Deepavali - the festival of Lights may have special significance for the Hindus worldwide, associated as it is with the victory of good over evil, but worldwide too the festival is celebrated at different times of the year by different communities and countries, each with their own interpretation of the festival. If in China its known as the Lantern Festival heralding the Chinese New Year, the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt celebrates its Christmas in the month of January by lighting lamps and candles. Momentous occasions such as the storming of the Bastille become reasons for fireworks display in France while UK chooses the Guy Fawkes Night to light the National bonfires. And there is more. Find out what makes the world glow...

Hanukkah: Hanukkah (or Chanukah as it is also referred to) is the Jewish Festival of Lights dating back to 165 B.C., when the Jews defeated the Syrians after a three-year bloodbath. The eight-day celebrations commencing on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (either November/December) symbolise the Re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago. When the time came to rekindle the eternal light in the temple lamp, there was only enough oil for the lamp to burn one day, but miraculously, it burned for eight days till more undefiled oil could be obtained. The Jews relive that early brush with divinity by lighting one candle for each day of the celebration in a figure called a Menorah. The Menorah is a candleholder for nine candles. Using the middle candle – the Shamash (or the servant light) – one candle is lit each night of Hanukkah and ending with eight on the final evening. Modern Jewish families use the occasion to give gifts, sing songs, pray and enjoy special dinners, not unlike the bonhomie that permeates our very own Diwali.

Chinese New Year and the Lantern festival: The New Year is the most important of all Chinese festivals. It is a time of centuries old tradition. The date of the New Year falls somewhere between late January and late February, depending on the Lunar (moon) calendar.

The celebration of Chinese New Year is a month long observance that begins on the sixteenth day of the last month of the old year and culminates on the fifteenth day of the first month of the new year with the celebration called Yuan Hsiao Chie the Festival of the Night of the First Full Moon.

In English, this celebration has, over time, come to be known as the Lantern Festival, due to the custom of carrying illuminated lanterns outside to parks and temples. There are many stories about how the festival first began. Some people believe that a young girl who worked for Emperor Ming Huang tricked the Emperor into having a great festival so she could go and visit her family. The Emperor enjoyed the festival so much that he made it a yearly event. He built 30 huge lantern towers in the shape of different animals like the tiger, leopard and dragon. The festival was also thought to have been started to celebrate the start of the better weather after the cold and dark days of winter. Another belief is that the lanterns were able to guide spirits back to the spirit world.

Traditionally, lanterns are made of bamboo and are illuminated with candles. Now, however, the more aesthetically pleasing bamboo lanterns have mostly given way to durable, brightly colored plastic lanterns. Lit by flashlights, they take the form of cars, boats, and airplanes among others. When seen in a park by the thousands, even these modern lanterns are a spectacular sight.

Some lanterns bear riddles. The origins of this practice are rooted in myth. It is said that in ancient times, an arrogant mandarin criticized a Chinese merchant named Wang Shao for his poor clothing. Wang Shao decided to take revenge on the mandarin on the night of the Lantern Festival by presenting him with a lantern bearing this riddle:

‘Its head is sharp, body slight, and it is as white as silver. Its weight is light, has eyes on its tail. It sees only clothing not men.’

The mandarin was infuriated, thinking that the riddle described him. Having taken his revenge, Wang Shao explained that the answer was a needle.

Another popular event during Chinese New Year is the Rocket Festival held in the Taiwanese village of Yen Shui, near Tainan. Yen Shui was a prosperous river port until, about 190 years ago; it suffered a deadly plague that killed scores of villagers. Kuan Yu, the god of war, was asked by the remaining townspeople to put a stop to what they called "the Wind of Evil."

Kuan Yu ordered the villagers to combat the plague with fireworks, which were set off in a three-day battle against evil that ended on the Night of the First Full Moon. The villagers were victorious, and the plague lifted. The Rocket Festival still is held annually in Yen Shui but has been shortened to one night of complete chaos, when all types of rockets fly in every direction from innumerable launchers. The displays take every conceivable shape: animals, cars, tanks, and even god Kuan Yu himself. All participants and spectators wear full-visored motorcycle helmets, heavy clothes, and gloves as protection against the ballistic onslaught.

