Spring is celebrated in many ways, whether by celebrating Easter, observing the spring equinox, or welcoming nature’s rebirth and the return of warm weather. Here is a list of 10 spring traditions from around the world that could inspire you to embrace the new season!
Martisor (Romania)
Martisor is celebrated every year on March 1st and signifies the beginning of spring. Women and young girls wear a brooch with an attached braided red-white string called a “Martisor.” Martisor represents the new season coming to life and is usually given to women by men as a sign of appreciation. The two braided strings also have a related meaning: red represents life (or spring), and white signifies purity (or winter). Martisor is worn for the first eight days of March, and after that, women tie the red-and-white string to a blossoming tree for good luck.
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Butter Lambs (Poland, Russia)
Butter Lambs are butter molds shaped like lambs, and they are a central piece of Eastern European and Central European tables. Today, you can buy butter lambs in stores, but traditionally, they are homemade. When you eat a butter lamb, you must start from the tail, leaving the head last.
Water Festival (Thailand)
The water Festival, or Songkran, takes place every year in Thailand. It marks the Thai New Year and occurs in April, Thailand’s hottest month. Water is a powerful symbol in Thai culture; it represents washing away the old year and welcoming the new one. During Songkran festivities, people take to the streets and throw buckets of water at each other in a cleansing ceremony. This is also a very popular celebration among tourists visiting Thailand at this time of the year.
Nowruz (Central Asia)
Nowruz, meaning “new day” in Persian, is a traditional Iranian way to welcome spring. It is celebrated around the spring equinox as a feast for nature’s rebirth. The main element of the Nowruz celebration is the festive table, which features seven ingredients associated with spring: dried fruit, apples, garlic, sumac, sprouts, pudding, and vinegar.
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Egg Decorating (many parts of the world)
Decorating eggs is a tradition found throughout the world. In many cultures, eggs symbolize rebirth and renewal, which is why they are associated with spring celebrations. In Eastern European countries, decorating eggs is an important part of Easter traditions. In many parts of Europe, this tradition has roots that precede Christianity. Today, decorating eggs for Easter comes in various ways: waxing, carving, painting, or adding different materials.
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Spring Equinox in Teotihuacán (Mexico)
In the springtime, people gather around the Teotihuacan Pyramid near Mexico City for a sun ceremony. Dressed in white shirts and arms raised to the sky, they celebrate the return of the sun and the energy of warm weather. Some even climb the steps to the pyramid’s top, believing this is how they get closer to the sun’s energy.
Balancing the Eggs (East Asia)
Balancing eggs is a tradition in Eastern Asia and is part of the Li Chun festival. During the spring equinox, people decorate eggs and then try to balance them—this is called the “egg-standing game.” It is believed that eggs can stand more easily when the sun sits exactly above the equator during this time. Also, if you successfully balance your egg, you will have luck in the coming year.
Festival of Scrambled Eggs (Bosnia)
In Zenica (Bosnia), eggs are cooked in large pans in the street to mark the start of the warm season. It’s a street party where everybody cooks scrambled eggs and is invited to taste them for free. To the Bosnians, eggs symbolize new life as a new season begins.
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Holi (India)
Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, is a traditional Indian festival that celebrates the return of spring and takes place every year in late February or March. The night before Holi, people gather to light bonfires, and the next day they take to the streets to start a colorful fight with colored powder (gulal). The festival is happening in many parts of the world and has become a cultural event.
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Sunrise ceremony at Stonehenge (England)
The first day of spring is celebrated at Stonehenge in England with a sunrise ceremony. People gather in light-colored robes to worship nature as it comes back to life and changes with the seasons. Similar gatherings occur at every season change: summer, fall, and winter.
