Asia is a vast region with a distinct culture characterized by underlying various stories and traditions that take on new meanings and interpretations in the contexts of each nation.
There are many fascinating festivals to celebrate in Asia, from Singapore's New Year, and Harbin International Ice/ Snow Sculpture Festival in China, to Boryeong Mud Festival in South Korea, and Hindu Thaipusam. The following are just quick picks out of many!
The Cambodian Water Festival first took place in 1914. It happens in three days in honor of the end of the rainy season as well as the change in Tonlé Sap River flow. Every year, many million people gather at this festival to see fireworks and boat races.
Buddhist Funeral Cultures of Southeast Asia and China
Religions of Korea in Practice
The Lantern FestivalBuddhism spread rapidly throughout Asia during the time of 250 B.C. Buddhist autumn festivals are attended by monks from all over Asia.
Christmas is observed in the Philippines during the "ber" months from September to December.
Taiwan commemorates the Lantern Festival and the Lunar New Year's conclusion by decorating with wishes and images, in order to promote traditional folklore.
In South Korea, Chuseok, also called Hangawi, is a three-day festival celebrating the mid-autumn harvest on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. It is only on Chuseok day that North Koreans celebrate. Read more here.
The Gion Matsuri, which takes place in July in Kyoto, is a popular summer event at Yasaka Shrine. It was established about 1,350 years ago to appease the gods during a plague epidemic. Every year, a local youngster boy is chosen as a sacred messenger to the gods, as is customary.
The floating of lanterns along the Namgang River and the parade of lanterns constructed by students every November in Seoul are the centerpieces of the Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival. It also has a fireworks show, a water lighting show, cultural acts, and more.
According to historical sources, the Ati-atihan celebration was the catalyst and inspiration for many other festivities, both large and little, around the archipelago. This is a festival honoring the town's patron, the Infant Jesus. The 'Big Three Days of Spiritual Street Dancing,' a three-day, three-night frenzy of drinking and dancing, is unquestionably the highlight of the Ati-Atihan.
For billions of people in Asia, the Lunar New Year is the most important social and economic holiday. The event was originally honored as a time to worship household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors, and is related to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar. It is observed in Asia, particularly in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The following video is about Lunar New Year.
However, Japanese new year celebration is observed on January 1–3, It is called Shōgatsu or Oshōgatsu. Read more about this and all relevant tradition in Japan here in this link.
