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This day is observed to pay tribute to the state of New Mexico and its people.

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History of Holy Spirit Monday

In Greek Orthodox Churches, Holy Spirit Monday is a three-day religious celebration. It is a joyous occasion with lots of festivities and is also celebrated by some as the Second Easter. According to the New Testament, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and the church of Jerusalem 50 days after the Resurrection of Christ. This event occurred during the Jewish feast of Shavuot.

As the Apostles gathered for blessings, the gospel stories say that the Holy Spirit descended on them as tongues of fire. This enabled them to preach to the devotees and speak to each one of them in a language that they could understand. Thus, 50 days after the Pentecost is considered
the birthday of the Christian church for two reasons. One, the descent of the Holy Spirit completed the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Two, it was the beginning of the Christian faith being preached to the masses.

Festivities for Pentecost and Holy Spirit Monday begin as early as Friday, and the Sunday before Holy Spirit Monday is also known as Trinity Sunday. Public celebrations are held in local churches and some parishes might even organize a fair. In countries like Greece, Holy Spirit Monday is a public holiday where schools and offices are closed.

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Today, the faithful celebrate the descension of the Holy Spirit.

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13th- International Albinism Awareness Day

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13th- International Albinism Awareness Day

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National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation - Where people with albinism and their families can find acceptance, support and fellowship.

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International Albinism Awareness Day - National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation

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IAAD 2023! Announcing this year’s theme: #InclusionIsStrength INCLUSION IS STRENGTH The theme builds on from last years’ theme of ensuring the inclusion of the voices of persons with albinism in all sectors of life. It emphasizes the importance of inclusion of a diversity of groups from both within and outside the albinism community. Specifically, it

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The Philippines, consisting of more than 7,000 separate islands in the western Pacific, declared independence from Spanish rule over 120 years ago. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was responsible for making this claim but it wasn't until 1962 that then-President Diosdado Macapagal made it a public holiday through a presidential proclamation. The Filipino flag was unfurled for the first time on this day June 12 in 1898 at an inspiring celebration, which also featured the first public playing of the Philippines national anthem. The nation has made great strides. It's considered to be an emerging market and a newly industrialized country. Tourism also makes a large impact on the Philippines economy.

When is Philippines Independence Day 2022?

The Philippines celebrates its independence on June 12 every year.

History of Philippines Independence Day

For over 300 years, the Philippines was a Spanish colony, and is named after King Philip II of Spain. In 1521, Ferdinand Magellan landed on the Philippines islands and claimed it for Spain. Magellan wanted all the local chiefs to submit to the Spanish rule but one of them named Lapu Lapu refused. An attempt was made by Magellan to crush Lapu Lapu, but he failed and was killed.

When Miguel Lopez de Legazpi led an expedition in 1565, the Spaniards finally gained a foothold in the Philippines. They built the city of Intramuros in 1571, which was later renamed Manila, and became the capital of the land. Eventually, Spanish rule took over, and a feudal system was established- with large estates owned by the Spanish, and Filipinos as the workers. The Spanish years brought prosperity to the Philippines, and their rule remained uneventful. This changed when the British captured Manila in 1762. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris signed in 1763, the city was handed back in 1764.
The 19th Century
Feelings of nationalism started to stir in the 19th Century. This rebellion grew with the help of Jose Rizal, an author who wrote two novels "El Filibusterismo" (The Filibusterer), and "Noli Me Tangere" (Touch me Not). These books caused a sensation and nationalism spread like wildfire throughout the Philippines. In 1892, Jose Rizal founded a movement called Liga Filipina, which called for reform rather than revolution. As a result Rizal was arrested and exiled to Dapitan on Mindanao.

Parallel to this, a more extreme organisation was formed by Andres Bonifacio, called the Katipunan. A revolution started in August 1896, and Jose Rizal was executed on December 30, 1896 under the pretense of supporting the revolution, even though he did not. Yet his execution merely inflamed Filipino opinion and the revolution grew.

Next started the war between Spain and the U.S. in 1898. The Spanish fleet was defeated by the Americans in Manila Bay on April 30, 1898. Ceasing the opportunity, Filipino revolutionaries surrounded Manila, and their leader Emilio Aguinaldo declared the Philippines as independent on June 12. However, American rule took over when Aguinaldo was captured in 1902.
The 20th Century
Under the leadership of Americans, the Philippines was made a commonwealth, and semi-independent in 1935. Literacy rate also increased as many American teachers were sent to the Philippines. The USA promised that the Philippines would become completely independent in 1945.

On December 10, 1941, Japan invaded the Philippines, and captured Manila. All of the Philippines was now in the hands of the Japanese. In October, 1944, American troops returned to the Philippines and recaptured Manila. The Philippines became independent on 4 July 1946. Manuel Roxas was the first president of the newly independent nation.

Independence of the Philippines was a mighty feat. On independence day, the sacrifices of the national heroes are remembered, the country's sovereignty is appreciated, instilling nationalism in the citizens, as well as celebrating the culture and tradition of its people.

Parades are held nationwide, with participation from the government, and the citizens. As it is a national holiday, businesses, offices, and schools are closed, and families spend the day in parks, and doing other celebratory activities. Filipino communities abroad also celebrate with programs, and annual parades.

7,100 - the number of islands constituting the Philippines.

28.1% - the percentage of Tagalog people that make up the Filipino population.

108.1 million - the population of the Philippines.

80% - the percentage of people in the Philippines who are Roman Catholic.

1521 - the year when Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippine islands for Spain.

Why We Love Philippines Independence Day

The Phillippines actually have TWO independence days

The one celebrated June 12 recognizes the day the islands broke free from Spanish rule. However, American forces occupied the Philippines until 1946. Independence came on July 4, the same day as American Independence Day, but Filipinos recognize June 12 as the day of their rightful day of independence.

Pride

"[Indepencence] was the most significant event in our country's history. Not only did we put an end to more than three centuries of subservience but we also resolved to determine the course of our own destiny as a nation." - Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on June 11, 2019.

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The Philippines, consisting of more than 7,000 separate islands in the western Pacific, declared independence from Spanish rule over 120 years ago. Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was responsible for making this claim but it wasn't until 1962 that then-President Diosdado Macapagal made it a public holiday through a presidential proclamation.

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National Children's Day in the United States is celebrated on the second Sunday in June.

It is a day to highlight the importance of children in our society and the difficulties they go through. Many children in our society face a lot of problems and hurdles in different aspects of their lives.

The intention of this day is to try and give children a better future by improving their welfare and trying to make the world a better place for them.

A holiday similar to National Children's Day is Universal Children's Day, also known as World Children's Day, commemorated every year on November 20.

National Children's Day History

National Children's Day has been observed on many different dates in the United States. It was originally created by Reverend Dr. Charles Leonard from Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1856.

Children's Day was celebrated on the second Sunday in June and it was a day meant for baptizing children and addressing a few of children's special needs and problems.

Eventually, in 1989, the Bush and Clinton administration proclaimed that National Children's Day would be observed officially on the second Sunday of October every year. This was the official National Children's Day date until 2001.

This date was later changed to the first Sunday of June by the Republican government. However, the Obama Administration changed the date again to November 20 to coincide with the UN's World Children's Day.

All these changes caused a lot of confusion and hence people chose to celebrate according to their wishes. Some go with the original second Sunday in June, while others prefer to observe it in November.

Importance of National Children's Day

Children are some of the most vulnerable members of society. We need to contribute to raising awareness of children's welfare to ensure they have a better future ahead of them.

Many children are deprived of their basic right to education and forced into child labor in many parts of the world including the United States.

A report by Save the Children states that in America, children are not given enough resources to reach their full potential. This is why countless organizations are dedicated to protecting children, and so many laws and protocols are in place to ensure that children's welfare is kept to a high standard.

National Children's Day also reminds us that children are the future, and encourages us to slow down and pay more attention to the children in our lives. Children are playful, bright, imaginative, and curious and we can learn a lot from them.

What is the Declaration of the Rights of the Child

On November 20, 1959, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

This declaration establishes the fundamental rights of children and was the inspiration for World Children's Day. The declaration comprises 10 bullet points, which include:

Celebrate National Children's Day

Take some time today to spend with the children in your life. Play some of their favorite games, take them for a nice day out, start a conversation with them about what is going on in their lives, and teach them different life skills, and about issues that children in different parts of the world face. Just be a good role model for them.

You can also arrange for different activities to enjoy with your children such as picnics, camping, a dance party, a trip to the water park or amusement park, painting, a treasure hunt, and so on.

If you can, donate some time or money to help out your local organizations that are dedicated to improving the lives of children in the community.

Read Universal Children's Day next to know about its history and importance.

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National Children's Day | June 9 - Calendarr

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National Children's Day in the United States is celebrated on the second Sunday in June. It is a day to highlight the importance of children in our society and the difficulties they go through. Many children in our society face a lot of problems and hurdles in different aspects of their lives.

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Loving Day – Loving Day is the anniversary of a historic court decision for interracial marriage. Every year on June 12th, it’s a global day of visibility, education, and community.

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Kamehameha Day, also known as King Kamehameha I Day, is a Hawaiian holiday, commemorated every year on June 11. This day honors Kamehameha the Great, the beloved monarch who became notorious for uniting the Kingdom of Hawaii.

June 11 is a public holiday in Hawaii, so within that state businesses and schools are closed.

A statue standing in honor of King Kamehameha I

King Kamehameha I

The Law of the Splintered Paddle

One of the major changes in society that Kamehameha enacted was establishing the Law of the Splintered Paddle. This was the first law in the kingdom of Hawaii.

