Lunar New Year: Celebrated in China and many Asian countries in January or February, with family meals and lion dances
Diwali: Festival of lights celebrated in India and by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in autumn
Holi: Spring festival of colors in India and Nepal
Eid al-Fitr: Muslim celebration after the month of Ramadan ends
Eid al-Adha: Muslim holiday during the time of the Hajj pilgrimage
Hanukkah: Eight-day Jewish festival of lights in late autumn or winter
Passover: Jewish spring holiday remembering the exodus from Egypt
Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year, often in September
Christmas: Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, December 25 in most places
Easter: Christian spring holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus
Orthodox Christmas: Celebrated on January 7 in several Orthodox churches
Kwanzaa: Seven-day celebration of African American culture, December 26 to January 1
Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos): Mexican holiday on November 1-2 to remember loved ones with altars and flowers
Cinco de Mayo: May 5 remembers a Mexican victory at Puebla in 1862, celebrated widely in the US
Mexican Independence Day: September 16, marks the start of the independence movement in 1810
Carnival: Pre-Lent festival with parades, especially in Brazil
Mardi Gras: Carnival season ending on Fat Tuesday, famous in New Orleans
Oktoberfest: Bavarian autumn festival in Munich, Germany
Bastille Day: July 14, France's national day
St. Patrick's Day: March 17, honoring the patron saint of Ireland
Halloween: October 31, a night of costumes and treats in many countries
Thanksgiving (US): Fourth Thursday in November, a day for gratitude and family meals
Thanksgiving (Canada): Second Monday in October
Independence Day (US): July 4, marks the Declaration of Independence
Canada Day: July 1, marks Canada's confederation in 1867
Australia Day: January 26, Australia's national day
Anzac Day: April 25 in Australia and New Zealand, honoring those who served
Waitangi Day: February 6, New Zealand's national day marking a 1840 treaty
Songkran: Thai New Year in April, with water splashing
Loy Krathong: Thai festival with floating lanterns on water
Chuseok: Korean harvest festival in autumn
Seollal: Korean New Year
Obon: Japanese summer festival honoring ancestors
Tanabata: Japanese star festival on July 7
Setsubun: Japanese festival marking the start of spring
Hinamatsuri: Japanese Girls' Day on March 3 with display dolls
Children's Day (Japan): May 5, with carp streamers
Mid-Autumn Festival: Celebrated in China and Vietnam with mooncakes and lanterns
Dragon Boat Festival: Chinese festival with boat races, in late spring or early summer
Lantern Festival: Marks the end of Lunar New Year celebrations
Vesak: Buddhist festival honoring the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing
Nowruz: Persian New Year at the spring equinox, celebrated in Iran and Central Asia
Navratri: Hindu festival of nine nights
Raksha Bandhan: Indian festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters
Pongal: Tamil harvest festival in January
Onam: Harvest festival in Kerala, India
Ganesh Chaturthi: Hindu festival honoring Ganesha
Vaisakhi: Sikh and Punjabi harvest festival in April
Hogmanay: Scottish New Year's Eve celebration
Bonfire Night: November 5 in Britain with fireworks
Burns Night: January 25, Scots celebrate poet Robert Burns
Guy Fawkes Night: Another name for Bonfire Night
La Tomatina: Spanish tomato-throwing festival in August
Running of the bulls: Spanish festival in Pamplona in July
Midsummer: Celebrated in Sweden and across Northern Europe near the June solstice
St. Lucia Day: December 13, celebrated in Sweden with candles
Sinterklaas: Dutch gift-giving tradition in early December
Epiphany (Three Kings Day): January 6, celebrated in Spain and Latin America
Las Posadas: Mexican pre-Christmas processions
Inti Raymi: Inca festival of the sun, celebrated in Peru
Juneteenth: June 19, US holiday marking the end of slavery
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: US holiday on the third Monday in January
Yom Kippur: Jewish Day of Atonement
Ramadan: Muslim month of fasting
Lent: Christian season before Easter
Sukkot: Jewish harvest festival of booths
Purim: Jewish holiday with costumes and stories
Earth Day: April 22, a day to protect the environment, observed worldwide
International Women's Day: March 8
Human Rights Day: December 10
Pi Day: March 14, celebrating the number pi (3.14)
Groundhog Day: February 2, a North American tradition about predicting spring
Arbor Day: Tree planting holiday celebrated in many countries
Winter solstice: Shortest day of the year, marked by festivals like Yule and Dongzhi
Holidays follow calendars: Many holidays follow lunar or religious calendars, so dates change each year

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/holidays-around-the-world