Websites to support the study of Festivals & Celebrations Holidays around the world http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/holidays.htm#J Provides information on many of the holidays and celebrations from around the world.  Easy to find. Thanksgiving Traditions and History http://wilstar.com/holidays/thanksgv.htm Provides information on Thanksgiving traditions and history. The History and Customs of Halloween http://wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm Provides information on the history and customs of Halloween. Happy Halloween http://www.theholidayspot.com/halloween/ Provides information on Halloween, Jack o’Lanterns, etc. Quebec Carnival http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/english/plus.asp Provides information on the history of the Carnaval de Quebec.  Available in both English and French (selected back at the home page).  Links to songs, activities, a teacher’s corner, etc. Santa Lucia - Queen of Lights http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/lucia.htm Provides information about the Swedish holiday known as the Festival of Lights, also known as the feast of St. Lucia, celebrated on December 13.  Extensive links to additional information. Customs and traditions of St. Patrick’s Day http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm Features information and links on the customs and traditions of St. Patrick’s Day. Happy St. Patrick’s Day http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/ Provides a history of St. Patrick’s Day, along with information about the celebrations, crafts, recipes, Irish jokes, etc. Bar Mitzvah http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm Provides a history of the Bar Mitzvah celebrations and traditions. About Ramadan http://www.submission.org/about-R.html Provides extensive information and links about the customs, traditions, and Islamic beliefs associated with the month of fasting known as Ramadan. Islamic Holidays and Observances - Ramadan http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/MSA/events/Ramadan.html Provides information on the customs, traditions and Islamic beliefs associated with Ramadan. The History of Mardi Gras http://www.holidays.net/mardigras/story.htm Provides extensive information on the history of Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. How Mardi Gras works http://www.howstuffworks.com/mardi-gras.htm Provides extensive information and links on Mardi Gras.  Includes information on the parades and costumes. St. Jean Baptiste Festival, Quebec June 24 http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/gfaol/resource/Canada/StJean.htm Provides information on the history of St. Jean Baptiste festival as celebrated in New France and Quebec. Bastille Day, July14 http://www.hightowertrail.com/Bastil.htm Provides extensive information on the French Revolution and the celebrations of Bastille Day. Bastille Day http://www.noblenet.org/year/bastille.htm Provides a selected series of briefly annotated links to information on Bastille Day. Christmas http://www.christmas.com/worldview/ Provides information about Christmas customs and traditions from around the world.  Includes information on Christmas symbols and Santa Claus. Christmas celebrations around the world http://www.soon.org.uk/country/christmas.htm Features brief information about Christmas customs and traditions from many countries around the world. Happy Valentine’s Day http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/ Provides a history of Valentine’s Day, plus information on Cupid and other customs. History of Valentine’s Day http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/valentine/ Provides hyperlinked information on the history of Valentine’s Day. New Year’s Day - History, Traditions and customs http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm Provides information on the celebration of New Year’s Day throughout history and around the world. See also:   Chinese New Year http://public.sd38.bc.ca/~mcmathlib/Chinese_New_Year Mid-Autumn / Moon Festival http://public.sd38.bc.ca/~mcmathlib/Mid-Autumn Harvest Festivals http://public.sd38.bc.ca/~mcmathlib/Harvest_festivals Autumn Moon Festival (San Francisco Chinatown) http://www.moonfestival.org/ Includes a history, information on the Moon goddess, the Chinese dragons, and mooncake recipes. The History of Halloween http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/halloween/ A history of Halloween, traced from its origins in the "ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in)" to modern trick-or-treat, Jack-o'-lantern, costume, and party activities. Includes creepy video clips, ghost stories, information about pumpkins, White House hauntings, and recipes.  From the History Channel. Jack-O-Lantern.com http://www.jack-o-lantern.com/ Examples of one designer's original pumpkin and watermelon carving ideas, a story of the origin of the jack-o'-lantern, instructions for creating patterns from photographs, a list of the proper tools to use, extensive carving techniques, and seasonal patterns to download are available. The gallery section shows melons carved from the patterns provided. Includes some advertising for pumpkin-related products.  (LII, 2005) BBC Food: Halloween http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/news_and_events/events_halloween.shtml Ideas from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for celebrating this "predominantly American tradition ... [that] has its roots in Celtic Ireland." Includes a brief review of holiday traditions such as carving pumpkins and wearing costumes, and suggested Halloween party recipes (with a distinctly British sensibility as well as metric measurements) such as hot blood soup (tomato and chili soup) and devilish red cabbage. Also includes links to related information from the BBC. Día de los Muertos http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/ This Day of the Dead site provides information on the foods, history, events, altars, and culture of the popular Mexican holiday celebrated on November 2. From The Arizona Republic. Tapping Into Oktoberfest http://www.funworldmagazine.com/2003/Oct03/Features/Tapping_Into_Oktob... Article about how "a Bavarian celebration that became a German tradition is giving amusement parks and major cities a reason to celebrate in October." Provides a brief history of these beer-drinking festivals (which "began as a wedding celebration for a Bavarian crown prince in 1810"), and information about the event as held in Munich, Germany, and in cities and amusement parks in the United States. From the magazine for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. An American Christmas: Decade by Decade    http://hoover.archives.gov/exhibits/AmChristmas This online exhibit traces the history of the