It had the aim of protecting the rights of ordinary people against the abuse of power by those in authority:

Oh people, Honor thy gods;

Respect alike [the rights of] People both great and humble;

See to it that our aged, Our women and our children

Lie down to sleep by the roadside Without fear of harm.

Disobey, and die.

This Law was meant to ensure the safety and well-being of all people, regardless of their social status. As a result, it has remained an important part of Hawaiian law and culture.

It reflects Kamehameha's vision of a just and equitable society, where leaders are responsible for protecting the weak and vulnerable.

The Background to Kamehameha Day

The grandson of Kamehameha I, Kamehameha V, first proclaimed June 11 to be Kamehameha Day in 1871. The first celebration of the day took place the next year on June 11, 1872. On this first holiday observance, festivities included races, carnivals, and fairs.

When Hawaii officially became a U.S. State, in 1959, Kamehameha Day was one of the first holidays to be proclaimed by the Hawaii State Legislature.

Festivities and Traditions

To honor Kamehameha I, a floral parade takes place every year across Hawaii. The parade includes marching bands and floats decorated with flowers from each Hawaiian island. The most famous feature of the floral parade is the royal pa'u riders, a representation of 19th-century royal courts.

It comprises a queen who leads the parade on horseback followed by eight princesses, each representing the major islands of Hawaii, who are accompanied by pa'u ladies dressed in colorful gowns with leis. The parade is followed by parties with food and music.

The draping ceremony, an important part of Hawaiian culture. Captured here by @Ramirez (unedited)

In 1901, the most significant ritual of Kamehameha Day celebrations was born - the draping ceremony. The ceremony consists of the statue of Kamehameha I in Honolulu being draped in leis. A similar ceremony happens with the statue of the leader in the Capitol.

There is also a King Kamehameha Hula Competition that attracts hula competitors from all over the world.

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Kamehameha Day, also known as King Kamehameha I Day, is a Hawaiian holiday, commemorated every year on June 11. This day honors Kamehameha the Great, the beloved monarch who became notorious for uniting the Kingdom of Hawaii. June 11 is a public holiday in Hawaii, so within that state businesses and...

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7th-Anniversary of the Memorandum of the Slovak Nation

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7th-Anniversary of the Memorandum of the Slovak Nation

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History of Anniversary of the Memorandum of the Slovak Nation

The beginning of national movements in Slovakia dates back to the 1840s when Slovakia was under the rule of a monarch. The neo-absolutist regime restricted political and public activity, which agitated the majority of the public leaders to start a movement to fight for their national rights. The situation was further fueled by the complete indifference to the needs and interests of non-Magyar nations which were part of the Hungarian Empire. Slovakia was one of those nations.

This ignorance led to the birth of the Memorandum at the hands of the Slovak National Assembly. The document laid out conditions and basic legal and political demands. However, the effort did not bear much fruit as the ruling party tried to suppress their voices by imposing a ban on their cultural association, Matica Slovenská, and the Slovak Gymnazia, two of the major institutes that had Slovak as the mode of instruction. With the downfall of these institutes, the Slovaks realized that they couldn't sit quietly any longer. They founded the Slovak National Party in 1871, and decided on a tactic of electoral passivity in 1884, to raise their voice against the electoral system and national policies that did not favor the Slovaks.

This tussle went on till 1918 when Slovakia joined hands with the Czech Republic to become a common state. However, even this union led to a lot of regional clashes. It was only in 1992 that the Czecho-Slovak Federative Republic was dissolved, and in 1993, Slovakia became an independent, full-fledged nation.

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Anniversary of the Memorandum of the Slovak Nation

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On the Anniversary of the Memorandum of the Slovak Nation, let's commemorate Slovakia's symbol of national identity, emancipation, and equality.

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Did you know the British could have named Queensland - "Cooksland" - after British explorer James Cook, if Queen Victoria didn't have her way? Queensland Day celebrates the birthday of the Australian state every year on June 6. It was on this day, in 1859, that Vicky granted the state the right to form its own government.

The day commemorates the struggle against British Rule. It is also an opportunity to celebrate everything that's great about Queensland, from its many Natural Heritage Sites to the sunny days (which make for great barbecue opportunities).

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Queensland Day celebrates the birthday of the Australian state. Read on to learn more about the area's culture, heritage, people and places.

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Western Australia Day celebrates all western Australian communities, including aboriginals. We bring you three reasons why we love Western Australia Day.

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On June 6, 1944, at the height of World War II, the Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy to fight the German troops in what became known as D-Day. Operation Neptune, as it was formally designated at the time, started the effort to liberate France from German occupation. It was the largest invasion by sea in history.

American, British, and Canadian forces played a big part in the planning and execution of the operation. Thus, for many people, it is important to commemorate the victory on June 6 every year. However, D-Day is not recognized as a public holiday.

D Day History

Preparations for D-Day began way before the invasion took place. Almost as soon as the Second World War started, Northwestern France fell into the hands of the German army, which controlled that entire territory.

Soon after joining the War, in 1941, Americans and Canadians allied themselves with the British in order to plan a big invasion across the English Channel. Aware of these plans, Adolf Hitler ordered his officials to construct a 2,400-mile obstacle wall of bunkers and landmines on the beaches of Northwestern France, in what became known as the Atlantic Wall.

The Allied invasion operation was codenamed Operation Overlord. Allied generals led by Dwight D. Eisenhower then began an operation of deception to lead the Germans to think that they would be invading Calais (a port city in France), not Normandy.

D-Day Invasion Timeline

June 5, 1944

On the evening of June 5, 1944, over 5,000 ships and crafts, with 11,000 aircraft as backup, left England carrying 156,000 Allied troops.

By June 11, 326,000 troops landed in Normandy, and the beaches were fully secured.

D-Day allowed the Allied troops to begin their mission to take back France, and by August 1944 Paris had been liberated. The Battle of Normandy was the event that turned the tide on the War and began the Allies' path to victory.

Reasons Normandy Beach was Selected for invasion

Normandy was ideal for the invasion because it is situated on France's northern coast. The northern coast is separated from Britain just by the English Channel.

The Allies knew that Germany expected the invasion at the English Channel's narrowest part. Thus, choosing Normandy Beach was to mislead their enemy.

Normandy Beach was ideal for amphibious landing (combined military action of land, air, and sea forces). This was because Normandy was made up of long, flat, and wide beaches that were suitable for the large army as well.

The Allies conducted an elaborate deception campaign, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to mislead the Germans about the exact location of the invasion.

They employed tactics such as fake radio traffic and the creation of a phantom army to convince the Germans that the main assault would come at the Pas-de-Calais, further diverting attention from Normandy

D-Day Remembrance Today

Every year people across people come together to remember and honor those who fought and those who lost their lives on D-Day. Many flock to D-Day memorials to lay wreaths for the deceased.

Museums often host exhibitions that feature photos of the landings.

Veterans who were part of the invasions and are alive today are decorated with medals of merit and honor for the great service they paid to their country and the world.

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On June 6, 1944, at the height of World War II, the Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy to fight the German troops in what became known as D-Day. Operation Neptune, as it was formally designated at the time, started the effort to liberate France from German occupation.

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National Cancer Survivors Day: A Call to Action. A Celebration of Life.

National Cancer Survivors Day® is a poignant, inspiring Celebration of Life led by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. It is also a call to action for further research, more resources, and increased public awareness to improve the lives of cancer survivors.

This day provides an opportunity for all people living with a history of cancer - including America's more than 18 million cancer survivors - to connect with each other, celebrate milestones, and recognize those who have supported them along the way.

When is NCSD?

National Cancer Survivors Day ® is celebrated each year on the first Sunday in June.

Who is a cancer survivor?

Anyone living with a history of cancer - from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life - is a cancer survivor, as defined by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation.

Do I have to be a cancer survivor to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day®?

No. NCSD is a day for everyone - whether you're a cancer survivor, caregiver, healthcare professional, family member, or friend - to join in solidarity with cancer survivors around the world. Anyone can host or attend a National Cancer Survivors Day® Celebration of Life.

Is National Cancer Survivors Day® only celebrated in the U.S.?

No. NCSD is celebrated annually in hundreds of communities nationwide, and around the world. Official National Cancer Survivors Day ®events have been held in at least 16 countries across 5 continents. International Survivors Day events have taken place in the Bahamas, Canada, Guyana, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, St. Lucia, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Zambia, among other nations.

What can you do on NCSD?

Host a celebration.
The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation gives you everything you need to organize a Celebration of Life in your community, including a step-by-step guide that takes the guesswork out of planning your NCSD event. Get started.

Learn about cancer survivorship issues.
Cancer survivors face ongoing, often long-lasting, hardships because of their disease. These include long-term physical and emotional side effects, increased risk for second cancers and other health problems, and potentially devastating financial setbacks. Discover more.

Raise awareness.
The NCSD Foundation believes we must continue to advocate for more resources, research, and legislation to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors - during cancer treatment and beyond. We urge everyone who takes part in NCSD to bring awareness to the challenges cancer survivors face throughout their lives.

Join your community's celebration.
We encourage everyone, whether you're a cancer survivor or a supporter, to join the worldwide celebration. To find out how your community is celebrating, contact the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation. .

What does the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation do?

The nonprofit NCSD Foundation offers free guidance, education, networking resources, and assistance to hundreds of hospitals, support groups, and other cancer-related organizations that host official National Cancer Survivors Day® celebrations. The Foundation's primary mission is to improve quality of life for cancer survivors by educating the public on issues of survivorship.

How can I support NCSD?

