Language of the Day: Global New Year Festivals
In Canada, most us are used to celebrating the New Year on January 1st, but that isn’t always case in other countries. At MOSAIC Engage, our students celebrate a wide range of new year festivals at different times of the year according to different calendars. Today we’ll explore a few different new year traditions from around the world!
Lunar New Year: This new year festival is celebrated in several countries in Asia in late January or early February. For example, in China it is called the Spring Festival, in Korea it’s called Seollal, and in Vietnam it’s called Tết. One of the most recognizable traditions from this holiday is the giving of red envelopes full of money to young family members in hopes to bring good luck, health, and prosperity to the recipient in the new year.
Songkran: This Thai new year festival, celebrated on April 13th, is most famous for it’s huge public water fights. On Songkran, people flood the streets and spray each other with water guns, buckets, and hoses in a huge city-wide festival. Thais also visit temples to pour water on Buddha images and the hands of monks as a symbol of respect and to receive blessings.
Nowruz: Meaning "new day" in Persian, Nowruz is the Persian New Year, which is celebrated around the time of the spring equinox (March 21st). One Nowruz tradition is the “Haft Sin” table, a display of seven symbolic items, each starting with the Persian letter "S" (Sin), representing different aspects of life and nature.
Rosh Hashanah: Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a two-day holiday celebrated in the fall, marking the beginning of the Jewish calendar year and a time for reflection, repentance, and looking towards the future. A distinctive feature of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, which is blown at various points during the holiday prayers, serving as a call to repentance and awakening the soul.
Enkutatash: Enkutatash, meaning "gift of jewels," is the Ethiopian New Year, celebrated on September 11th (or 12th in leap years), marking the end of the rainy season and the beginning of a new year in the Ethiopian calendar. Today, Enkutatash is celebrated by Ethiopians and Eritreans across the world with music, special meals, family gatherings, and unique traditions. Children play a special role in the holiday, going door-to-door offering songs and paintings in exchange for money or small gifts.
Diwali: Diwali, also known as the "Festival of Lights," marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in October or November, and is a significant holiday celebrated across South Asia. Celebrations involve lighting small oil lamps, decorating homes, and sharing feasts.
There are many other new year celebrations around the world, in addition to the ones mentioned here. What sort of new year traditions do you celebrate where you’re from? Let us know in the comments :)
