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Holy daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festivalHoly daysAssociation of Indo Americans Hosts Dussehra Diwali Dhamaka 2026 in PleasantonWeddingsA love story across continents ends in a packed Vietnamese village weddingCarnivalCelebrate Native American Day in Tulsa with concert, parade and moreWeddingsAlmost two thirds of Brighton would opt for a ‘phone-free’ weddingWeddingsTill death do us part: Halloween puts a spooky spin on Las Vegas weddingsTableFrom the royal table to street food, Cambodian chefs reviving Khmer culinary heritageCarnivalMiami Carnival brings Caribbean pageantry, cultural celebration to Central Broward ParkFestivals50 years of the Red River Revel: How a one-time celebration became a Shreveport traditionHoly daysBallston Quarter Diwali Celebration: Date, Activities And DetailsSeasonsHarvest festival
EveryParampara

Secular and civic traditions

Secular and civic traditions are those kept without a religious frame: national days, parades, remembrance days, birthdays, graduations, school and university rituals, sporting customs, workplace habits and the rites of clubs and communities.

Secular and civic traditions are those kept without a religious frame: national days, parades, remembrance days, birthdays, graduations, school and university rituals, sporting customs, workplace habits and the rites of clubs and communities. They give people shared moments and symbols outside any faith, and many have grown over a century or two. EveryParampara includes them alongside older traditions, because a Fourth of July barbecue or a Burns Night supper is as much a tradition as any ancient rite, and is kept with equal feeling.

Nations and communities

National days, flags, anthems, parades and minutes of silence create a sense of belonging. Remembrance of war dead, in poppies, wreaths and the Last Post, is observed by millions. Local clubs, guilds and societies keep their own rituals, from the mayor's procession to the Rotary meeting. Each reflects the history and the values of the group, and many invite the public to attend.

Milestones without a church

Birthdays, graduations, retirements, housewarmings and baby showers are secular milestones, kept with cakes, speeches and gifts. Many couples hold civil weddings and non-religious naming ceremonies and funerals led by celebrants. These customs show how people create meaning and mark time together, and how traditions are made as well as inherited. Some of them are only a few decades old, and already feel like old friends. A tradition begins the first time a group of people decides to do something again next year.

