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HeritageThailand showcases Chud Thai craftsmanship in Paris ahead of UNESCO reviewFestivalsItalian Festival at the Mount celebrates heritage, community and a taste of the old country (79 photos)ArtsFamily Folk DanceHeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?HeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?WeddingsCalifornia city hall goes jurassic with dino wedding ceremonyCarnival28th Latino Heritage Parade and Festival Set for Today, Recognizing City’s ‘Unsung Heroes’WeddingsInternet sensation Mr Faisu gets married in traditional 'Nikah' ceremony, calls it a "blessing beyond words"Holy daysWhen is Diwali 2026? Key dates, significance, how to celebrateWeddingsArt of Betashar: Issatay Issabayev’s Lifelong Dialogue with Kazakh TraditionHeritageThailand showcases Chud Thai craftsmanship in Paris ahead of UNESCO reviewFestivalsItalian Festival at the Mount celebrates heritage, community and a taste of the old country (79 photos)ArtsFamily Folk DanceHeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?HeritageWhy is Kolkata’s Durga Puja recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage?WeddingsCalifornia city hall goes jurassic with dino wedding ceremonyCarnival28th Latino Heritage Parade and Festival Set for Today, Recognizing City’s ‘Unsung Heroes’WeddingsInternet sensation Mr Faisu gets married in traditional 'Nikah' ceremony, calls it a "blessing beyond words"Holy daysWhen is Diwali 2026? Key dates, significance, how to celebrateWeddingsArt of Betashar: Issatay Issabayev’s Lifelong Dialogue with Kazakh Tradition
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All traditions

2,291 traditions so far, best known first. 12,311 more are on the list to be written. Filter by region, kind and meal.