celebration of Christmas in the U.S. from 1840 through 2000. Includes an essay and an image of a decorated tree to represent each decade. From the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum. History of the Advent Calendar http://www.sellmer-verlag.de/history.htm This page from a German advent calendar company presents information on the origins of advent calendars and a short history of their evolution from simple chalk lines marking off the days in December until Christmas to paper calendars with windows. The online Advent Calendar Museum provides photographs of calendars from the 1940s through 1960s. Also includes a brief history of the Sellmer Company in Stuttgart and an online tour of calendar production. Jewish Holidays http://urj.org/holidays/ "Learn about the Jewish holidays and explore the customs and traditions of Reform Jews throughout North America." Every description has dates, a brief annotation, and a good selection of related links. Includes a holiday calendar. From the Union for Reform Judaism. Christmas Markets http://www.germany-tourism.de/weihnachtsmaerkte/weihnachtsmaerkte.html "This brochure presents a cross-section of typical and popular [Christmas] markets all over Germany, from Flensburg in the far north to Constance in the south, and between Aachen in the west and Bautzen in the east." Includes images and descriptions of selected markets, such as "Germany's oldest Christmas market, the Striezelmarkt [in Dresden], founded in 1434." In English and German. From the German National Tourist Board. Yom Hashoah http://history1900s.about.com/cs/holocaust/a/yomhashoah.htm Background about this day in April or May that has been designated to memorialize the Holocaust victims of World War II. Includes a discussion of how the day was selected, how Yom Hashoah is observed, and dates for 2005-2010. Includes links to related material. An About.com site.  (LII, 2007) Easter Symbols, Icons, Legends, Lore and Customs http://pressroom.hallmark.com/easter_symbols.html An archivist from a greeting card company "explains the meaning of the word 'Easter' and highlights the origin of Easter customs." Customs and symbols discussed include Easter eggs, Easter bunny, Easter lily, hot cross buns, dogwood trees and crosses, Easter parade and wearing new clothes, Easter sunrise service, and Easter weather superstitions. Includes a link to material about Passover.  (LII, 2007) Rabbits on the Moon: A Short History of Easter http://www.rabbit.org/journal/1/history-of-easter.html This page, based on "The Easter Hare" from the May 1890 Atlantic Monthly, "reveals that Easter and its customs have ancient and nearly universal origins." Discusses the lunar aspect of the holiday, and the ancient symbolism of the rabbit and eggs. Also includes links to material about rabbits as being inappropriate Easter gifts. From the House Rabbit Society, a nonprofit rescue and education group.  (LII, 2007) Cinco de Mayo http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/cinco/ Resources for party and activity ideas for celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Includes crafts (maracas and Mexican flag), recipes (guacamole and tortilla soup), and activity pages. Also includes quick facts and history about this holiday that "is the anniversary of a battle that took place between the Mexicans and the French in 1862" and is "mainly observed in the state capital of Puebla" and in the U.S. From the Kaboose Family Network.  (LII, 2007) The History of Cinco de Mayo http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm Brief background about "the holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, [which] commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. ... It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16." From Mexonline, a guide to Mexico founded by an author and radio host.  (LII, 2007) Look for Flying Carp on Boy's Day http://www.japanesegarden.com/culture/2007/04/look-for-flying-carp-on-boys-day.html Introduction to this Japanese holiday celebrated on May 5, known as Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day). "To call it 'Children's Day' is a modern attempt to be inclusive, but most Japanese still consider it Boy's Day." Includes a description about how this day is celebrated, such as the hoisting of large paper koi (carp) with one koi for each son in the family. From the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon.  (LII, 2007) Epicurious Holidays: Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur, High-Holiday Feasts http://www.epicurious.com/cooking/holiday/jewish/rosh_yom Recipes and cooking ideas for these Jewish holidays. Some of the dishes include challah, gefilte fish, tsimmes, kugel, and honey cake. Provides suggestions for dishes to break the Yom Kippur fast, a short essay on Jewish holiday cooking, a brief list of Jewish cookbooks, and kosher wine suggestions. Major Holidays and Celebrations of Spanish Speaking Countries http://espanol.ucanr.org/Calendario/Major_Holidays_and_Celebrations_of_Spanish-Speaking_Countries.htm List of the major holidays and celebrations of the Spanish-speaking countries. "Latin American countries which have been significantly influenced by Catholicism have many holidays to celebrate their patron saints and virgins to venerate Mary, the mother of Jesus." Holidays listed include Juan Pablo Duarte Day (January 26, Dominican Republic), Battle of Rivas Day (April 11, Costa Rica), and Mexican Independence Day (September 16). From the University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  (LII, 2007) Wilson's Almanac on Michaelmas, St. Michael's Feast Day http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/michaelmas.html  Collection of material about Michaelmas, a Christian holiday celebrated on September 29 in honor of the feast of St. Michael. St. Michael "is an archangel who was the leader of the army of God during the Lucifer uprising, casting Satan out of Paradise. He is one of only two angels named in the Bible." Topics include lore, the Michaelmas daisy and goose, and quotes. From an online magazine by a writer and web designer.  (LII, 2007) The Days of Holy Week http://www.cresourcei.org/cyholyweek.html This site describes the history behind important religious days occurring in the week prior to Easter (the last week of Lent): Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Also includes details about how these days are currently observed in different types of Christian churches. From "a global and ecumenical ministry dedicated to providing biblical and theological resources for growing Christians." To go back to McMath Library Homepage click here:         http://public.sd38.bc.ca/~mcmathlib This page is created and maintained by Ms. B. Knoepfel (Teacher-Librarian), McMath Secondary School.   Updated June 2007.