Category: Holidays Around The World

St Nicholas Day is a day of feast held in the honor of Saint Nicholas. This day is observed on the 6^th of December in the Western Christian countries and on 19^th December in the Eastern Christian countries.

This Christian festival is celebrated giving particular regard to St Nicholas’s reputation as a gift bearer and by attending church services or mass. In the European countries, especially Poland and Germany, it is a tradition for the boys to dress themselves up as bishops and beg alms for the less fortunate on this day.

In Ukraine all the children eagerly wait for the Saint to visit their houses and put a gift secretly under their pillow if they had behaved properly and been a good child throughout the year. Those who had been naughty might end up finding a piece of coal or a twig under their pillow instead of a present.

However in Netherlands, the children put a clog filled with carrots and hay outside their houses for the horse of St Nicholas on this day as a part of the tradition. On this day people exchange gifts which come with humorous personal rhymes written by the sender.

In the United States it is customary of the children to leave out their shoes in the entrance room on the eve of St Nicholas Feast hoping that he would place some coins on the soles of their shoes during the night. The bringer of gifts, St Nicholas, is a mythological figure just like the Santa Clause of America or the Father Christmas of Britain or the Dutch Sinterklaas. However the practice of exchanging gifts is associated with the day of Christmas rather than the St Nicholas Day.

 

History-

Saint Nicholas was born in the land of Patara, which is a part of present day Turkey, in circa 280. He was a Christian Bishop and was known for his reputation of reaching out to the poor and providing them with food and clothes. As he was a giver and helped the needy, the tradition of giving gifts grew after his death in order to honor him.

It is believed that the legendary and the mythical entity, Santa Clause, who brings gifts for the children all over the world, is none other than Saint Nicholas himself. Saint was born to rich parents and after they he lost both of them at a young age, St Nicholas made the use of his inheritance to help out the sick and the poor. Being a devout Christian, he served as the bishop of Myra, now known as Demre, in the latter days of his life. There are several legends which portray his generous, selfless and giving nature.

As the legend goes, St Nicholas had helped 3 poor sisters whose father didn’t have money and fortune to pay for their dowries and thus had decided to sell the three sisters into servitude. It is believed that the Saint went to the house secretly and kept a bag filled with money three times. The father used this money to get his daughters married. However on the final visit, the father saw him and thanked him earnestly for helping him during his hard time. In another legend, St Nicholas had saved the lives of three innocent men who were falsely accused and sentenced to death.

In another horrifying event, St Nicholas had resurrected three young boys who were killed and kept in barrels by a wicked butcher who had thought of selling them as ham at the time of famine. These stories of miracles and legends portraying his kind nature became known to people across the world and he was soon considered to be the gift giver and protector of sailors and young children. According to various sources, it is believed that St Nicholas had died on the 6^th of December in circa 343, after which a feast was held on his death anniversary every year in the honor of his great deeds which came to be known as the St Nicholas Day.

 

Observances-

The St Nicholas Day is extremely popular among the children of the countries of Europe and America as they receive presents on this day. In some cities of Europe like Italy and Bari, St Nicholas is recognized as patron saint by the people and this day is observed by carrying out various activities which includes feasts, exchanging gifts and parades. Saint Nicholas is known by several names across Europe. In Germany, he is known as Nikolaus and in Netherlands, he is known as Sinterklaas. Before the arrival of the main day, on the 6^th of December, the children put out their shoes or a special boot near the front door or at the fireplace hoping that St Nicholas will fill them up with gifts and presents during his secret night visits. The Feast of St Nicholas is a religious holiday; however, it is not a public holiday in Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Saint Nicholas day is celebrated every year on the 6^th of December for the Western Christian countries and on the 19^th of December for the Eastern Christian countries.

It’s the feast day for Saint Nicholas and is a highly popular Christian festival. Saint Nicholas had a great reputation as a bringer of presents and as well as due to his tendency to attend mass services at church.

He’s a popular Christian Saint among the children of Europe and the legendary figures like America’s Santa Claus, British’s Father Christmas and Dutch’s Sinterklaas all derive their gift bringing and other attributes from him.

