Holidays and Festivals that are unique to your country / area only

[Bindu1000]

In Sri Lanka, every Full Moon day is a Public Holiday. All entertainment places close and no liquor or meat is allowed to be sold anywhere. Its a religious day for Buddhist and is supposed to be set aside for prayer and meditation.

Tell us about some unique holidays / festivals in your are as well

[avich]

Here in Cebu, we have a festival called sinulog every 3rd sunday of january. The festival honors the child Jesus, known as the Santo Nino (Holy Child), patron of the city of Cebu. It is a dance ritual that commemorates the Cebuano people's pagan origin, and their acceptance of Christianity. It is a very festive and colorful occassion and alot of tourist come to witness the celebration.

Fun fact: I live in Cebu but never been in a Sinulog before. haha

[solidoxygen]

Here, we celebrate Texas Independence Day. This holiday commemorates when Texas became a country. We do all kinds of great things on this day.

We decorate our tables with regular food and everyone turns on their living room lights and televisions (it's so beautiful). There are also parades with idealized photographs of historical people that nobody recognizes; we're grateful to those people though since they get us out of school for one day every year.

:emhh22:

Thank you historical dead people, us schoolchildren praise thee.

[Skoibi]

pretty sure Independence Day is unique to the U.S. lolz ^-^ Martin Luther King Day....President's Day....Columbus Day...

[avich]

Not really, I believe all independent countries have their own Independence day too. :)

[Bindu1000]

I have read about the Mardi gras and I remember the song "C'mon take me to the Mardi Gras" and I always wanted to witness one. You live in one of the most original and interesting states in the US :1:

[avich]

Sounds chaotic. I guess it will never be as good as the old days.

[kittykatgirl21349]

where i live we celebrate ground hog day =w=

[Bindu1000]

Ground hog - this is when the ground hog is first seen, right? And its supposed to signal the first day of Spring?

[Bindu1000]

Hmmmm ... this is all fascinating for someone living in a country that has summer, summer with rain, summer and summer with a tinge of cold in the nights :4:

[avich]

I am always amazed by countries that have four season, especially winter. Looking at Jdramas, movies and animes the seasons they have that we here in the philippines don't fascinates me and makes me want to experience it too. Some say winter is the worst season of all and I am lucky I live in a tropical country but I still think snow is cool to have once in a while (no pun intended).

[Kimmy37]

I live in Mississippi, and we're lucky enough to have two seasons: blistering hot and pretty cold.

Anyway, down in South Mississippi, we have Hub Fest. It's a day once a year when all usual traffic is cut off from downtown and booths are set up all over the streets. People give away some promotional items for their businesses, lots of good food is served, and there are many booths that sell local art, music, and items like jewelry. Also, they do cake walks and all sorts of stuff. It's basically just a morning festival to celebrate our city and heritage.

Also, four times a year (once for each season), we have art walks. Once again, downtown is limited to foot traffic only. ...Well, foot traffic and the trolley they bring out for these events. Anyway, local artists display their latest works, the stores and restaurants stay open late, and most give away free food and beverages. In some places, you can get really nasty box wine, but who wants that? Local bands play live shows all over downtown, so no matter where you are, you hear music. Also, the theater (for plays, usually) sometimes shows really old movies that have no sound. During the winter art walk, quartets and choirs perform in the theater and many people have Christmas parties. It's quite nice.

[starshinne]

Ground hog day. On this day, February 2nd, the ground hog comes out of his den. If he sees his shadow and runs back in, it is said there'll be 6 more weeks of winter, if he doesn't see his shadow, spring is right around the corner. In reality, there's still 6 more weeks till spring =P

We have a little festival here in my city in the summer. It's called Dancing in The Streets and its held in our downtown area. Streets are blocked off and businesses come out and set up booths. Mostly food businesses. Its really just a big money maker for the city and people get to get together, eat and drink, then see fireworks at the end. Local bands also come down and play.

[Bindu1000]

Kimmy and Starshinne - Those are such cool festivals, it must be really nice. In my country any festival like that would mean pick-pockets paradise :2:

[alown]

in my hometown of stanely. we celebrate Stanley Drunken Steamer Days. It just a town beer party in a small Wisconsin(US) town.
but thats just my town.

everyone in the US celebrates Thanksgiving. A time when families get together to be thanks for what they have. and to eat a ton a food.

[scasia]

I think there's no unique festival here...
but don't know if there are in other islands since there are so many culture here...
but if I'm not wrong, in Java Islands, there's a day where they take out some wayang that made up from branch, cloth etc that called Reog...
and a festival (not festival I think, but culture) in Kuantan Singingi in Sumatra Island, Riau, where the people (10-20) make a circle and some people tell a folklore and the rest watching. usually they do this when they finished harvesting their rice.

(sorry, my english is bad)

[Bindu1000]

we have members from more than 50 different countries ... surely there are more festivals/holidays or crazy traditions to share?? :2:

[atomisk21]

In Sri Lanka, every Full Moon day is a Public Holiday.

Is everyone in Sri Lanka a Werewolf? I'm never going there.