Celebrating Spring Around the World
India
A student throws colored powder on another during the celebration of "Basanta Utsav," a regional name for the spring festival of Holi, in Calcutta, India on March 1, 2007. India celebrates Holi on the day of March's full moon. The festival marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. The tradition of drenching people in colors originated with the Indian god Krishna, who, as the legend goes, colored his mate's face because he was jealous of her fair complexion.
Scotland
Members of the Beltane Fire Society celebrate the coming of summer on Calton Hill, April 30, 2006. The procession takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland and revives the ancient Scottish and Irish Gaelic festival of Beltane, which is a Gaelic-Celtic word meaning "bright/sacred fire." Around 300 voluntary participants celebrate the end of winter and blossoming of spring with fire, revelry and drumming.
Washington, D.C.
Five-year-old Sophia Ebanks jumps to touch a cherry blossom in Washington, D.C., April 10, 2005. Thousands of tourists and local residents flock to see the cherry blossoms each year while the trees are in peak bloom -- usually the first week in April.
-- National Cherry Blossom Page
Republic of Georgia
Orthodox Christians attend an Easter service in Tbilisi, Georgia. This crowd holds candles in celebration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
-- Fast Facts: Holy Week and Easter
Japan
The heat of burning amulets shimmers over participants of the annual fire-walking festival in Hachioji, Japan. The event took place March 11, 2007 to mark the upcoming spring.
Vietnam
Vietnamese men stand beneath an old-style umbrella while watching a spring festival procession in Binh Minh village. The villagers turned out to celebrate the spring festival and enjoy a respite from the drab North Vietnamese winter.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz girls wearing traditional costumes celebrate the Persian New Year (known as "Noruz") at Kyrgystan's capital, Bishkek, on March 21, 2006. Noruz occurs on the vernal equinox -- the first day of spring. People celebrate Persian New Year in many countries of southwest and central Asia, including Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan. The word "Noruz" means "new day" in Persian.
Montana
Members of the Yellowstone Ballet Company perform a traditional Maypole dance in Livingston, Mont. The event is part of an annual May Day celebration. The Maypole dance dates back to medieval England, while May Day festivals probably originated in the spring fertility festivals of India and Egypt.
Spain
Penitents of "La Paz" (The Peace) brotherhood process during Holy Week in Seville, Spain. Hundreds of Easter processions take place in Spain during Holy Week, drawing thousands of visitors.
-- Fast Facts: Holy Week and Easter
Pennsylvania
Erin Alsop works her way through the Fairie Maze at the 15th annual Spoutwood Farm Fairie Festival in Glen Rock, Pa., on May 5, 2006. The festival celebrates the return of "the nature spirits" and hosts 70 arts and crafts vendors, performances by Celtic musicians, magicians and maypole dancers.
Mexico
People raise their hands, and torches, in order to receive the first sunlight of spring and get energy for the new season. This festival takes place on the spring equinox near the Sun Pyramid at the Teotihuacan Archeological site in Mexico City.
Germany
Elisa Marie Kraft walks under a tree decorated with 7,000 Easter eggs at the garden of Christa and Volker Kraft in Saalfeld, Germany. The Kraft family has decorated their trees for Easter for more than 20 years.
England
Competitors take part in a round of cheese rolling on Coopers Hill, in Gloucester, England. The annual tradition, which is thought to date back to Roman times, draws competitors from far afield to race a seven-pound Double Gloucester cheese down a near vertical slope. Injuries are commonplace, even forcing the cancelation of the event in the past.
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