May the 4th be with you!

Star Wars 2019 Yoda-01Gather up Jedi Padawans, Sith Apprentices, Droids, Rebel soldiers and Imperial stormtroopers alike! You are all invited to join the Star Wars Day celebration on 4 May!
Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas. The film usually opens with a running text that is started with “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” One of the main themes of Star Wars is the fight between the Rebel force and the tyrannical Empire. Continue reading

Hanami Across Japan

People in Japan! Are you ready for Hanami?

Hanami 2019 Tree-01Hanami, meaning flower viewing, is a Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of Sakura, the renowned Japanese cherry blossom. From end of March to early May, sakura tree will bloom all over Japan, and will last only for a week or two. That is why the sakura-zensen or blossom forecast announced each year by the weather bureau is watched carefully by Japanese people. Continue reading

St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick's Day 2019 Boy-01On 17 March people in Ireland and people of Irish heritage will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (for provincial government employees), and the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat. Saint Patrick’s Day or Feast of Saint Patrick commemorates Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Continue reading

White Day

White Day 2019 Boy-01In Japan, as well as other countries such as South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, 14 March will be celebrated as White Day. On it, men who received chocolate of love (honmei-choko) or courtesy chocolate (giri-choko) on Valentine’s Day will be expected to return the favor by giving gifts to the women. Popular White Day gifts are white chocolates, white cookies, marshmallow, white flowers, white jewelry, even white clothing such as lingerie. A man could also take the woman to a date. Continue reading

Carnaval do Brasil

Carnival 2019 Girl 1-01The Carnival of Brazil or Carnaval do Brasil is an annual Brazilian festival held between the Friday afternoon before Ash Wednesday and Ash Wednesday at noon, which marks the beginning of Lent, the forty-day period before Easter. During Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term “carnival”, from carnelevare, “to remove (literally, “raise”) meat.” In 2019, Carnaval do Brasil will be held on 1 March to 6 March. Continue reading

Carnevale di Venezia

Carnevale di Venezia 2019 Girl-01-01Let’s be prepared, because one of the biggest festival in the world is coming. Yes, it is time for Carnevale di Venezia or the Carnival of Venice! It is an annual festival held in Venice, Veneto, Italy that ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter, on Shrove Tuesday (Martedì Grasso or Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday. The festival is world-famous for its elaborate masks. In 2019, Carnevale di Venezia will takes place on 16 February until 5 March. Continue reading