This fall, we’re taking you on a delicious journey through:
🪔 Diwali’s Festival of Lights & sweet traditions
🎃 Halloween’s 2,000-year journey from turnips to pumpkins
💀 Día de los Muertos beautiful celebration of memory
🌕 China’s Mid-Autumn Festival & the legend of Chang’e
Did you know jack-o’-lanterns used to be carved from TURNIPS? Or that mooncakes symbolize family reunion? Every festival food has a story!
New Year's Food Traditions – Yum But Why?
Welcome to our companion blog post for Episode 3 of Yum But Why! We explored Diwali, Halloween, Día de los Muertos, and the Mid-Autumn Festival in our podcast, but there are so many more beautiful fall celebrations around the world. Here’s your complete guide to learning more about these festivals with your family.
Recommended Books by Age Group
We’ve curated lists of books written by authors from these cultures to ensure authentic representation and storytelling. Remember, the best way to learn about a culture is from people who live it!
DIWALI BOOKS
Ages 2-5:
- “A Kids Book About Diwali” by Chhavi Arya Bhargava – Written by an Indian American author and former teacher, this accessible introduction explains what Diwali is and how everyone can participate
- “Diwali” by Hannah Eliot, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan – Part of the Celebrate the World series
- “Binny’s Diwali” by Thrity Umrigar, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani – A beautiful story about a girl celebrating Diwali in America
- “The Diwali Gift” by Shweta Chopra & Shuchi Mehta – A lively picture book about three monkeys preparing for Diwali.
Ages 6-9:
- “Light, Camera, Diwali!” by Amita Roy Shah – Engaging story that explains the significance of Diwali and the legend of Lord Rama
- “Shubh Diwali!” by Chitra Soundar – portrayal of Diwali celebrations
- “Divali Rose” by Vashanti Rahaman – Set in Trinidad, showing how Diwali is celebrated in different parts of the world
Ages 10+:
- “Aru Shah and the End of Time” by Roshani Chokshi – Adventure novel incorporating Hindu mythology and Diwali elements
- “Festival of Lights” by Rina Singh – A nonfiction book with photos showing how Diwali is celebrated in different countries.
HALLOWEEN BOOKS
Ages 2-5:
- “Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson – A kind witch and her companions
- “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything” by Linda Williams
- “Five Little Pumpkins” by Dan Yaccarino – Based on the classic rhyme
- “Pick a Pumpkin” by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis – A cozy story about choosing and carving pumpkins.
Ages 6-9:
- “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (adapted versions for kids) by Washington Irving
- “Bone Soup” by Cambria Evans – A Día de los Muertos and Halloween crossover tale
- “The Haunted Library” series by Dori Hillestad Butler – A friendly ghost mystery series.
Ages 10+:
- “The Halloween Tree” by Ray Bradbury – Explores Halloween’s origins across cultures
- “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” by Alvin Schwartz – Classic spooky anthology
- “Small Spaces” by Katherine Arden – Middle-grade horror perfect for Halloween season
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS BOOKS
Ages 2-5:
- “Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos: A Bilingual Book” by Marisa Boan – Easy-to-read bilingual introduction
- “Día de los Muertos” by Hannah Eliot, illustrated by Jorge Gutierrez – Part of the Celebrate the World series
- “Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras” by Duncan Tonatiuh – Award-winning picture book about artist José Guadalupe Posada
- “Mi Familia Calaca / My Skeleton Family” by Cynthia Weill – A playful bilingual introduction to Day of the Dead traditions.
Ages 6-9:
- “I Remember Abuelito: A Day of the Dead Story” by Janice Levy and Loretta Lopez – Bilingual tale of a girl honoring her grandfather
- “Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of the Dead” by George Ancona – Photo essay following a real Mexican boy’s celebration
- “The Remembering Day / El Día de los Muertos” by Pat Mora – Poetry celebrating the holiday
- “Clatter Bash!: A Day of the Dead Celebration” by Richard Keep – A colorful, onomatopoeic celebration of traditions.
Ages 10+:
- “Angels Ride Bikes and Other Fall Poems” by Francisco X. Alarcón – Poetry collection celebrating Latino culture and fall traditions
- “They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems” by David Bowles – A novel in verse by a Mexican American author, includes Día de los Muertos themes.
- “Shadowshaper” by Daniel José Older – YA fantasy rooted in Afro-Latinx traditions, featuring ancestor connections.
