Christian Holidays Calendar 2024 Christian calendar year is divided into four seasons such as Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each season has its special particular colors and associations. Autumn is afflicted with harvest. Christian churches also divide their year into different seasons. Each of these seasons’ helps Christians focus on appropriate appearance of God and ideas that He has for his people. The Christian year is divided up with events which remind us of the life of Jesus. It begins with the season of appearance, at the very end of November, which is a period of arrangement for coming of his life to the important focus of holy week and Easter. NAME OF FESTIVAL DATE OF FESTIVAL DESCRIPTION Mother of God 1st January, 2024 Mary was a Jewish girl .she was born in a normal human being daughter. She would have to be “the most perfect” of all gods’ creations even more than the Angles in Heaven. In all the holy scripture she alone is honored by the statement “all generation shall call me blessed” .this day also known as Marian feasts days. Twelfth Night 5th January, 2024 Twelfth night is a festival in some branches of Christianity marking the coming of Epiphany. It is the day when wise men visit the infant Jesus, a nativity story was tell to the Christian people. Various cultures developed a wide range of additional special festivities. Food and drinks is the centre of the celebrations. The punch called wassail is consumed especially on this day. King cake was baked and eaten on the following day for the feast. Epiphany 6th January, 2024 One of the three and oldest festival day of the Christian Church. It commemorates the first manifestation of Jesus Christ. The festival originated in the eastern church where the birth place of Jesus is. It is celebrated by both Eastern and western churches. But a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. Baptism of the lord Jesus 7th January, 2024 In Catholicism a great deal of importance is placed on the rituals surrounding the events of the Lord Jesus’s life from birth to death. Every detail is meticulously and carefully scrutinized in its own way. The Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated in January every year. The day is marked by feasting by Catholics, with a particular prayers being read. In Ukraine craft’s men fairs are held with traditional food, drinks and lots of entertainment. Conversion of St. Paul 25th January, 2024 St. Paul was born in Taurus. He was a Roman citizen. He was brought up as a strict Jew, and later he became a violent persecutor of the Christians. This feast is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches. Candle-mass day 2nd February, 2024 Candle-mass is also known as Presentation of Lord. The occasion is when the virgin Mary in obedience in Jewish Law. The festival was formerly known in the Roman Catholic Church. In Greek it is called hypapante. The custom of observing the festival with lighted candles had been introduced. The Candle-mass name was developed from this custom. St. Blaise day 3rd February, 2024 St. Blaise who is the most beloved saint and historical figure is celebrated on this day. The feast of St. Blaise is celebrated with passion and eagerness. There is a morning mass to the saint and then a procession of priests and churchgoers. At the church the banners are twisted and lowered in an display of local techniques. An occasion for everyone to show off the lavish traditional costumes and ornaments. Priests spend the day blessings the believers using two intertwined candles around the throat for preventing throat problems. At dusk the stained glass windows of the church blaze with light. St Valentine day 14th February, 2024 Valentine was a common Roman name. Roman parents named their children in honor of the famous man who was first known as Valentine in antiquity. The custom of exchanging valentines and all the order traditions is in honor of Lupercus.it is the celebration for the February month when names of young women were put into a box and drawn out by men as chance directed. St David of Wales 1st March, 2024 It is of great sadness and huge regret that following of his failure that secures a small festival. It is an annual arts and cultural festival held in Los Angeles, California. It takes place during the first week of March. This is a celebration and a reminder of where we come from. Shrove Tuesday 5th Mar, 2024 Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent starts on the Ash Wednesday. The name Shrove comes from the middle English word ‘Shriven’ which means to go to confession to say sorry for the wrong activities which you have done. Pancake day is the other name for this occasion. The custom of making pancakes still continues today. Pancakes races and tossing pancakes competitions are held on this day. St. Patrick’s day 17th March, 2024 Saint Patrick’s day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church. Celebrations commonly involve public parades and various festivals. Wearing green attire is a must on this day. Christians also attend church services. Palm Sunday 14th April, 2024 Palm Sunday is the beginning of holy week. A celebration of the final week of Jesus life on earth. On this day, Christians remember the time when Jesus wet into Jerusalem riding on donkey’s back. Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. St Philip and James 3rd May, 2024 This is a Family festival held By Saint Philip & James Church . The fair , rides , games festival food and features are seen there on that day. Trinity Sunday 26th June, 2024 Trinity Sunday, officially called “the solemnity of the most holy trinity”, is one of the celebrations of the Christian year. That commemorates a reality rather than a person or event. Christians remember the eternal god the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity. Lammas 1st August, 2024 This holiday can be celebrated either as a way to honor the god or as a celebration of the harvest. It is a festival celebrating the first fruits of harvest, labors and seeing the desires that we had at the start of the year. It is an early Christian festival.” Lammas” means loaf mass and represented the first loaves baked from that year’s crop. These were taken to the church and laid on the altar. Michael and all Angels 29th September, 2024 A long traditional identifies St. Michael the leader who remained faithful to God. His powerful aid has always been invoked by the church in emergencies. It is the most ancient of all the angel festivals. Traditional meal for the day includes goose. Christ the King 24th November, 2024 On November the Christians celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. Catholic churches offers to each of us consider the creature. Christmas eve 24th December, 2024 Christmas eve is the evening or entire day proceeding Christmas Day. It is observed around the world and it is widely declared a holiday. Christmas day 25th December, 2024 A Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus. It is remarked commonly on December 25th as a religious and cultural celebration among many people around the world. The traditional colors of Christmas decoration are red, gold and green. All of the churches, homes are decorate with lots of flowers and light Christmas trees are decorated with candy, balloons, stockings ,bells and angels. Both the wreaths and candles in each window are a more traditional Christmas display. Lights, banners hung along streets music played in speakers. A special family meal is traditionally an important part of the celebration. The exchanging of gifts is one of the core aspects of this celebration. With time Christmas has transcended religious barriers to achieve socio cultural significance.
