Religious Festivals

A renowned visiting Chinese dancer from Wellington's sister city Xiamen is collaborating with renowned New Zealand choreographer Diedre Tarrant (Footnote Dance) to open Chinese New Year at the… Audio

For the 1.4 billion Chinese in the world, it's New Year today. Audio

Mike Gourley profiles the Jewish festival of Hannukah. Audio

Why do they decorate Christmas trees with spider webs in the Ukraine? And the country where Christmas dinner includes deep fried caterpillars. Author Joey Green knows all about the weird side of… Audio

Amelia Nurse finds out about Romania's fascinating Christmas traditions and joins the newly arrived Floroiu family to learn how to cook something indulgently festive. Audio

In France, dinner on Christmas Eve is the most important meal of the season, and steeped in tradition. For Assyrians, a type of cookie called kleach is the feature of their Christmas cuisine. Amelia… Audio

Popularly known as the 'festival of lights', Diwali stretches over five days and this year falls in early November. It's a time for families to light small lamps around their homes to brighten what… Audio

With Easter soon upon us, church leaders around the country are busy preparing their communities for the most important festival in the Christian calendar. But the question is 'how do you plan for… Audio

Brigid Gallagher, Vice President of the NZ Conservators of Cultural Materials Association. Audio

David Steemson examines the call by Muslims in New Zealand for more flexibility in observing religious holidays. Muslims think they should be able to swap some of the public holidays in this country… Audio

A classic recording from 1951, of a farmer's wife from Wanganui who shares her tale of Christmas on the farm Audio

Asian Report brings us a two part special celebrating the much loved Indian cultural tradition of Diwali, Festival of Lights, 2011, starting with a giant shadow puppet troupe from Chennai, Southern… Audio

Early in November, millions of people around the world, and especially in Latin America, celebrate the Day of the Dead. Among them are two Latin Americans currently in New Zealand, Mayra Gomez from… Audio

This is the middle of the Jewish celebration of Sukkot or the Festival of Booths. Professor Paul Morris talks with Maureen Garing about this important time. Audio

Dr Art Buehler tells Maureen Garing about the practices and beliefs surrounding the sacred Muslim month, Ramadan. Audio

The celebration of Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana, falls this year on 19 and 20 September. Maureen Garing talks with Professor Paul Morris about this important festival. Audio

Holi - the "festival of colour" celebrated in India, and by Indian communities worldwide, New Zealand included. Audio

Last week Indian communities in NZ and elsewhere observed a day singled out for brothers and sisters - "Raksha Bandan". Audio