The Various Cultures of South America, China and India
Traveling overseas is always an breathtaking and fantastic adventure. Each culture has its own quirks and eccentricities, but is of even importance to all other threads in the quilt of humanity. The cultural story of the world is all weaved together by each regional color. Cultures differ in their dances, customs, and perhaps most interestingly, their holidays. In this article we will look at the three prominent cultures, South Americans, Chinese and Indians in the way they celebrate their holidays.
South America holidays are principally Catholic in nature. Some of the most celebrated holidays in South America are Saints festivals; holidays such as Dia de Todos Los Santos celebrate all Catholic saints, but each day of the year celebrates a specific saint. Individuals are oftentimes named for the saint whose day they were born on. Carnaval is one of the most best-known festivals in South America, the equivalent of Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday. Carnaval celebrates the day before the forty-day Catholic festival of Lent and involves huge celebrations of excess, samba music, and parades.
Holidays in China are very different in comparison to other regions. China is recognise for its unique culture where the sacred and orthodox meets the modern and the eccentric. In the traditional culture of China, holidays are of massive spiritual importance. Chinese New Year is the largest holiday celebrated in China. Everyone in China take Chinese New Year very seriously and hold the day sacred, partaking in rituals and traditions to ensure a seamless year ahead. A more modern holiday is Woman’s Day, a day that all women in China are permitted to take off work.
Holidays in India have a different tone than either of the aforementioned regions. These holidays range from those associated to Hinduism to Christian holidays, to Muslim festivities. For Indian people, holidays come every day of the year. The most famous civic holiday celebrated is the birthday of celebrated civil rights leader, Mohandas Gandhi. Gandhi’s natal day has been designated as a day of non-violence, and no alcohol is sold on this day in his honour.
Half of the experience when traveling is researching about the culture of the country that you will be visiting. These holidays are a short list of the many marvelous and breathtaking holidays seen abroad.