National Cancer Survivors Day® would not be possible without the generous financial contributions of our national supporters who believe in our mission. If you are interested in joining us as an official supporter of NCSD, contact the Foundation for more details. Your donation is 100% tax-deductible. Learn more here.

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National Cancer Survivors Day® is an annual, treasured Celebration of Life that is held in hundreds of communities nationwide, and around the world, on the first Sunday in June.

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4th- International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 

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4th- International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression 

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History of International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

The war that led to the enactment of the Convention on Child Rights and ultimately the founding of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression started in June 1982 when Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon, following an assassination attempt on its ambassadors from within the country.

The adoption of the holiday came shortly afterward at an emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on August 19, 1982, which was called out of fear for the growing number of civilian casualties, including children. Members were appalled by the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel's acts of aggression.

The four-month war led the United Nations General Assembly to enact and adopt a Resolution on the Rights of the Child in 1997. It was an event that was considered a landmark development in the effort to improve the protection of children in conflict situations when it became the most widely ratified international human rights treaty in history.

In recent years following reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (U.N.O.D.C.) - the organization tasked with initiatives to end violence against children; the number of violations of the United Nations Conventions on Child Rights has increased in many conflict-riddled regions of the world, making the purpose and the observance of the holiday even more important now.

Given that violence often causes long-lasting physical and mental harm that follows into adulthood and stunts a child's development, the U.N.O.D.C. estimated that the world loses trillions a year to the after-effects of violence against children globally.

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International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

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The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression seeks to end violence against an estimated one billion children worldwide.

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The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 or Duānwǔjié in pīnyīn) is an official public holiday in Mainland China. This traditional holiday, also called the Double Fifth festival, is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (called 农历 or nónglì in Chinese).

The use of the lunar calendar to set the festival's date means that it is celebrated at a different time every year. Generally, the holiday falls anywhere from the end of May to the end of June according to the Gregorian calendar (阳历, yánglì).

What is the history of the Dragon Boat Festival?

The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that has been around in various forms for thousands of years. Its current iteration is an amalgamation of multiple different festivals and traditions. Two prevailing stories are often cited to explain the origin of this age-old holiday.

Read on to discover the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival and learn more about the customs associated with this traditional celebration.

In modern times, the most popular story explaining the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival concerns the death of Qu Yuan (屈原, Qū Yuán), a poet of the Warring States period (approx. 475 to 221 BC).

At the time, it was common for Chinese literati to work in government, and Qu Yuan was no different. He served faithfully as a government official in the State of Chu for some time. After being slandered by another official, however, he was sent into exile.

Qu Yuan spent his exile in a productive manner, writing many works of poetry, but his mind was troubled. The State of Chu was not doing well politically, and news of its various defeats at the hands of competing states sent Qu Yuan into a deep depression.

Eventually, his despair in the face of the political situation drove him to commit suicide by drowning himself in Hunan Province's Miluo River.

During his time in exile, Qu Yuan had become quite popular with the local people. Legend has it that when they realized he was attempting to drown himself, the citizenry rushed in boats to the middle of the river in an attempt to save him or at least retrieve his body.

Unable to find him and worried that fish would eat his body, they threw balls of sticky rice into the river in hopes that the fish would choose the rice over Qu Yuan.

Avoiding dad luck in the fifth month

Another possible explanation for the origins of the festival is linked to superstitions surrounding the date on which it falls. As noted above, the Dragon Boat Festival is also called the Double Fifth Festival because it falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.

Traditionally, the fifth lunar month was considered to be an unlucky time. People in certain regions of China believed that during this month, the dreaded five poisonous animals (五毒, wǔdú), started to come out of their winter hiding places.

Traditionally, the animals referred to as wǔdú included centipedes, poisonous snakes, scorpions, lizards and toads. To safeguard themselves during this time, ancient people practiced rituals such as poking pictures of the five poisonous animals with pins, which was believed to render their real-life counterparts harmless.

In addition to the threat posed by the reemergence of poisonous animals, it was also believed that people were more prone to falling ill around this time.

Over the years, various traditions emerged to help ensure that people were protected from illness and bad luck during the dreaded Double Fifth. One such tradition that has survived to this day and is still incorporated into modern Dragon Boat Festival celebrations is the custom of hanging mugwort and calamus branches on one's door to ward off evil spirits.

How do people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?

The dragon boat festival is a fun, boisterous holiday. In most parts of China, the weather is quite good at this time of year, and people congregate outside on the banks of rivers and lakes to enjoy the fine weather while watching traditional dragon boat races.

Participating in or attending dragon boat races

These days, the most well-known aspect of the Dragon Boat Festival is the tradition of racing dragon boats (赛龙舟, sàilóngzhōu).

The story of Qu Yuan's suicide is often used to explain the dragon boat racing tradition. In line with this explanation, racing dragon boats mimics the actions of the villagers who rowed out into the river to try to save their beloved poet.

Qu Yuan's suicide is only one of the explanations that have been advanced, however. Dragon boat racing has a history of over 2,000 years and some scholars believe the practice most likely began as a way to worship the Dragon God.

According to this explanation, the custom is thought to have originated in southern China's Guangdong Province along the Pearl River Delta. Even before the modern era, dragon boat racing was popular among ethnic Chinese people living throughout Asia.

Originally, dragon boats were made of teak. Today, however, most dragon boats are made of modern materials such as fiberglass. During races, the boats are fitted out with a colorful dragon head and tail.

Over the years, dragon boat racing has developed into a sport with a variety of rules and regulations. Divorced from most of its cultural associations with the traditional folk holiday, this sport has recently gained popularity with people around the world, including in the United States. Races have even been held in big cities such as New York and Chicago.

Dragon boats are long and thin. Although the size of the boats and their crews can vary, in most cases, the crew consists of 20 paddlers who sit side-by-side in pairs facing the bow. There is also a drummer who sits at the bow of the boat facing the paddlers.

During a race, the drummer leads the paddlers by beating rhythmically on a drum. In addition to the drummer, there is also a steerer who sits in the back of the boat and helps to steer it using a long steering oar.

The distance covered by racers can vary from 100 to 2,000 meters (328 to 6,562 feet). The most common length for a race, however, is 500 meters (1,640 feet).

Official races organized by organizations like the International Dragon Boat Federation are held in many parts of the world. In mainland China, there are also various informal races organized by local villages and communities. Many of these informal races are held in communities where people have a close relationship with nearby bodies of water and most families own their own boats. In these settings, instead of watching from the bank, villagers sometimes row their family boats out into the river so that they can get a closer look at the dragon boats during the race.

People living in small communities where local races are held usually know most or all of the members of the dragon boat teams. Often, they are related to many of the crew members by birth or marriage. Because of the close relationships between audience members and participants, the atmosphere during these local races can be particularly exuberant.

Almost every Chinese holiday has a specific food or foods associated with it, and Dragon Boat Festival is no different. On this holiday, the food of choice is zòngzi (粽子).

Zòngzi are a type of pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice and stuffed with various sweet or savory fillings. Common fillings for sweet zòngzi include sweet red bean paste or jujube (Chinese dates).

Savory zòngzi might be stuffed with salted egg yolks, pork or mushrooms. The dumplings themselves are wrapped in bamboo leaves, tied with a string, and either steamed or boiled.

As discussed above, legend has it that people eat zòngzi on the Dragon Boat Festival as a way to remember the poet Qu Yuan. This is because zòngzi are thought to resemble the rice dumplings thrown into the water by villagers to stop the fish from eating his body after his suicide.

If you want to try zòngzi at most times of the year, you will likely be hard-pressed to find any. However, in the weeks leading up to the Dragon Boat Festival, zòngzi suddenly become available everywhere. Many Chinese families make their own, and pre-made versions also suddenly become available at most corner convenience stores.

The Dragon Boat Festival, then and now

Although the Dragon Boat Festival has a long history, it has not always found favor with the Chinese authorities. During the 1960's, when China was embroiled in the Cultural Revolution, campaigns against traditional culture and customs caused the popularity of traditional festivals, including the Dragon Boat Festival, to decrease dramatically.

In recent years, however, Dragon Boat Festival has regained its traditional place as an important holiday in Mainland China. Thanks to attempts by the Chinese government to promote traditional Chinese culture, the Dragon Boat Festival reemerged as an official public holiday in 2008.

Despite the various ups and downs it has faced over the years, anyone who has the chance to experience the fun and infectious excitement of the Dragon Boat Festival in China will quickly understand why its popularity has endured for many millennia.

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What is the Dragon Boat Festival and how is it celebrated? | CLI

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The Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 or Duānwǔjié in pīnyīn) is an official public holiday in Mainland China. This traditional holiday, also called the Double Fifth festival, is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese lunar calendar (called 农历 or nónglì in Chinese).

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History of Republic Day Italy

It all began after the fall of the fascist regime in Italy, supported by the House of Savoy for more than 20 years. The House of Savoy was a royal dynasty established in 1003, which gradually grew from a family in power to a massive kingdom with absolute rule.

Following the fall and the end of World War II, a referendum was announced by universal suffrage in 1946, to be held on June 2 and June 3. The Italian public gathered to vote for their form of government - for either a monarchy or a republic. On June 10, it was revealed that 45% of voters had chosen the monarchy, whereas 54% of Italians wanted a republic. The results were clear - Italians ushered in a new chapter of freedom, as declared by the Court of Cassation, and exiled the male members of the royal family - the House of Savoy. The country adopted a new constitution on January 1, 1948, making Italy a unitary parliamentary republic with a permanent ban on the monarchy to ever rule the country again.

