Look to the Light: Festivals of Light from Around the World

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is a major Hindu celebration symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Families illuminate their homes with oil lamps and candles, as well as decorate their floors with vibrant rangoli patterns—traditional Indian designs created using materials like colored powders, rice, or flowers. The festival is marked by prayers, feasts, fireworks, and the exchange of gifts.

This week-long cultural celebration is held from December 26 to January 1, and honors African heritage and traditions. Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga—an American activist, author, and professor of Africana studies—Kwanzaa is centered around seven principles known as the Nguzo Saba, which include unity, self-determination, and collective work. Each night, a candle is lit on the kinara, Swahili for “candle holder.” Families also celebrate with traditional African music, storytelling, and a shared meal.

The Yi Peng Lantern Festival is a beloved annual tradition in northern Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, where thousands of glowing lanterns are released into the sky. Celebrated during the full moon of the 12th lunar month, the festival symbolizes letting go of misfortunes and making wishes for the future. People come from far and wide—even from around the world—to watch as the night sky is illuminated by a sea of peacefully floating lights.

Yule is a traditional winter festival with roots in ancient Norse and Germanic cultures, marking the winter solstice and the return of longer days after the cold dark of winter. Modern Yule celebrations often include lighting candles, decorating a Yule log, and honoring nature and ancestral Celtic traditions. Many Yule customs, like wreaths, feasting, and gift-giving, have influenced Christmas traditions today.

An ancient Inca festival held in honor of Inti, the sun god, Inti Raymi commemorates the winter solstice and the start of a new year in the Andes. Traditionally observed in Cusco, Peru, the festival features colorful processions, music, dancing, and a reenactment of ancient Incan rituals. Today, Inti Raymi is both a celebration of modern-day Peru as well as a tribute to the country’s rich Inca heritage.