Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

All of these are fine as long as we recognize them as customs as distinguished from religious rituals and celebrations.

In matters of religious rituals, we are bound by revealed texts. In the absence of such texts, inventing anything is an innovation; as such it is forbidden in Islam.

As far as the area of custom is concerned, the general rule is permission as long as while practicing them we bear in mind the following criteria:

1- We must avoid all wasteful and extravaganza; for we do so at the expense of depriving the poor of the valuable resources they need for survival. `Ali, the pious caliph, said, “ The poor people starve only  because of the overindulgence or extravaganza of the wealthy.”

2- We must stay clear of all practices that are contrary to the principles of the Divine Laws.

Once we follow these guidelines, as eminent scholars have ruled, there is no reason to prohibit such customs.

Almighty Allah knows best.