Around the world,people have different traditional foods to celebrate different festivals．Traditional foods also show a new year of good luck and good health:An English Christmas dinner has a meal of turkey,and it also includes pies and plum puddings(李子布丁)．In Germany,Christmas is celebrated with bread cookies and cakes,which are made like Christmas trees.In France,Christmas dessert is a cake filled with butter cream.

In southern parts of India,there is a three-day festival in mid-January called Pongal.It includes rice and a dish of rice cooked with sugar that is shared with families and friends.

Japan celebrates New Year with a seven-day festival.It begins from January 1st.Food is prepared before the festival so people don't need to cook during the festival.On New Year's Day，various dishes called Osechi ryori(御节料理) are served — each dish is a wish for the New Year.

In most Asian countries,the New Year begins with the first full moon of the first Chinese Lunar(阴历的) month．Each place has its special food to welcome the coming year:People in China prepare their food ahead of time to avoid the possibility that using a knife during New Year's time might "cut luck",Foods with lucky names are popular，such as fish,which sounds like "surplus(剩余)".

The International Day of Disabled Persons, an international observance declared by the United Nations since 1992, is observed on December 3, aiming to promote an understanding of disability issues and get support for the rights of people with disabilities. The day takes place annually and focuses on a different issue each year. In South Africa, December 3 also marks the beginning of the Disability Awareness Month.

Since the first celebration, people with disabilities have gained recognition of their rights by states across the globe and of their rightful place in society. But there is still much work ahead of us to turn those legal rights into a true revolution, in which diversity is fully accepted and lived.

The estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many obstructions of inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities can't enjoy the equal rights as normal people, which include employment, education as well as social and political participation. The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies , active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society.

In many cases, people with disabilities must be able to fulfill their role in society. It is important to focus on the ability and not on the disability of an individual. It is important to note that disability is part of the human condition, and that all of us either are or will become disabled to one degree or another during the course of our lives.

By promoting empowerment , real opportunities for disabled people are created. This supports them in setting their own priorities. Empowerment involves investing in them — in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection. When disabled people are empowered, they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, and they can more readily accept their civic responsibilities.

Thanksgiving is basically a harvest-related festival which celebrates communal harmony. Though this festival is said to have originated in America, a number of other countries also celebrate harvest-related festivals. The festival is observed with different names and in different seasons. In Australia we can see a number of harvest festivals.

Apple Festival & Grape Festival

The harvest for apples and grapes takes place in the month of March in Australia in the granite belt, a special area. The festival is celebrated for 3-4 days. During the festival, various cultural and fun events are organized. Activities like grape crushing competitions, apple picking competitions, street carnivals (狂欢), and grand parades are also part of the festival.

Renmark Orange Week Festival

In August or September, the large orange growing area along the Murray River in South Australia holds a festival in Renmark, which is called the Renmark Orange Week. All kinds of games, competitions and fun last for a week during the carnival. Fireworks are another feature of the festival. The two varieties that are being harvested in Australia are the Valencia, which is from October to May and the Navel, which is from May to October.

Cane Festival

The cane is harvested from June to December in Australia. Most of the cane crop is grow n in Queensland and some in Maclean, New South Wales. And June is time for cane festivals. Just before harvest, the cane is burnt to remove dead leaves and to drive out pests. Machines are being used to cut the cane to the ground.

Wheat Festival

Wheat is harvested in the month of December and is usually finished by the end of January. Harvesting is done by machines. A new harvester invented by Headlie Taylor makes it easier to harvest crops which get flattened or damaged by bad weather.