This day is a religious event but not a nationwide gazetted holiday in countries like United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The parade of Saint Nicholas is hosted in various cities and announces the arrival of Saint Nicholas to town. In the city of Brussels, it takes place on the eve of Saint Nicholas day i.e. on the 5^th of December.

Background

The historical figure of Saint Nicholas was a loved Christian Saint as during his lifetime he gained a reputation for putting in coins in other people’s shoes. He was officiated as a Bishop of Mira in Greece during the 4th century. He is a patron saint of quite a number of cities including Bari in Italy where he is believed to be buried. Legends say that he had first come to Spain from Turkey but no reason is known as to why he chose Spain. It’s also said that he had strong ties with Amsterdam since 343 AD.

Grand Parade In Amsterdam

Amsterdam boasts of hosting the largest Saint Nicholas Parade in the world. Every November, Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas comes to visit Netherlands from his home in Spain. He brings lots of gifts and treats for the children and just a day after he arrives, he takes part in this colorful and worldwide known parade in Amsterdam.

It involves more than a kilometer of floats and boats and announces the arrival of Saint Nicholas in town. It takes place on a Sunday in mid-November with around 400,000 spectators who wave by standing along the canals. Around 600 of ‘Pieten’ and numerous ‘Pepernoten’ which are small spiced biscuits rain down on the spectators from the parade on this day.

A white-bearded Saint Nicholas makes its way into the city sailing down the river of Amstel and following a path within the city, past famous spots such as the Torontobrug, the Magere Brug, the Nieuwe Amstelbrug and the Hoge Sluis and the Royal Theatre Carre. This waterborne procession has its intermediate destination at the Maritime Museum where Saint Nicholas is welcomed to the city by its Mayor. The boat is then substituted by a white horse. This white horse is that of Saint Nicholas called Amerigo and then the parade is continued through the streets.

He is accompanied by his group of merry helpers the most popular being Zwarte Pieten who is the one to throw candies and cookies to the thousands of excited onlookers. After passing by other famous places of the city like Damrak and Prins Hendrikkade, Sinterklaas finally arrives at the final point during early afternoon at Dam Square where a special musical program is held especially for children. As the musical event comes to a finish, the parade continues through a few more places like Muntplein, Utrechtsestraat, Rokin before it ultimately comes to the last stop – the Leidseplein. On reaching the final stop, he delivers a special message and heartiest of greetings to his youngest fans standing on the Stadsschouwburg Balcony.

Traditions And Rituals

During the Saint Nicholas Day or Sinterklaas season, children tend to be on their best behavior and try to avoid getting into trouble. They lay out their shoes in the foyer before going to bed along with some water or wine for Sinterklaas and some carrot for the horse. They hope to be greeted with shoes filled with gifts in the morning. The good kids receive chocolate letters and marzipan while the naughty ones find coal in their shoes.

On the eve of the Saint Nicholas day, i.e. on the 5^th of December, the main gifting occasion takes place and is known as ‘sinterklaasavond’ (Sinterklaas evening) or ‘pakjesavond’ (presents evening). On this evening, sinterklaas drops off his bag of gifts on the doorstep prior to returning back to Spain. The next day i.e. on the Saint Nicholas Day, people unwrap their presents and read aloud the poems written especially for each other. The day is spent in singing, a feast followed by a nap, and with special treats like marzipan, pepernoten and hot chocolate with whipped cream.

Translated as the “Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe”, this is a Mexican festival observed on the 12^th of December every year.

It’s a popular Catholic feast day that commemorates the belief that a man named Juan Diego came across Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Mexico in the city of Mexico itself back in the year of 1531 on the 9^th and 12^th of December.

This day became a national holiday in the year 1859 and is celebrated in Mexico, America, Philippines and various other places all over the world. This is one of the most important religious events of the liturgical calendar of the Mexico region.

This day is not a federal public holiday in Mexico but it’s a popular religious festival so it’s an optional holiday for many workers. In addition, there’s a holiday for the people in banks and other financial organizations.

