This title examines the Christian festival of Christmas and the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. The book examines the origins of both festvals and the common links between them. It also looks at the unique ways people in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Oceania celebrate these holidays.

Although cultures commemorate the event in varying ways, the New Year is generally a time to honour the past and prepare for a hopeful future. This book focuses on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and Chinese New Year.

Throughout the world, there is no holiday celebrated quite like Carnival. This book examines the history and pagan roots of the holiday, and details different customs unique to particular areas, including Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America.

From the New Yam Festival in Africa to Thanksgiving Day in the United States, many cultures throughout the world celebrate harvest festivals. This book looks at how the regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and North America payhomage to the harvest and everything it represents.

Almost all cultures around the world have days during which they honour those who have died, and pray for those souls that have not yet reached heaven. This book looks at the different customs from around the world, including Halloween, All Souls' Day, Day of the Dead, Tomb Sweeping Day and the Ghost Festival.

Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for more than one billion Muslims. This book describes the various customs and traditions of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Oceania and how social and political influences have shaped these observances.

Four festivals in particular are widely observed in the spring: the Christian Easter celebration, the Hindu celebration of Holi, the Jewish observance of Passover, and the Persian festival of Navruz. This book discusses how these holidays encourage individuals to gather, and honour the sacrifices others have made.

The Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist days of atonement vary greatly in beliefs and customs across the different regions, but each has the ultimate goal of the practicioners bettering themselves through prayer, humility, and repentance. This book looks at these religious holidays.

A country's celebration of its independence is vital to its history. This book looks at the various ways that cultures have come to celebrate their countries' independence, including Independence Day in the United States, Emancipation Day in the former British territories, and Bastille Day in France.

Explores how different religious and cultural holidays and observances are celebrated around the world. This title introduces readers to the origins, history, and common practices associated with the holidays. It also explores how the geography, culture, and history of a region have shaped the way in which communities celebrate these holidays.