Buddhist Holidays Calendar 2024 The Buddhist holiday calendar in any given year includes many special days that are revered by the Buddhist community. Many of these celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition and also other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. The most remarkable celebration happens every may on the night of the full moon. Buddhist people all over the world celebrate the birth, nirvana and death of the great Buddha. It has come to be known as the day of the Buddha. Buddhist festivals are always thoughtful and pious occasions. Normally, the worshippers flock the local temples and make food offerings to the monks and take the five precepts. They also listen to a Dharma (religious) sermon (talk). New Year Around the World January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year 2024 New Year New Year Messages New Year Wishes New Year Quotes New Year Resolutions Vedic Astrology 2024 2024 Year Of The Dog 2024 Events 2024 Holidays 2024 Holidays in India 2024 UK Holidays 2024 US Holidays 2024 Hindu Festivals 2024 Federal Holidays 2019 Calendar Buddhist Calendar Sikh Calendar Hindu Calendar Muslim Calendar Christian Calendar Jewish Calendar Bahai Calendar Rastafari Calendar Zoroastrian Calendar Pagan Calendar Jain Calendar Shinto Calendar In the afternoon they distribute food to the poor for they believe that it would bring them merit, and in the evening they join in a religious ceremony three times as a sign of respect to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This includes chanting of the teachings of Buddha and meditation. Name of festivals Date of festivals Description Mahayana New Year 21st January, 2024 This New Year is a vital celebration for Buddhist although calendar dates for each country are differ with each other. Many Buddhist celebrate it on 31st December or 1st January. Every Buddhist visits a nearby temple to light up candles which is considered to bring happiness and good luck for the coming year. To shoe respect the statues of Buddha are also bathed. Religious songs are also offered to the deities. Nirvana day 15th Feb, 2024 This is the annual Buddhist festival commemorating the death of the Buddha. As per Buddhist tradition, Buddha was in a state of meditation and his achievement of the highest form of Nirvana, the release from the birth cycle of rebirth. It is also known as Parinirvana. Buddhist people spend the holidays reading passages from the Parinirvana Sutra, the last days of Buddha. Most of others celebrate by meditating or going to temples. it is the typically treated as a social occasion when people can bring presents and food to share with others. Magha Puja Day 19th Feb, 2024 There are many holy days held by the Buddhist community. Magha puja day take places on the full moon day of the third Lunar month. It is an important event in the life of Buddha. This event is occurred in the Buddha’s teaching life. The assembly is known to be the Fourfold Assembly as it consisted of four factors. a) it was full moon day of magha month, b) all 1250 people were Arahants, c) all of them were ordained by Buddha d) they assembled by themselves with no prior call. The evening of that day, Lord Buddha gave the assembly a discourse “Ovadha Patimokkha” that explained the principles of His teachings to be followed by all the Buddhist community. Three acts are summarized to be good, to abstain from bad action and to purify the mind. It was never celebrated in Thai kingdom. The importance of the day was felt by king Rama IV and as such he ordered the royal Magha Puja ceremony to be performed in Buddha temple. It was declared to be a public holiday back then so everybody could go to the temple and perform religious activities in the morning. Theravada New year 19th April, 2019 Many Buddhist of the Theravada tradition will celebrate the New Year with symbolic elements often found at the beach, sand and water. In Buddhist tradition, each grain of sand is representative of a wrongdoing, and when it washed by the river water it means bad deeds washed away. Devotees normally spend the new year festival days in concentrated through about the Buddha’s birth. Vishaka puja 18th May, 2024 Vishaka Puja day , is also known as Buddha day. Vesak is the holiest day for Buddhist and is celebrated by the Buddhist communities all over the world. It marks the tree important incidents in the life of lord Buddha. it was Buddha’s birthday, the enlightenment of the Buddha and the death of the Buddha. This day all Buddhist gather together to perform the worship to recollect the wisdom, purity and compassion of the Buddha. Listening to Dhamma preaching, making merit, activities include going to temples for special observations. T he community will also choose to abstain from alcoholic drinks and all other kinds of immoral acts. Ullambana 15th August, 2024 It is a festival also called the Sangha day as the community of Sangha had finished their summer retreat. As Buddhist we should uphold the teaching of filial piety by supporting the Sangha. This I a meaningful and meritorious act as it allows the sangha to practice without any obstructions. Ulambana Sangha is offering ceremony for Buddhist laity to offer a meal to the Buddha and the sangha. Lamp lighting is symbolize the destruction, through knowledge ,dispelling of darkness of all negative focus such as violence, lust, anger greed, fear, injustice wickedness and suffering. Bodhi day 13th January, 2024 The historical Buddha’s teachings had a long struggle to achieve enlightenment or Nirvana. He was determined to meditate under a papal tree and not to move until he discovered what the source of pain and suffering in this world was. He silently vowed to continue until he found a way to end all sorrow. He was able through this meditation to discover the cause of all suffering. In commemoration, many Buddhist countries people decorate their homes and trees with lights to signify the many pathways that can lead to enlightenment. Some decorate trees with shiny objects. Some of Buddhist places the statue of Buddha at the base of the tree. Some Buddhist we take the day to focus our commitment to the path by practicing longer meditation. Many Buddhist will recite the five precepts on the Bodhi day to help reaffirm their belief and conviction towards the path. A great way to get kids involved how the Buddha gained enlightenment. It is the essential day to plant and grow seeds of enlightenment of Buddha within you. Bodhi day is of importance to Buddhists being especially celebrated by Buddhists of the Pure Land, but participating in your own way can be noteworthy experience for any one of any culture.
