While there are holidays that are celebrated by most countries around the world, there are also holidays that are exclusively celebrated in one country that are not well-known to others. It may be nice for us to know some of these holidays that may not be recognized and celebrated in our own country.
I have provided brief descriptions of twelve holidays from around the world, one holiday for each month of the year, each celebrated only in its country of origin. Just in case you plan to travel all over the globe, here are some celebrations you can look forward to. This first part of my article includes holidays celebrated in the first half of the year.
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Pongal - India
In January, to honor the sun and the rain that ripen the rice crops, southern India celebrates this great harvest festival where families cook the new rice in milk and wait for it to bubble. As soon as it does, they shout, “Pongal!” (“It boils!”). They offer some of the sweet rice to Surya the Sun God before they taste it themselves as they dance. On the second day they honor the rain, and on the third day they honor the cattle. In some areas, farmers attach rupees to the horns of the fiercest bulls and decorate their cows with flowers. Those who are brave enough try to grab away the money from the bulls. -
Argungu Fishing Festival - Nigeria
In February, the Kebbawa people in Argungu, northwestern Nigeria, celebrate the beginning of the fishing season with a New Year's festival. Along the banks of the Sokoto river thousands of people carrying calabash dippers and butterfly fishing nets gather. At a signal everyone jumps into the river together to startle the fish and send them leaping into the nets. A prize awaits for whoever catches the largest fish. -
Hina Matsuri - Japan
In March, the Japanese commemorate their old tradition of rubbing paper dolls on their bodies to draw out evil spirits, then throwing the dolls into a river. In the 1700s they began to make the dolls out of clay and many people liked the clay dolls too much that they could not throw them away. Mothers saved the dolls for their daughters and now, on “Doll Festival,” their daughters display a set of 15 dolls on stands covered with red cloth. Girls visit each other to admire their displays, each of which is a set creating a beautifully dressed royal court, with an emperor, his wife, and their attendants. -
Ra-Ra - Haiti
In April, every day between Palm Sunday and Easter, groups of people-the Ra-Ra-come down from the hills to dance for money. Each dancer wears a red shirt and carries a red flag. Some are carrying kerosene lamps, some are cracking whips, some are beating drums. As soon as the crowd sees the group's leader who is dressed like a jester and is twirling a long baton, the cry “Ra-Ra!” The Ra-Ra dance celebrates spring but also mourns the death of Jesus Christ. Throughout the three days before Easter the Ra-Ra dance intensely then stops on Easter Sunday. -
Maytime Fairies - Ireland
In May, the Irish remembers the time when fairies would appear during their Maytime revels and casts mists over travelers and displace familiar landmarks. The Irish stayed close to home to avoid trouble. If they needed to travel, they wore their coats inside out, which they believe could confuse the fairies. Families also watched over their children closely because fairies were known to abduct them. As a precaution, people in some parts of Ireland leave bits of food and drink on a doorstep, at a well, or at any place the fairies might cross. -
Tano - Korea
In June, Koreans celebrate a spring festival which began in ancient times as a planting rite, and is now special for their children. Girls have swinging competitions while boys have wrestling matches. In advance, very tall swings are raised in each town so each girl will have a chance to practice. Many girls wear special dresses for the event. And in some areas, every participant must be able to ring a bell with her foot when she is high in the air. The girl with the most number of times to hit the bell wins a prize.
译文:
12个月,12个国家,12个节日（一）
有的节日大部分国家都会庆祝,但有些你不知道的节日只在发源国隆重庆祝。你是否想知道那些中国没有,而在别的国家举行庆祝活动的节日呢?这里只对其它国家的12个节日作简单介绍,每个节日只在其发源国举行。12个节日举行的时间对应一年12个月中的一月。如果恰好你有环游全球的计划，通过这些节日简介，或许能找到你想参加的。文章的第一部分包括上半年的节日介绍。
一月 庞戈尔节（丰收节） 印度
这个节日是为了感谢太阳雨水和家畜带给人们丰硕的收成。第一天，南印度的人们会用甜牛奶来煮新米，直到沸腾冒泡，然会快快的喊：“庞迦罗！庞戈尔！看，米饭熟了！”在吃甜米粥之前，分出一些来敬奉太阳神苏里耶，做出感谢姿势。第二天祭雨。第三天祭牛。有的地方，农民会把卢比拴在在强壮的公牛角上，给母牛戴上鲜花。那些勇敢的小伙会去抢公牛头上的卢比。
二月 阿尔共古钓鱼节 尼日利亚
阿尔贡古的古巴瓦人会举行一个新年庆典来庆祝钓鱼季节的到来，成千上万的人沿着索科托河岸，拿着用葫芦做的瓢和网兜，站成一排，一起跳进河里，把鱼赶出来，就迅速的舀起扔进网里。谁逮的鱼最大就可以得到奖品。
三月 女儿节 日本
这个节日起源于江户时代（1700年）的一个古老传统：用纸张给玩偶换装，把身上的秽气和污浊转移到玩偶身上随水漂走。在那个年代，人们已经开始用泥做玩偶，很多人很喜欢泥偶，不舍得扔，母亲就替女儿保存下来。现在到了人偶节，女孩们会在家里的展示架上铺上红布，摆上一组衣着华丽的玩偶，一组15个，由亲王夫妇，大臣和他们的随从组成。女孩们会相互走访，欣赏各自的玩偶。
四月 RaRa节 海地
在圣之主日和复活节之间每天都是RaRa的节日，RaRa人会从山上下来，跳舞要钱,每个表演者都穿着红衬衣，举着红旗。有的人抬着煤油灯，有的在耍鞭子，有的在敲鼓。当众人看到扮成小丑的领队挥舞指挥棒，就会哭叫着“Ra－Ra！”。RaRa舞不仅是庆祝春天，也是哀掉耶稣之死。从圣之主日到复活节的三天里，RaRa舞会一直不停的跳。
五月 五月精灵节 爱儿兰
爱尔兰人都知道，五月狂欢节会有小精灵出现，他们会在游客上方盖上一层雾，把熟悉的路标替换掉。这个时候，爱尔兰人为了避免出门遇到麻烦会呆在家里。如果要出门，就穿上外套，他们认为这样可以迷惑精灵。大家知道，精灵喜欢逗小孩，所以各家都会看好自己的小孩。为了防止精灵捣乱，有些地方的人们会在门台上，井边上，所有精灵可能经过的任何地方，放上些吃的和喝的。
六月 端午节 韩国
这个节日从古代就开始流传，是在春季栽种之后，祈求丰收的活动。现在这个节对小孩很特别，女孩子举行秋千比赛，男孩就进行摔跤比赛。每个小区都会升起高高的秋千，所有女孩都有机会参加比赛。很多女孩穿着特别的节日礼服。在有的地方，比赛参与者要用脚去敲钟，得把脚抬得很高，才能够到。谁敲的次数多，就可以得到奖品。