Category: Death

Karbala and the Arbeen Celebrations

Published March 8, 2007 in CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Death, Elders, Iraqi, Mourning, Muslim | Comments [0]
Karbala, also spelled Kerbala, Kerbela or Karbila, is a city in Iraq, located about 60 miles (100 km) southwest of Baghdad. It is one of the holiest cities for Shi’a Muslims because it holds the shrine of the martyred Imam Husayn ibn Ali. Husayn’s death in the Battle of Karbala in 680, and [...] Read More »

Yuletide: The Viking Origins of Santa Claus

Published December 9, 2006 in British, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Christmas Traditions, Death, German, HOLIDAYS, Lanterns and Lights, Norwegian, Scandinavian, Viking, Winter | Comments [0]
The word “yuletide,” referring to the Christmas season, was passed to the British through the Vikings. The word originated with the Viking god Odin, whose persona associated with the month of December was Jul, and the month of December was called “Jultid.” The Vikings believed that Odin would come to earth during the [...] 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 [5]
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 »

Los Dias de los Muertos

Published November 3, 2006 in Autumn, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Catholic, Death, European, HOLIDAYS, Mexican | Comments [0]
On November 1st and 2nd, many countries celebrate All Hallow’s Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. In some Latin American countries, the day is known as Los Dias de los Muertos (“The Days of the Dead”). In Mexico, these days have become a spectacular national holiday. Unlike many [...] 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 [3]
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 »