-
Chinese New Year
Also known as the 'Spring Festival', it is the beginning of the new year according to the Lunar Calendar. The New Year’s Eve dinner is an important element, and food such as dumplings and fish are served as they resemble prosperity. Adults also give red envelopes (called 'Hong bao') with money inside to kids. People visit relatives, make offerings to ancestors, light lanterns and get together with family and friends. -
Easter
One of the most important holidays for Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Churches hold special services on Easter Sunday, and people decorate eggs that can be either plastic or chocolate eggs too. Both eggs and bunnies are symbols of Easter because they symbolize new life. -
Eid al-Fitr
This is a significant day for Muslims. It marks the end of Ramadan, where they fast from dawn to sundown every day for one month. In the month leading up to Eid al-Fitr, Muslims are required to have read the entire Quran. On Eid al-Fitr, families have feasts and get together with relatives and friends to rejoice. -
Eid al-Adha
Another Islamic holiday, this is the festival of sacrifice. It honors Ibrahim's (Abraham) readiness to sacrifice his son to show his deep devotion to Allah (God). An important element of the festival is the sacrifice itself. Families would buy an animal to sacrifice on the day, and then divide the meat between family and also the poor. However, the practice of sacrificing an animal is now declining. -
Rosh Hashanah
This is the Jewish New Year. It marks the start of the ten days of repentance for Jews, where they are supposed to improve their ways. One significant ritual is the blowing of the Shofar (rams horn). Typically, people also attend services at synagogues, eat apples dipped in honey (which symbolizes bringing in a good year), and eat round challah bread, also dipped in honey. -
Yom Kippur
This is also known as the Day of Atonement, and is the holiest day for Jewish people. The ten days of repentance culminate in Yom Kippur. During Yom Kippur, people will ask forgiveness, and make amends for whatever wrongs they have done. People also fast for 25 hours on the day, and attend a special service. Both Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are referred to as the 'High Holy Days'. -
Diwali
Also called the 'festival of lights', this is the biggest Hindu festival. It celebrates the victory of good over evil. People light candles outside and in their home, and these candles are called Diyas. They also pray to the Goddess of Wealth in Hinduism, and will decorate the outside of their door in addition to lighting candles to welcome her into their home. People eat traditional Indian sweets, and get together with friends and family. -
Christmas
Though it is a Christian holiday, Christmas is celebrated all over the world. It celebrates the birth of Jesus. People will put up Christmas trees in their home, and decorate the tree as well as their home. It is also customary to exchange gifts with family and close friends. People also attend mass on both Christmas Eve and Christmas, and sometimes also attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
