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Deepavali, otherwise known as Diwali, is a five day festival of lights, love and celebration. Coinciding with the Hindu New Year, Diwali in India is celebrated by millions of Jain, Sikh, and Hindu people. It is a time of new beginnings, and the triumph of good versus evil and light versus darkness. Millions of people around the world participate in the festivities of Diwali through fireworks, prayer and celebrational events every autumn. For the current year, Diwali falls between Sunday October 27th and Thursday October 31st, 2019. The date does change every year as it follows the Lunar calendar instead of the Gregorian Calendar. Each day holds its own individual meaning, with the third day being the most import of them all.  

There are many different meanings and reasons for the Indian holiday. Some people celebrate Diwali as it honors Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. They pray for a good and prosperous year for themselves and their loved ones. For Hindus, Diwali is a celebration honoring the return of deities Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after a fourteen year exile. For others, it’s a celebration of the day Mother Goddess Durga destroyed and eradicated the Demon called Mahisha, a buffalo demon who could shape-shift into different forms. 

In the countries that celebrate Diwali, festivals are held where people congregate to light up the streets and enjoy food, and the New Year, but for those that live outside of the area, it can be difficult to know what to do. Fear not my reader friends, I have a list of things you can do from anywhere to help welcome the Hindu New Year and celebrate a prosperous 2020. 

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Celebrating Diwali in IndiaRead More »

Our favorite season is here, and it ushers in a stunning array of international summer festivals! This most popular time for traveling offers endless opportunities for celebration. Honestly, no matter where you’re spending your summer vacation this year, you have plenty of exciting festivals to attend. Whether it’s the arts, culture, music, sports, food or wine you’re into, there is a festival that gathers like-minded people from around the globe to celebrate the things you enjoy the most. From the bizarre Burning Man to messy La Tomatina, here are a few international summer festivals for your bucket list.

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Unique Summer Festivals Around The WorldRead More »

A country deeply rooted in history, there are many long-held and important gift giving traditions in Japan that significantly differ from Western culture. While in other parts of the world, people give gifts without expectations, gift giving in Japan is an endless gratitude cycle. There’s a lot of emphasis placed on the act of giving rather than the gift itself. For the Japanese, gifts are not just a way of showing appreciation, but also a sign of respect, generosity, and friendliness between people. Gift exchange is common through during common celebrations like birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations or housewarmings. There are also many other occasions when people expect to give and receive small gifts.

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A Quick Guide To Gift Giving Traditions in JapanRead More »

There are forms of Easter celebrated all over the world. And you don’t have to be religious to have some form of family gathering, or celebration. However in Mexico this time of year brings a holiday that is second only to Christmas. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday people in Spain celebrate something called Semana Santa, a holy week filled with celebrations that are a mix of Catholic and Christian. This year Semana Santa falls during April 14th to April 20th. But what is Semana Santa? How do people celebrate Santa Semana in Mexico and around the world? Where is it celebrated? What is the difference between Easter and Semana Santa? Here’s our guide to everything you need to know!

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Celebrating Semana Santa in Mexico & Worldwide – Beyond EasterRead More »

Even though people compare Mothering Sunday in the UK to Mother’s Day in US, it is actually quite a different holiday. The two holidays have no historical connection and people celebrate them on different dates. These two festivals do have one main thing in common: they celebrate the most important women in our lives, our dear mothers. But that was not always the case. Originally, daughters who worked far from home had Mothering Sunday in UK as a day off to visit family and “mother” church. Today, it is a day for all children to show appreciation for their mothers and give them flowers, cards, and heartfelt Mother’s Day gifts.

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What is Mothering Sunday in UK?Read More »

When the spring’s warmth comes to Japan, it is also time for one of its most beautiful traditional holidays: Hinamatsuri. Also known as Japanese Girls’ Day or Doll’s Festival, this annual festival falls on March 3rd to celebrate young girls in Japan and to wish them good health, happiness and a successful marriage.

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All You Need To Know About Japanese Girls’ DayRead More »

Throughout history and across cultures, women have faced countless challenges and inequalities. But there have always been those inspiring ladies who push society to move forward, think bigger and evolve. To celebrate International Women’s Day, annually observed on March 8th, we’d like to take a moment and tell the stories of 3 great women in history women whose bravery and dedication helped shape our world. The following ladies are wonderful examples of ceaseless curiosity, rare courage and progressive thinking. Thanks to each of them, women all over the world are able to live with more freedom and bigger dreams.

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Celebrate International Women’s Day with 3 Great Women In HistoryRead More »

Be Your Own Valentine

You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection. ~Buddha

Valentine’s Day puts a lot of pressure on us to be in love and to demonstrate it with Valentine’s gifts and big romantic gestures. The holiday puts the emphasis on love for your significant other above everything else, but did you ever think that, YOU are actually the most significant person in your life? So why not make this day solely about loving and taking care of yourself ? After all, they say you can’t love someone else until your truly love yourself. So without further ado, here’s our guide for how to love yourself on Valentine’s Day.

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How To Love Yourself on Valentine’s DayRead More »

It’s hard to disagree that New Year is the perfect time for a fresh start. It’s that time of year when we are all motivated to zero in on personal goals and shake the things up in all aspects of life. But unfortunately, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, less than 10% of people actually keep their New Year resolutions. We often set goals which are either too ambitious or too restrictive to maintain in the long term. These unrealistic plans are very hard to stick with throughout the year and most of them don’t last more than a month. Another problem is that in pursuit of fulfilling our New Year resolutions we often forget the ultimate goal: our personal happiness. Here to help you is our guide to how to be happier in the New Year.

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How to Be Happier in The New YearRead More »