Introduction
If you’ve ever been to Asia, you know that traveling there is a completely different experience than traveling anywhere else in the world. The food is tasty and spicy, the people are friendly and helpful and the festivals are some of the most colorful and fascinating celebrations on the planet. So if you’re planning your next trip to Asia, or if you just want to learn more about its culture, keep reading! We’ll cover Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year), Honoring the Dead in Vietnam (Tet), The Mysteries of Japan’s Obon Festival , Colorful Festival of India’s Holi , Thailand’s Elephant Festival and Banana Festival .
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays in the Chinese calendar. It’s celebrated on the first day of the lunar year, which is usually late January or early February. The celebrations last for 15 days and include fireworks, lanterns and street parties.
The holiday marks an opportunity for people to visit family and friends across China–and celebrate with them by giving gifts like flowers or red envelopes filled with money (along with other customs). It’s also a time for charity: many people donate money to help others who are less fortunate than themselves.
Honoring the Dead in Vietnam
During Tet, Vietnamese people visit the graves of their ancestors to pay respects and offer food, drink and flowers. They also visit friends and family members to wish them a happy new year.
The holiday is celebrated with many traditions including praying at pagodas or temples, giving gifts to children and friends or even dressing up in traditional clothing like Ao Dai (a long dress) or Quan Ho (traditional silk jacket).
The Mysteries of Japan’s Obon Festival
The festival, also known as Bon, is celebrated in Japan, Korea and China. It takes place during the seventh month of the lunar calendar and is a time to honor one’s ancestors.
The Obon Festival has many traditions associated with it. These include food such as rice cakes or sweet potato dumplings (tsukimi manju) which are often eaten by families on this day. Music is also an important part of this celebration; Japanese people will play traditional instruments such as drums (taiko) or flutes called shakuhachi while dancing around bonfires before going home together with their family members at nightfall when everything becomes quiet again until next year’s celebration starts!
The Colorful Festival of India’s Holi
Holi is one of India’s most colorful festivals and is celebrated in March. It marks the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated across India, Nepal and other parts of South Asia.
It’s also known as the Festival of Colors or Lathmaar Holi because it involves people throwing colored water at each other during this celebration.
Thailand’s Elephant Festival and Banana Festival
The Elephant Festival is a celebration of elephants, held in the month of May. The festival was created to honour Thailand’s elephants and their role in traditional Thai culture.
The Banana Festival takes place in August each year, and it celebrates the fruit that has been grown in Thailand for centuries. There are many different types of banana found throughout Southeast Asia, but most people think of those bright yellow bananas we see at our local grocery store when they hear this word: “banana.”
A guide to Asian festivals.
As you travel to Asia, you’ll want to be prepared for the many festivals that take place throughout the year. Here’s a guide to some of the most popular and exciting Asian festivals:
- The Mid-Autumn Festival (September)
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated by people across China, Hong Kong and Taiwan with family reunions or picnics under moonlight. On this day families gather together and eat mooncakes while admiring the full moon. Traditionally these cakes were made from lotus seed paste wrapped in thin pastry crusts but now they come in all kinds of shapes including rabbits with ears made out of carrots!
Conclusion
Asian festivals are a great way to experience the culture of different countries and learn more about their traditions. If you’re planning on visiting one of these countries, make sure that you know what kind of festival it is going to be so that you can properly prepare yourself!