Every year, June 2 is commemorated with official ceremonies, speeches, concerts, and parades across the country, with a hallmark military parade celebration taking place in the capital city of Rome that is broadcast worldwide and can be enjoyed by all. Celebrations take place at Italian embassies all around the world as well, characterized by flag hoisting, painting faces red, green, and white, and going on Italian picnics. Another highlight of the day is the flyover by the Frecce Tricolori. Many aircraft soar through the Italian skies, releasing streaks of white, green, and red smoke. It's a beautiful sight to see!

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It's time to raise the tricolor flags with Italians as they achieved their freedom on this day.

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of 1924

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On June 2, 1924, Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. The right to vote, however, was governed by state law; until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting. In a WPA interview from the 1930s, Henry Mitchell describes the attitude toward Native Americans in Maine, one of the last states to comply with the Indian Citizenship Act:

One of the Indians went over to Old Town once to see some official in the city hall about voting. I don't know just what position that official had over there, but he said to the Indian, 'We don't want you people over here. You have your own elections over on the island, and if you want to vote, go over there.'

Just why the Indians shouldn't vote is something I can't understand.
"The Life of Henry Mitchell." Robert Grady, interviewer; Old Town, Maine, ca. 1938-1939. American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936 to 1940. Manuscript Division

Committee of 100 on Indian Affair[e]s. Dec 13, 1923. National Photo Company Collection. Prints & Photographs Division

Previously, the Dawes Severalty Act (1887) had shaped U.S. policy towards Native Americans. In accordance with its terms, and hoping to turn Indians into farmers, the federal government redistributed tribal lands to heads of families in 160-acre allotments. Unclaimed or "surplus" land was sold, and the proceeds used to establish Indian schools where Native-American children learned reading, writing, and the domestic and social systems of white America. By 1932, the sale of both unclaimed land and allotted acreage resulted in the loss of two-thirds of the 138 million acres that Native Americans had held prior to the Dawes Act.

In addition to the extension of voting rights to Native Americans, the Secretary of the Interior commissioned the Institute for Government Research to assess the impact of the Dawes Act. Completed in 1928, the Meriam ReportExternal described how government policy oppressed Native Americans and destroyed their culture and society.

The poverty and exploitation resulting from the paternalistic Dawes Act spurred passage of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act. This legislation promoted Native-American autonomy by prohibiting allotment of tribal lands, returning some surplus land, and urging tribes to engage in active self-government. Rather than imposing the legislation on Native Americans, individual tribes were allowed to accept or reject the Indian Reorganization Act. From 1934 to 1953, the U.S. government invested in the development of infrastructure, health care, education, and the quality of life on Indian lands improved. With the aid of federal courts and the government, over two million acres of land were returned to various tribes.

Photographs from American Indians of the Pacific Northwest External :

Salish Man Named Paul Challae and Small Child External , Montana, date unknown.

Salish Man and Woman Sitting on Rocks External , Montana [?], date unknown.

Salish Woman Sits with Her Grandchildren...External , St. Ignatius Mission, Montana. 1924.

American Indians of the Pacific Northwest External integrates over 2,300 photographs and 7,700 pages of text relating to Native Americans of two cultural areas of the Pacific Northwest. Many aspects of life and work - including housing, clothing, crafts, transportation, education, and employment, are illustrated in this collection drawn from the extensive holdings of the University of Washington Libraries, the Cheney Cowles Museum/Eastern Washington State Historical Society, and the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle.

Learn More

Native American rights advocate, Dr. Joseph Kossuth Dixon, a former Baptist minister, undertook efforts to document the Native American experience during World War I with the hope that documenting Native American service in the military would aid the struggle to obtain general U.S. citizenship. Forty percent of Native Americans were not citizens until 1924, though more than 12,000 served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Read the Geography & Map Division blog post Native Americans in the First World War and the Fight for Citizenship which shows a map that used Dr. Dixon's work to document Native American participation during the war.

The Library's Music Division used their In the Muse blog to remember the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act by presenting the publication American Indian Melodies. Read Sheet Music of the Week: American Indian Edition.

Search Congress.gov to follow legislation affecting Native Americans. Ongoing efforts to protect their rights are seen through the introduction of bills both in the Senate and House of Representatives such as H.R. 1694-Native American Voting Rights Act of 2019.

Listen to Native American music. Omaha Indian Music features traditional Omaha music from the 1890s and 1980s. The multiformat ethnographic field collection contains 44 wax cylinder recordings collected by Francis La Flesche and Alice Cunningham Fletcher between 1895 and 1897, 323 songs and speeches from the 1983 Omaha harvest celebration pow-wow, and 25 songs and speeches from the 1985 Hethu'shka Society concert at the Library of Congress. Search by keyword or browse the list of recorded music.

View photographs documenting Native American life in the 1930s and 1940s. Search the collection, Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black-and-White Negatives on reservation or Indian.

George Washington Papers includes many references to Indian treaties and rights; to explore this aspect of Washington's correspondence, search the collection on Indian rights and Indian treaties.

The collections of the Library's Manuscript Division include many items that document the lives and culture of Native Americans. Examine the following examples:

Search Today in History on Native American to read additional features including pages on Jim Thorpe, the Cherokee chief John Ross, and the Paiute writer and translator Sarah Winnemucca.

Explore the Library's Curtis (Edward S) Collection of photographs of tribes from seven geo-cultural regions: Pacific Northwest, New Southwest, Great Basin, Great Plains, Plateau Region, California, and Alaska. For comparison, visit the online presentation from Northwestern University of Edward S. Curtis's The North American IndianExternal which portrays the traditional customs and lifeways of eighty Indian tribes.

Denver Public Library Digital CollectionsExternal includes images of Native Americans from more than forty tribes living west of the Mississippi River.

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On June 2, 1924, Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. The right to vote, however, was governed by state law; until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting.

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History of Stand For Children Day

The Stand For Children was founded in 1996 for one purpose - to make life better for the children of America. The first-ever demonstration for the cause managed to pull a crowd of 300,000 people, marking the day as one that was essential for people who wanted children to be educated and raised better. Started by Jonah Edelman and Martin Wright Edelman, the day continues to gain more traction every year and has also led to a change in the facilities provided to young children.

The organization that is working for the betterment of children, has managed to collect and distribute 70,000 books, has renovated over 100 playgrounds, enrolled thousands of children in health coverage, and sent out a large number of letters and emails to important decision-makers that can help evolve the education system for children. Since 1999, the organization has procured $6.7 billion for investments in education and has played a crucial role in the development of several groundbreaking policies.

Stand For Children has also held hundreds of rallies across the country. These initiatives have helped empower parents and communities who previously didn't understand the power they possessed in affecting the political decisions that can improve the quality of life of the children of the nation. The 2001 theme for Stand For Children further reveals the cause the organization and other citizens are working towards - 'Building Our Voice And Vision for All Children.'

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Special days like these can make the country better for the children of America.

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History of Intergenerational Day

The idea for Intergenerational Day came to a teacher from British Columbia in Canada in 2009. The teacher was working with students on projects related to World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Students were being taught about the respect, care, and love the elders in society deserve, and within one year, the passion for the projects gained so much momentum that 2010 saw the first Intergenerational Day being celebrated.

The concept for the day was taken up by the i2i Intergenerational Society and five other school groups from Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario, Newfoundland, and British Columbia. The i2i is a nonprofit society that helps people and organizations promote initiatives related to connecting the elderly and the young. Since the day's inception in 2010, it has been celebrated in 12 territories and more than 100 cities. In fact, the day is viewed with so much importance that the Toronto District School Board has mandated it through law.

Years of research have shown the lack of care and attention to our elders will leave the generation feeling depressed and developing physical and mental ailments. If a society's elders are neglected, the younger generation will have a lot to lose in the form of culture, history, life experiences, and empathetic skills. Therefore, we must take care of the generations that need it the most. By helping the old and the new connect, we are securing our past, present, and future. You can play your part on this day by visiting old age homes and spending time with the elders there. Humans, at the core of it, do not require elaborate displays of affection. All they require is a social connection with someone ready to listen and be with them, and Intergenerational Day reiterates this message loud and clear.

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Wish to feel the connection through the generations this Intergenerational Day? Here's how you can connect with people no matter their age.

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Each June we celebrate Men's Health Month and encourage men to take care of their bodies and work to prevent disease.

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History of National PTSD Awareness Month

In 2010, the U.S. Senate declared June 27 to be National PTSD Awareness Day. However, in 2014, it designated the whole month of June to be observed as National PTSD Awareness Month. This was a welcome move by many PTSD organizations and support groups as many felt that more awareness campaigns needed to be held for people to seek help when it came to PTSD. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, one of the most active forerunners in the fight against PTSD, has released a special June calendar that people can download. This special calendar features several activities (like raising awareness on social media through sharing PTSD helplines, articles, subscribing to YouTube channels, finding local PTSD therapists, etc.) aimed to increase awareness and support for PTSD survivors.

PTSD is not a newly recognized mental disorder. The disorder dates back to 50 B.C. when it was described in a poem by Hippocrates. He talks about the experiences of a soldier returning home after a battle. PTSD started gaining more attention after the wars between England and France when many people, civilians and soldiers alike, reported experiencing symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, intrusive and disturbing thoughts, and flashbacks. This continued throughout WW1 and WW2, with PTSD being named as 'Shell Shock' and 'Battle Fatigue', respectively. It was during the 1970s' Vietnam War that the mental disorder was renamed PTSD. Earlier treatments related to electric shock therapy and other painful options. But today's modern technology and extensive research have led to much better and effective treatments like group therapy, counseling, and antidepressants.

