Spring is a time of renewal, joy, and cultural celebration across the world. Many countries and communities mark the changing of the seasons with vibrant festivals, honouring traditions that date back centuries.
At Remitly, we’re inspired by the diverse ways our customers celebrate spring, from Bengali New Year to Ramadan and Semana Santa. Read on to discover some of the most significant spring festivals worldwide, including colourful parades, water fights, and ancient rituals.
Bengali New Year
Where it’s celebrated: Bangladesh and parts of India
Known as Pahela Baishakh, Bengali New Year is the first day of the Bengali calendar and is widely celebrated in Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam. The holiday, which falls on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April in India, has deep ties to the spring harvest season.
Festivities include grand processions (Mangal Shobhajatra), fairs (Boishakhi Mela), gift exchanges, music, and traditional dancing. Many people of Bengali heritage living abroad mark the occasion by sending money or gifts to loved ones back home.
Buddha’s Birthday
Where it’s celebrated: East and South Asia
Buddha’s Birthday commemorates the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Celebrations vary across Buddhist communities but often include lantern displays, temple visits, and public processions.
This important day follows the lunisolar calendar, meaning it typically falls in April or May. Devotees celebrate by gathering with family for communal meals and offering prayers at temples.
Dia dos Namorados
Where it’s celebrated: Brazil
While much of the world celebrates Valentine’s Day in February, Brazil’s version—Dia dos Namorados—takes place on 12 June, coinciding with St. Anthony’s Day, known for its associations with love and matchmaking.
Couples celebrate by exchanging gifts, enjoying romantic dinners, and spending quality time together. The late spring timing makes it a vibrant occasion in Brazil’s warm climate.
Easter
Where it’s celebrated: Worldwide
Easter is one of the most widely observed Christian holidays, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most Christians follow the Gregorian calendar and observe Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox. Meanwhile, Orthodox Christian communities celebrate Easter based on the Julian calendar, often at a later date.
In the UK, Easter traditions include church services, egg hunts, and the consumption of chocolate eggs. Elsewhere, celebrations range from parades and processions to unique local customs, such as the Vatican’s grand Easter mass.
Hanami
Where it’s celebrated: Japan
Japan’s iconic cherry blossom festival, Hanami, marks the arrival of spring with breathtaking floral displays. The fleeting beauty of sakura (cherry blossoms) is a major theme in Japanese culture, symbolising the impermanence of life.
During Hanami, friends and families gather in parks to admire the blossoms, enjoy picnics, and partake in seasonal festivities. This tradition has spread to other parts of the world, with cherry blossom festivals celebrated in the UK and beyond.
Holi
Where it’s celebrated: India and Hindu communities worldwide
Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, celebrates the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. It is one of the most joyful Hindu festivals, marked by throwing coloured powders, water fights, and lively music.
Holi takes place during the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, usually in March. While it is most prominent in India, Hindu communities in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere also celebrate with vibrant events.
Nowruz
Where it’s celebrated: Central Asia and the Middle East
Nowruz, meaning “new day” in Persian, is a festival welcoming the vernal equinox, celebrated for over 3,000 years. It symbolises new beginnings and prosperity for the year ahead.
Key traditions include setting up a Haft Sin table with symbolic items, spring cleaning, and gathering with loved ones. Fire-jumping rituals on the eve of Nowruz are also common in some cultures.
Passover
Where it’s celebrated: Jewish communities worldwide
Passover (Pesach) is an important Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The celebration lasts seven to eight days, depending on tradition, and includes the removal of leavened foods (chametz) from homes.
The most significant ritual is the Seder, a festive meal where families recount the story of Passover and partake in symbolic foods.
Ramadan
Where it’s celebrated: Muslim communities worldwide
Ramadan is a sacred month in Islam, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset as an act of spiritual reflection. It marks the period when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Each evening, the fast is broken with iftar, a meal shared with family and friends. The end of Ramadan is celebrated with Eid al-Fitr, a joyous festival featuring prayers, feasting, and acts of charity.
Semana Santa
Where it’s celebrated: Spain and Latin America
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a significant event in Spanish-speaking countries, marking the lead-up to Easter. The festival features grand religious processions, re-enactments, and flower-adorned streets.
In Mexico, celebrations include carnival-style events, while in Guatemala, intricately designed carpets made from coloured sawdust decorate the streets.
Sham El-Nessim
Where it’s celebrated: Egypt
Sham El-Nessim, dating back to ancient Egypt, marks the beginning of spring and is observed on the Monday after Easter. Egyptians celebrate by spending the day outdoors with family, enjoying traditional foods such as salted fish and onions.
Egg decoration is also a long-standing tradition associated with this festival.
Songkran Festival
Where it’s celebrated: Thailand
Songkran is Thailand’s New Year festival, celebrated with nationwide water fights. The splashing of water symbolises cleansing away misfortunes and welcoming good luck.
This lively event also involves temple visits, merit-making, and spending time with family.
Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling
Where it’s celebrated: Gloucester, England
A uniquely British spring tradition, the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling event sees participants chase a wheel of cheese down a steep hill in Gloucestershire. The race is both thrilling and chaotic, attracting spectators and daring competitors from around the world.
Canadian Tulip Festival
Where it’s celebrated: Ottawa, Canada
Held in May, this festival celebrates Canada’s historical ties with the Netherlands. The tradition began after the Dutch Royal Family gifted tulip bulbs to Canada as thanks for sheltering them during World War II.
Today, over a million tulips bloom in Ottawa, drawing visitors to admire the vibrant floral displays.
Celebrate Spring Around the World
No matter where you are, spring is a season of renewal and joy. From the bright colours of Holi to the reflective fasting of Ramadan, cultures around the world welcome the season in diverse and meaningful ways.
How do you celebrate spring? Share your traditions with us!
