Summer Worldwide Traditions

Like most things, my views on summer have changed since I was a child. One of my earliest memories is my aunt knowing how much I loved the water, setting up a kiddie pool in the front yard, and I still remember feeling the sun on my skin back then; it didn’t ease me in the least. I wonder two things: Either my body handled the heat much better, since we only had fans, or the world is getting hotter, which, from research, we know is the case. I have some curious questions about summer, like, does it ever snow in summer? Or why do our nails grow quicker in this season? However, for today, I’m sticking with summer traditions worldwide.

Dragon Boat Festival, China

It takes place during the month of June; it’s a festival that’s over 2,000 years old. The reason for the celebration is the life and death of the Chinese scholar and poet Qu Yuan. In 2008, China made this day a public holiday, and in 2009, it was added to the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage. The famous dragon boat races. These boats can be anywhere from 40 to 100 feet long and can sit 80 rowers. The races symbolise bringing the dragons to life and laying them to rest after the race finishes.

Bastille Day, France | July 14

It is also known as the French Republic, celebrated on the 14^th of July. This holiday marks the turning point in the French Revolution in July 1789. The Eiffel Tower is lit up at night, and there’s a military procession that goes down the long Champs-Élysées.

Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival, Tokyo

It takes place during the last weekend of July, and the fireworks are a symbol of the crisis in 1732, to remember the lives of people who lost their lives in that era. The origins of this festival started a year later. Interestingly, it didn’t become an annual event until 1978.

I know this post is on the shorter side, but I don’t want to overwhelm my hand since I can’t bring myself to quit blogging.