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PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, occurs in people after they experienced a particularly traumatic event.

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National Caribbean American Heritage Month

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National Caribbean American Heritage Month

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The Institute of Caribbean Studies' (ICS) effort to establish National Caribbean American Heritage Month (NCAHM) began in 1999 with an outreach to President Bill Clinton asking for the recognition of August as National Caribbean American Heritage Month. This resulted in the first White House Caribbean American Community Briefing being held at the Clinton White House in 1999. Meanwhile, a now-defunct, ad-hoc group of Caribbean Americans led by Doreen Thompson organized efforts to get June declared as Caribbean Heritage Month in Washington DC. ICS joined forces with the ad-hoc group in June 1999, but by 2000, the group dispersed.

In June 2000, ICS took on the mantle of leadership in Washington DC, changed the name to National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and organized events in June under that banner. Efforts to engage the White House were fruitless. In 2001, ICS was joined by the TransAfrica Forum and the Caribbean Staff Association of the World Bank to organize events during June, promoting recognition of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and the momentum slowly began to build. In 2004, the efforts gathered steam, when an Official Campaign for June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month was launched upon the tabling of a Bill in the US Congress by Congresswoman Barbara Lee, with language provided by ICS Founder and President, Dr. Claire Nelson. ICS worked with the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee to galvanize support for the Bill from organizations across the country and also organized events on Capitol Hill in recognition of June 2004. The Bill was reintroduced and passed the House in June 2005, and the Senate in February 2006.

A Proclamation making the Resolution official was signed by President George Bush on June 5, 2006.

Since the declaration, the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month. This year marks the fourteenth celebration of June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month.

The campaign to designate June as National Caribbean American Heritage Month was spearheaded by Dr. Claire Nelson, Founder, and President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies. Through the commemoration of this month, we hope to ensure that America is reminded that its greatness lies in its diversity, with Caribbean immigrants from founding father Alexander Hamilton, to journalist Malcolm Gladwell, who have shaped the American dream.

Actress and Singer Sheryl Lee Ralph, of Jamaican heritage and basketball great Rick Fox, of Bahamian heritage, were named Official Spokespersons for the National Caribbean American Heritage Month in 2006.

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NCAHM HISTORY - Caribbean American Heritage Month

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The Institute of Caribbean Studies' (ICS) effort to establish National Caribbean American Heritage Month (NCAHM) began in 1999 with an outreach to President Bill Clinton asking for the recognition of... Read more

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History of Black Lives Matter Month

The Black Lives Matter movement began as a social media response to an acquittal in the 2013 shooting death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin. The acquittal sparked outrage around the country leading to mass demonstrations against racially-motivated injustice and racism among law enforcement.

Initially begun as the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and circulated by three black community organizers in Los Angeles, Alicia Garza, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, and Opal Tometi, Black Lives Matter has grown into a global movement for racial equality, justice, anti-racism, and anti-violence against black people by law enforcement.

In August of 2014, the BLM movement organized its first large-scale protest in response to the death of Michael Brown at the hands of a Ferguson, Missouri police officer. The Black Lives Matter Freedom Ride consisted of more than 500 members participating in non-violent demonstrations.

Since that initial August 2014 protest, the decentralized and largely non-violent civil rights movement has been a central figure in the public responses to the unlawful killing of black people by law enforcement. Among the most notable are the 2014 killings of Akai Gurley and Eric Garner by members of the New York Police Department and now the May 2020 killing of George Floyd by four Minneapolis Police Officers.

In May 2020, the killings of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police while she slept in her bed and Ahmaud Arbery while peacefully jogging through a Georgia neighborhood brought attention to violence against black people. But it was the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police Officer that captured the nation's attention. One officer kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes. The act, which was filmed and released globally, sparked hundreds of demonstrations around the globe. Nearly every major U.S. city and even some smaller towns have had demonstrations organized and influenced by the Black Lives Matter movement. All four officers have been charged.

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The Black Lives Matter movement began as a social media response to an acquittal in the 2013 shooting death of African-American teen Trayvon Martin. The acquittal sparked outrage around the country leading to mass demonstrations against racially-motivated injustice and racism among law enforcement.

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African American Music Appreciation Month

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African American Music Appreciation Month

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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June is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation's treasured cultural heritage.

Formerly called National Black Music Month, this celebration of African American musical contributions is re-established annually by presidential proclamation. Though by no means exhaustive, we've prepared a primer that will guide you through some of the different genres that African Americans have created, inspired and fostered.

Rock and Roll

Rock 'n' roll music incorporates elements from all African American music genres and combines them with American pop and country music components. The genre was born in the 1950s and appealed to the rebellious yearnings of American youth culture.

Hip-Hop and Rap

Hip-Hop and rap are musical traditions firmly embedded in African American culture. Like jazz, hip-hop has become a global phenomenon and has exerted a driving force on the development of mass media. Hip-hop music spawned an entire cultural form, while rap remains a means for artists to voice opinions and share experiences regarding social and political issues.

This list of musical styles merely scratches the surface. In addition to the genres previously detailed, African American musicians and artists have also developed and influenced classical music traditions, country and western music, pop music, and dance music such as disco, techno and house, among other genres and styles. Millions of people around the globe listen to and are touched by music that carries elements of African American musical traditions.

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June is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation's treasured cultural heritage. Formerly called National Black Music Month, this celebration of African American musical contributions is re-established annually by presidential proclamation.

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Truman Day is a state holiday in Missouri, the United States, on or around May 8 each year. It honors Harry S Truman, a United States president who was born in Missouri.

Is Truman Day a Public Holiday?

This is a state public holiday. State government offices are closed. Some schools and businesses may also be closed on this day.

©iStockphoto.com/manley620

What Do People Do?

Events are held to remember the legacy of Harry S. Truman. Many are organized by or to benefit the Democratic Party that Truman represented. They include: educational sessions for high school students; opportunities to meet Democrat politicians in a social setting; and fundraising dinners to support the Democratic Party at local, state and national levels. At the Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri, Truman's birthday is celebrated every year. A wreath is laid in memory of him, films about him or his life are shown and birthday cake is served. In addition, the Harry S Truman Public Service Award is presented by the City of Independence to a person, who is dedicated and industrious and demonstrates the same levels of honesty, integrity and ability as Truman did.

Public Life

State offices are closed in Missouri on Truman Day. Schools, stores, post offices and other businesses and organizations are open and public transit services run to their regular schedules.

Background

Harry S Truman was born on May 8, 1884 in Lamar, Missouri. His father was John Anderson Truman and his mother Martha Ellen Young Truman and he was the second of four children. As a child, he also lived in Harrisonville, Belton, Grandview and Independence, all in the state of Missouri. He graduated from high school, but his poor eyesight prevented him from studying at college. Truman worked as a timekeeper on the Santa Fe railway and in many clerical functions. He served for the Missouri National Guard from 1909 until 1911. He re-enlisted at the start of World War I and was sent to France, where he became an officer and then a battery commander.

After the end of World War I, he returned to the United States and married Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman, known as affectionately as Bess, on June 28, 1919. They had one child, Margaret, who was born on February 17, 1924. Truman embarked on a political career, becoming a judge of the County Court of the eastern district of Jackson County, Missouri, in 1922. He also took on a number of other official roles. In 1934, he was elected as a member of the US Senate for the Democratic Party and he was re-elected in 1940. He became better known and more respected when his preparedness committee, known as the Truman Committee, exposed the mismanagement of military resources.

In 1944 the Democratic Party selected Truman as the candidate for vice-president to Franklin D Roosevelt, who ran for election for his fourth term as President of the United States. Roosevelt won the election on November 7, 1944, and Truman was inaugurated as vice-president on January 20, 1945. However, on April 12, 1945, Roosevelt died as a result of a massive stroke and Truman became president.

Truman was president for two terms until January 20, 1953. He led the United States through the end of World War II and during the great shifts in international politics in the late 1940s and early 1950s. These included: the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); the conflict between mainland China and Taiwan; the Korean War; the First Indochina War; and the rise of the Soviet Union as a nuclear power. After his presidency, he returned to live in Independence, Missouri, where he founded the Harry S Truman Presidential Library and Museum.
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.

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Truman Day is a state holiday in Missouri, the United States, on or around May 8 each year. It honors Harry S Truman, a United States president who was born in Missouri.

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8th-Remembrance & Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During WWII

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8th-Remembrance & Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During WWII

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Want to celebrate National Nurses Day in style? We got the best activities, ideas, discounts, and deals to make your day amazing!

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It is Joseph Brackett Day. We are celebrating by listening to the symphonies of 'Simple Gifts' and learning some facts about his life.

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António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

"Languages of global communication, such as the Portuguese language, play a crucial role in promoting understanding, affection, mutual respect and coexistence among peoples and citizens of the most distinct geographical origins."

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Music festival on Liberation Day 2008 in Zwolle

Liberation Day ( Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag) is a public holiday in the Netherlands to mark the end of the German occupation of the country during the Second World War. It follows the Remembrance of the Dead ( Dodenherdenking) on 4 May.

The Netherlands were liberated by Canadian forces, British infantry divisions, the British I Corps, the 1st Polish Armoured Division, American, Belgian, Dutch and Czechoslovak troops. Parts of the country, in particular the south-east, were liberated by the British Second Army which included American and Polish airborne forces (see Operation Market Garden) and French airbornes (see Operation Amherst). On 5 May 1945, at Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen, I Canadian Corps commander Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes and Oberbefehlshaber Niederlande commander-in-chief Generaloberst Johannes Blaskowitz reached an agreement on the capitulation of all German forces in the Netherlands. The capitulation document was signed the next day in the auditorium of Wageningen University, located next door.