Jain Holidays Calendar 2024 Jains constitute quite a large number of people in various parts of India and abroad. Jains are people who have embraced the teachings and religion propounded and propagated by the Mahavira and subsequent Jain Tirthankars. Jain festivals generally occur on specific days of the year and are either related to life events of Tirthankara or they are performed with intention of the purification of the soul. Jain rituals are an integral part of Jainism. The Jain Rituals take place daily or more often. Jain rituals can be divided broadly into two parts: karya (Obligations that are observed) and Kriya (Worships that are ritually followed). Paryushuna or Daslakshana is probably considered to be the most important annual event for Jains, and it is usually observed in the month of August or September as per modern day calendar. At the conclusion of the festival, followers as for forgiveness from one another and all the others for any offenses committed knowingly or unknowingly in the year gone by. Forgiveness is sought by one another saying Micchami Dukkadam to others. New Year Around the World January 1st – History Chinese New Year Hindu New Year Hmong New Year Islamic New Year Japanese New Year Jewish New Year Korean New Year Thai New Year Persian New Year Tibetan New Year Vietnamese New Year 2024 New Year New Year Messages New Year Wishes New Year Quotes New Year Resolutions Vedic Astrology 2019 2019 Year Of The Dog 2019 Events 2019 Holidays 2019 Holidays in India 2019 UK Holidays 2019 US Holidays 2019 Hindu Festivals 2019 Federal Holidays 2024 Calendar Buddhist Calendar Sikh Calendar Hindu Calendar Muslim Calendar Christian Calendar Jewish Calendar Bahai Calendar Rastafari Calendar Zoroastrian Calendar Pagan Calendar Jain Calendar Shinto Calendar The literal meaning of Paryushana is “abiding” or “coming together”. The principle of ahimsa rules supreme in Jainism and it has become a well-known aspect of Jainism. Jains extend the practice of nonviolence not only towards fellow human beings but also towards all living beings at large. Name of festivals Date of festivals Description Rohini Vrat Rohini Vrat is mostly observed by the Jain women for the long life of their husbands. Rohini is one of the Nakshatra and the fasting is observed on the day when Rohini Nakshatra is seen even after sunrise. It is traditionally believed that those who devoutly observe Rohini Vrat can get rid of sorrows and poverty. Meru Trayodashi 2nd Feb 2024 Meru Trayodashi is one of the most popular and auspicious festivities of the Jains. Meru Trayodashi is celebrated on the thirteen day of the month of magshirsha. Rishabha Dev had attained Nirvana on the Ashtapad mountain on this day. People celebrate the auspicious Meru Trayodashi festival with joy and happiness. This ceremony is celebrated in the memory of Pingal Kumar. Chaumasi Chaudas 20th March 2024 Chaumasi Chaudas is one of the most important festivals for Jains All over the world. The Chaumasi Chaudas starts on the Ashadi Purnima and ends on the Kartick Purnima. During the rainy season the earth becomes green and because according to Jainism everything has life, the Jain believers to save the flora and fauna, used to avoid travelling; and tried staying at one place . The sages would stay put at one place and keep praying. Thus those four months that they would not travel represent the Chaturmas. The Jain devotees buy new clothes for this auspicious occasion. Donations and alms are presented towards charity . Ashtahnika Vidhan Ends 21st Mar 2024 Ashtahnika is an important Jain festival. In fact it is one of the most important Jain festivals which is observed. Amongst both the sects of Jainism, Shwetamvar and the Digambars, this festival occupies a special place. The Ashtahnika literally translated is an eight day ritual which is observed every four months; in Ashadha, which is June and July, Kartika which when plotted in modern calendar is sometime in October and November and Phalguna which falls sometime in February and March. This age-old festival is only considered second to the importance of Dashalakshanaparva. Navpad Oli 12th April 2024 The Jains celebrate two Navpads in one year, one in the shukla paksha or the bright fortnight of Ashwina according to the traditional Hindu month or September October according to the Gregorian calendar. The other one is celebrated in the in the shukla paksh of the Hindu traditional month of Chaitra or March April as per Gregorian calendar. The Navapad Oli, begins in the middle of navaratri. Jains perform the Ayambil Tapa for nine days during the Navpad Oli. Ayambil Tapa is a fasting and penance where one can only eat boiled grains once a day. Shri Mahavir Jayanti 17th April 2024 Mahavira Jayanti is one of the most important celebrations for the Jain community. the devotees of Mahavira gives a bath to the statue of Mahavira which is known as Avishek. The idol is then taken out for a procession in a chariot called Ratha Yatra. Devotees do a lot of charity and give alms on this day. Varshitap Parana 7th May 2024 Varishtap starts on the eighth day of the Amavasya period and ends on the third day of the first half of the month of Vaisakha, on the day of AkshayaTritiya. On the first day the devotee is allowed to drink boiled water from an earthen pot. For the ensuing year the devotee is advised to consume a meal a day or if possible to fast on alternative days. Paryushana Parvarambha 27th Aug 2024 Paryushana is one of the most important Jain festivals. The Digamvara Jains call it as Das Lakshana. Paryushana literally means coming together. During the Paryushana, the Jains observe a fast. Devotees can fast for 30 days or more. During the 8 or 10 days of the Paryushana, the devotees start their days with pratikramana. Anata-Chaturdasi 12th Sept 2024 Anant Chaturdashi is the last day of the 10 day long Ganesh Chaturdashi. Women keep fast on this day for the well being of their families. Men too keep this vrat for 14 years to get back their long lost prosperity wealth and property.
Hindu New Year 2024 Hindu New Year is an all-inclusive expression, but the diversity of cultures points to the fact that each culture has a different name for the occasion and even a different date for some cultures. The religious calendar of the Hindus differs from the Gregorian calendar and thus the date might change from one year to another. The New Year is special for each culture, so 123NewYear has worked hard to get the list ready for everybody to see on which date the New Year falls in the year 2019. Here are the New Year dates along with a small description to understand the importance of each culture and the way they celebrate the New Year. ANDHRA PRADESH AND KARNATAKA CALL THEIR NEW YEAR “UGADI” – April 6, 2024 (SATURDAY) Individuals in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka trust that Lord Brahma created this universe on the auspicious day of Ugadi. Individuals get ready for the New Year by cleaning their their homes and purchasing new garments. On the Ugadi day, they brighten their homes with mango leaves and rangolis, appeal to God for a prosperous new year and visit temples of various Gods to tune in to their calendar called “Panchangasravanam”. Ugadi is likewise a promising day to set out on any new undertaking. THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION IN MAHARASHTRA AND GOA IS GUDI PADWA – April 6, 2024 (SATURDAY) In Maharashtra, the New Year is commended as Gudi Padwa – a celebration that envoys the approach of spring, thus falls between March and April. On the first day of the Chaitra month, individuals cleanse themselves, wear new garments and design their homes with spectacular “rangoli” designs. A banner made of silk is worshiped on this day. Greetings and desserts are traded, between colleagues and loved ones. Individuals hang “gudhis” (a metal or a silver vessel is placed on an adorned pole) put on it on their windows on this day to pay tribute to Mother Nature’s abundance. CHETI CHAND: THE SINDHI NEW YEAR – April 7, 2024 (SUNDAY) The Sindhis observe Cheti Chand on the New Year day, which matches with Gudhi Padwa in Maharashtra and Ugadi in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Cheti Chand occurs on the first day of the Chaitra month, called Cheti in Sindhi. This day is seen as the birthday of the Sindhi’s patron saint known as Jhulelal. On this day, Sindhis adore Varuna, the water god and watch various customs, which include devotional songs and feasts, for example, bhajans and