celebration

As winter arrives in the southern hemisphere, Brazilians celebrate ‘June Festivals’

Lifestyle & Belief

They’re called “Festas Juninas” — or June Festivals — and they are the heart of Brazilian culture this time of the year. What’s special about these festivals is that they’re generally not celebrated in big mega events, like Carnival in February, but they’re held in each town and community across the country. As Michael Fox reports from Florianopolis, in southern Brazil, these festivals spring from a deep well of history and broad mix of cultural influences passed from one generation to the next.

The reporter, Shuka Kalantari, records the sounds of a Persian New Year's celebration at her friend's home. Jumping over a small fire is a symbolic gesture to start a fresh new year.

Fire-jumping and eating ‘ash’ — let’s ring in the New Year, Persian-style

Lifestyle & Belief
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