Los Posados: Mexico, and much of Latin America, celebrates the season of the Nativity with several holiday events, including the eight days before Christmas known as Las Posadas. Each night, children and their families reenact the biblical story of Mary and Joseph trying to find lodging in Bethlehem as they wander from inn to inn. In fact, Posada itself means “inn”.

The townspeople carry life-size statues (or sometimes live models) of Mary and Joseph through the lighted streets going from house to house singing a song requesting entry. They are repeatedly turned away until they reach the house where the festivities of the night are being held. Once that house is found, they are welcomed in to join the celebration and served bunuelos (a type of fried pastry) and other refreshments. Children traditionally break a pinata – a hanging decorated ornament containing candy and fruit – at the end of the evening.

St Lucia's Day: Scandinavian winters are harsh and there are only a few hours of sunlight each day. According to folk tradition, December 13th follows the longest night of the year in Sweden and Norway. Celebrated in Finland, Italy, and the Caribbean Islands as well, the day’s honours belong to St. Lucia, patron saint of light. Based upon the legend of a young Sicilian girl who lived more than 1,700 years ago, the oldest girl in the family is declared St. Lucia and dresses up in a white robe with a red sash and wears a crown of lingonberry twigs and lit candles. Lucia symbolizes light and growth for human and beast as she emerges out of the darkness of winter. Incidentally this also happens to be the day the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo.

Another Scandinavian custom meant especially for the children, on the eve of December 13, is to write the word Lussi on doors, fences, and walls. In ancient times the purpose of this practice was to announce to the demons of winter that their reign was broken on Saint Lucy's Day, that the sun would return again and the days become longer. "Lucy fires" used to be burned in many parts of northern Europe on December 13. Into the bonfires people would throw incense, and while the flames rose, trumpets and flutes played to celebrate the changing of the sun's course.

Kwanzaa: Kwanzaa in Swahili means “first fruit.” Drawing on the harvest celebrations throughout many parts of Africa, Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga of UCLA, created a new holiday for African-Americans known as Kwanzaa on December 26, 1966. Kwanzaa celebrates the black family and is based on seven principles or themes, symbolised by candles that are placed in a candleholder called a kinara. Each night, a candle is lit and families talk about the meaning of one of the following principles: 1) umoja/unity; 2) kujichagulia/self-determination; 3) ujima/collective work and responsibility; 4) ujamaa/cooperative economics; 5) nia/purpose; 6) kuumba/creativity; and 7) imani/faith.

While traditional African costumes, food and music recreate the external trappings of black heritage the kinara itself does much more. The colours of the seven kinara candles – three green candles for the forests, jungles and hills of Africa; three red candles for the blood Africans have shed for freedom; and a center black candle symbolising the dark skin of the people – celebrate and reaffirm the strengths of the African-American community.

Le Re'veillon: In Canada and France, a large candle is lit on Christmas Eve symbolizing Christ, Light of the World. The candle is left to burn all night.

Loy Krathong: During the full moon in the twelfth lunar month (usually in November), Thailand celebrates a Buddhist holiday showing gratitude to the many rivers that criss-cross the land. Lotus-shaped vessels known as krathongs are created from banana leaves and filled with fruits, flowers, incense, and candles. The incense and candles are lit, and after making a wish, the krathongs are set afloat on the river. The sight of innumerable points of light twinkling in the dark as they drift along is breathtaking to say the least.

Moravian Lovefeast: In the Moravian tradition, Lovefeasts are celebrated throughout the year including the Christmas Lovefeast. In this celebration, congregants gather in the sanctuary to listen to carols and a message by the pastor. While the hymns are sung, sweet Lovefeast buns are passed along the pews followed by steaming cups of heavily milked coffee or hot chocolate for the children. As the evening concludes, the parishners take their lighted beeswax candles into the evening darkness.