aartis. THE BRIGHT BAISAKHI OF PUNJAB – April 14, 2024 (Sunday) Baisakhi involves grand celebrations, is commended on the thirteenth or fourteenth of April consistently, denoting the Punjabi New Year. Individuals praise the glad event by performing Bhangra and Giddha to the beating cadence of the dhol and ring in the New Year. Baisakhi likewise denotes the establishing of the Khalsa fellowship by Sikh Guru Govind Singh. THE NEW YEAR OR NABA BARSHA IN BENGAL FALLS ON POILA BAISHAKH – April 15, 2024 (Monday) The main day of the Bengali New Year falls in the vicinity of thirteenth and fifteenth of April consistently. This is a state occasion in the eastern province of West Bengal. To welcome the New Year or Naba Barsha, individuals clean and adorn their homes and summon Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of riches and prosperity. Every single new venture start on this favorable day, as businessmen open their new ledgers with “Haal Khata- – a service in which Lord Ganesha is worshipped and clients who come in to make purchases are offered refreshments and sometimes lovely gifts. The general population of Bengal celebrates the day with wonderful feasts and other festivities. THE BOHAG BIHU: NEW YEAR OF ASSAM – April 15, 2024 (Monday) The northeastern province of Assam introduces the New Year with the spring celebration of Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu, which denotes the beginning of another farming cycle. Fairs are sorted out in which individuals delight in cheerful recreations. The festivals continue for quite a long time, giving a decent time to youngsters to find their life partner. Youthful debutantes in conventional clothing sing “Bihugeets” and move the customary “Mukoli Bihu”. The merry sustenance of the event is the “pitha” or rice cakes. Individuals visit each other’s homes, trade blessings and desserts, while they greet each other. KERALA WISHING HAPPY NEW YEAR ON THE OCCASION OF VISHU – April 15, 2024 (Monday) “Vishu is the first day in the principal month of Medam in Kerala, the delightful seaside state in southern India. The general population of this state starts the day at an early hour in the morning by going to temples and searching for any promising sight, known as Vishukani. The day is loaded with conventional customs, which include tokens called Vishukaineetam, for the most part in type of coins, being dispersed among the poor. Individuals wear new garments – Kodi vastram – and praise the day by blasting sparklers and getting a charge out of an assortment of luxuries at a detailed lunch called the sadya with family and companions. The evening and night are spent in the Vishuwela. TAMIL NEW YEAR ALSO CALLED PUTHANDU VAZTHUKAL OR VARSHA PIRAPPU – April 14, 2024 (Sunday) The Tamil-talking individuals over the globe observe Puthandu Vazthukal or Varsha Pirappu, around the middle of April. The day breaks by watching Kanni, which includes gold, silver and various farm products. Panchanga Puja follows Kanni. On the eve of Puthandu, each family adorns their homes with beautiful garlands of mango leaves and enriching designs called Vilakku Kolam. Wearing new garments, the relatives assemble and light a customary light, the kuthu vilakku. The customary Puthandu feast comprises of pachadi – a blend of jaggery, chilies, salt, neem leaf or blooms, and tamarind along with green banana and jackfruit dishes and an assortment of sweet ‘payasam’ dessert. MAHA VISHUVA SANKRANTI IN THE STATE OF ORISSA/ODISHA – April 14, 2024 (Sunday) The people of Odisha celebrate the occasion of Maha Vishuva sankranti by drinking Paana, a water mixture that symbolizes rain. It is basically sweet water prepared with Mishri and water. Horse-gram flour, curd and banana are traditionally consumed on this day. Danda Naach is a traditional form of dance that is performed along with deity worship for the day of Maha Vishuva Sankranti.
2024 Year of the Dog 2024 year of the Dog (Earth Dog) starts from the 16th of February of the year 2024 and ends on the 4th of February in 2024. In the Chinese Zodiac, Dog is the eleventh animal. People born under this sign are friendly, trustworthy and honest. These people are quite protective of their loved ones. They are generous in spreading love and bear a strong sense of justice. Other character traits include being intuitive, making them a good judge of character, thus they can easily figure out the human nature quite fast. They might be diplomatic, but if picked in the wrong way, the razor sharp barbs are quick to fly. They care deeply for their near and dear ones. A negative trait is that people born under this sign could be over judgmental and self-righteous. People might find that searching for the correct path is a futile efforts leading to disappointment or depression. TYPE OF DOGS: There are five types of Dogs. Each has their own set of unique characteristics: Type of Dog Year of Birth Characteristics Wood Dog 1934, 1994 Reliable, sincere, considerate, patient, and understanding Fire Dog 1946, 2006 Intelligent, sincere, and hardworking Earth Dog 1958, 2024 Communicative, responsible in work, and serious Gold Dog 1910, 1970 Conservative, cautious, desirable, and ever ready to help people Water Dog 1922, 1982 Brave, self-centered and easily deal with financial issues PERSONALITY OF THE DOG Possessing the eleventh position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dog symbolizes character attributes, for loyalty, kindness and compatibility. People of this Zodiac offer kind words and valuable counsel, continually tuning in and loaning a shoulder when important. They frequently turn out to be profoundly associated with others’ lives and are once in a while seen to be intrusive. Guaranteeing others are cheerful is more vital to the Dog than riches, cash or achievement. They are resolved people; continually needing to ace another subject before proceeding onward and continually completing what they begin. The people of this Zodiac esteem kinships; they’re faithful, legit, dependable and solid and have solid ethics and morals. A well-kept, composed home is imperative. Keeping a spotless home and aiding at work originates from the Dog’s should be dynamic and involved. They burn through cash astutely, passing on extravagance products for practical things. Additionally, they might seem to incline toward sparing cash to cover future costs. People of this zodiac can on occasion be fickle, intolerant and unshakable. At the point when this happens, the Dog takes off alone with a specific end goal to influence things to right again. They can profit by figuring out how to unwind and being more balanced. Individuals who were born in the Year of the Dog are normally free, genuine, faithful and conclusive as per Chinese zodiac interpretations. They are not anxious of challenges in day to day life. These sparkling qualities influence them to have amicable association with individuals around them. Strengths of this Zodiac Sign: Valiant Responsible Lively Loyal Clever Courageous Weaknesses of this Zodiac Sign: Conservative Sensitive Emotional Stubborn HOROSCOPE FOR THE PEOPLE BORN UNDER THE CHINESE ZODIAC SIGN OF THE DOG: Health: General talking, people of this sign appreciate great wellbeing for they are cheerful most of the time. They are dynamic doing sports, so they are apt to fight off sickness, for example, cold and fever. In substantial work and incessant social exercises, notwithstanding appropriate extract, they should focus on having enough rest, which will profit both physical and psychological wellness. Since such people are not wild about looking for cash and power, they feel less focused and tense at work and in life. Career: Because of reliability in identity, people belonging to the dog sign have a tendency to pick a profession on the standard of adjusting others. They are viewed as profitable representatives, as they work absolute entirety at their undertakings. Such people are agreeable, kind, and dependably are prepared to reduce the workload of others, which make them exceptionally mainstream in their work circle. Prescribed career options for the people of this sign include incorporate agent, cop, specialist, researcher, inside architect, advocate, teacher, minister, legislator, medical attendant and judge. Relationships: Despite the fact that people of the Dog zodiac are dependable, they experience difficulty confiding in others. It can require a long investment before such people feel quite close to someone else. If they do not trust