Destinations, Travel tips, Festivals and Public Holidays
Festivals
Eid-ul-Fitr Festival – The Biggest Muslim Festival
Nov 29th
Eid-ul-Fitr is the biggest festival for the Muslims all over the world. It is celebrated on Syawal 1 by using the Hijra calendar, after 29 or 30 days fasting in Ramadan month. The determination of the date when Eid-ul-Fitr comes depends on the moon sighting. If the moon is already sighted, it means the new month begins, and the Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated. Muslim people believe that if they do a month of fasting before the Eid-ul-Fitr day, the sins they have made a year before are erased in the Eid-ul-Fitr day. More >
Mid-Autumn Festival – The Chinese Moon Festival
Nov 24th
Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival held in between September and October by Chinese people around the world. The other names for the festival are Zhong Qiu Jie and Moon Festival because the festival takes place when the full moon shines brightly. Many tales underlie the festival including the one about a young woman and a jade rabbit lived in the moon and about ten suns taking turn to brighten the earth. Due to the romantic climate caused by the full moon, many people think that the Mid-Autumn festival is a great moment for couples to spend the romantic night together. The next Mid-Autumn festival will take place on September 30, 2012. More >
Hungry Ghost Festival – The Spooky Chinese Tradition
Nov 10th
If Western people have Halloween festival, then Chinese people have the Hungry Ghost Festival. The purpose of both Halloween and Hungry Ghost Festival is the same which is to honor the deceased. The Hungry Ghost Festival is held on the 7th month of the Lunar Calendar of Chinese. It is usually takes place between August and September. Chinese people believe that on the Hungry Ghost Festival the gate of the hell is opened and the ghosts inside it come back to the earth to look for food. This kind of festival is not only celebrated in China but also in many countries where Chinese people are found. More >
Tunarama Festival 2012 – Port Lincoln, Australia
Nov 9th
One of the oldest and oddest festivals in Australia, Tunarama Festival, is held in January along with the Australia Day. The upcoming Tunarama Festival will be celebrated on January 26th until 29th 2012 in more glorious way than ever because it will be the 50th Tunarama Festival held since 1962. Tuna Toss competition which obliges the participants to toss heavy tunas – about 8 until 10 kilograms – as far as possible becomes the main attraction in this festival. The farthest tosser of the tuna becomes the winner and receives prize money up to 7,000 AUD. More >
See Three Weirdest Festivals in Japan
Nov 3rd
As one of the most-visited countries in Asia, Japan surely has its own appealing points. One of the appealing points making tourists can’t stop themselves from visiting Japan is the numerous festivals held in most district of Japan annually. Some festivals including doll’s festival and children’s festival are cute and adorable while some others are unique and even strange. Three weirdest festivals in Japan will be shared below. More >
All Saints’ Day – Commemoration for the Deceased
Nov 1st
All Saints’ Day, also called Solemnity of All Saints, All Hallows Tide, All Hallowmas, or All Hallows Day, is one Christianity feast day to commemorate people who have reached the heaven. Normally, the Western Christians celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1st, after the night when Halloween festival takes place, but the Eastern Christians hold it on the first Sunday after Pentecost. That’s why the All Saints’ Day in Eastern is generally called All Saints’ Sunday. More >
Tomb Sweeping Day (Chinese Qingming Festival)
Oct 22nd
QingMing or Tomb Sweeping Day is a Chinese festival during which Chinese people to sweep and clean the tombs of their ancestors. Besides Tomb Sweeping Day, some countries call this festival as Qingming Festival, Ancestors Day, Pure Brightness Festival, Chinese Memorial Day, and many others. . More >
Al Hijra, The Islamic New Year Festival
Oct 21st
Most people in the world celebrates New Year on January 1st according to Julian Calendar, but Muslims have their own New Year called Al Hijra. On this special date at the previous time, the Prophet Muhammad, the last Prophet of Islam, and his disciples started their migration from Mecca to Medina in order to avoid danger. More >
Africa Day – The United Moment of African Countries
Oct 21st
Africa Day is held on May 25 in the African countries to commemorate the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, known as African Union (AU) at present. African Union, covering 54 members of African states, is meant to face the troubles such as poverty, natural disasters, extreme weather, and armed conflict in Africa. The celebration of Africa Day itself acts as a reminder for the countries in Africa that they are not alone in dealing with the problems. More >
Ascension Day, One Great Solemnity of Catholic Christians
Oct 21st
Ascension Day is commemoration of the day when resurrected body of Jesus is believed to ascend to the heaven. It occurs 40 days after the Easter, the Jesus’ resurrection moment. For many countries, the Ascension Day is considered as a public holiday in which most offices and shops are closed. Ascension Day, also known as the Feast of Ascension and Father’s Day in Germany, is one of the major feasts for the Catholics around the world. More >
