Across the world, people celebrate festivals for a range
of reasons. Though many form part of religious worship,
others were created to mark a change in seasons, to focus
on cultural traditions, or to celebrate an important
milestone in history. Some festivals take place on the same
day every year, others are based on ancient calendars or
a new moon, so the dates change. Special food is almost
always a part of each festival.FESTIVALS
Pumpkin is an autumn
vegetable, made into a
pie at ThanksgivingSticky rice, with
sweet or savoury
filling, is wrapped
in triangular parcels220
(^1) CHRISTMAS
This Christian festival celebrates
the birth of Jesus Christ, and is
celebrated in most countries on
25 December. Traditions include
decorating fir trees, exchanging
gifts, attending church, and
waiting for a visit from Santa Claus.
(^3) THANKSGIVING
This North American festival is
held on the fourth Thursday of
November in the USA and the
second Monday in October in
Canada. Families get together
to give thanks for the first good
harvest of the European settlers
more than 400 years ago.
(^4) DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
This festival is celebrated in east Asia.
According to legend, when a Chinese
official named Qu Yuan drowned in a
river, people rowed out on boats with
dragon-head prows and dropped
parcels of rice wrapped in bamboo
(zongzi) into the water to divert the
hungry fish away from his body.
(^2) DAY OF THE DEAD
During this Mexican festival, held
on 1 November, families believe
that the souls of dead relatives
are able to return to the land
of the living for one night. They
decorate altars in homes and
cemeteries with candles
and flowers.
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A mooncake is cut
into wedges and
served with tea
Skulls made from sugar
and water may be
decorated with the
names of the dead
Family and friends gather
for a Christmas meal, with
treats such as this stollen,
a spicy fruit cake
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