someone, they are usually judgmental and unpleasant towards them. Romance is difficult for these people. Others are frightened away by the Dog’s uncertain, troubling and restless nature. People of this sun sign are known to be critical and emotionally cold individuals. LOVE COMPATIBILITY OF THE DOG Best Matches: Dog and Rabbit: It is what people would call a perfect match. They have similar traits, shared hobbies and this adds fun to the relationship. They can understand each other quite well and have the patience to face all difficulties. Dog and Horse: the fact that they respect each other is the basis of their happiness. Both are highly loyal towards each other. Dog and Tiger: A mutual respect towards one another forms a balanced and harmonious relationship. As this relationship is developed, the couple can go on adventures together and achieve a long happy relationship. Bad Matches Dragon, Sheep and Rooster: A difference in opinions can lead to big conflicts in day to day life. The couple will never be able to share each other’s inner feelings. The marriage can never be happy and harmonious due to lack of communication and trust. THINGS LUCKY FOR PEOPLE OF THE DOG ZODIAC SIGN: Lucky Directions: East, Southeast & South Lucky Colors: Green, Red & Purple Lucky Numbers: 3, 4, 8 & 9 Lucky Flowers: Rose, Cymbidium Orchid & Oncidium THINGS UNLUCKY FOR PEOPLE OF THE DOG ZODIAC SIGN: Unlucky Numbers: 1, 6 & 7 Unlucky Colors: Blue, White & Golden Unlucky Direction: North & West COMPATIBLE ZODIAC SIGNS ACCORDING TO THE BIRTH MONTH Birth Month of the Dog Personality of the Dog Girl’s Match Boy’s Match January Steadfast and Leisurely Sheep Rooster February Enjoy Challenges Tiger Sheep March Realistic Rat Pig April Ambitious Horse Ox May Straightforward and Lovely Dragon Horse June Extravagant Ox Tiger July Kindhearted and Optimistic Tiger Dragon August Critical Rabbit Horse September Free and Easy Horse Tiger October Genial and Upright Snake Snake November Cool-Headed and Possess High Sprit Horse Rat December Faithful and Diligent Rat Horse IDEAL JOBS FOR THE DOG The loyal nature of the people born under this Chinese sign, make them good in professions that run on the principle of serving others. These people put their complete heart and soul in every task that they take upon themselves. The easygoing nature of these people, make them popular at the workplace. Some of the careers in which people, born under the sign of the dog, prosper include police officer, counselor, scientist, interior designer, politician, professor, priest, clerk, nurse, and judge. CELEBRITIES BORN UNDER THE CHINESE ZODIAC DOG Famous People Birth Date Element Winston Churchill 30 November 1874 a Wood Dog Mother Teresa 26 August 1910 a Gold Dog Elvis Presley January 8, 1935 a Wood Dog Bill Clinton August 19, 1946 a Fire Dog Donald Trump June 14, 1946 a Fire Dog George Bush Jnr July 6, 1946 a Fire Dog Steven Spielberg December 18, 1946 a Fire Dog Madonna August 16, 1958 an Earth Dog Michael Jackson August 29, 1958 an Earth Dog Justin Bieber March 1, 1994 a Wood Dog
Hmong New Year 2024 Hmong people originally believed to be from the Yangtze River basin area situated in southern China, now inhabit various parts of the world. Miao is the name by which Hmong people are referred to in their country of origin, China. They have occupied China for the past 2000 years. This was before they were forced to move away to escape the King Dynasty. HMONG HERITAGE & HMONG NEW YEAR Hmong New Year is deeply rooted in the Hmong heritage, as it basically celebrates the end of the season of harvest in Laos. The date usually falls between the month of November and December of the Gregorian calendar. The Hmong people work hard for a year and then put away their farm tools at the end of the year. The people put on their best clothes to celebrate the good harvest and end of another year. Each and every clan holds their own ceremonial traditions, but the village celebrates it as a whole. Finding Hmong people is an extremely difficult task and their verbal customs are held dear by the people. The heritage and the customs of the Hmong people have been passed down the ages to the present generation. The customs might have become varied, but the core beliefs of the Hmong people remain the same. Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and China are some of the countries where the Hmong people still have stayed back. These people have maintained their own language and customs. Laos still has 18 Hmong clans. Arrival of New Year With the arrival of the New Year, women of the Hmong community bring fresh water at the stroke of midnight. Other traditions include bull fights. Hmong people dress up in their traditional outfits, which are quite colorful and include beads as well as hats. This is the traditional dress for women, while the men dress up in white collared formal costumes. Food, drinks, dance and other festivities define this occasion. Numerous sports activities like soccer and volleyball are organized on this day. New Year Celebrations involve the culture of the Hmong people. It also includes food being cooked by the female members of the community. BASIS OF HMONG NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS Hmong New Year celebrations are not only based on cultural heritage, but religious beliefs as well. The festivities take place annually on the occasion of the New Year. It is based on the end of the season of rice harvesting. At the end of the rice harvesting season, the New Year marks the beginning of the new cycle of life. The “wandering” souls of family members are called back on this day to reunite with their family. Young honor the old or their in-laws, with a ritual, where they ask for the blessings of the elders. Hmong New Year lasts for all of three days and ten dishes of food are prepared on each day. So, a total of thirty dishes are prepared during this period. This is the reason Hmong people say “eat 30”. CUSTOMS & FESTIVITIES OF HMONG NEW YEAR The social events can last up to a month, because each village takes turns at hosting the New Year. Here are some rituals that the people of Hmong clans observe on the occasion of New Year and the 3 days of celebration that are a part of it: Paj Ntaub is a hand-crafted and embroidery dress that is worn by the Hmong people and they sing traditional songs with complex lyrics. The song is called Kwv Txhiaj. Pov Pob is the Hmong ball tossing game, which is a popular event among adolescents. Two separate lines are formed in pairs by girls and boys. They face each other directly. Girls may toss the ball to a boy or girl, but the boys can toss the ball to the girls only. Another rule of the ball toss is that the ball can be tossed only to another member of the same clan. The ball tossing continues till someone drops the ball. When a player misses to catch, the opponent in the pair is gifted an ornament. Hu Plig is the custom where the souls of departed family members are called upon to unite with their family. Txi Xwm Kab is the custom involving a ritual with offerings for the God of Wealth. Neeb Foob Yeem/Neeb Tso Qhua is a Shamanistic Ritual. It involves releasing Curing spirits of She-Yee for “vacationing”. This can happen only if the household has a shaman in their house. Noj peb caug is also known as Eat 30 and constitutes of having the most important and primary meal of the year. Pe Tsiab is the custom, where the younger people of the clan ask for blessings from their elders. It starts early in the morning and can include parents, dead ancestors, uncles and even in-laws. Ntxuav Kauv Laug is also known as “Cleaning the Body”. It is a ritual involving the cleansing of the body. Ntuag Qhauv is a custom that is believed to reduce issues and problems like temper, loneliness, along with all the problems that have happened in the household. Tog Neej Tsa Tuaj Noj Tsiab involves inviting or requesting special guests like your in-laws to come and join you on the occasion of “eat Tsiab”. Xa Noob Ncoos/Tsoog Laug is like a thanksgiving event in which in-laws and parents are honored. Tam Noob Ncoos is a feast of thank you that is organized by in-laws and parents. Tso Plig is a ritual to help release the spirit of departed members of the family. Noj Tsiab is also referred to as Eat Tsiab, which is a larger version of “eat 30”. All of these events take place over the three days of Hmong New Year. Over the years the customs may have changed a bit, but the true customs, traditions and beliefs remain the same.