 

• History

 

The story behind this celebration puts light on the fact as to how the Catholic faith gained popularity in the hearts of the people of Mexico. The Spaniards after conquering Mexico had put in a great deal of force and efforts in trying to convert the indigenous Indians into Catholicism. But it wasn’t until the encounter of Juan Diego with Virgin Mary or Guadalupe that things began to change in the history of Mexico.

The story goes like there was an indigenous Indian called Juan Diego who was walking by the Hill of Tepeyac on a fine day of 9^th December, 1531 when he came across Virgin Mary who appeared to be an indigenous young woman to him. She had black hair, dark skin and instructed Juan in the local Nahuatl language to go and tell the Bishop to build a church atop the hill of Tepeyac. Juan ran to the Bishop and told him about Virgin Mary’s order but he didn’t believe him and ignored the command.

Following this, Juan met Virgin Mary again on the 12^th of December when she told him to go and collect flowers from the top of the hill but Juan knew that was not possible as it was December and nothing but cacti grew on the rocky terrain. On reaching the top, Juan was amazed to find colorful unseasonal flowers and as per instructions, he collected them in his overcoat and went to the Bishop. On seeing the flowers and the miraculously traced picture of Virgin Mary on the overcoat, the Bishop finally believed him and constructed The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe on the hilltop of Tepeyac in Mexico City.

 

• Celebrations And Traditions

 

• On this day, people from all parts of Mexico visit The Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe situated on the Tepeyac Hill in a northern neighborhood of Mexico City.

 

• There is a mass ceremony and a traditional fair in the honor of Virgin Mary and includes traditional musical and fun events.

 

• Catholics from all over Mexico and other countries make their way to the Basilica to pay pilgrimage and the procession not only consists of faithful and organizers but also dancers.

 

• Many pilgrims carry gifts and bouquets of flower for Virgin Mary while some travel to the Basilica on their knees asking for a miracle or conveying gratitude for a prayer granted.

 

• Tens of thousands of people come to the church to pray and children are dressed up in traditional costumes.

 

• There’s a fair hosted after the mass ceremony which has vendors selling traditional food items like bunuelos, raspados, tortas and also handicraft items and clothes.

 

• There are events like bullfights, parades and rodeos.

 

• There is a tradition in Mexico that the children born on this day are christened with the name Guadalupe in honor of Virgin Mary.

 

This is a Christian holiday celebrated on the 2^nd of November every year commemorating the ones who have departed or died specially ones relatives and loved ones.

Western churches generally celebrate it on the above mentioned date i.e. on the last day of Allhallowtide while the eastern churches celebrate it on the day after Pentecost and before Lent. The Eastern orthodox or catholic churches also celebrate it several times of a year.

This day is also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed according to the liturgical books of the Western Catholic Church. On this day, the Catholics pray for the dead and it’s essentially an extension of All Saint’s Day. This is a day dedicated to giving alms to the souls of all the good people that have passed away and assisting their spirits.

The beliefs and traditions related to this day are different in the different churches of different denominations. Also known by the names “Day of Remembrance”, “Feast of All Souls”, this day is a public holiday in countries like Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador and a lot more. In case the 2^nd of November falls on a Sunday, then the holiday gets extended to the next day i.e. the 3^rd of November. It’s also observed in some Christian churches in countries such as United States, Canada, UK and Australia.

Origin And Background

All Soul’s day was first celebrated in the monastery in Cluny in 993 CE and then got widespread recognition all over the rest of the Christian communities. It was in the early eleventh century that Saint Odilo, the Abbot of Cluny in France suggested that the day right after All Saint’s Day be devoted to pay homage to the deceased souls, especially the ones who are still in purgatory. All Soul’s Day is majorly a Roman, Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox holy day. It’s believed that the customs of this day are associated to the customs of ancient veneration practiced in other parts of the world like the Pitru Paksha (India), Ghost Festival (China), Bon Festival (Japan) and Lemuria (Rome).

Symbols

The main symbol of death – the skull is the most common symbol related to All Soul’s Day. It can be seen in decorative items as well as on treats and tidbits eaten particularly on this day. These include chocolate made sugar skulls as well as crunchy, clove-flavored cookies that are known popularly as “bones of the dead”. Children love eating treats like chocolate hearse, candy coffins and sugar funeral wreaths.

