A Cultural Tapestry of Festive Traditions

As part of the dragon dance performed for Lunar New Year, Chef Dennis Chan offers a return of blessings for the dancer for doing the performance. The red envelope has money inside, which is a traditional gift elders give the young, or anyone in an elderly position gives someone to wish them financial luck and success in the coming year. Photo by Brandi Hill.

Americans tend to think of the holiday season as the months of November and December, but cultures around the world have dynamic celebrations throughout the year. Here are a few examples of holidays that give you a glimpse (and taste) of other customs, rituals and cultural traditions.

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LUNAR NEW YEAR

The Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year in traditions that use lunar or lunisolar calendars, and is celebrated by billions of people across the world. (Lunar calendars follow the moon phases while lunisolar calendars follow both the lunar phase and the solar year.) The start of the celebration usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. In Chinese and other East Asian cultures, each year is represented by a different animal in the Chinese zodiac. In 2026, the new year starts on February 17 and commences the Year of the Fire Horse. Chef Dennis Chan, owner of Blue Bamboo, is looking forward to it, as it will be a year of “rapid change, fresh opportunities, personal growth, and a faster pace of life.” Lunar New Year is not complete without a table of meaningful foods. “Every dish brings the maximum luck, growth and wealth to the year,” says Chan. Shrimp symbolizes laughter, noodles equal longevity and a whole chicken represents family and togetherness. Dress in red, an auspicious color, and share oranges for wealth in the new year. Since the dragon is a Chinese symbol of good fortune, a dragon dance highlights festival celebrations. To experience one locally, follow Blue Bamboo on social media, as the restaurant hosts a dance for the Lunar New Year.

FILIPINO LANTERN MAKING

Christmas celebrations in the Philippines start in September and kick off by making parol lanterns.“Instead of Christmas lights, we make and use lanterns,” says Agnes Lopez, a founding board memberof the Jax Filipino Organization. It’s almost a requirement to learn how to make parols in elementaryschool, says Lopez. Traditionally, they are made of paper, but you can find them made of differentmaterials like shells, bamboo, etc. However, Lopez says the shape is non-negotiable. “It has to be astar!”

PURIM

Purim is an experiential holiday in the Jewish community, with a celebration that is almostcarnivalesque. Its date changes annually and can fall anywhere from late February to late March,whenever the 14th of Adar (the second month of the Hebrew calendar) falls each year. Leslie Kaplan,raised in the Jewish faith, says Jewish holidays tend to be tied to a significant historical event. Thiscelebration commemorates the defeat of Haman, and rallies against oppression. It is a “way ofkeeping kids engaged with Jewish stories throughout the year,” says Kaplan. Children dress incostumes, participate in a Purim spiel (a play) and make signature triangular hamantaschen cookieswith poppy seed or fruit fillings.

DIWALI

Diwali, also called Dipawali, is a five-day festival of lights that takes place on different dates each year,usually between mid-September and mid-November. The dates of the festival are based on the Hindulunar calendar. It is a “celebration of victory… a celebration of the Hindu new year,” says Jay Patel,owner of local Indian grocery store Tea of Jax. Each day of the holiday signifies something different as you “call the god into your home to bring blessings,” says Patel. For him, it is about family comingtogether and cooking together, including a plethora of traditional sweets. Every tradition of the Diwalifestival has a religious purpose to call the gods’ blessings, from the lights to the colorful decor, likerangoli, intricately patterned designs of sand displayed in front of homes. Find supplies for Diwalirangoli designs and celebratory foods at Tea of Jax.

NOCHE BUENA

Noche Buena, which translates to “Good Night,”is a Cuban Christmas Eve feast that came by way ofSpanish settlers. Rebecca Gonzalez, owner of 1928 Cuban Bistro, says, “Noche Buena is not just acelebration; it’s about family coming together.” The food is a big star of the evening, particularly thepig. The main dish is roast pork, but the rice, beans and her family’s signature arroz con leche are justas important. For Gonzalez, it’s all about connecting with family and sharing those food traditionswith the community. "Everyone brings their favorite dish; our home is filled with love and laughter. Ilove catching up with family members I haven’t seen in ages, sharing hugs and stories," she says.