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A guide to Songkran, Thailand’s annual New Year festival

8 April 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

Songkran marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is usually celebrated from April 13-15. It is filled with unique cultural traditions, making it an excellent time for Globe Aware volunteers to visit.

By Karla Cripps
April 5, 2024
CNN

On the surface, Thailand’s annual Songkran festival appears to be just one great big water fight.

Every April, people young and old take to the streets all over the country, armed with plastic guns and water buckets, and engage in hours-long battles from morning till dusk.

And while that’s certainly the most famous aspect of the celebrations, Songkran is filled with unique cultural traditions, making it an excellent time for travelers to visit.

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Advisers Giving Back: Mike Devlin and the Village of Tanyigbe

26 March 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

A pension risk consultant’s journey to Africa as a volunteer with Globe Aware evolved into a significant initiative for a remote village in Ghana, profoundly altering both the village’s prospects and the consultant’s own life.

A pension risk consultant’s volunteer trip to Africa became an impactful project for a small village in Ghana—and a life-changing experience for him.

By ALEX ORTOLANI
Art by JOHN CUNEO
March 26, 2024
PLANADVISER

When Mike Devlin turned 40, his one request for a gift was about giving: He wanted to fulfill a lifelong goal of doing volunteer work in Africa.

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Holi 2024: Date, history, significance, and how to celebrate the festival of colors

25 March 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

India, renowned for its lively festivities, celebrated Holi, the festival of colors, this past weekend. Globe Aware volunteers can find out what’s the meaning of this happy celebration.

Holi 2024: Date, history, significance, and how to celebrate the festival of colors

The Economic Times
Mar 23, 2024

Synopsis
Holi 2024: As vibrant festival of Holi arrives, it brings a period of renewal and positivity. Holi, a jubilant celebration of camaraderie, commemorates tales of love and bravery from Hindu mythology, fostering unity and joy. Celebrate with loved ones, organic colors, and traditional rituals, spreading love and forgiveness amidst festive treats.

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Air travel may be about to get better. Here’s what it means for your next flight.

4 March 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

Globe Aware volunteers and travel lovers can find out how air travel in the United States could soon improve dramatically!

Air travel may be about to get better. Here’s what it means for your next flight.

By Christopher Elliott
USA TODAY
March 1, 2024

Your next flight may get an upgrade.

No, not as in a bigger seat in the front of the cabin. It’s bigger than that — much bigger.

Air travel in the United States could soon improve dramatically. Here’s how:

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SAFETY TIPS FOR SPRING BREAKERS HEADED ABROAD

4 March 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

Spring break is already here, but before our Globe Aware volunteers hit the beach or hop on that plane, let’s talk safety tips. It’s crucial to keep safety tips in mind, especially when you’re traveling to unfamiliar places, so here’s how you can stay safe!

SAFETY TIPS FOR SPRING BREAKERS HEADED ABROAD

Spring Break is around the corner. Before you hit the beach or hop on a plane, let’s talk safety tips to ensure a memorable time.

By Aysia Morton
Feb 27, 2024
Travel Noire

Spring Break is around the corner. It’s time to forget about lectures and homework and think of unforgettable adventures. But before you hit the beach or hop on that plane, let’s talk safety tips.

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These Are The 13 All-Time Best Movies About Travel

20 February 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

The Oscars are coming up in a few weeks, and here are some of the best travel movies to celebrate! Do our Globe Aware volunteers recognize any of these movies, and do you have more to add!?

These Are The 13 All-Time Best Movies About Travel

By Gary Leff
February 18, 2024
View From The Wing

The best travel movies ever made is a mix of life up in the air (the art of traveling) and life on the ground (human drama unfolding in interesting places around the globe). The list of best movies about travel weighs heavily towards planes and airports but I’ve also given some thought to being in an unfamiliar place and growing as a person because of the places you’ve been.

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14 Valentine’s Day traditions from around the world

12 February 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

En Masse Marriages in the Philippines, snowdrop letters in Denmark, and more!? Globe Aware volunteers, find out how the rest of the world celebrates Valentine’s Day!

14 Valentine’s Day traditions from around the world

Find out how countries like France, Italy, Germany and others celebrate February 14 each year.

Jan. 6, 2023
By Barbara Bellesi Zito and Sarah Lemire
TODAY

Each year on Valentine’s Day, Americans shower friends, family and lovers with gifts, greeting cards and romantic gestures to let their special someones know just how much they’re loved.

But what about other countries around the world — what kinds of Valentine’s Day traditions do they commemorate? And how are they the same and how do they differ from V-Day celebrations in the U.S.?

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What does “Year of the Dragon” mean?

5 February 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

Across the globe, around 2 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year, an international holiday observed throughout many Asian countries. Each culture that celebrates has its own historically rich customs, traditions, and beliefs, which Globe Aware volunteers can learn about on a volunteer vacation.

We’re approaching the Year of the Dragon. What does that mean?

Olivia Munson
USA TODAY
Jan. 27, 2024

Some consider the start of the new year to be when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31. While this is true for those who follow the Gregorian calendar, many others celebrate the new year on a different day.

Across the globe, around 2 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year, an international holiday observed throughout many Asian countries, but not all. The U.S. has its own unique celebrations.

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UNESCO declares Thailand’s Songkran festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage

8 January 2024
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

UNESCO declares Thailand’s Songkran festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage

TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Dec 11, 2023

Come April 2024, Thailand will have a perfect reason to celebrate Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year in a much bigger way than ever before. Very recently, UNESCO formally recognized the Songkran in Thailand as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, and Globe Aware volunteers can take part by booking a volunteer vacation during that time! 

Synopsis

UNESCO formally recognised the Songkran in Thailand, Traditional Thai New Year Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. This designation solidifies the cultural significance and importance of the Songkran festival. For those curious, Songkran is a festival that is celebrated in Thailand every year in the month of April.

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Different New Year’s Traditions Around the World

26 December 2023
Globe Aware
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Categories: Globe Aware news

Fireworks and champagne might be common worldwide, but have our Globe Aware volunteers heard of these other New Year’s traditions?

14 Different New Year’s Traditions Around the World

By Chris Ciolli, Jessie Beck
December 15, 2023
AFAR

Although much of the world festively rings in the new year each December 31, we don’t all celebrate the same way. In the United States, we all know the traditions: the ball drop at Times Square, sharing a kiss with a loved one at the stroke of midnight, and countless amounts of fireworks. But elsewhere around the globe, traditions can include everything from giving your house a thorough cleaning to cracking open a fresh pomegranate.

From Spain to Japan, read on to learn about 14 different New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe.

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