Celebrations And Traditions

On this day, most people make it a mandatory point to visit the churches which are decorated in liturgical colors of violet and customary black. Family graves are visited and candles are lighted in order to honor the spirits of the ancestors while the previous day i.e.

“All Saint’s Day” had been spent in cleaning and decorating the graves. There are certain customs that reflect the dogma of purgatory such as bells are rung to wake up and comfort the dead. There are certain types of cakes known as ‘soul cakes’ that are given to the poor as doing this is believed to relieve the souls from the sufferings in purgatory. All Soul’s Day is known as “Dia de los Muertos” in Mexico when the dead are honored.

In Sicily, on this day, children pray for the souls of the deceased and they open their shoes and leave them outside the doors which are then filled with gifts for them. In Rome, some young couples may break the news of their engagement on this day. In Tirol, the rooms are kept warm and cakes are left on the table to make the spirits comfortable as well as supper is left for them at bedtime.

In Brittany, the ritual is to visit the cemeteries at night, kneel down bareheaded in front of the graves and to pour holy water or milk over the tombstones. In Malta, trips are organized to the cemeteries and people take part in pilgrimages to the graveyards not only to visit the burial sites of their relatives but to also experience the feel of the auspicious day.

This is one of the most important Japanese Buddhist traditions to honor and commemorate the spirits of his or her respective ancestors.

Traditionally, Obon used to be observed on the 15^th day of the seventh month of the Lunar Calendar but now it is also celebrated on different dates in different places of Japan.

But generally, majority of the regions observe Obon on the 15^th of August even though eastern Japan celebrates it around 15^th of July. It typically starts on the 13^th of August and continues till the 16^th of the same month.

These three days are officially not listed as public holidays but it’s a custom to give people leave during this time. This festival is being celebrated in Japan every year since a time as long as 500 years and involves a traditional dance form known as Bon-Odori.

It is said that during this time, the spirits of the ancestors seek their way back home to meet their loved ones. This festival has thus progressed to be a perfect opportunity for people to host family reunions during which they return to their ancestral homes and pray for their ancestors.

• Origin And History

Obon is a shortened version of Ullambana which is the Sanskrit term for “hanging upside down” and refers to great suffering. The traditional dance form Bon Odori native to this festival has its roots in the legend of Maha Maudgalyayana  (Mokuren) who was a disciple of Lord Buddha and had put his superpowers to use to watch his dead mother. When he came to know that his mother had fallen into a torturous realm and was going through immense suffering, he went on to take the advice of his teacher on how to free his mother from the realm.

According to Buddha’s instructions, he made offerings to the Buddhist monks who had returned from their summer retreat on the 15^th day of the 7^th Lunar month and he got what he wanted. On seeing his mother’s retreat, he danced out of mirth and joy from which the Bon Odori or Bon dance was born. Till today, this dance is performed on this day to remember and appreciate the sacrifices made by the ancestors in their lifetime.

• Celebration

• On this day, the Japanese people get rid of all the dirt from their houses and offer a variety of food items like many vegetables and fruits in front of a Buddhist altar or Butsudan in respect of their ancestors.

• The altars are decorated with Chochin lanterns and flower designs.

• On the opening day of Obon, houses are found to be brightly lit with Chochin lanterns and graves of the deceased are visited by family members to escort their spirits back home.

• This tradition is called mukae-bon. Fires are lit at the entrances of houses called mukae-bi to guide the ancestors’ home.

• On the final day of the festival, people accompany the spirits back to their graves with the help of hanging Chochin lanterns with the family’s emblem on it. This ritual is known as okuri-bon and closing fires at the entrances are called okuri-bi.

• Incense sticks are also lit in the houses and cemeteries during Obon.

• The tradition of floating lanterns down a river with a lighted candle inside known as Toro Nagashi is prevalent during this festival.

• The most famous feature of Obon celebrations is the Nenbutsu folk dance Bon Odori to welcome the spirits of the dead. Japanese taiko drums keep up the beat and the participants wear ‘yukata’ meaning cotton summer kimonos.

• They dance around a wooden stage called “yagura” made especially for this event.

• Other Obon celebrations include carnivals with games, rides and summer festival food like watermelons.

