New Year in Japan is a public celebration and a spiritual festival. On this day japanese make a symbolic first visit in a new year to a Shinto shrine or to a Buddhist temple. Many people want to be the first to meet rising sun in a shrine surroundings.  Burning amulets of the last year [...]

As Christmas time approaches, thoughts of children turn to Santa Claus. Around the world Santa Claus is known under different names. Jultomten (Christmas Elf) in Sweden, Julenissen in Norway, Saint Nicholas in central Europe. In Finnish Santa Claus – Joulupukki literally means Christmas goat. Long time ago he visited families in his grey fur and with wooden [...]

Celebrated on the first of November this day is a great chance for communal joy, with music, dancing, food and praying to honor ancestors. All Souls’ Day is prominently celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, El Salvador and Peru. This day provides an opportunity to pass history and folklore knowledge to young generation, familiarize them with [...]

In past Christmas in the USA was celebrated as family and religious holiday. In the 20th century local communities started sponsoring organization of festival and public activities during the Christmas week so Christmas became more publicly celebrated. In 1923 President Coolidge lighted  the First National Christmas Tree in front of the White House leading to [...]