After liberation in 1945, Liberation Day was celebrated every five years. In 1990 the day was declared a national holiday when liberation would be remembered and celebrated every year. Festivals are held in most places in the Netherlands with parades of veterans and musical festivals throughout the whole country.

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Liberation Day (Netherlands) - Wikipedia

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Liberation Day ( Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag) is a public holiday in the Netherlands to mark the end of the German occupation of the country during the Second World War. It follows the Remembrance of the Dead ( Dodenherdenking) on 4 May.

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It's Indian Arrival Day in Guyana once again. Let's join the Guyanas as they commemorate this important day. Read on to learn more.

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Buddha Jayanti

Official name

Fódàn (佛誕)
Phật Đản
Chopa-il (초파일, 初八日) 부처님 오신 날
ဗုဒ္ဓမွေးနေ့
বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা
बुद्ध पूर्णिमा
बुद्ध पौर्णिमा

ବୁଦ୍ଧ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା
Vesākha

Also called

Buddha's Birthday

Buddha Jayanti

Observed by

Buddhists in East Asia and Buddhists and some Hindus in South and Southeast Asia (as Vesak)

Type

Buddhist, cultural

Significance

Commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha

Date

varies by region:

April 8 (Japan)

Second Sunday in May (Taiwan)

8th day of the 4th lunar month (mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)

first full moon of Vaisakha (South Asia and Southeast Asia)

2022 date

8 May (China, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)

2023 date

26 May (China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)
15 May (Bangladesh)
5 May (India, Nepal)[1]
26 May (Tibet, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia)

2024 date

15 May (China, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)

Frequency

annual

Related to
Vesak

Buddha's Birthday or "'Buddha Day"' (also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Pournami) is a primarily Buddhist festival that is celebrated in most of South, Southeast and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition and archaeologists, Gautama Buddha, c. 563-483 BCE, was born at Lumbini in Nepal. Buddha's mother was Queen Maya Devi, who delivered the Buddha while undertaking a journey to her native home, and his father was King Śuddhodana. The Mayadevi Temple, its gardens, and an Ashoka Pillar dating from 249 BCE mark the Buddha's birth place at Lumbini.

The exact year of Buddha's birthday is based on the Sri Lankan convention, while several Asian lunisolar calendars ascribe to different lunar days. The date for the celebration of Buddha's birthday therefore varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar, but it is usually celebrated in either April or May. During leap years, the birthday may be celebrated in June.

In South and Southeast Asia, the Buddha's birth is celebrated as part of , a festival that also celebrates the Buddha's enlightenment (on the day of the full moon) and his mahaparinirvana. In Tibetan Buddhism, Buddha's birth (7th day of the 4th Month) is celebrated separately from Saga Dawa Duchen, the annual festival celebrating his enlightenment and mahaparinirvana (15th Day of the 4th Month). In East Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines, the enlightenment and death of the Buddha are observed as separate holidays.

The exact date of Buddha's Birthday is based on the Asian lunisolar calendars and is primarily celebrated in Baisakh month of the Buddhist calendar and the Bikram Sambat Hindu calendar. This is the reason behind the term Vesak. In modern-day India and Nepal, where the Historical Buddha lived, it is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month of the Buddhist calendar. In Theravada countries following the Buddhist calendar, it falls on the full moon, Uposatha day, typically in the 5th or 6th lunar month. In China, Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines, it is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The date varies from year to year in the Western Gregorian calendar but usually falls in April or May. In leap years it may be celebrated in June. In Tibet, it falls on the 7th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar.

South and Southeast Asia and Mongolia

Buddha's statue located near Belum Caves, Andhra Pradesh, India

In South Asian and Southeast Asian countries (except Vietnam and the Philippines) as well as Mongolia, Buddha's birthday is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month of the Buddhist calendar and the Hindu calendar, which usually falls in April or May of the Western Gregorian calendar. The festival is known as Buddha Purnima, as Purnima means full moon day in Sanskrit. It is also called Buddha Jayanti, with Jayanti meaning birthday in Sanskrit.

The corresponding Western Gregorian calendar dates varies from year to year:

2021: May 19 (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Tibet), May 26 (India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia and Singapore)

East Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines

In many East Asian countries as well as Vietnam and the Philippines, Buddha's Birth is celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar (in Japan since 1873 on April 8 of the Gregorian calendar), and the day is an official holiday in Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea. The date falls from the end of April to the end of May according to the Gregorian calendar.

The primarily solar Gregorian calendar date varies from year to year, and in the year 2021, it was on May 19.

In 1999 the Taiwanese government set Buddha's birthday as the second Sunday of May, the same date as Mother's Day.

Illustration by Hokusai

As a result of the Meiji Restoration, Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar in lieu of the Chinese lunar calendar in 1873. However, it took approximately until 1945, the end of World War II, for religious festivities to adopt the new calendar. In most Japanese temples, Buddha's birth is now celebrated on the Gregorian and buddhist calendar date April 8; only a few (mainly in Okinawa) celebrate it on the orthodox Chinese calendar date of the eighth day of the fourth lunar month.

Archeological evidence from Kapilvastu, where Śuddhodana's palace was located, was uncovered in 2021. In 2022, archaeologists from Durham University reported that while working in Nepal they uncovered evidence of a structure at the birthplace of the Buddha dating to the sixth century BCE, using a combination of radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence techniques.

Lotus Lantern Festival Yeondeunghoe celebrating Buddha's Birthday, in South Korea

Floating lanterns on a lake for Buddha's Birthday in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Buddha's birthday is a public holiday in Bangladesh and the event is called Buddho Purnima(বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা). On the days preceding Purnima, Buddhist monks and priests decorate Buddhist temples with colourful decorations and candles. On the day of the festival, the President and Prime Minister deliver speeches addressing the history and importance of Buddhism, and of religious harmony in the country. From noon onwards large fairs are held in and around the temples and viharas, selling Bengali food (largely vegetarian), clothes, and toys. Performances of Buddha's life are also presented. Buddhist monks teach celebrants about the Dharma and the Five Precepts (panchashila). Buddhists then attend a congression inside the monastery where the chief monk delivers a speech discussing the Buddha and the Three Jewels (tri-ratna), and about living the ideal life. Afterwards, a prayer to the Buddha is offered, and people then light candles and recite the Three Jewels and Five Precepts.

In Bhutan, Buddha Parinirvana is a national holiday and is also celebrated as Saga Dawa on the 15th day of the Saga Dawa (fourth month of the Tibetan calendar). Observation of the holy month begins from 1st day of the Saga Dawa, Vesak Month that culminates on the full moon day 15th of the month with celebrations of three holy events of Buddha's life; birth, enlightenment and Death (Mahaparinirvana). Throughout the Saga Dawa Vesak Month holy, virtuous and morally ethical activities flows in homes, temples, monasteries and public places. Devotees and followers follow strict vegetarian meals throughout the Saga Dawa month and avoid consumption of any non-vegetarian food. The Buddha parinirvana day also sees devotees visiting monastery to offer prayers and light butter lamps. People of various walk of life wear their national dress and go to monasteries to receive blessings from their guardian deity.

In Cambodia, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as Visak Bochea and is a public holiday where monks around the country carry the Buddhist flag, lotus flowers, incense, and candles to acknowledge Vesak. People also take part in alms-giving to the monks.

In Mainland China, this day is generally and commonly called in Chinese, 佛誕 ( Fódàn), but also called " Yùfú Jié (浴佛節, "Bathing (Purifying) Buddha Festival"), Guànfó Huì (灌佛會, "Pouring on the Buddha Congregational Assembly"), Lóng-huá Huì (龍華會), Huáyán Huì (華嚴會)" or even " 衛塞節 ( Wèisāi jié, "Vesak Day), 偉大的衛塞節花節偉大的滿月 ( Wěidà de Wèisāi-jié Huā-jié Wěidà de Mǎnyuè, "Great Vesak Day Flower Festival Full Moon of Flower Moon")". Celebrations may occur in Buddhist temples where people may light incense and bring food offerings for the monks.

In Hong Kong, Buddha's birthday is a public holiday. Lanterns are lit to symbolise the Buddha's enlightenment and many people visit the temple to pay their respects. The bathing of statues of the Buddha is a major feature of Buddha's birthday celebrations in the city. In Macau, All Buddhist temples in Macau will hold the " Lung4 Wa4 Wui5 (龍華會)" ritual ceremony, bathing the Buddha with " Ng5 Heung1 Seui2 (五香水 "Five Scented-Perfumed Water")", which the festival is also a public holiday in Macau.

The public holiday for Buddha Purnima in India was initiated by B. R. Ambedkar when he was the minister of law and justice. It is celebrated especially in Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bodh Gaya, Lahaul and Spiti district, Kinnaur, various parts of North Bengal such as Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Kurseong, and Maharashtra (where 77% of total Indian Buddhists live), as well as other parts of India as per Indian calendar. Buddhists go to common Viharas to observe a rather longer-than-usual, full-length Buddhist sutra, akin to a service.

In the followers of Theravada style the dress code is pure white, others don't follow particular dress code. Kheer, sweet rice porridge is commonly served to recall the story of Sujata, a maiden who, in Gautama Buddha's life, offered the Buddha a bowl of milk porridge. Informally called "Buddha's Birthday," it actually commemorates the birth, enlightenment (nirvāna), and death (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in the Theravada tradition.