• Not being a Japanese national holiday, most people take leave during this time.

International Youth Day is a day of spreading awareness and is an initiation of the United Nations.

The main purpose behind the observance of this day is to highlight a certain set of legal and cultural issues associated with today’s youths and to draw attention towards them.

This day was observed for the first time on 12th August in the year 2000. Since then the International Youths Day has been observed every year on 12th of August. This day also gives an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the efforts of the youths of all over the world in strengthening and giving boost to the global society.

Another purpose of celebrating this day is to promote various ways to engage the young generation in various activities and to make them actively involved in rendering positive contributions to the society. Though this day is an initiation of the United Nations, it is not an official holiday.

History-
According to the United Nations, individuals belonging to the age group ranging from 15 years to 24 years can be referred to as “youths” and they constitute around one-sixth of the world’s population. A large proportion of them lives in the developing nations and thus their population are expected to rise steeply in the upcoming years.

The initiation of the International Youth Day was done by young men and women in the year 1991 as they had gathered for the very first session of World Youth Forum organized by the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. The Forum recommended for the declaration of a special day called the International Youth Day for promotional and fund raising purposes so that it could provide support to the United Nations Youth Fund along with youth organizations.

A resolution declaring 12th of August as the International Youth Day was embraced in the year 1998 at the time of World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth. The recommendation was approved later in the year 1999 by United Nations General Assembly. This day was observed for the very first time in the year 2000.

Significance-
The International Youth Day focuses on protecting the basic rights of the young individuals. It ensures that the youths have complete access to proper education, job opportunities, proper healthcare and complete participation in public events.

It makes people understand that in today’s world it is extremely important for every nation to fulfill the basic needs of young people as the future of that nation would lie in their hands. The youths are the source of energy, innovation, foresight and creativity and thus UN states that the member nations must use all possible means to harness and foster the youth power. It is an effort to make the youths actively participate and bring about positive changes in the social front.

Celebration-
Various events and activities are conducted all over the world on this particular day in order to promote the various benefits received by different communities due to the positive contributions made by the youths. This event puts forward a global platform on which many countries from all over the world participate actively.

The events may include conferences on present day issues like unemployment and education and various other activities like sport events, concerts promoting youths of the world, exhibitions showcasing achievements made by the youths and parades. Various workshops and cultural events are also held on this day and meetings, which involve youth organizations and local and national government officials, are also conducted on this particular day.

The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is one of the most significant and famous festival celebrated in Myanmar, earlier known as Burma.

This is an annual festival that continues for eighteen days at a stretch and is held at the Inle Lake. People from all over the world along with the locals gather in front of the lake to witness the grandeur of this festival.

The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is the most esteemed monastery in that region. The monastery has five images of Buddha which are fully covered in leaf of gold and cannot be seen by the visitors.

Murals depicting Buddhist folklores and stories are done on the walls of this temple and right in the centre of the building lays a golden stupa which has a decorative hti on the top of it.

Occurrence-

It is an eighteen days festival and is held every year on the Inle Lake. This festival is celebrated usually between the months of September and October which falls during the month of Thadingyut, which is the seventh Burmese month. The date of Phaung Daw Oo Festival depends upon the Burmese lunar calendar and it is the most significant festival in Shan state. This annual eighteen day festival begins on the first day on which the waxing of the moon starts and ends three days after the full moon appears in the month of Thadingyut. As the festival dates are determined from the Lunar calendar, its corresponding dates on the Georgian calendar might differ every year.

The festival-

The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival is a procession of boats in which the four ancient Buddha images out of the five are moved from their shrine which is located in Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and put on Royal Karaweik barge, which is a type of a flat-bottomed long boat. This barge is pulled by other long boats which have about a hundred leg rowers who are dressed in exotic costumes.

The Royal Karaweik barge stops at all the fourteen villages which surround the Inle Lake and the four Buddha images are kept at the main monastery of each village for a night as a part of the ritual. Each of the village welcomes the images and celebrates its one night stop with pomp. The mesmerizing sight of the images being rowed around on the shimmering barge pulled by boats manned by rowers dressed in colorful clothes against the backdrop of the Lake is absolutely stunning.

