Holidays

Holidays are times set aside on the calendar to observe tradition, remember history, or celebrate a cause. Some have ancient roots while others are modern inventions. All are associated with the identity of those that observe them. The below resources discuss the rituals, foods, language, and other cultural elements connected with major holidays as observed in Eurasian locations. In some cases, American holidays are also discussed – to help students build vocabulary to discuss and celebrate their own traditions while abroad.

Filter holidays for: Slavic, Turkic, Caucasian, or Other.

Kupala: Ancient Slavic Midsummer Mythology and its Modern Celebration

Kupala is an ancient Slavic holiday celebrating the summer solstice, or midsummer. Once part of a series of annual rituals, it marked and was believed to sustain agricultural cycles—essential to early human survival. Held as vitally important, these pagan traditions remained deeply rooted even after Christianization, technological change, and centuries of oppression tried to dislodge […]

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