Rites Around the World

In pre-Christian rural traditions dancers used to tour from house to house in villages while singing and dancing to ward off evil.

Around 80,000 people are expected in the city for the traditional New Year celebrations, which run over three days. Tickets have been bought for the event by people from over sixty different countries.

Tamu Loshar is the New Year of the Gurung community, an indigenous community who also call themselves "Tamu."

Similar ceremonies to mark Epiphany were held across Greece on river banks, seafronts and lakes. An Orthodox priest throws a cross into the water and swimmers race to be the first to retrieve it.

Traditionally, an Eastern Orthodox priest throws a cross in the river and it is believed that the one who retrieves it will be healthy through the year.

The Epiphany day, is a joyous day for Catholics in which they recall the journey of the Three Kings, or Magi, to pay homage to Baby Jesus.

Orthodox priests throughout the country bless the waters by throwing a cross into it as worshippers try to retrieve the cross. It is strongly believed that catching the cross brings health and prosperity to the person who catches it.

Most Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar on January 7, two weeks after most western Christian churches that abide by the Gregorian calendar.

The month-long festival, dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, involves the recitation of folk tales about miraculous feats performed by them in many Hindu households.

Thousands of Hindus, who comprise over eight percent of the 29 million Malaysia's population, participate in the annual Hindu thanksgiving festival in which devotees subject themselves to painful rituals in a demonstration of faith and penance held in honour of Lord Subramaniam. Thaipusam will be held on January 17.

The traditional festival of fire is known as 'Up Helly Aa'. The spectacular event takes place annually on the last Tuesday of January. The climax of the day comes with participants in full costume hauling a Viking longboat through the streets of Lerwick to the edge of town where up to 1000 people parade and throw their flaming torches into the galley.

During this month long festival, devotees recite Holy Scriptures dedicated to Hindu goddess Swasthani and Hindu god Lord Shiva. Unmarried women pray to get a good husband while those married pray for the longevity of their husbands by observing a month long fast during the festival.

The month-long festival, dedicated to God Madhavnarayan and Goddess Swasthani, involves the recitation of folk tales about miraculous feats performed by them in many Hindu households.

Millions across China are celebrating the arrival of the Lunar New Year, the year of the horse.