Europe North America Oceania Lohri is a popular winter Dogra[2][3] and Punjabi[4] folk festival celebrated primarily in Northern India and in the Punjab region located in Pakistan.

Lohri marks the end of winter, and is a traditional welcome of longer days and the sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere.

[13][14][15] Lohri is celebrated one day before Maghi (Makar Sankranti) and its date is determined as per Hindu Solar calendar.

[20] Captain Mackeson described Maharaja Ranjit Singh distributing suits of clothes and large sums of money as rewards on Lohri day in 1836.

[23][24][25] According to folklore, in ancient times Lohri was celebrated at the end of the traditional month when winter solstice occurs.

[28] Lohri is an ancient mid-winter festival originating in regions near the Himalayan mountains where winter is colder than the rest of the subcontinent.

Hindus and Sikhs traditionally lit bonfires in their yards after the weeks of the Rabi season cropping work, socialized around the fire, sang and danced together as they marked the end of winter and the onset of longer days.

The ancient significance of the festival is it being a winter crop season celebration[29] and is linked to the Punjab region.

[33] He was regarded as a hero in Punjab, for rescuing Punjabi girls from being forcibly taken to be sold in slave market of the Middle East.

After the song ends, the adult of the home is expected to give snacks and money to the singing troupe of youngsters.

In houses that have recently had a marriage or childbirth, Lohri celebrations will reach a higher pitch of excitement.

People wear their brightest clothes and come to dance the bhangra and gidda to the beat of the dhol.

Sarson da saag with makki di roti is usually served as the main course at a Lohri dinner.

However, people residing in urban areas also celebrate Lohri, as this festival provides the opportunity to interact with family and friends.

[42] Sugarcane products such as gurh and gachak are central to Lohri celebrations, as are nuts which are harvested in January.

Mustard greens are cultivated mainly in the winter months because the crop is suitable to the agro-climatic conditions.

It is traditional to eat Gajak, Sarson da saag with Makki di roti, radishes, ground nuts and jaggery.

Children wear special garlands made of groundnuts, dry fruits and candies on Lohri day.

The idea is for the selected person to act as a deterrent for people who refrain from giving Lohri items.

[38] The collections gathered by the children are known as Lohri and consist of til, gachchak, crystal sugar, gur (jaggery), moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn.

People toss sesame seeds, gur, sugar-candy and rewaries on the bonfire, sit around it, sing and dance till the fire dies out.

This is to show respect to the natural element of fire,[49] a tradition common in winter solstice celebrations.

It is traditional to offer guests til, gachchak, gur, moongphali (peanuts) and phuliya or popcorn.

During Christmastide celebrations, Christian parishioners often hold candles during the hymn Silent Night at church services, and at home yule logs are burnt: "as the fire grew brighter and burned hotter, and as the log turned into ashes, it symbolized Christ's final and ultimate triumph over sin.

The fire festival of Stonehaven in Scotland is the direct descendant of lighting winter solstice bonfires.

[59] Another event is observed every 11 January when the flaming Clavie (a barrel full of staves) is carried round in Burghead and is wedged on the Doorie Hill.

The Fanòve are enormous piles of wood that burn throughout the city, around one hundred bonfires, located from the center to the furthest district.