Islamic New Year 2024 Islamic New Year 2024 falls on the September 11 which is a Tuesday. It is also known as the Hijri New Year or Arabic New Year. It marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year. The New Year starts with first day of Muharram. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar calendar and is different from the Gregorian calendar. Thus, the day can differ from year to year. History Of The Islamic New Year On the day Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Medina, the Islamic New Year is celebrated. The day signifies escape from the oppressive non-Muslim tribe of Mecca, Quraish. They had inflicted pain and violence on the Prophet and his companions. He escaped with his companion, Abu Bakr on camel back. In Medina, they recovered and grew spiritually. This event occurred in 622 AD. As this marks the journey of the Prophet from Mecca to Medina, it is a day of self-evaluation and offers a chance to change one’s ways for the better. Celebrations On The Occasion Of Islamic New Year Muslims who follow Sunnah of Mohammed are called Sunni Muslims and observe the day to remember the rescue of the people of Israel from the Pharaoh by Moses. Sunnis may fast on this day, most probably on the tenth day. Shia Muslims spend the day mourning; some may even flog themselves to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali. Muslims might fast on the 10th day of this month, from sunrise till sunset. Bubur Asyura is a traditional dish cooked on this day. It is basically sweet rice and is shared by family members or even friends during breakfast. Muslims can gather in mosques to welcome in the New Year. Other religious activities include, spiritual singing and recitation of the holy book, Quran. Special prayers and sermons are held in halls and mosques. Variation In Celebrations Of The Islamic New Year The different sections of Islamic religion – Shia and Sunni, celebrate it in different ways. The difference in culture is what makes the celebrations different. Tradition of fasting can differ between the two communities. Here are some variations in the celebration: Fasting on the tenth day of the month of Muharram, this is known as the Day of Ashura. This is usually done to mourn the death of Husayn ibn Ali, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. Some mosques offer free meals known as Nazar, from the 9th to the 11th day of the month of Muharram. Shia Muslims, in Iraq, head over to Imam Husayn Shrine, for a pilgrimage. Imam Husayn Shrine is the site of Husayn ibn Ali’s grave. Condolence Theater known as taziya (ta’zieh) may be performed in Iran. Similar events occur in South Asia. These are known as marsiya, tabuik or tabut, noha and soaz. The battle of Karbala may be re-enacted through different plays. In the countries, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, Hussay or Hosay are events that are attended various people belonging to different cultures. In Afghanistan, India, Bahrain, Iraq, Pakistan and Lebanon, Shia Muslims take part in remembrance parades known as matham or matam. During this time, men gather in large groups for ritualistic chest beating. Some might also beat themselves using metal chains on handles. Historical Event Taking Place During The First Month Of Muharram Like the Gregorian calendar, the Islamic calendar also has 12 months, but the year has fewer days. The Islamic calendar has 354 days instead of 365 days. Muharram is the month if remembrance and is supposed to be a sacred month of the year. The historical event that made the month auspicious was the Battle of Karbala. Karbala, presently in Iraq, is the place where the battle happened in the year 680 CE. On the first day of the month of Muharram, grandson of the Prophet Muhammed, Husayn ibn Ali, entered the city with his full army. The Seventh day marks the day on which, Husayn ibn Ali was restricted from accessing water. The Tenth day marks the death of Husayn ibn Ali and Ahl al-Bayt, his clan. Facts Of The Islamic New Year Muharram is the first month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar It is the Holiest month after the moth if Fasting called Ramadan The method of Islamic dating was created by a friend of the Prophet, Umar ibn Al-Khattab. The Islamic Calendar is based on the lunar cycle. It contains 12 months and around 354.36 days altogether. Parallels run between the Islamic New Year and the Day of Ashura, on which Moses freed the people from the Pharaoh. Similarly, Prophet Muhammad crossed the dessert from Mecca to Medina to escape Quraish nobles. Both were oppressive in nature. Islamic Calendar is abbreviated as A.H. or Anno Hegirae.
