(VOVWORLD) - Poya is the name given to the lunar monthly Buddhist holiday of Uposatha in Sri Lanka. Full moon day is normally considered as the poya day in every month. In this week’s Cultural Rendezvous, Vajira Perera, a reporter of the ITN Sri Lanka, a Sri Lankan state governed television and radio broadcaster, will tell us about the special event.

(VOVWORLD) - Halloween has officially arrived, and there’s so much to look forward to, from brainstorming dark, spooky costumes to trying out pumpkin carving ideas with the kids and, of course, eating huge amounts of Halloween treats, candy, and chocolate and indulging in everything pumpkin spice flavoured. No matter how old you are, the holiday simply never gets old. But in the midst of the Halloween party games and sugar rushes, have you ever stopped to wonder about the origin and history of Halloween? In today’s program, we’ll have the Larson’s from Des Moines, Iowa, USA, to tell us more about this special holiday.

(VOVWORLD) - Germany’s long, rich history contains many strange cultural anomalies. One of them is Closed Sundays. In this week’s Cultural Rendezvous, Christian Oster, a former German journalist, will tell us about this custom.

(VOVWORLD) - Far too much rubbish is produced all over the world. Every German produces around 450 kilograms of garbage per year. Germans are known for being particularly careful in separating and recycling their waste. Is that really true? Today we’ll talk to Hoai Vu Bender, a freelance photographer, who has been living in Burgschwalbach, Germany, for the past decade, to find out more.

(VOVWORLD) - While Thanksgiving Day is usually celebrated in November in the US, some Caribbean islands, and Liberia, it takes place on the second Monday of October in Canada. Why is there a difference and how is the holiday observed in Canada? Amanda Butler, a Canadian native from the province of Ontario, will tell us today what we should know about Canadian Thanksgiving.

(VOVWORLD) - The Mid-Autumn Festival, known as Chuseok, is one of the biggest and most important festivals in Korea. It celebrates the autumn harvest and honors elderly family members, and is considered by many the Korean Thanksgiving Day. Today we have a Korean-Irish couple YoungHwi Cho and Emilee Jennings who will share with us some facts about this meaningful festival.

(VOVWORLD) - Nestled in the Caucasus Mountains and surrounded by neighbours Georgia, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, Armenia is famous for wine production. Ani Mouradian, a wine expert from Armenia, shares with VOV some key facts about Armenian wine.

(VOVWORLD) - Armenia is an underrated destination in the Caucasus. With a rich history that dates back to the ancient trade route, Armenia is a unique destination that needs to be on your bucket list. In today’s show, we’ll have Adrineh Der-Boghossian, an Armenian-Canadian freelance editor, share with us some quirky and fun facts about Armenia that you probably didn’t know.

(VOVWORLD) - A bowler hat is a must-have accessory for vintage fashionistas. The image of comedian Charles Chaplin in a vintage suit, a baton in hand, and a bowler hat, has been considered a typical image for an English man for a long time. Today we will talk with Aaron Meija, an English gentleman, to learn more about bowler hats.

(VOVWORLD) - In addition to its Mediterranean climate, golden beaches, mountainous landscapes, and interesting history, Albania also boasts delicious local cuisine, friendly people, and has much more to offer. On today’s Cultural Rendezvous, Linda Boletini, a German psychologist born in Albania, will share some interesting facts with us about this beautiful country.