Special Celebrations

Special Celebrations in England

Mothers and Fathers Days are celebrated in England. The parents are given cards and presents.

Special Celebrations in Germany

The Walpurgisnight is the night of 30th April. This date was one of the most important holidays of the Teutonen.The wedding between God Wotan and Freya. The celebration was celebrated on the Brocken, the highest mountain of the Harz. The people thought that the celebration was horrible as the witches and the devils danced around a blazing fire while the head devil spoke to them. At one o'clock the May queen appeared and this was the end of the dance of witches and devils. Today this custom is a big event for tourists who come from all over the world. In many towns and villages in the Harz Walpurgis It is celebrated with processions, the election of the May Queen and theatre productions.

"Karneval" is celebrated on the first Monday in February. Everybody puts on a mask and a red nose and wears funny clothes. Schools and kindergartens celebrate with a party, meals and lots of fun. Children eat crips and drink coke and fanta. Salt-sticks are also popular. Older people celebrate "Karneval" with beer, wine, sausages, chips and potatosalat. There are many big festivals and long processions where people show off their costumes and throw sweets from decorated cars.

Special Celebrations in Australia

Each year on 25th of April Australians have a public holiday called Anzac Day. This day commemorates the landing of the Australian soldiers on the beaches of Gallipoli-Turkey. Everyone respects the courage these soldiers displayed as they fought for their country. Many died during this landing and the experiences the soldiers suffered became an inspiration to Australia, as it was then a young nation compared to England. In every Australian capital city there is a parade of the current servicemen and women and lots of veterans and their family members. Many bands play as these people march down the streets. Lots of people go to watch and clap, cheer and wave flags. At the end there is a service at the war memorials and wreaths are laid to remember all the soldiers who have died defending Australia. In country towns similar services are also held. There is an Anzac biscuit recipe that is often cooked in Australia. The landing at Gallipoli inspired someone to make up this recipe many years ago.

Click here for the recipe.

Special Celebrations in Malaysia

In Malaysia there is a special celebration called Deepavali. This is a Hindu festival that is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is celebrated during the Tamil month of Aipasi, between October and November. Hindus believe it is the day when the good forces overcome the evil ones. During this time the Hindu homes are lit with tiny lights to show victory over darkness. These lights are in clay pots filled with coconut oil. On the eve of Deepavali, prayers are held in homes and temples. On the morning of Deepavali, Hindu families pray at home by burning incense and having special baths before going to the temples. In the afternoons friends and families gather in their homes and eat lots of traditional Indian foods.

Special Celebrations in America

The first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621; the year after the Pilgrims had arrived from and landed on Plymouth Rock. The native Americans gave them corn seed to grow which provided a crop. About fifty pilgrims and about ninety Native Americans were at the first Thanksgiving feast. Wild turkeys, which were found only in North America, were the main course. Pumpkins, squash, sweet potatoes, and cranberries, which are all native to the area were probably also eaten. George Washington proclaimed November 26,1789, as a day of public Thanksgiving and prayer. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving an official annual holiday now celebrated on 4th of November each year.The Thanksgiving meal includes a stuffed turkey, yams, potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls, gravy and pies.Relatives always gather together to share this meal..

Click here for a recipe made from ingredients that were around when the pilgrims arrived.