Japanese New Year 2024 Japanese New Year 2024 is celebrated on the 1st of January in the year 2024, which is a yearly festival in Japan and has its own traditions and customs. Japanese New Year is celebrated on the same day as indicated by the Gregorian calendar. In recent times, parties and fireworks have been a part of the celebrations on the previous evening as the whole of Japan countdowns to the end of the present year, welcoming the New Year. History Behind The Date For Japanese New Year Before the Meiji period, Japanese New Year was dependent on the lunar calendar that is still followed by China, Korea and Vietnam. In the year 1873, 5 years post the Meiji Restoration, Japan accepted the Gregorian calendar’s New Year, as its official New Year’s Day. Traditional Food Prepared For The New Year The Japanese custom has a variety of traditional food items to celebrate the New Year, known as Osechi-ryōri or Osechi. Many of the dishes are either sweet or sour. It can also be dry, so that the food can be stored without refrigeration. Variation of Osechi can be found across Japan. Another traditional dish of Japan Ozōni is quite popular for this day. It is basically a soup consisting of a rice cake called mochi along with other ingredients. The ingredients, other than mochi, differ from region to region. The seventh day of January is known as Jinjitsu. On this day, a 7 herb rice soup called Nanakusa-gayu, is prepared to let the overworked stomach rest. Toshikoshi soba is a kind of buckwheat noodles that is popularly consumed on New Year’s Eve. Mochi: A Customary Preparation For Japanese New Year A popular custom is Japan is the preparing rice cakes called Mochi and then eating the cakes. Mochigome, boiled sticky rice, is placed in a container known as Usu which is made of wood. This is patted down with water by someone, while another one keeps hitting it with a large wooden mallet. This ultimately forms a sticky white colored dumpling. It is usually prepared before New Year’s Day and consumed as the New Year starts. It can also be used to prepare a decoration known as Kagami Mochi. This is usually made of 2 round cakes and has a tangerine known as Daidai, set on the top. Daidai is a name, which is meant to be auspicious and translates to “several generations”. Hatsumode: Japanese Tradition Hatsumode is a tradition, wherein the people visit a shrine or temple for the first time in the New Year. It is a tradition that is followed all across Japan on the initial days of the year, especially on 1st of January. Some of the popular shrines and temples have a festive mood and atmosphere for the New Year. Festivities include food stands, purchase of luck charms and much more. Places like Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine, Osaka’s Sumiyoshi Taisha, Kamakura’s Tsuruoka Hachimangu and Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Taisha, attract a huge number of visitors. Bell Ringing: A Common Tradition Of Japan As the clock strikes 12 on the night of 31st December, Buddhist temples across Japan ring the bell 108 times. It symbolizes the 108 sins according to Buddhist belief. Ringing the bell 108 times can get rid of worldly desires. The Watched Night bell in the city of Tokyo is a major tourist attraction; it is rung a 107 times on the 31st and then one more time after the clock strikes 12. Sending Out Postcards On New Year Japanese people love to send out postcards before the arrival of the New Year, so that friends, family and colleagues receive it on the 1st of January. If a death has occurred in the family, then people refrain from sending the postcards and instead send a postcard, known as Mochū Hagaki, informing friends or relatives that they should not send in New Year’s card, as a sign of respect for the dead. These cards are also known as mourning postcards. Conventional Greetings Exchanged During New Year Some of the greetings that are traditionally used to greet the New Year include: 1. Kotoshi mo yoroshiku o-negai-shimasu, which translates to “I count on your good will for this year” 2. Akemashite o-medetō-gozaimasu, means On the dawn of New Year, may you be blessed with happiness 3. Kinga Shinnen literally means Happy New Year 4. Gashō, on the other hand, means “to celebrate January” 5. Geishun is a greeting, which means “to welcome spring” Otoshidama : A New Year Custom For Children Otoshidama is a tradition followed by the Japanese people on the first day of New Year. It is a custom, which involves money being presented to the children. The money is usually presented in beautifully decorated envelopes known as Pochibukuro. The money given to the kids depends on how old the child is, but in case there is more than a single child, the amount remains same for all children. This is done to prevent the feeling of being slighted. Poetry For New Year Japanese Poetry is an important part of New Year traditions. Japanese poems like Haiku or Renga are the popular options for this day. Kigo are seasoned words that might be included in the poems. Other words like hatsuhi (first sun), waraizome (first laughter) and hatsuyume (first dream) may also be a part of the New Year Poems. Little New Year Celebrations This might not actually fall on the first day of the New Year, but it is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, around the middle of February. It is still a part of the New Year celebrations and is known as Little New Year. Some of the major events include Koshōgatsu, which includes rituals and prayers for a bountiful harvest. Other traditions include consumption of azuki beans and rice gruel. This marks the end of New Year celebrations, as decorations are taken down. It usually corresponds to the popular Chinese Lantern Festival.
Persian New Year 2024 The Persian New Year 2024 which is also known as Norooz is celebrated on the 21st of March, Thursday. Called by the name ‘Nowruz’, it’s an annual event for the Iranians celebrating the first day of the year for Persians around the world. This festival is being celebrated since more than 3000 years across western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin and the Balkans. For most of the celebrants, it’s a holiday of the secular type but for the Persians, it remains a holy day. It occurs on the day of Vernal Equinox thus marking the starting of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the Iranian Calendar, it occurs on the first day of the first month i.e. Farvardin. It generally takes place on the 21st of March or the previous day or the next day depending upon the place where it’s being observed. Once the sun crosses the celestial equator and the night and day becomes equal, families get together to perform the rituals of this day. Ancient Roots Of Persian New Year It’s supposedly believed that Iranians in the past used to celebrate the beginning of both autumn and spring for the celebration of New Year. It is thought that the pomp of the Babylonian festivities led the Iranians to transform their own spring festival into a New Year’s feast with the name “Navasarda”. Nowruz is partially having its roots in Iranian religion traditions such as those of Mitraism and Zoroastrianism. In the former, the festivals are deeply linked to sun’s light. The latter emphasizes more on concepts such as working of good and evil in the world. The Persians believe that Nowruz marks the first day when the universe came into being and started moving. Celebration Of Nowruz In Different Places Europe & USA: It is celebrated in various parts of Europe and the Americas including Los Angeles, Toronto, Cologne and London. As Los Angeles has very strict fire codes, Iranians living in Southern California visit the beaches to celebrate the events and build fires where it’s permissible. Iran : Here, Nowruz celebrations last for two weeks making the first to the fourth day of Farvardin, four days of official public holidays. Political leaders make special speeches during this period every year. Azerbaijan : Right after Iran, this Republic has the highest number of public holidays during the Nowruz time i.e. a total of seven days. Here, the festival is ended on a note of festive public dancing and entertainment by other folk bands as well as events of national sports. Turkey : Nowruz became an official holiday in Turkey much later with people in Syria dressing up in their national dress and celebrating the New Year. The Kurds of Turk enjoy this festival by feasting from 18th to 21st march and gather in fairgrounds outside the city to welcome the oncoming spring. The women folk don colored dresses and tie head scarves