Till the middle of 1960’s all the five ancient images of Lord Buddha were carried around in the boat procession on the Inle Lake. However, in the year of 1965, the boat overturned and all the five images fell into the water. The onlookers dived into the lake to recover the images but could find only four of them. They kept on searching for the fifth one but it was nowhere to be found. With heavy hearts they returned back to the Pagoda only to find the lost Buddha image magically placed on the shrine.

From that incident, only the four images of Lord Buddha are carried around on the barge during this festival while the fifth one remains at the Pagoda. Long boat races are one of the main highlights of this festival. The rowers’ row with an oar attached to one of their legs while standing upright. Martial arts and special Shan dances takes place on the ceremonial boats to entertain the onlookers.

The Mexican Independence Day is an official holiday in Mexico which commemorates the day on which Cry of Dolores or Grito de Dolores was uttered for the first time from Dolores Hidalgo, which is a small town in Mexico, on the 16^th of September in 1810.

This event marked the starting of Mexican War of Independence against the Spaniards. The word “Grito” was the declaration of Mexican War of Independence by a Roman Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Since the year 1825, this day has been celebrated as the Mexican Independence Day.

History-

Several Criollos people and Hidalgo were a part of the planned revolt against the colonial government of Spain during which a few plotters of the revolt were killed.

Afraid the he would be arrested by the government, Hidalgo ordered his brother, Mauricio, along with Mariano Abasolo and Ignacio Allende to accompany several other armed men. They were given the responsibility of making the sheriff release all the inmates who supported independence on the wee hours of 16^th September.

They had set around eighty of the inmates free. On 16^th September in the year 1810, Hidalgo commanded all the church bells to be rung to gather his followers at 2:30 a.m. With Juan Aldama and Ignacio Allende by his sides, Hidalgo addressed his followers with a speech and urged them to start a revolt against the colonial government.

The first major step towards revolt, the Siege of Guanajuato, took place exactly four days after Hidalgo’s address to his fellowmen. On 28^th September 1821, that is a decade after the War of Independence, Mexico’s independence was declared from its colonial ruler, Spain, in Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire. Insurgents like Vicente Guerrero along with the former royal officer, Augustin de Iturbide, were the ones who achieved independence of Mexico but Hidalgo is considered to be the father of Mexico.

Celebration-

From the latter half of the 20^th century, Hidalgo’s cry of Dolores has become symbolic of the Mexican Independence Day. Every year at 11:00 p.m. in the evening, the President of Mexico rings bell at the National Palace situated in the Mexico City after which it is customary for him to repeat Grito Mexicano, which is a shout of patriotism, based on the Grito de Dolores.

It consists of the names of all the patriotic heroes who were responsible for achievement of Mexico’s independence. He ends the speech by shouting out the words “Viva Mexico” three times to the crowd gathered in Zocalo or the Plaza de la Constitucion, one of the biggest plazas in the world, from the balcony of the National Palace.

After the threefold cheer, the President rings the bell of the Palace again and waves the national flag while the public gathered to witness the event cheers and applauses. This is followed by the mass singing and playing the tune of the Mexican national anthem. It is played by the military band of the Mexican Armed Forces. About half a million of people, including the Mexicans and visitors from all over the world, gather to witness and be a part of this event on this special day.

On the next day morning, which is the Independence Day, the national parade done by the military men in the honor of this day begins in Zocalo and its neighborhood region. This military parade goes by the Hidalgo Memorial, El Angel Memorial and several other places on its way before coming to a halt at the main boulevard of Mexico City, Paseo de la Reforma. A similar type of celebration and observance takes place in towns and cities of Mexico and even in the Mexican Consulates and Embassies that are located throughout the world on 15^th as well as 16^th of September.

The mayor of the towns and cities rings a bell and addresses the people gathered by giving a traditional speech which includes taking the names of all the patriots and heroes who brought about independence in Mexico. The speech again ends by shouting out “Viva Mexico” three times after which he rings the bell again and waves the National flag towards the public.

