Category: Harvest

Vaisakhi: the Punjabi New Year and Harvest Festival

Published April 11, 2007 in CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, HOLIDAYS, Harvest, Hindu, Indian, Nepali, New Year Celebrations, Pakistani, Punjabi, Sikh, Thanksgiving celebrations, Water | Comments [0]
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is the Punjabi and Nepali New Year, and the beginning of the harvest season in Punjab, India and Nepal. It is one of the major Sikh religious festivals, and is celebrated by Sikh communities around the world. The date of Vaisakhi is determined by the solar calendar; it is the [...] Read More »

Lucyfest: Santa Lucia’s Festival

Published December 13, 2006 in CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Catholic, Childhood, Christmas Traditions, German, Harvest, Italian, LEGENDS, Lanterns and Lights, Norwegian, Parades, Swedish, Winter | Comments [2]
On December 13th, one of the shortest, darkest days of winter, Sweden celebrates Lucyfest, in honor of Saint Lucia, the Queen of Lights, in a festival that also has roots in Italy, Germany and Norway. Traditionally, each village had its own Santa Lucia: a young woman, dressed in a white gown, wearing a red [...] Read More »