- “Beyond the Gates of Fire” by Jorge Argueta – Poetry connecting Indigenous/Mesoamerican traditions with remembrance.
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL BOOKS
Ages 2-5:
- “Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival” by Grace Lin – Beautiful introduction by acclaimed Chinese American author
- “Round Is a Mooncake” by Roseanne Thong, illustrated by Grace Lin – Explores shapes through Asian cultural objects
- “Moon Festival Wishes” by Jillian Lin, illustrated by Shi Meng – Story about making mooncakes
- “A Big Mooncake for Little Star” by Grace Lin – Caldecott Honor book inspired by the phases of the moon.
Ages 6-9:
- “The Moon Lady” by Amy Tan – From the author of “The Joy Luck Club,” about a grandmother’s Moon Festival memories
- “Lin Yi’s Lantern: A Moon Festival Tale” by Brenda Williams – Story about a boy preparing for the festival
- “Mooncakes” by Loretta Seto – Celebrates family and tradition during Mid-Autumn Festival
Ages 10+:
- “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin – Newbery Honor Book featuring Chinese folklore and moon stories
- “Starry River of the Sky” by Grace Lin – Companion novel with beautiful storytelling about the moon
- “When the Sea Turned to Silver” by Grace Lin – Another beautiful fantasy incorporating Chinese culture
- “The Shadow Hero” by Gene Luen Yang – Graphic novel with Chinese American cultural themes (not specific to the festival but rooted in heritage storytelling).
🎥 Watch & Learn
Here are some family-friendly videos showing how traditional festival foods are made:
- How Mooncakes Are Made (Mid-Autumn Festival)
- How to Make Pan de Muerto
- How Sugar Skulls Are Made
- Rangoli Art for Diwali
More Fall Festivals to Explore
While we focused on four major festivals in our episode, autumn is packed with celebrations worldwide! Here are some others your family might enjoy learning about:
Sukkot (Jewish Festival)
Usually September/October This week-long harvest festival celebrates the fall harvest and commemorates the 40 years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert. Families build temporary shelters called sukkahs and share meals together. Traditional foods include stuffed vegetables, honey cake, and fruits.
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving)
Usually September/October Korea’s biggest holiday is a three-day celebration of the autumn harvest. Families prepare songpyeon (rice cakes shaped like half-moons), visit ancestral graves, and share traditional foods. The holiday emphasizes gratitude and family connections.
Thanksgiving (North American)
Fourth Thursday in November (US) / Second Monday in October (Canada) A harvest celebration focused on gratitude, family gatherings, and feasting. Traditional foods include turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. The holiday has complex origins involving Indigenous peoples and European settlers.
Harvest Festival/Harvest Home (British)
Late September/Early October Traditional British celebration marking the end of harvest season. Churches are decorated with food, and families bake special harvest loaves. It’s a time to give thanks for the year’s crops.
Oktoberfest (German)
Late September to Early October Originally a wedding celebration in Munich, this has become a global harvest festival featuring traditional Bavarian food, music, and community gathering. Family-friendly versions focus on traditional foods like pretzels, sausages, and apple strudel.
Community Connections
Want to experience these festivals firsthand? Here are some ideas:
- Visit Local Cultural Centers: Many cities have Indian cultural centers, Chinese community centers, or Mexican cultural institutes that host festival celebrations open to the public
- Check Local Bakeries: Asian bakeries sell mooncakes in September/October; Mexican bakeries offer pan de muerto and sugar skulls in late October/early November; Indian grocers have fresh festival sweets during Diwali
- Attend Community Festivals: Many cities host public Diwali celebrations, Día de los Muertos festivals, and Halloween events
- Library Programs: Public libraries often host cultural celebration programs during festival seasons
- School Celebrations: Many schools now celebrate diverse fall festivals – volunteer to share your own traditions or learn about others!
Final Thoughts
Food is one of the most welcoming ways to learn about different cultures. Every festival sweet, every carved pumpkin, every mooncake carries thousands of years of tradition, love, and community. We hope this guide helps your family explore and celebrate the beautiful diversity of fall festivals!
Additional Resources:
- Your local library’s cultural section
- Smithsonian Magazine’s cultural articles
- National Geographic Kids for festival explanations
- UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage website
- Local cultural organizations and community centers
Remember: When learning about other cultures, the most important things are respect, curiosity, and seeking out authentic voices from those cultures. Happy exploring!
Have questions about the festivals we covered in the podcast? Reach out to us at yumbutwhy@gmail.com
Yum But Why? 
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