FX.co ★ Spring celebration around the world

Throughout the world, the meeting of spring is given a great attention. New season is welcomed with songs, dances or other rituals.

In China, the feast of purity and clarity of the Qingming takes place on April 2-4, 2017. These days, the Chinese remember their ancestors and fly paper kites. One of the main traditions is the burning of sacrificial money in honor of the dead.

In Turkey, spring begins with the holiday Nowruz, which is the fifth day after the vernal equinox. The Kurds celebrate this feast between 18th and 21st of March. This day dishes are made of seven plant products: wheat, peas, beans, millet, etc. On the Nowruz table many people place a mirror and painted eggs as symbols for the completion of the old and the beginning of the new. In a number of countries it is customary to jump over the fire seven times for the purification from sins.

Las Fallas is undoubtedly one of the most unique festivals in Spain. This event is dedicated to St. Joseph. Las Fallas literally means "the fires" in Valencian. The focus of the fiesta is the creation and burning of ninots (“puppets” or “dolls”), which are huge cardboard, wood, paper-machè and plaster statues.

This year Las Fallas will be held on March 15-19.

In India in celebration of the triumph of good over bad, the colorful Holi tradition takes place in late February or early March. The masses gather on the streets for a giant color fight, throwing dyed powder onto each other. It is believed that the more colors appear on clothing and body, the more good wishes a person will receive.

In 2017 Holi will be celebrated on March 13.

In Canada people meet spring in May. The Tulip Festival is held in Ottawa. It is so much more than just a beautiful scenery filled with colourful flowers. This festival is a celebration founded on international friendship. In 1945 Princess Juliana presented 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada's capital in appreciation of the safe haven that members of Holland's exiled royal family received during World War II in Ottawa.

Maifeiertag is the name given to the first day of May, when the Germans welcome spring. People erect a decorated tree or tree trunk called Maibaum. Exhibitions and concerts go along with the holiday.

In spring Belarusians celebrate Gukanne Vyasny (Calling of Spring). People sing folk songs and decorate their houses with branches of pussy-willow and birch.