At the Mahabodhi Temple of Bodhgaya in India, Buddha Purnima is celebrated with great enthusiasm. This temple gets decorated with colored decorations. At the Bodhi Tree, under which Gautama Buddha obtained enlightenment, devotees of Gautam Buddha do special prayers. At the National Museum in Delhi, Lord Buddha's holy remaining's are open for public viewing.

Tibetans in exile and Tibet celebrate holy Vesak day Saga Dawa on the 15th day of the Saga Dawa (fourth month of the Tibetan calendar). Observation of the holy month begins from 1st day of the Saga Dawa, Vesak Month that culminates on the full moon day 15th of the month with celebrations of three holy events of Buddha's life; birth, enlightenment and Death (Mahaparinirvana). Throughout the Saga Dawa Vesak Month holy, virtuous and morally ethical activities flows in homes, temples, monasteries and public places. Devotees and followers take special precepts Mahayana Posadha during the holy month and especially on the full moon day, therefore consumption of semi-vegetarian or Non-vegetarian food is avoided during the holy month of Vesak Saga Dawa in Tibetan and Himalayan villages and communities. Yogis also choose to do special types of meditation on this day as it is said to be quite conducive for spiritual growth.

In Indonesia, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as and is a public holiday. A large procession beginning in Mendut in Java, and ends at Borobudur - the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

Hanamatsuri in Japan

Shaka at Birth at Tōdaiji (National Treasure of Japan)

In Japan, Buddha's Birthday is known as Kanbutsu-e ( Japanese: 灌仏会) or Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival) ( Japanese: 花祭り) and is held on April 8. Buddha's birth is also celebrated according to the Buddhist calendar but is not a national holiday. On this day, all temples hold 降誕会 ( Gōtan-e), 仏生会 ( Busshō-e), 浴仏会 ( Yokubutsu-e), 龍華会 ( Ryūge-e) and 花会式 ( Hana-eshiki). Japanese people pour (a beverage prepared from Hydrangea serrata, a variety of hydrangea) on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers, as if bathing a newborn baby. The tradition of bathing the Buddha originated in China and was introduced to Japan where it was first held in Nara in 606. Lion dancing is also a major tradition practiced during Buddha's Birthday and has become associated with the festival in Japan.

In Malaysia, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as Wesak Day and is a public holiday celebrated by the sizeable minority Buddhist population in the country. Temples across the country are decorated, and caged animals are set free. People engage in prayers, chanting, and alms-giving across the country.

In Mongolia, Buddha's Birthday is called ( Mongolian Cyrillic: Багшийн Их Дүйцэн Өдөр, Burkhan Bagshiin Ikh Düitsen Ödör, "Lord Buddha's Great Festival Day"), is celebrated as "Ikh Duichen" and its date is determined by the Mongolian lunar calendar. As a result, the date falls in line with celebrations of Buddha's Birthday/Vesak in South and Southeast Asian countries as opposed to neighbouring East Asian countries. In December 2019, the popularly celebrated festival by many Mongolian Buddhists, is made a public holiday.

In Myanmar, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as Full Moon of Kasun and is a public holiday. It is celebrated by watering the Bodhi tree and chanting. In large pagodas, music and dance is also performed as part of the celebrations.

Buddha statues at Swayambhu in Nepal

In Nepal, Buddha's birthday is celebrated on the full moon day of May. The festival is known by various names, Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Vaishakh Purnima, Saga Dawa, and Vesak. Purnima means full moon day in Sanskrit. Among the Newars of Nepal, especially from the Shakya clan of Newars, it is of great importance because they consider it as a continuation of the sage of the Śākyas- the clan that Lord Buddha's family belonged to. Thus, they celebrate the festival which is in their language known as Swānyā Punhi (स्वांया पुन्हि), the full moon day of flowers. The day marks not just the birth of Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha, but also the day of his Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana.

The event is celebrated by gentle and serene fervour, keeping in mind the very nature of Buddhism. People, especially women, go to common Viharas to observe a rather longer-than-usual, full-length Buddhist sutra, something like a service. The usual dress is pure white. Non-vegetarian food is normally avoided. Kheer, sweet rice porridge is commonly served to recall the story of Sujata, a maiden who offered the Buddha a bowl of milk porridge.

Buddha Purnima is the biggest day for Buddhists because on this day, it is believed three important events of the Buddha's life took place: his birth, his attaining enlightenment, and his death, Paranirvana. This day is known as Thrice Blessed Festival.

Buddha's Birthday is occasionally designated as a public holiday in North Korea and is known as Chopail ( Korean: 초파일 Chopa-il; Hanja: 初八日, "the first 8th day (of the month in the Lunar Calendar)"). Designation of traditional Korean holidays as public holidays in North Korea are determined by the Cabinet a few days before the traditional holiday begins. Buddha's Birthday is a traditional festival in Korean culture, and was celebrated in Korea long before the division of the country. As a result, the festival is still celebrated in North Korea by the country's Buddhist population.

In the Philippines, Buddha's Birthday is known as Kaarawan ni Buddha and usually has Chinese elements via its Chinese community. It is not a public holiday as most Filipinos are Christian. However, it can be celebrated by people of all religions. Like in China and Japan, Filipino people bathe statues of the Buddha.

In Singapore, Buddha's birthday is celebrated as Vesak or Vesak Day and is a public holiday in the country. Buddhist temples hold celebrations and are decorated with Buddhist flags and flowers. Devotees also bring offerings to the temples.

Buddha lantern parade in Daegu, Korea

In South Korea, the birthday of Buddha is celebrated according to the Korean lunar calendar and is a national holiday. This day is called " Bucheo-nim o-shin nal" ( Hangul: ) meaning "the day when the Buddha ( Bucheo-nim) came", which is also called " Seok-ga T'an-shin-il" ( Hangul: 석가탄신일, Hanja: 釋迦誕辰日), i.e. "the Birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha" and sometimes also called Chopail ( Korean: 초파일 Chopa-il; Hanja: 初八日, "the first 8th day (of the month in the Lunar Calendar)"). Lotus lanterns hang in temples throughout the month and lanterns are hung in homes and in the streets. On the day of Buddha's birth, many temples provide free meals and tea to all visitors and organise large lantern festival called Yeondeunghoe ( Hangul: 연등회, Hanja: 燃燈會, "Lotus Lantern Festival"). Breakfast and lunch are also provided, which often includes sanchae bibimbap. Buddha's Birthday is a popular holiday and folk celebration in Korea, and is often celebrated by people of all religious faiths.

Vesak Thorana in Piliyandala, Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as and is a public holiday celebrated on the first full moon day of the month of May. Its date is determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar. People engage in religious observances and decorate houses and streets with candles and paper lanterns as well as bamboo-framed lanterns. Dansalas is practised and refers to the free offering of food and drink to people. Devotional songs known as Bakthi Gee are sung, and decorative gateways called are erected throughout the country. Temples around the country also hold celebrations, and devotees bring offerings and burn incense. Electric light displays that depict stories from the Buddha's life are also a notable part of Vesak celebrations in the country.[citation needed ]

In Taiwan, after the initiation by the Buddhists and the general public, the " Guódìng Fúdàn Jié ( Chinese: 國定佛誕節, "National Buddha's Birthday")" was jointly signed. Then in 1999, the Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan) officially announced the "Anniversary of the Buddha's Birthday ( Chinese: 佛陀誕辰紀念日 Fótuó Dànchén Jìniàn Rì)" in the " Guódìng Jìniàn Rì ( Chinese: 國定紀念日, "National Memorial Day")". Buddha's birthday is a national holiday. Devotees pour fragrant water over Buddha statues to symbolise the beginning of a fresh start in life.

In Thailand, Buddha's birthday is celebrated as Visakha Puja and is a public holiday. People gather at temples to hear sermons, give donations and chant prayers.

Buddhists pray in the night with flower garlands and coloured lanterns on Buddha's birthday in Bắc Ninh, Vietnam

In Vietnam, Buddha's birthday is called in Vietnamese, / Phật Đản (佛誕, "Birthday of the Buddha"), or "Ngày Hội Hoa Phật" (Buddha's Lord Flower Festival Day)" and is celebrated throughout Vietnam. Many Buddhist temples hold celebrations that attract people from around the country, while pagodas around the country are decorated. From 1958 to 1975, the birthday of Buddha (on the 8th day of the 4th month in the Lunar calendar) was recognized as a national public holiday in South Vietnam, enjoyed with floats and lantern parades on the streets. Currently Buddha's Birthday is still a popular celebrated festival in Vietnam, but not a public holiday.

Outside Asia

In Sydney, Buddha's birthday is celebrated at the Nan Tien Temple in Wollongong, while another celebration also organised by Nan Tien Temple is held at Darling Harbour, which features Buddha's birthday ceremony. A variety of vegetarian food is served, and culture stalls and multicultural performances are held, celebrating cultures from China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Australia. Other temples in the Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple group in Australia also hld celebrations on the eighth day of the fourth month of the China lunar calendar. In Brisbane, the Buddha's Birthday Festival is held annually and features a variety of pan-Asian food, and performances from various cultures are held. It is a weekend-long festival which draws over 200000 visitors. In Melbourne, the weekend-long festival called Buddha's Day and Multicultural Festival is held at Federation Square around April/May. In Perth, a two-day celebration also known as Buddha's Day and Multicultural Festival is held at Langley Park. Local Buddhist temples and smaller towns around the country such as Bendigo, Victoria also hold celebrations.

On the Australian external territory of Christmas Island, Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as "Vesak Day" and is celebrated alongside many other celebrations common in Australia and Malaysia as well as local celebrations of the island.

