Holidays

Saturday Saturday — a day of rest, recreation and varied calendar placement; named for Saturn, observed as Sabbath in Judaism and paired with Sunday to form the weekend.

Saturnalia: Roman festival of Saturn, customs and cultural legacy Saturnalia Saturnalia was an ancient Roman mid‑December festival honoring Saturn, marked by religious rites, public banquets, gift‑giving, role reversals, permitted gambling and festive decor…

September 1 September 1 is a calendar date marking the 244th day of a common year, the start of meteorological autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, and a day with several cultural and historical…

September 10 September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). It marks late summer in the Northern Hemisphere and hosts observances such as World Suicide Prevention Day.

September 12 September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). A late-summer date in the Northern Hemisphere, it has calendrical, seasonal and cultural significance and appears i…

September 16 September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years), known for Mexico’s Independence Day and Malaysia Day; it falls in late summer in the Northern Hemisphere (Virgo).

September 19 September 19 is a date in the Gregorian calendar notable for historical events, observances such as International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and its position late in the year (262nd d…

September 2 September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. It is associated with several historical events, national observances, and notable births…

September 22 September 22 is a calendar date often associated with the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, several national observances, and its place as the 265th day of the Gregorian…

September 23 September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) and frequently associated with the autumnal equinox; it hosts observances such as Bi Visibility Day and Saudi Nation…

September 24 September 24 is the 267th day of the Gregorian year (268th in leap years). It commonly falls just after the September equinox and has hosted notable events, observances and a numbe…

September 26 September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years). It marks a late-September date with notable historical events, observances, and several famous birthdays.

September 7 September 7 is a calendar date notable as the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years), home to national observances such as Brazil's Independence Day and several historical eve…

September 8 September 8 is the 251st day of the Gregorian year (252nd in leap years). It hosts international and religious observances such as International Literacy Day and the Nativity of th…

September 9 — calendar day, observances, and notable facts September 9 September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). This article outlines its place in the calendar, seasonal context, common observances and a few notable associations…

Setsubun — Japan's Bean-Throwing Ritual for Welcoming Spring Setsubun Setsubun is a Japanese seasonal observance held the day before the start of spring, featuring mamemaki (bean-throwing), chants to drive out demons, and regional variations includin…

Shavuot: Jewish festival of weeks, Torah revelation and harvest Shavuot Shavuot is the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah and the wheat harvest. Observed on 6 Sivan, it concludes the Counting of the Omer and combines religious, historical,…

Shemini Atzeret: Jewish Festival and Simchat Torah Shemini Atzeret Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish festival observed on 22 Tishrei in Israel (22–23 Tishrei in the diaspora). It concludes Sukkot and is associated with the joyous celebration called Simc…

Shichi-Go-San: Japan’s Seven-Five-Three Celebration for Children Shichi-Go-San Shichi-Go-San is a Japanese rite of passage around November 15 that celebrates the healthy growth of children aged three, five and seven with shrine visits, traditional dress, swee…

Shrove Tuesday Shrove Tuesday, also Pancake Day or Mardi Gras, is the day before Ash Wednesday. It marks traditional confession and feasting before Lent and is observed with local foods, races, p…

Sinterklaas: Dutch Saint Nicholas tradition and customs Sinterklaas Sinterklaas is a traditional Saint Nicholas figure celebrated in the Low Countries with arrival-from-Spain lore, shoe-gifts, poems, seasonal treats and ongoing debate about his hel…

Songkran: Thailand’s Water Festival and Traditional New Year Songkran Songkran is Thailand’s annual traditional New Year festival, celebrated with water, merit-making, family visits and regional rites from April 13–15; it blends religious ritual, fol…

St. Lucia Day: Scandinavian festival of light St. Lucia Day St. Lucia Day, observed on December 13, is a Nordic festival honoring Saint Lucy with candlelit processions, saffron buns (lussekatter), songs, and community ceremonies across Swed…

Sukkot: Jewish Festival of Booths and Harvest Sukkot Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish festival celebrating the fall harvest and recalling the Israelites’ temporary dwellings in the desert. It features the building of sukkot and the ritual…

Sunday — overview, observances, and cultural role Sunday Sunday is a day of the week associated with rest, worship, and leisure. Its status varies internationally: part of the weekend in many places, a religious day for Christians, and t…

Ten Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuva) Ten Days of Repentance The Ten Days of Repentance are the ten-day period in the Jewish year from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur devoted to prayer, teshuvah (repentance), and repair of relationships with God…

