Meaningful and Fun Spring Traditions From Around the World

On the last day of May, daredevils in Gloucester, England gather at the top of a steep hill. They set loose a 7-pound round of Double Gloucester Cheese and as the cheese begins its tumble down the hill, the revelers launch themselves down the hill alongside the cheese. Bruises, bleeding and broken bones are all part of the fun, apparently, in this kooky celebration, which is called Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake.

Photography: Pinterest/BBC iPlayer

Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrate spring with Čimburijada—the Festival of Scrambled Eggs. Neighbors gather together at the crack of dawn on the first day of spring, to cook up several hundred eggs in enormous cast-iron pans. The day is spent noshing and chatting, and there’s music and games for the children.

In Mexico, one of the most popular ways to celebrate the Spring equinox is by gathering at the Teotihuacan Pyramid, Pyramid of the Sun, which is located northeast of Mexico City. To get closer to the sun, celebrants rise early in the morning to climb the 360 steps to the top of the pyramid. They wear white to absorb the good energy they believe the equinox brings.

Photography: Pinterest/TripSavvy

Bulgarians celebrate the advent of spring by exchanging Martenitsi bracelets in the days and weeks leading up to spring. The red and white fibers of the bracelets bring communities together and symbolize strength, health and happiness. When bracelet wearers see a first sign of spring, such as a flower blooming or the reappearance of a migratory bird, they remove the bracelet and tie it to a nearby tree.

Photography: Pinterest/Etsy

Holi is the Hindu Festival of Colors, which takes place on the day of the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna. That falls on March 25 this year. Celebrated throughout India, friends and families observe the end of winter, the coming of spring and rebirth by gathering together and throwing brightly colored powders on each other.

Iran’s Nowruz celebration is a bit more sedate, but equally meaningful. It’s celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Iranian calendar, which falls in April. Friends and families gather for food, music and dancing. A ceremonial table is laid with seven items representing spring, including spectacularly decorated eggs.

Photography: Pinterest/easygoiran