You may have known (or not) that the most workaholic country in the world is Japan. Here, an average worker takes only five days off a year. This is by far the lowest statistics collected from countries all over the world
Holidays are not created randomly. They are occasions for relaxation which help recharge our batteries, thus providing us with the motivation to continue working. Sometimes, we are so engrossed in our work that we forget to spend time with beloved people around. For this reason, holidays are also the time for family gathering, which create closer bonds among family members.
And in today’s post, we will introduce worldwide famous holidays. At the same time, you can also test your knowledge, and let’s go!
CHRISTMAS
Everyone knows Christmas whether he/ she celebrates it or not. Christmas (or Feast of the Nativity) is held on December 25 to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, Christmas is welcomed by citizens from many countries around the world.
Christmas is often associated with the time for family and friends. On this day, people decorate their homes and the Christmas trees, exchange gifts and cards, or go to the Church. Traditional Christmas dinners have turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and certain kinds of vegetables.
This is an occasion for people to wind down, so everyone, especially children, looks forward to Christmas. They also believe in the existence of Santa Claus, who comes to their house at night through the chimney and gives them presents if they behave well.
A lot of Christmas-related movies and songs were created, namely “Home Alone” and “Jingle Bells”. Here comes an amazing fact about “Jingles Bells”: it was initially called “One Horse Open Sleigh” and written for Thanksgiving.
What can be greater than a meal with your beloved family?
HALLOWEEN
Halloween is an annual festival celebrated on October 31. It has always been all the rage and won the affection of both children and adults. Halloween is widely held by many countries all over the world, but has many variants as regards names and celebration day.
The holiday dates back to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, when people would wear costumes and light bonfires to keep evil forces away.
These days, there are many more activities to do on Halloween: carving pumpkins into Jack-o’-lanterns, trick or treat, visiting haunted sites, watching horror films, etc. Trick or treat is practiced by children of all ages, who go from house to house to ask for candies by saying “Trick or treat”. In America only, the amount of candies purchased for Halloween accounts for one fourth of that sold every year. Many other commodities are bought in preparation for this festival, making it the second largest commercial holiday in the United States.
Meanwhile, disguising is more popular among adults. Mainstream costumes include Harley Quinn, Deadpool, Harry Potter, and there are even weird ideas like Cheese Ball and Guinea Pig Mermaid.
Are you ready to be lost into a magical world of fictional characters?
NEW YEAR
New Year is by far the most celebrated holiday in the world, and was first held by the Babylonians four millennia ago. All countries celebrate New Year, the only difference is when and how it is held. Such Asean countries as China, Korea, Vietnam, etc. hold the Lunar New Year in the middle of February, while this holiday takes place on January 1st in the other nations.
On New Year’s Eve, there are often gorgeous firework displays as well as colorful parades on the streets. People enjoy these moments while reflecting on old events and wishing the best things to come in the upcoming year. Each culture has its own way to celebrate New Year. For example, Japanese has the tradition of ringing the bells 108 times, while people in Denmark smash plates in front of their relatives’ front doors.
People also determine to change themselves for the better by making New Year Resolutions, which typically concern health, diet, bad habits, etc. However, 25% of people give up their resolutions by the second week of January.
Superstitions are also practiced, and ‘first footing’ is one of the most popular. It is believed that the first to enter your house after midnight have considerable influence over the luck your family will receive throughout the year.
Make sure you savor these beautiful moments with family members
APRIL FOOL’s DAY
April Fool’s Day is not declared a national holiday, but people’s welcoming reactions make it seem like one. Rumor has it that this custom was initially practiced by the French, but no one knows for sure.
It takes place on the first day of April (Scotland is the exception with two-day celebration), when people plays tricks on others and shout “April Fool” to their victims. The tricks vary from simple deeds as taping absurd notes to your peers’ backs to much more complex ones.
Some hoaxes even went down in history, notably the BBC TV show “Panorama” in 1957. Considering the show’s reputation, lot of viewers were taken in by the broadcast segment, and believed what it said: Pasta can grow on trees. This is rank number one in April Fools’ hoax of all time by the Museum of Hoaxes website.
Fun is good, but make sure others don’t suffer because of your tricks!
VALENTINE
This holiday is named after Saint Valentine, and it is an occasion on which people honor romantic relationships. Held on February 14th, Valentine is considered a significant commercial and cultural celebration of love in many regions of the world.
The holiday traces its origin back to a Roman festival which marked the arrival of spring. The very first cards were printed by the late 1700s, and nowadays, it has developed into an event to express love among relatives and friends instead of being exclusive to couples like before. Valentine is widely embraced by people in many countries, especially the United States, the UK, Canada and Australia. Common gifts for this day include red roses, chocolate and teddy bears.
You are not alone on Valentine-you still have your friends and relatives!
Above is our list of the most widely popular holidays, and you must have taken part in at least one of them. When you are still able to enjoy your holidays, make sure you create beautiful memories with your families. Work is important, but if you are obsessed with it, you will end up regretting not spending more time with your beloved members.
