention is paid to the needs of the poor, as charity is encouraged above and beyond giving that occurs during the rest of the year.

Rosh Hashanah (16th September, 2012)
The Jewish New Year festival is a celebration of the world’s creation. As with all gatherings around the start of a fresh calendar, most people spend some time examining their lives – tradition holds during these High Holy Days those who will live and die during the next year are chosen. It becomes a way to encourage peace between people and encourage self improvement going forward.

Diwali or Deepawali (13th November, 2012)
The festivities for this event are confined predominantly to India, though you might find Hindus in other parts of the world celebrating privately. As a way to commemorate the victory of good over evil, fireworks explode in the night sky until well into the night. The colorful lights are only matched by the traditional rangolis strung about the houses of those enjoying Diwali.

Christmas (25th December, 2012)
Once just a way to remember the birth of Jesus, this is now a major worldwide festival centered around giving gifts and highlighted by the Jolly Old Elf, Santa Claus (or Father Christmas, depending on where you’re from). Depending on your beliefs, this celebration is one of deep religious significance or overwhelming joy – or both. The bright strands of lights and fun songs add an element of whimsy, so it’s easy to see why people look forward to it all year round.

New Year Eve (31st December, 2012)
For those on the Gregorian calendar, this is signifies the end of one year and birth of another. A time of hope and reflection, New Year’s Eve leads to major celebrations all over the planet. The most famous, perhaps, is at Times Square in the Big Apple, but every major metropolitan area has a central location where people love to gather. You’ll be able to get loud with thousands of your closest friends as 2013 dawns!

Last Updated on 1/17/2012