Mexican Wedding Traditions

Published January 18, 2007 in CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Latin American, Mexican, Wedding | Comments [1]
Weddings in Mexico and other Latino cultures are extremely festive, and often very large affairs with many attendants. Engagements can last a long time, and, in some areas, the bride receives a “ring of promise,” sometimes up to a year before the actual engagement ring. A wedding party may include “sponsors,” who are often godparents of [...] Read More »

Remembrance Day and the Poppy

Published November 9, 2006 in American, Australian, Autumn, British, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Canadian, Death, HOLIDAYS, New Zealand | Comments [8]
On Remembrance Day -- November 11 -- also known as Armistice Day or Veteran's Day, it is traditional to wear a poppy flower to commemorate those killed in World War 1 and other wars. The Flanders poppy (Papaver rhoeas) grew profusely in the trenches and craters of the war zone. Artillery shells and shrapnel [...] Read More »

Veteran’s Day, Remembrance Day, Armistice Day, Poppy Day

Published November 9, 2006 in American, Australian, Autumn, British, CULTURES, Canadian, Colombian, Death, HOLIDAYS, Irish, New Zealand | Comments [1]
The U.S. holiday of Veteran’s Day is known as Remembrance Day in Australia, Canada, Colombia, UK and Ireland, as Poppy Day in South Africa and Malta, and as Armistice Day in the U.K., New Zealand and many other Commonwealth countries. It is observed on November 11 to recall the end of World War I [...] Read More »

All Souls’ Day (Defuncts’ Day)

Published November 2, 2006 in Autumn, Belgian, Bolivian, Brazil, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Death, Ecuadorean, European, French, German, HOLIDAYS, Haitian, LEGENDS, Lanterns and Lights, Latin American, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Parades, Salvadorean, Uruguayan | Comments [6]
All Souls’ Day is a Roman Catholic holiday celebrated on November 2nd. (If that day falls on a Sunday, then All Souls’ Day is moved to November 3rd, since it is not permitted to wear black clothing on Sundays.) Like All Saints’ Day (November 1st), it is celebrated in many countries, including Belgium, [...] Read More »

St. Martin’s Day

Published October 21, 2006 in Autumn, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, European, German, HOLIDAYS, Lanterns and Lights, Parades | Comments [0]
On November 11, German children celebrate St. Martin's Day, which marks the beginning of the German carnival season, known as "Fassnacht" or "Fasching." Children make lanterns, lit by candles and attached to long sticks with wire, and parade after dark, singing songs. Often, there is a bonfire after the parade. Then the [...] Read More »

Canadian Thanksgiving

Published October 10, 2006 in Autumn, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Canadian, HOLIDAYS, Thanksgiving celebrations | Comments [1]
The Canadian Thanksgiving celebration falls on the second Monday of October – more than a month ahead of the American Thanksgiving -- Canada’s colder climate puts its harvest celebration well in advance of its southern neighbor’s. In spite of its connections to some of the American Thanksgiving origins and some political origins, the Canadian [...] Read More »

Rosh Hashanah

Published September 23, 2006 in Autumn, CULTURES, HOLIDAYS, Jewish, New Year Celebrations | Comments [0]
Rosh Hashanah is observed the first and second day of the seventh month of the Jewish calender, Tishri. It usually falls in September on the western calendar. Widely known as the New Years Day of the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah actually has a fourfold meaning: 1. The Day of Judgement -- a day on which Jews examine [...] Read More »