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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
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreShoe throwing The act of hurling footwear for sport, wedding luck, protest or overhead display.Folklore 🇮🇳 Varanasi, IndiaHead shaving in Hinduism Ritual tonsure for spiritual renewal, life transitions, and devotion in HinduismSpiritual 🇮🇱 IsraelFast of the Firstbornתַעֲנִית בְּכוֹרוֹת A Jewish fast day kept by firstborns on the eve of PassoverSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast 🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreLustratio An ancient Greek and Roman cleansing rite using processions and animal sacrifice.Spiritual 🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreLine-crossing ceremony A naval initiation rite marking a sailor's first voyage across the equatorRite of passage 🇫🇷 FranceMos Teutonicus A medieval European funerary custom of boiling bones to return nobles home for burialRite of passage 🇮🇱 Israel and 5 moreZeved habatזֶבֶד הַבָּת A Jewish naming ceremony for newborn girls, kept by Sephardi, Mizrahi and Ashkenazi communities.Rite of passage 🇮🇹 Italy and 4 moreRosalia An ancient Roman festival of decorating graves, statues, and standards with fresh flowersSpiritual · Feasts and festival meals 🇺🇸 United StatesRumspringaRumshpringa An adolescent period of courtship and social exploration in Amish communities.Rite of passage 🇮🇳 IndiaPumsavanaपुंसवन (Puṁsavana) A Hindu rite of passage held in the third or fourth month of pregnancy to celebrate fetal development.Rite of passage 🇬🇷 Athens, GreeceAmphidromiaτὰ Ἀμφιδρόμια An ancient Athenian family ritual welcoming a newborn around the household hearthRite of passage · Feasts and festival meals 🇺🇦 Ukraine and 8 moreVechornytsiвечорниці Evening gatherings of Ukrainian youth, with songs, jokes, games and winter divinationSeasonal 🇮🇳 IndiaVidyarambhamविद्यारम्भ A Hindu rite of passage introducing young children to reading, writing and the artsRite of passage 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreBengali Hindu weddingবাঙালি হিন্দু বিবাহ A Bengali Hindu wedding ceremony spanning days of turmeric rites, sacred vows, and welcoming rituals.Rite of passage · Feasts and festival meals 🇮🇳 IndiaRitu Kala SamskaramRitushuddhi A South Indian Hindu coming-of-age ceremony for girls after their first period.Rite of passage 🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreSecular coming-of-age ceremony A non-religious rite of passage for adolescents in Europe and North America, marking the transition to adulthood throughRite of passage 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFirst haircut A rite of passage marking a child's first shave or trim across many cultures and faiths.Rite of passage 🇺🇸 New York, United States and 5 moreBundling A traditional courtship practice where a couple shares a bed under supervision to ensure compatibility and accountabilitRite of passage 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan and 1 moreJeti ataЖеті ата A Kazakh custom requiring knowledge of seven direct ancestors to ensure healthy marriages and tribal identity.Folklore 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreBreeching A rite of passage when a young boy first wore trousers instead of a dress.Rite of passage 🇮🇳 Haridwar, IndiaAntam Sanskarਅੰਤਮ ਸੰਸਕਾਰ (Antam Sanskar) The final rites of passage in Sikhism, involving prayer, cremation, and the dispersal of ashes.Rite of passage 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreMayian A pre-wedding cleansing ritual in Punjabi traditions, using turmeric paste to prepare the couple for marriage.Rite of passage 🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreMystery of Crowning A ritual where crowns are placed on the heads of the bride and groom during marriage in Eastern Christian churches.Rite of passage 🇩🇪 Worms, Germany and 2 moreHollekreisch An Ashkenazi birth ritual where children name a newborn with a secular name.Rite of passage 🇮🇳 IndiaNaam Karanਨਾਮ ਕਰਨ A Sikh naming ceremony held at a Gurdwara to bless the child and choose their name.Rite of passage 🇮🇳 Mumbai, IndiaWeddings in India Marriage rites and festive gatherings celebrated across the diverse communities of India.Rite of passage 🇯🇵 Kyoto, Japan and 5 moreTeeth blackening A custom of dyeing teeth black to mark adulthood and beauty in parts of Asia and Oceania.Rite of passage 🇨🇳 China and 2 moreJi Li笄禮 The traditional Chinese coming-of-age hairpin ceremony for young womenRite of passage 🇵🇭 PhilippinesHarana A Filipino serenade where a suitor sings beneath his beloved's window at nightPerformance 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom and 1 moreMarriage vows The promises a couple speak to each other as they marryRite of passage 🇮🇳 IndiaDivja A Goan ritual where women carry oil lamps in a temple procession to fulfill vows.Spiritual 🇮🇹 ItalyDies lustricus An ancient Roman naming ceremony where a newborn was purified and given their first name.Rite of passage · Feasts and festival meals 🇨🇲 Bafoussam, CameroonNyang Nyang FestivalNyan-Nyang A four-month Bamileke harvest festival and initiation rite in western CameroonFestival 🇵🇸 Jerusalem, Palestine and 1 moreThursday of the Deadخميس الأموات A spring day of cemetery visits, prayer, and shared yellow breads across the LevantSpiritual · Sweets given and shared 🇳🇦 Outapi, NamibiaOlufuko A seven-day Aawambo initiation rite and festival held annually in Outapi, NamibiaRite of passage 🇺🇬 Mbale, UgandaImbalu The biennial rite of passage into adulthood observed by the Bamasaaba of UgandaRite of passage 🇨🇦 Toronto, CanadaCalling of an Engineerl'Engagement de l'ingénieur A private Canadian rite where engineers pledge ethical duty and receive an iron ringRite of passage 🇽🇰 Kosovo and 2 morePodruga A Balkan custom in which a childless wife agreed to a second wife joining the householdRite of passage 🇿🇦 South AfricaIsidwaba A knee-length leather skirt of cowhide or goatskin, worn by married Zulu womenDress 🇮🇳 Jammu, India and 1 moreChura A set of bridal bangles worn across South Asia at weddings and in early marriageDress 🇳🇵 Kathmandu, NepalTraditional Newar clothingनेवार समुदायमा भएको संस्कृति पहिरन The customary handwoven dress and ceremonial garments of Nepal's Newar peopleDress 🇩🇿 Tlemcen, AlgeriaChedda of Tlemcenشدة تلمسانية The bridal dress of Tlemcen, velvet and gold thread, worn with a jewelled headdressDress 🇮🇳 IndiaMadisarமடிசார் (Tamil) A nine-yard sari drape kept by Tamil Brahmin women for weddings, puja and mourningDress 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreAnand Karajਅਨੰਦ ਕਾਰਜ The Sikh wedding ceremony, with hymns sung as the couple circles the Guru Granth SahibRite of passage 🇮🇳 IndiaIndian wedding invitationनिमन्त्रण पत्र/पत्रिका Decorative ceremonial cards sent to announce marriages and invite guests across IndiaRite of passage 🇸🇰 SlovakiaName days in SlovakiaMeniny The Slovak tradition of celebrating personal name days alongside birthdaysSeasonal 🇺🇬 Mengo, UgandaEkisaakaate A royal Buganda cultural retreat teaching heritage, crafts, and manners to the youngRite of passage 🇮🇳 IndiaPolitical marriages in India Royal marriages arranged to seal treaties, peace and power in Indian historyRite of passage
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The weekly EveryParampara

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