Springtime symbolizes rebirth, newness, shedding of old skin, and moving forward towards a new year, new life, and well, lots of new things! Around the world, cultures celebrate the renewal of life after winter per tradition and ritual.
- Thailand - Water Festival
Songkran, or Water Festival is celebrated in Thailand during April, which is also the Thai New Year, along with a few other Southeast Asian countries. The tradition involves, you guessed it, water! People in villages and cities in Thailand will gather around and throw water on each other, symbolizing the washing away of the past and bad luck. The origin of Songkran involved the Bathing of the Buddha and pouring water on monks and elders hands, but has transitioned into quite a playful celebration!
- Japan - Shunbun no Hi
The Japanese celebrate the Vernal Equinox by visiting ancestral graves and leaving flowers, cleaning their tombstone, removing weeds, and praying for ease in their journey of the afterlife. Farmers in Japan will also pray for abundant and healthy crops during this time.
- Bali, Indonesia - Hari Raya Nyepi
In March, the Balinese welcome not only Spring, but also the Balinese New Year by driving out the devils and bad spirits with a day of noise! On the following day, the Day of Silence, nobody does anything. The Balinese are not allowed to work, eat, leave their homes, and even tourists are not allowed to leave their residences.
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- Mexico - Make the trek to Chichen Itza: on the vernal equinox!
In Mexico, one of the cool experiences you can have during the Spring Equinox is to visit the many Mayan archaeological sites, like Chichen Itza. If you’re around at 4pm, you can watch the sun cast peculiar shadows on the steps of the pyramid, creating a snake-like effect!
- India - Holi
Holi festival takes place at the start of Spring after the full moon in March in India. There is usually a public bonfire, people gather in the streets and go a little crazy during Holi. The colored powders and waters that get thrown around symbolize the shedding of the dullness of winter, and the welcoming of colors, happiness and merrymaking! Oh, and Spring!