while the young men wave flags representing the colors of the Kurds i.e. green, yellow and red. This festival is celebrated by lighting fire and dancing around it. Observances During This Festival House Cleaning : As Nowruz approaches, the Iranian people get to major spring cleaning of their houses as well as buying new clothes and flowers particularly the hyacinth and tulips for the New Year. Houses are decorated with various auspicious symbols like butterflies, birds, stars and fish. On the day itself, the people wear their new clothes and put on gold jewelry, silver kustis and caps. Doors and windows are adorned with garlands of jasmines and roses while colored powders are used to create designs and patterns known as ‘rangoli’ on the steps and entrance. Haft Seen : It is the name given to the traditional setting up of tables during Nowruz. Just before the arrival of the new year, family members sit around a table with the haft seen set on it and wait impatiently for the exact time of the March Equinox to exchange New Year gifts and start the celebrations. The setting consists of seven items namely lentil sprouts, sweet pudding, and dried fruit of oleaster tree, garlic, apples, sumac and vinegar. Other symbolic items that are seen are candles, a mirror, decorated eggs, and decorating coins, a bowl of goldfish in water, holy book, poetry book and rose water. Kampirak : In Afghanistan, Kampirak and his group visit village after village redistributing the charities he gathered among the people. His appearance is that of an old man wearing colorful clothes and long hat and beads of rosary. Haft Mewa : People of Afghanistan prepare the famous haft mewa for Nowruz which is basically a fruit salad and consists of seven different fruits and their syrups. The seven fruits thus are raisin, Senjed, Pistachio, Hazelnut, Prune, Walnuts and Almond. Visiting People : During the Nowruz times, people are supposed to be visiting families, relatives, friends and neighbors which are generally reciprocated. First, the youngsters will visit the elders and then the elders will return the visits. A usual visiting takes lesser time than 30 minutes and visitors are generally served tea, pastry, cookies, dried fruits and mixed nuts. Sizdebedar : In Iran, the holidays for Nowruz continue till thirteen days and on the last day, people leave their houses and join outdoor picnics for the sizdebedar ceremony. In this ceremony, the greenery that had been grown in the haft seen is thrown into running water by young girls after tying the leaves making a wish for a partner. Popular Desserts And Dishes : Among the most popular are the ‘Baklava’ which is flaky pastry with walnuts, almonds and pistachio filling, Falooda, Noql i.e. sugar coated almonds and Shorgoghal which are flaky bread with spicy filling. Dishes like Chicken farcha, Fried fish and jalebi, sabzi polow with fish and Kuku Sabzi are popular dishes for the main courses.
Korean New Year 2024 Korean New Year 2024 is celebrated on the 1st Jan, 2024, Tuesday and is an annual festival in Korea having its own specialities and rituals. It is celebrated on the first day of the Korean Lunar Calendar and doesn’t match with the New Year date as celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar and the whole of Korea comes to be united on the eve of New Year to welcome the upcoming year amidst great pomp and splendour. THE DATE OF THE KOREAN NEW YEAR The date of the New Year varies each year according to the lunar movements and generally falls on the day when there is a new moon for the second time just after the winter solstice. In very rare occasions, it can fall on the day of the third moon just after the solstice but owing to its rarity, such an occasion will appear next not before 2033. It also falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year until and unless it falls between Korean midnight and Chinese midnight. This too is a very rare event occurring once in 24 years when the Korean New Year will be on the day following Chinese New Year. Koreans follow a zodiac which is quite like the Chinese one with 12 animals representing 12 years with the rat/mouse being the first animal. In the year 2024, this year is said to be represented by the dog having its zodiac animal characteristics as the highlight points of the year. TRADITIONAL FOOD PREPARED FOR THE NEW YEAR Tteokguk: This is a traditional food of the Koreans that they devour specially on the occasion of New Year and is generally describe as soup with sliced rice cakes. According to Korean History, the Korean New Year is considered to be equivalent to birthdays of Koreans and eating this customary dish is a part of the birthday celebrations. It’s believed that once you finish eating your tteokguk, you are now one year older. There are a lot of other dishes prepared on this day and much time is spent with family. Jeon: This traditional Korean dish, also known as ‘buchimgae’ is particularly eaten on the New Year’s Day. As the dish is a savory pancake, it would be expected that it should be sliced with a knife and served. But Koreans rip it apart with the help of chop sticks as they believe it makes the taste better. SEBAE: KOREAN RITUAL This is a tradition of worshiping the elders that is followed on the day of Korean New Year every year. On this day, the children of Korea dress up in their traditional attire and wish their elders including their grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles etc. a happy new year by saying the words ‘saehae bok mani badeuseyo’ which translates to wishing for the other person to receive good fortune on the occasion of New Year. They also indulge in performing deep, intense customary bows while bowing more than once is usually done for the deceased. Elders reward the children with ‘New Year’s money which consists of crisp paper notes in silk bags that have traditional touches of the Korean culture. Elders also impart words of wisdom to the younger generations. Parents lovingly give out rice cakes and fruits among the children. CUSTOMS OF KOREAN NEW YEAR The Korean New Year is essentially a family holiday that’s celebrated on a span of three days and is also known as ‘Seollal’. This three-day holiday consisting of the day before, the day itself and the day after is generally marked as an occasion for people to return to their hometowns to unite with their near and dear ones, sometimes even ones coming from abroad. This holiday is considered to be respectful to be attended and people first visit their elders like grandparents and parents and in laws. During this time, gifts are exchanged among the family members and new clothes are worn. Many traditional dishes are prepared during this time and food prices reach amazing heights. Thus, the government has now started taking measures to increase food production during this time to meet the increased demand. On the first morning of the three day affair, Korean people pay their reverence to their ancestors by placing traditional food on a table and along with imparting deep bows, everyone prays for the well-being of the family. Many of the Koreans prefer to don their colorful traditional attire known as the ‘hanbok’ and after the rituals are completed, all the members of the family indulge in a sumptuous feast. Another custom popularly followed during this time is the burning of what is called the ‘moon house’ which is built using burnable tree branches and firewood. This act symbolizes the keeping away of evil/bad spirits and wishes are also made for the New Year while the house is burned. FOLK GAMES PLAYED DURING THE NEW YEAR The Korean New Year is associated with a number of traditional games. One of the most popular family board games, the ‘yutnori’ is especially played on this occasion. It’s played with a pack of specially designed sticks and is perfect for all ages and genders. It’s a tradition for the Korean boys and men to fly rectangle kites known as ‘Yeon’ and also play a game known as ‘jegichagi’. It’s a game where any light object is covered up in a piece of cloth or paper and then it’s hustled around in a football like manner. The women and girls of the Korean community play the traditional game of ‘neolttwigi’ which is like a game of jumping on the seesaw. They also play a game known as ‘gongginori’ which is played using five ‘gonggi’ which actually means little stones. Another very popular traditional games played by the children is that of top spinning. Nowadays, adults have started replacing the game ‘hwatu’ with the modern game of Go-Stop.
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