(VOVWORLD) - The annual candlelit Lucia procession on December 13 is one of the more exotic Swedish customs, with girls and boys clad in white full-length gowns singing songs together. When the 400-year-old tradition of St. Lucia is celebrated, you will see thousands of young girls emerge from the darkness of a Swedish winter’s day and gently silence the crowds with a procession of light. How exactly is Lucia Day celebrated in Sweden? Johan Alvin, the Swedish Embassy's second secretary and his wife Marika Alvin will give you the answer.

(VOVWORLD) - In the Philippines, as in other Southeast Asian countries, paying respect to older people is a tradition passed from generation to generation. In today’s program, we’ll talk to Emmanuel Abalos about “mano” or “pagmamano”, an "honoring gesture" performed in Filipino culture as a sign of respect for an elder and a way of requesting a blessing from the elder.

(VOVWORLD) -The Han river (or Hangang) is the major river flowing through the heart of Seoul, South Korea. This river is an iconic symbol of the capital not just because of its beautiful scenery but also its historical value. Indeed, spending a whole day exploring the Han river is one of the most amazing things to do in Seoul. If you find yourself enjoying a trip in South Korea, it would be a shame if you miss this place. I had a chance to explore this tourist attraction with Jeon Hyong Jun, a Seoul local.

(VOVWORLD) - In London, the UK, popular movie channel Film 4 hosts an open air cinema every summer where Britons from all over the UK come and enjoy different genres of film together. With cinema being a huge part of British culture, I decided to visit Sanny Hoskins, a movie fan from London.

(VOVWORLD) - Cricket is a beautiful bat-and-ball game. And with an estimated 2.5 billion fans worldwide, it is the second-most popular sport in the world behind soccer. In England, Cricket has a mass number of followers, around 65% of the population. Today we will talk to Callum Bacon, a young English gentleman to know more about the sport.

(VOVWORLD) - In our previous show, we explored some beautiful cultural traditions and culture of Ireland known across the world. In today’s Culture Rendezvous, our guest MH, a former student of Cork Institute of Technology in Cork City, Ireland, is back to share with us more about another Irish cultural highlight landmark - Hurling.

(VOVWORLD) - Every year, during Spring, the South West England Gloucester region hosts the annual cheese-rolling event where people from far and wide travel to watch competitors launch themselves down a hill in pursuit of a round of cheese. This is a historical event that originated hundreds of years ago and reflexes an indispensable part of England’s culture. Today, we will talk to Callum Bacon, an English young man who is working in Hanoi, to know more about the festival.

(VOVWORLD) - Though best known as a poet, Rabindranath Tagore was a man of many talents. The first Indian to win a Nobel Prize for literature, he wrote and composed a wide array of songs, including India’s national anthem. He was a pedagogue who established a university that challenged the conventional form of education, and also a painter, whose style played an important role in modernising Bengali art. Dr. G.B. Harisha, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre will tell us more about Tagore, his global impact, as well as his trip to Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) back in 1929.

(VOVWORLD) - The Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, also known as the Tweede Nuwe Jaar, or Second New Year, is a colorful parade in Cape Town, South Africa. It is as rich in history as in culture. Today we will talk to Ray Smit, a South African who is living in Hanoi to know more about the festival.

(VOVWORLD) - The traditions and culture of Ireland are known across the world and whilst millions celebrate and enjoy Irish traditions such as the Saint Patrick’s Day, Pub Culture, and Sports, many are not aware of their origins. In today’s Culture Rendezvous, we will talk with Van Minh Hien, a former student of Cork Institute of Technology in Cork City, Ireland, who will share her experiences in Cork City, which was the European Capital of Culture for 2005, and was included in the Lonely Planet's top 10 "Best in Travel 2010". Hien will also tell us about the Irish pub culture.