Unique Customs

v January 17 is St Anthony’s Day in Mexico. It’s a day when people ask for protection for their animals. They bring their animals to church. But before the animals go into the church, the people usually dress them up in flowers and ribbons.
v On August 15 of the Lunar Calender, Koreans celebrate Chusok to give thanks for the new harvest. It’s a day when people honor their ancestor by going to their gravesites to take them food and wine and clean the gravesites. Also on Chusok, a big meal with moon-shaped rice cakes is eaten.
v One of the biggest celebration in Argentina is New Year’s Eve. On the beginning of December 31, families get together and have a big meal. At midnight, fireworks explode everywhere and continue throughout the night. Friends and families meet for parties, which last until next morning.
v Long ago in India, a princess who needed help sent a silk bracelet to an emperor. After he helped the princess, the emperor kept the bracelet as a sign of the loyalty between them. Today,in India, during the festival of Rakhi, men promise to be loyal to the women in exchange for a bracelet of silk, cotton and gold thread.
v On the evening of February 3, people in Japanese families take one dried bean for each year for their age and throw the beans around their homes and shrines, shouting “Good Luck in! Evil Spirit out!” This is known as “Setsubun” the time to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of Spring.