About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background on Secular and civic (faith). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇮🇪 Ireland and 5 moreHalloween An annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageFestival · Sweets given and shared 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreMother's Day A worldwide annual celebration dedicated to mothers, maternal bonds and family careHome 🇮🇷 Iran and 7 moreNowruzنوروز The Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnicsSeasonal 🇺🇸 Philadelphia, United States and 1 moreIndependence Day The United States' national day of parades, barbecues and fireworks, kept each July 4Ceremony 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreLion dance舞獅 A dynamic ritual dance featuring costumed lions, drums and martial acrobaticsPerformance 🇸🇦 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and 4 moreMajlis A traditional sitting room and community assembly for hospitality and civic counselEtiquette 🇦🇫 Kabul, Afghanistan and 1 moreJirgaجرګه A traditional consultative council of elders that settles disputes through consensusCeremony 🇵🇭 Cebu, PhilippinesArnis The national martial art of the Philippines using sticks, bladed weapons and open handsGame 🇸🇬 Singapore, SingaporeNational Day Parade Singapore's annual independence day celebration of parades, music and fireworksCeremony 🇨🇳 China and 2 moreCuju蹴鞠 An ancient Chinese kicking game played without hands using a stuffed or air-filled ballGame 🇩🇪 Germany and 1 moreMaifest A traditional German celebration marking the arrival of spring with decorated maypolesFestival 🇮🇹 Venice, ItalyCicchettiCicheti A Venetian custom of small counter snacks enjoyed with a glass of local white wineTable custom · Tea-time and snacking customs 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, United StatesSuper Bowl The annual championship game of American professional football, held every February.Game 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 3 moreSteelpan A tuned percussion tradition forged from industrial steel containers in TrinidadPerformance 🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea and 5 moreShell money Traditional currency made from cowries, ground clam beads, and carved sea shellsCraft 🇳🇿 Auckland, New ZealandMāori Language WeekTe Wiki o te Reo Māori An annual nationwide week promoting the learning and use of te reo across New ZealandCeremony 🇵🇰 Karachi, Pakistan and 2 moreSouth Asian truck art The craft of painting and adorning cargo trucks and buses across India and Pakistan.Craft 🇻🇳 Hoa Lư, VietnamChèo嘲 Satirical folk musical theatre performed by village troupes across northern VietnamPerformance 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreApril Fools' Day An annual day of lighthearted pranks, hoaxes and teasing kept on the first of AprilFestival 🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreSiesta A short afternoon rest or sleep taken after the midday mealHome · Lunch 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreChristmas carol Festive songs and hymns sung during the Christmas season and door to doorPerformance 🇺🇦 Chernivtsi, Ukraine and 5 moreVyshyvanka DayДень вишиванки An annual day for wearing traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirts across the worldDress 🇯🇵 Kyoto, JapanKendo剣道 A Japanese martial art of swordsmanship using bamboo swords and protective armourGame 🇺🇸 New York, United StatesFlag Day An annual American observance marking the 1777 adoption of the national flagCeremony 🇮🇪 Ireland and 4 moreTrick-or-treating A custom where children visit homes in costume to ask for treats or face a playful prank.Festival · Sweets given and shared 🇺🇸 New Orleans, United StatesKrewe Carnival clubs that stage parades, balls, and pageantry along the Gulf CoastFestival 🇳🇪 In-Gall, NigerCure Salée A yearly gathering of Tuareg and Wodaabe nomads in In-Gall to mark the end of the rainy season.Festival 🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreFriday the 13th A Western folk superstition regarding the unluckiness of a Friday falling on the 13th.Folklore 🇬🇷 Olympia, Greece and 1 moreOlympic torch relay The ceremonial journey of the flame from Olympia to each host city of the Olympic GamesCeremony 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreKyūdō弓道 The Japanese martial art of archery, practiced with an asymmetrical longbowGame 🇹🇭 ThailandThai solar calendarปฏิทินสุริยคติไทย The official solar calendar of Thailand, numbered in the Buddhist EraSeasonal 🇦🇺 Sydney, Australia and 5 moreSurf lifesaving A volunteer beach rescue and ocean sports tradition originating on Australian coasts.Game 🇨🇭 Aproz, Switzerland and 2 moreCombat de Reines An annual Swiss pushing contest where Hérens cows compete for herd dominanceGame 🇮🇳 Kolkata, IndiaJana Gana Mana India's national anthem, from a Bengali hymn of 1911, sung at civic occasionsCeremony 🇮🇪 Ireland and 2 moreJack-o'-lantern A carved pumpkin lantern lit with a candle to brighten and protect Halloween nightsFolklore 🇮🇳 IndiaIndian national calendar India's official civil solar calendar, designed to bring unity to timekeepingSeasonal 🇺🇸 New York, United StatesVillage Halloween Parade An annual costumed puppetry march through Greenwich Village on Halloween nightFestival 🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreCharro traditionCharro The equestrian skills, formal attire and rodeo arts of the Mexican horseman.Game 🇺🇦 Kyiv, UkraineBanduraБандура A Ukrainian plucked string instrument played to accompany epic songs and folk balladsPerformance 🇵🇷 Ponce, Puerto Rico and 1 morePlena Puerto Rican folk songs and dance sharing community news with rhythmic frame drumsPerformance 🇺🇾 Montevideo, UruguayNostalgia NightNoche de la Nostalgia Uruguay's nationwide retro music and dance celebration held every 24 AugustFestival 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 morePub quiz A weekly social trivia game played by teams at tables in pubs and barsGame 🇫🇷 France and 4 morePicnic A meal taken outdoors in a park or scenic spot, often shared with friends and family.Festival · Lunch 🇦🇷 Córdoba, ArgentinaCuarteto An upbeat partner dance and music tradition born in Córdoba, ArgentinaPerformance 🇬🇧 Pilton, United KingdomGlastonbury Festival A five-day summer performing arts festival held on Somerset farmlandFestival 🇰🇷 South KoreaHanji한지 The Korean craft of making durable paper from mulberry fiber and root mucilage.Craft 🇺🇬 UgandaKwanjula A formal marriage introduction ritual of the Baganda people in Uganda, where families meet to exchange gifts and seek blRite of passage 🇳🇬 Calabar, NigeriaCalabar Carnival An annual December street festival and cultural gathering held in Calabar, NigeriaFestival
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly EveryParampara

Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.