Category: Spring

Snake Day: the Day the Earth Opens

Published March 14, 2007 in Animals, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Good Luck, HOLIDAYS, Irish, LEGENDS, Romanian, Spring | Comments [1]
In Romanian folklore, March 17 is Snake Day, the day on which the ground opens, and animals that burrow in the ground emerge at the end of winter. It is a day on which people traditionally clean their fruit trees and their households. Storks return to build their nests, fish begin to swim, [...] Read More »

St. Patrick’s Day

Published March 12, 2007 in American, Australian, British, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Canadian, Catholic, Celtic, Danish, German, HOLIDAYS, Irish, Parades, Russian, Spring | Comments [0]
Irish communities around the world celebrate their patron saint on Saint Patrick's Day, March 17. It is the Irish national holiday, and a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, the territory of Montserrat, and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The holiday is also widely celebrated in the United States, and [...] Read More »

Old Dochia, or Why March Weather is so Changeable

Published March 6, 2007 in CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Elders, HOLIDAYS, LEGENDS, Romanian, Spring | Comments [1]
Have you ever wondered why early March weather is can change from spring to freezing and back again, all in a day? The answer is Old Dochia--a Romanian figure that personifies mankind's impatience in waiting for the return of spring. Her holiday is celebrated in Romania from March 1 to March 9, which [...] Read More »

Martisor: Celebrate Spring

Published February 28, 2007 in Albanian, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Fertility, Good Luck, HOLIDAYS, Macedonian, New Year Celebrations, Romanian, Spring | Comments [1]
The first of March is Martisor, a celebration of Spring in Romania, with some similar traditions in Macedonia and Albania, too. On Martisor, people exchange small amulets made of red and white string braided together – often given by men to women. The amulets symbolize the coming spring, joy and good luck in [...] Read More »

Valentine’s Day

Published February 6, 2007 in American, Australian, CULTURES, CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS, Canadian, Catholic, Courtship, Dutch, HOLIDAYS, Japanese, Spring | Comments [2]
Valentine's Day is a holiday dedicated to love and romance in many cultures. It is a good day to get engaged, plan a specially romantic date, buy chocolates or flowers for your sweetheart, or simply “give a valentine” to your friends. Many schoolchildren exchange Valentines with their class mates, which can be home-made cards or [...] Read More »

Groundhog Day

Published February 2, 2007 in American, CULTURES, Canadian, Celtic, French, German, HOLIDAYS, LEGENDS, Native American, Origin Legends, Spring, Winter | Comments [2]
February 2 is Groundhog Day in the United States and in Canada. The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck (Marmota monax), is a member of the squirrel family. According to American legend, the local television news and Hollywood, he is also a weatherman. If he sees his shadow when he emerges from his [...] Read More »

April Fool’s Day

Published September 23, 2006 in CULTURES, French, HOLIDAYS, Spring | Comments [0]
April Fool's Day seems to have begun in France soon after 1564. 1 April used to be New Year's day but the New Year was changed to 1 January in that year. People who insisted on celebrating the "old" New Year and became known as April fools. It became common to play jokes and tricks [...] Read More »