Carnival: Carnival was originally a final feast before the forty-day fast of Lent. The word itself comes from the Latin words comem levare meaning - to take away meat - and so to cornelevarium. The main events of carnival have always taken place on Shrove Tuesday that is often called Mardi Gras meaning Fat Tuesday.

Carnival is still celebrated in many different ways around the world. International carnivals include -
Battle of the Flowers – Venice and Rome, Italy; Jersey, Channel Isles; Nice, France.

Mardi Gras – New Orleans, United States; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; West Indies.

Notting Hill Carnival – London, England.

Colour, lights, pageants and spectacular firework displays are integral to all carnival finales.

Christmas: Lights make up a big part of Christmas celebrations all across the world. The interiors and exteriors of homes and businesses establishments glow with this symbol of good will. While celebrations are so varied, it would be impossible to explain them all, there are some that deserve special mention:

Festival of Light in Egypt: The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on the 6th and 7th of January, with special lamps and candles decorating churches. Candles, representing the ones Joseph used to protect Mary when Jesus was born, are given to the poor. During the four weeks of Advent in Egypt, a candle is lit each week.

Festival of Light in the Philippines: The only predominantly Christian country in all of Asia, Philippines marks its Christmas with “parols” or star lanterns. During a procession recalling Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter held on Christmas Eve, members carry "parols" to light their way. Parols, small and big, light up Filipino homes and contests are often held to pick the most beautiful of the lot. In fact the secret of making prize-winning lanterns is jealously guarded and handed down from generation to generation within the same family.

Festival of Light in China: Christians, though a handful in China, also celebrate the birth of Christ by lighting paper lanterns in their houses. Christmas trees called “Trees of Light” are decked with paper chains, flowers, and lanterns.

Fireworks during celebrations

Independence Day: American Independence Day on the 4th July celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence drawn up by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Celebrated today with street parties and parades, firework displays and outings to the country and beach.

Bastille Day: National holiday in France to commemorate the storming of the Bastille prison on 4th July 1789 – one of the earliest events of the French Revolution. Celebrations include parades, bands, firework displays and street parties and dances. 'La Marseillaise' is the National Anthem of France.

Chinese New Year: A two-week long celebration in January or February. Years are named on a 12-year cycle after the twelve animals associated with Buddha. The festivities include an outdoor Feast of Lanterns and the magnificent Lion Dance. Firecrackers are let off to scare away the lion and other spirits and demons

Bonfire Night: A celebration remembering Guy Fawkes’ plot to blow up King James-I and the English Houses of Parliament in 1605. Children in Britain and the Commonwealth countries collect 'money for the guy' – a stuffed figure to represent Guy Fawkes – and on the night of November 5th the guy is burnt on top of a bonfire. Fireworks are let off and parties are held round the bonfire with lots of special food.

Some modern light festivals:

The Edison Festival of Light: It began as a tribute to commemorate the life and achievements of Fort Myers’ most famous citizen, Thomas Alva Edison. Sixty-four years later, it has developed into one of Southwest Florida’s greatest celebrations. The Edison Festival of Light includes exciting events including the annual City of Palms Block Party, the Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science and Inventors Fairs, the Sprint Yellow Pages Junior Events, the three-day Crafts on the River, The Home Depot Edison Festival of Light 5K Race – a nationally acclaimed run, The Stadium and Fireworks Shows and the spectacular SunTrust Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, one of the largest night-time parades in America.

Winter Festival of Lights (November 1, 2002 - January 5, 2003): In 1985 a holiday tradition began at Oglebay Resort and spread throughout the city of Wheeling, West Virginia. That tradition is the Winter Festival of Lights/City of Light celebration.

The first year, displays and landscape lighting covered about 125 acres over a three-mile drive throughout the resort. Since then, the show has grown into one of the largest light shows in the US, covering more than three hundred acres over a six-mile drive throughout the resort. Downtown Wheeling features dozens of homes, shops and business establishments ablaze in lights.