Monday 12 May Girmit Day in Fiji
In announcing this new holiday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said: “They were starting a new life in an unknown land and stayed to become an…
Saturday 10 May Latin American Mother’s Day
The tradition of Mother's Day (Día de las Madres) first began on May 10th 1922 when Rafael Alducin, editor of the Mexico City newspaper El…
Friday 9 May Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Thailand
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is an ancient royal tradition observed in Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand to mark the traditional beginning of the rice-growing season. The…
Thursday 8 May V-E Day around the world
Victory in Europe Day marks May 8th 1945, on which day the second world war Allies formally accepted an unconditional surrender by the armed forces…
Wednesday 7 May Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung in Bhutan
The nation of Bhutan was founded in the 17th century by Zhabdrung (meaning “at whose feet one submits”) Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan Buddhist lama, known…
Tuesday 6 May Martyrs’ Day in Syria
Syria had been part of the Ottoman Empire since the start of the 16th century. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire entered the conflict…
Monday 5 May Arrival Day in Guyana
Guyana became a British territory in 1831 when the British took control of the Dutch colonies during the Napoleonic Wars. On August 1st 1834, slavery…
Saturday 3 May Labour Day (in lieu) in China
In China, if Labour Day (May 1st) falls on a Saturday, the "in lieu" day off, meaning the day that is given as a substitute holiday,…
Friday 2 May Community Festival of Madrid in Madrid
In 1808, Madrid had been occupied by French troops since late March. Charles IV of Spain had been forced by Napoleon to abdicate in favour…
Thursday 1 May Vappu in Finland
With its northern latitude leading to cold. dark winters, the arrival of spring has always been a welcome event in Finland and a tradition of…
Wednesday 30 April Rincon Day in Bonaire
Harvest time on Bonaire, in the Leeward Antilles, takes place from February to early May and is marked by special events called Simadan. This traditional…
Tuesday 29 April Commemoration Day in Belarus
It is also known as Radunitsa or Radonitsa and is a festival amongst many eastern Slavs, though Belarus is the only country where it is a state…
Monday 28 April Memorial Easter in Moldova
Called 'Paştele Blăjinilor' in Romanian, this holiday is also known as the Easter of the Dead or Memorial Day and Parent's Day. Orthodox eastern Slavs…
Sunday 27 April Independence Day in Sierra Leone
Since the 15th century, Sierra Leone had been an important staging post for European colonists. The region reputedly got its name from a Portuguese explorer…
Saturday 26 April Union Day in Tanzania
The first European to visit Tanzania was Vasco da Gama in 1498. European colonialism in the region began on mainland Tanzania during the late 19th…
Friday 25 April Concord Day in Niger
The advent of the 1990s saw big political changes in Niger. The decade brought multi-party democracy for the first time, but also saw rebellions by…
Wednesday 23 April St. George’s Day in Aragon, Spain
St. George was a cavalryman in the Roman army at Lydda, now in modern-day Israel. He was a Christian at a time when Rome was…
Tuesday 22 April Easter Tuesday in Tasmania
Until the 19th century, the whole week after Easter Sunday was a holiday. Generally, only Monday remains. Easter Tuesday is a holiday in Tasmania, Australia…
Monday 21 April Tiradentes Day in Brazil
Xavier was a Brazilian revolutionary who, as a founder of the Inconfidência Mineira movement, fought for Brazilian independence and freedom from Portuguese colonial power. At…
Sunday 20 April Patriots’ Victory Day in Ethiopia
As European nations looked to subdue and occupy Africa at the end of the 19th century, Ethiopia entered into an agreement to receive support from…