After this the mass gathered hums the tune of the national anthem in the honor of that day. In state capitals these are carried out by the Governors and for oversees celebrations it is done by the Consuls or the Ambassadors. This day is also celebrated in schools, colleges and other working institutions throughout the country. It was a tradition to re-enact the Grito at the Dolores Hidalgo and not at the National Palace by the Mexican President in the last year in his office back in the 19^th century.

Even though President Calderon was officiated at Grito in Dolores Hidalgo, he was the first one to launch the bicentennial celebrations in 2010 on the balcony of the National Palace on the night of 15^th September. Due to this, the commemoration of 2012 was held at the balcony of National Palace instead of the Grito. Thus he became the third President to break the tradition. The September 16^th or the following day is the day on which Mexico attained independence and is a patriotic holiday which is called Fiesta Patria.

Parades, beating of drums and bugles, patriotic programs, competition of marching bands and various other events which are even broadcasted by the media take place on Independence Day. The public celebrates this special day by going to parties and feasts, by playing music and also by bursting firecrackers. It is a day of celebration for the Mexicans and they are seen to be in jovial mood. Decorations mainly using the colors of the Mexican flag, red, white and green, are done in towns and cities of Mexico. Horns and whistles are blown and people throw confetti in the crowd to celebrate this festive occasion. The phrases like Viva Mexico are often heard being shouted amidst the mass gathered on this day.

Visakha Bucha is one of the most important Buddhist festivals observed in Thailand on the full moon day of the Indian sixth lunar month called ‘Visakha’.

The literal meaning of the term ‘Bucha’ is to pay homage and this day is also called the ‘Vesak’ full moon day. This is a national holiday involving most of the government offices and business organizations staying closed.

No alcohol is served on this day in respect of Buddha. On this day, Buddhists all over Thailand commemorate the three crucial incidents that took place in the life of Lord Buddha i.e. his birth, enlightenment and death.

Miraculously, the Visakha full moon day marks the day Lord Buddha was born, the day he attained enlightenment 35 years later and the day he died and reached Nirvana 45 years more ahead. The date of this festival is not fixed as it’s according to the Lunar Calendar but it generally falls in the month May or June.

On this day, Buddha’s followers remember and celebrate their teacher’s kindness and compassion to the world. On this special occasion, the Thai Buddhists show their great regard for the “Triple Gems of Buddhist Philosophy”.

These are Lord Buddha (the teacher), The Dhamma (the teachings) and The Sang ha (the brotherhood of Buddhist monks). Visakha Bucha day was recognized as “World Heritage Day” by the UNESCO on 13th of December, 1999. This day is observed every year and during this time, Buddhists and even non-Buddhists flock to Thailand to take part in the various ceremonies and processions. The date for Visakha Bucha in the year 2019 is 18th of May, 2019.

Ceremonies And Traditions
On this day, people make merit by attending temples and listening to Dhamma preaching and joining in other Buddhist activities. This way of merit making is known as ‘Tam Boon’. They strictly adhere to the five percepts including abstinence from alcoholic beverages and all sorts of immoral acts.

This custom is known as ‘Rub Sil’. Offering food to the monks and beggars are also prevalent on this day known as ‘Tak Bard’. Renunciation is also practiced which involves meditation and discipline, staying in the temple premises, wearing white robes and following the eight percepts. Another ritual is the ‘Vien Tien’ which is actually the custom of a candle procession around the temple’s Uposatha Hall on the evening of the Vesal full moon day.

In Chiangmai, many faithful followers of Lord Buddha participate in a procession that goes to Wat Phrathart Doi Suthep which is a renowned monastery on a mountain overlooking the city. The procession starts at sunset and goes through the forest for nine kilometers uphill under the bright moonlit sky. The participants arrive at the monastery at around 3 am where they wait till sunrise to pay respect to the statue of Buddha and his relics housed there to earn merit.

Just at daybreak, the devoted followers offer food to the monks and worship the ancient sanctified relics of Lord Buddha. These relics were received by King Gue Na of Chiangmai around 400 years ago from the monarch of Chiang Saen.

The relics are housed in the ancient sanctuaries of the monastery. The final elements of the pilgrimage involve a day of sermons. Following that is a candle holding procession around the main chapel of the temple. The participants circle the chapel and walk clockwise thrice holding three incense sticks, lotus buds and a lighted candle. This is the most sacred of the Buddhist celebrations.

