From the glowing lanterns of China’s Mid-Autumn Festival to the lively merriment of Germany’s Oktoberfest, every event is a symphony of culture, music, and taste, where each element harmonizes to create a unique autumn experience. We’ve listed down eight celebrated fall festivals around the world.
1. Moon Festival – China
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is an annual Chinese fall tradition celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. One of the most important festivals in China, it celebrates the moon that is often associated with family reunion and togetherness. It is believed that on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, families should gather together to admire the moon and eat mooncakes. Lanterns are also often lit at the night to symbolize hope and prosperity, giving people a stunning display of the night sky.
2. Oktoberfest – Germany
A vibrant beer festival held annually in Munich, Germany. It kicks off on the third weekend of September and continues for 16 to 18 days, attracting millions of revelers from around the world. The festival's centerpiece is the Theresienwiese, a massive beer hall complex. People can indulge in steins of traditional beer from renowned breweries, accompanied by hearty cuisine like pretzels, sausages, and roasted chicken. Live music fills the air with oompah bands and folk dances, creating a festive atmosphere.
3. Dia de los Muertos – Mexico
Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a vibrant Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2. It honors the lives of loved ones who have passed through elaborate altars called ofrendas adorned with photographs, flowers, candles, and offerings of food and drinks. Families gather at cemeteries to clean and decorate gravesites, leaving colorful papel picado banners and marigolds, known as cempasúchil, which are believed to guide the spirits back to Earth. Festive activities include face painting, music, dancing, and parades featuring colorful costumes and skeletons.
4. Diwali – India
The Festival of Lights is a joyous Hindu celebration observed across India and by Hindu communities worldwide. It marks the triumph of good over evil. The festival is characterized by the lighting of diyas (earthen lamps), decorating homes with rangoli patterns, and bursting colorful fireworks. Traditional food like sweets (mithai), savory snacks (namkeen), and festive meals are shared with family and friends. Diwali also symbolizes new beginnings, with people exchanging gifts and offering prayers for prosperity and happiness.
5. Loy Krathong Lantern Festival – Thailand
A captivating Thai festival celebrated on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month, typically in November. It's a night of reverence for the water and a chance to express gratitude for blessings received. The centerpiece of the festival is the krathong, a small raft made of banana leaves and decorated with flowers, candles, and incense. People float their krathongs on rivers or canals, symbolically releasing their troubles and making wishes. The festival is accompanied by vibrant displays of fireworks, traditional music, and delicious local food like grilled chicken, satay, and everyone’s favorite mango sticky rice.
6. Chuseok – South Korea
Also known as Korean Thanksgiving, it’s a major Korean harvest festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. It's a time for families to gather, give thanks for the year's blessings, and enjoy traditional Korean food. One of the most important traditions is the making and sharing of songpyeon, rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste or sesame seeds. Other popular activities include visiting ancestral gravesites, playing traditional games like yut nori, and enjoying folk performances.
7. Guy Fawkes Night – United Kingdom
Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, is a British celebration held annually on November 5th. It commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators attempted to assassinate King James I by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. The plot was foiled, and Fawkes was captured and executed. To celebrate the foiled attempt, bonfires are lit across the country, accompanied by fireworks displays and the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes.
8. Bon Om Touk – Cambodia
Known as Cambodia’s Water Festival, celebrated in late October or early November. It signifies the end of the rainy season and the reversal of the Tonlé Sap River's flow, which alternates between the Mekong River and Tonlé Sap Lake. The most prominent activity during Bon Om Touk is the boat races, involving traditional long-tail boats, with teams of rowers competing for victory, often accompanied by music and dancing.
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