Thanksgiving: history, traditions, and cultural significance Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a North American holiday rooted in harvest celebrations; it blends historical ceremonies, family meals, and public traditions and has evolved with varied cultural m…

Thanksgiving (United States) Annual U.S. holiday held on the fourth Thursday of November, commemorating harvest feasts, family gatherings, traditional foods, parades, and civic rituals; origins and meanings ha…

The Twelve Days of Christmas (Christmastide and Twelvetide) The Twelve Days of Christmas A concise overview of the Twelve Days of Christmas: its liturgical timing, historical background, common customs and regional variations, and cultural influence including the famil…

The Twelve Days of Christmas (song) An English cumulative Christmas carol first printed c.1780, known for its growing list of symbolic gifts, varied musical settings, disputed origin stories, and many modern recordin…

Thursday — the weekday between Wednesday and Friday Thursday Thursday, a weekday situated between Wednesday and Friday, varies by calendar convention. This article explains its name, placement in different systems, cultural and religious rol…

Tihar: The Five‑Day Festival of Lights in Nepal and Neighboring Regions Tihar (festival) Tihar is a five‑day Hindu festival of lights celebrated mainly in Nepal and parts of India. It honors deities, animals and family bonds with lamps, rangoli, offerings and the Bhai…

Tourism: travel for leisure, culture, nature, business and impacts Tourism Overview of tourism: types, history, economic and environmental impacts, planning tips, sustainable practices and current trends for travellers and destinations.

Universal Children's Day Annual UN observance on 20 November promoting children's rights, welfare and international cooperation; marks adoption of key UN instruments on children's rights and spurs action w…

Vacation: types, history, benefits, planning, and social impact Vacation A vacation (holiday) is a period of leisure away from routine work or school. This article explains types, history, benefits, practical planning, economic and environmental impacts…

Vaisakhi (Baisakhi) — Sikh festival and spring harvest/new year Vaisakhi Vaisakhi is a spring harvest festival celebrated in the Indian subcontinent around April 13–14. It marks the Punjabi harvest, regional new-year traditions and, for Sikhs, the 1699…

Valentine's Day: origins, symbols, customs and modern observance Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, observed on February 14, is a cultural and commercial celebration of romantic love and affection marked by cards, gifts, flowers, and a variety of customs with med…

Vesak — Buddhist observance commemorating the Buddha's life and teachings Vesak Vesak (or Vesākha) is a major Buddhist festival marking the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Celebrated across Asia and by global communities, its date varies with lun…

Veterans Day — United States holiday honoring military veterans Veterans Day Veterans Day is a U.S. federal holiday observed November 11 to honor all military veterans. Originating as Armistice Day after World War I, it recognizes service with ceremonies, p…

Victory Day Public holidays called Victory Day commemorate significant military victories or the end of wars. Dates, rituals and meanings vary by country; several well‑known observances mark t…

Walpurgis Night — spring bonfires, folklore and regional traditions Walpurgis Night Walpurgis Night is a spring festival observed on April 30 or May 1 in parts of Northern and Central Europe, combining folk customs, bonfires and later Christian elements tied to Sa…

Washington's Birthday (commonly called Presidents' Day) Washington's Birthday Federal holiday honoring George Washington observed in February; commonly combined with remembrance of other presidents and celebrated as Presidents' Day on the third Monday in Feb…

Weekend — social, cultural and economic overview Weekend A concise encyclopedia entry on the weekend: its meanings, religious and cultural origins, modern patterns, social uses, and variations across countries and industries.

White Christmas: meaning, occurrence, and cultural significance White Christmas A White Christmas typically means measurable snow on Christmas Day; definitions vary by country. This article explains common definitions, factors affecting occurrence, examples, h…

Women's History Month: Origins, Observance, and Significance Women's History Month Annual observance recognizing women's contributions to society and history; held in March in several countries and in October in Canada, linked with education, public events, and I…

World Bicycle Day — International Day of the Bicycle World Bicycle Day Annual observance on June 3 that recognizes the bicycle's role in sustainable transport, health, social inclusion and culture; proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2018.

Yahrzeit: the Jewish anniversary of a death Yahrzeit Yahrzeit is the annual Jewish remembrance of a close relative's death, observed on the Hebrew-calendar anniversary with prayers, a memorial candle, charity, synagogue rituals and g…

Yom HaShoah — Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day Yom HaShoah Yom HaShoah (27 Nisan) is Israel's national day of Holocaust remembrance, honoring victims and resistance with state ceremonies, a nation-wide siren, survivor testimony and communa…