The Perahera Festival, also known as Kandy Esala Perahera, is celebrated in a grand manner every year in the city of Kandy, located in Sri Lanka, in the month of July and August.

People are seen to wear elaborate costumes during the celebration of this festival and takes part in a grand procession.

The procession constitutes of many types of traditional dance performances like whip dances, Kandyan dances, fire dances and various other local and cultural dances.

Lavishly adorned elephants also take part in this procession which comes to an end with diya-kepeema ritual, a traditional water cutting ceremony, held every year at Mahaweli River at Getambe in Kandy. The procession is held in the honor of the sacred relic of the tooth of Lord Buddha which is kept at Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy.

History
The word “Perahera” means procession and it is believed the Esala is a fusion of two different Peraheras, the Esala Perahera and the Dalada Perahera, which are interconnected. The Esala Perahera is believed to have started in the 3rd century BC as a ritual to appease the Gods and request for rainfall.

However the Dalada Perahera is thought to date back to 4th century CE, when the sacred relic of the tooth of Lord Buddha was brought from India to Sri Lanka around 800 years after the death of Lord Buddha. It is believed that the scared tooth relic was carried to Sri Lanka in a grand procession led by Prince Dantha and Princess Hemamala.

However the modern Perahera is believed to have begun from the time when Sri Lanka was under the reign of Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe, the Kandyan king who ruled from 1747 to 1781. During this period, the sacred tooth relic was king’s private property and thus the general people couldn’t worship it. However, the King commanded that the tooth relic could be taken out during the procession so that the public could get a glimpse of it and worship it. In 1815, when the British took over Sri Lanka and the Kandyan Kingdom fell, the tooth relic’s custody was given to the Buddhist Clergy or the Maha Sanga.

Celebrations
The celebration begins with the ritual called Kappa. In this ritual a young and sanctified Jackfruit tree is cut into four parts and then each of it is planted within the premises of four devales which are dedicated to the four Gods and Goddesses, namely Vishnu, Natha, Katharagama and Pattini. 

It was an ancient belief that this practice would shower the blessings of these guardian Gods and Goddesses on the King and the general mass. This is then followed by the Devale Perahera which continues through the next 5 nights. It takes place inside the premises of the Deavles and the priests of the each of the four Deavles takes the pole which is accompanied by canopy and flag bearers, drumming and music, Ran Ayudha and spearman, every evening.

Kumbal Perahera starts on the sixth night and continues for the next five days. At the beginning, the Devale Perahera gather in front of the temple of scared tooth, the most significant Buddhist shrine in Sri Lanka where the tooth relic of Lord Buddha is kept, and their emblems are placed on Ransivige which is a dome-shaped structure. The substitute of the sacred tooth relic, which is the relic casket, is put inside ransivige and attached to Maligawa elephant.

The Maligawa Perahera gets together with the Devale Perahera and leads the grand procession. The fireball and whip-crackers acrobat clear the path for the flag bearers and then comes the first official riding on the elephant known as the Peramuna Rala. After him comes the Kandyan dancers and drummers who entertains the crowd and they are followed by musicians, elephants, flag bearers and more dancers. After this a group of musicians and singers, all dressed in white, ushers the Maligawa elephant carrying the tooth relic of Lord Buddha.

Diyawadana Nilame walks right after the elephant wearing traditional clothe. The second procession comes from Natha Devale which is considered to be the oldest building in Kandy and dates back to the 14th century. The third procession goes from Vishnu Devale which is also called the Maha Devale and is located in front of the Natha Devale’s main gate.

The fourth procession starts from the Devale of God Kataragama and this procession has peacock dance in which the pilgrims carry a semicircular contraption made out of wood and decorated with peacock feathers and dances with it. This special dance is known as Kavadi.  The fifth procession starts from the Devale of Goddess Pattini and is located on the West-side of Natha Devale. It is the only procession which consists of dancing by women. After Kumbal Perahera begins the Randoli Perahera and the festivity comes to an end with the water cutting ceremony, Diya Kepeema.