Vesak (Hanamatsuri) is widely known and celebrated in Brazil due to the country's large Japanese community. Hanamatsuri has grown in popularity and also attracts interest from the wider non-Japanese Brazilian population. As a result, Hanamatsuri has become a consumerist culture phenomenon in the country and is sometimes locally known as Festa das Flores. Hanamatsuri is celebrated in the São Paulo neighbourhood of Liberdade which is home to the largest Japanese community outside of Japan. Hanamatsuri celebrations in Liberdade began in 1966 and includes a parade on Galvão Bueno street. Celebrations are also held at the suburb's major shopping centre, Liberdade Plaza.

In Toronto, three Buddhist temples representing the three main branches of Buddhism organize an annual event known as Vesak: Buddha's Birthday. It is held at Mississauga Celebration Square, and features a number of Buddhist-themed events and activities, as well as cultural acts from Asia, including China, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The celebration of Buddha's Birthday in the United States differs from community to community, depending on ethnicity and nationality.

The Japanese celebration on 8 April has been significant in the Bay Area of California for some decades. In 1968 the first circumambulation of Mt. Tamalpais to celebrate Buddha's Birthday was conducted. Starting in 1969 at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Hana-Matsuri (花ーまつり - flower festival) was celebrated each spring. Dressed in formal black robes, the roughly 70 monks and students form a formal procession to the Horse Pasture with the leader periodically ringing a small, clear bell. A temporary stone altar was built under a huge oak tree in a gorgeous field of green grass and abundant wildflowers; a small statue of a baby Buddha was placed upon it in a metal basin. Then each person, in turn, approaches the altar, and ladle one thin-lipped bamboo dipperful of sweet green tea over the statue, bow, and walk to one side.

In New York, the International Lotus Lantern Parade has been a notable and successful annual event held at Union Square Park. The event celebrates the Buddha's birthday and Yeon Deung Hoe (연등회,燃燈會), a Korean lantern celebration that is held during Vesak. The festival features a number of Buddhist themed events and is started off by numerous Buddhist centres of Japanese, Korean and Sri Lankan origins for example.

Since 1963, the state of Hawaii has recognized April 8 of each year as "Buddha Day", which celebrates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.

^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Gopinath Mohapatra (4 October 2012). "Two Birth Plates of Buddha" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2012.

^ "Buddha Purnima 2023: Date, Timings, Story, Teachings and Significance". The Times of India. 5 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257.

"Buddha's birthday in his birthplace". nepalitimes.com. 22 May 2021.

^ "Rigpa Tibetan Calendar 2023-2024, Water Rabbit Year 2150", p.54,56. Terton Sogyal Trust : Zam, 2022.

^ Camaron Kao (14 May 2012), "Thousands of believers mark Buddha's birthday", , archived from the original on 16 June 2013

^ Ko Shu-Ling (9 May 2011), "Sakyamuni Buddha birthday celebrated", Taipei Times, The legislature approved a proposal in 1999 to designate the birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha - which falls on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar - a national holiday and to celebrate the special occasion concurrently with International Mother's Day, which is celebrated on the second Sunday of May.

^ "Archaeological discoveries confirm early date of Buddha's life". Durham University. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022.

^ Coningham, R.A.E.; Acharya, K.P.; Strickland, K.M.; Davis, C.E.; Manuel, M.J.; Simpson, I.A.; Gilliland, K.; Tremblay, J.; Kinnaird, T.C.; Sanderson, D.C.W. (2013). "The earliest Buddhist shrine : excavating the birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini (Nepal)". Antiquity. 87 (338): 1104-1123. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00049899. S2CID 54601247.

^ "বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা", সিলেবাসে নেই, দৈনিক কালের কণ্ঠ; ১১ মে ২০১১ খ্রিস্টাব্দ। পৃ. ৪। পরিদর্শনের তারিখ: ১৭ মে ২০১১ খ্রিস্টাব্দ।

^ Hulsbosch, Marianne; Bedford, Elizabeth; Chaiklin, Martha (2009). Asian Material Culture. Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 9789089640901.

^ Dunipace, Sujal Jane (May 2003). "Nepal's Buddha Jayanti Celebration". ECS Nepal. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011.

Understanding North Korea: Totalitarian dictatorship, Highly centralized economies, Grand Socialist Family. 길잡이미디어. 2015. p. 385.

^ Encyclopedia of Korean Seasonal Customs: Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore and Traditional Culture Vol. 1. 길잡이미디어. 2014. p. 147. ISBN 978-8992128926.

Encyclopedia of Korean Seasonal Customs: Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore and Traditional Culture Vol. 1. 길잡이미디어. 2014. p. 150. ISBN 978-8992128926.

^ Dessi, Ugo (1 July 2016). The Global Repositioning of Japanese Religions: An integrated approach. Routledge. ISBN 9781317030126.

Negawa, Sachio (11 October 2007). "Chapter 8: The Formation and Development of Bairro Oriental (3) - The Emergence of a New "Tradition"". Discover Nikkei.

^ "The 25th International Lotus Lantern Parade for the Celebration of Buddha's Birthday! | ICNY". interfaithcenter.org. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016.

The Folkloric Study of Chopail (Buddha's Birthday), written by Prof. M.Y.Pyeon. Produced by Minsokwon in Seoul Korea 2002.

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Buddha Jayanti Official name Fódàn (佛誕)Phật ĐảnChopa-il (초파일, 初八日) 부처님 오신 날 ဗုဒ္ဓမွေးနေ့ বুদ্ধ পূর্ণিমা बुद्ध पूर्णिमा बुद्ध पौर्णिमा ବୁଦ୍ଧ ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣିମା Vesākha Also called Buddha's Birthday Buddha Jayanti Observed by Buddhists in East Asia and Buddhists and some Hindus in South and Southeast Asia (as Vesak ) Type Buddhist, cultural

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Table of Contents

This article was most recently revised and updated by

Wesak, also spelled Vesak, Sanskrit Vaishakha, Pali Vesakha, most important of the Theravada Buddhist festivals, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. The event is observed on the full-moon day of the lunar month Vesakha, which falls in April or May. The day is observed as a public holiday in many Southeast Asian countries. It is marked by special devotional services and various deeds intended to be meritorious, such as the presentation of food or alms to monks or the release of captive birds.

Amy Tikkanen.

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Wesak | Buddhist Celebration, Vesak Day, Buddha's Birth

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Wesak, most important of the Theravada Buddhist festivals, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. The event is observed on the full-moon day of the lunar month Vesakha, which falls in April or May. The day is observed as a public holiday in many Southeast Asian countries.

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Table of Contents

Cinco de Mayo History

The Battle of Puebla

How Long Did the Battle of Puebla Last?

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States?

Confusion With Mexican Independence Day

Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Friday, May 5 in 2023, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Cinco de Mayo History

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, a popular misconception. Instead, it commemorates a single battle. In 1861, Benito Juárez-a lawyer and member of the Indigenous Zapotec tribe-was elected president of Mexico. At the time, the country was in financial ruin after years of internal strife, and the new president was forced to default on debt payments to European governments.

In response, France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz, Mexico, demanding repayment. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew their forces.

France, however, ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to carve an empire out of Mexican territory. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large force of troops and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat.

The Battle of Puebla

Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a ragtag force of 2,000 loyal men-many of them either Indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry-and sent them to Puebla.

The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez gathered his army-supported by heavy artillery-before the city of Puebla and led an assault.

How Long Did the Battle of Puebla Last?

The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans had been killed in the clash.

Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at the Battle of Puebla on May 5 represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement. In 1867-thanks in part to military support and political pressure from the United States, which was finally in a position to aid its besieged neighbor after the end of the Civil War -France finally withdrew.

The same year, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, who had been installed as emperor of Mexico in 1864 by Napoleon, was captured and executed by Juárez's forces. Puebla de Los Angeles was renamed for General Zaragoza, who died of typhoid fever months after his historic triumph there.

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

Within Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza's unlikely victory occurred, although other parts of the country also take part in the celebration.

Traditions include military parades, recreations of the Battle of Puebla and other festive events. For many Mexicans, however, May 5 is a day like any other: It is not a federal holiday, so offices, banks and stores remain open.

Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States?

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations.

Chicano activists raised awareness of the holiday in the 1960s, in part because they identified with the victory of Indigenous Mexicans (such as Juárez) over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla.

Today, revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods such as tacos and mole poblano. Some of the largest festivals are held in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

Confusion With Mexican Independence Day

Many people outside Mexico mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence, which was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla.

Independence Day in Mexico (Día de la Independencia) is commemorated on September 16, the anniversary of the revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's famous " Grito de Dolores " ("Cry of Dolores," referring to the city of Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico), a call to arms that amounted to a declaration of war against the Spanish colonial government in 1810.

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Cinco de Mayo 2022: Facts, Meaning & Celebrations

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Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.

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National Day of Prayer calls on all people of different faiths in the United States to pray for the nation and its leaders. It is held on the first Thursday of May each year.

Is National Day of Prayer a Public Holiday?

National Day of Prayer is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours.

©iStockphoto.com/ Robert Kohlhuber

What Do People Do?

Through the efforts of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, more than 35,000 prayer gatherings will be conducted by about 40,000 volunteers across the United States. Several million people are expected to participate in this call to prayer. Some celebrities, such as popular musician and Grammy Award winner Ricky Skaggs, will join millions of Americans in praying for the nation.

Other events in various communities across the United States may include: choirs and bands performing songs relating to prayer; community prayer breakfasts or luncheons; daytime prayer walks; and evening worship and prayer services or gatherings. National Day of Prayer is a time for people of all faiths to pray together in their own way.

Public Life

National Day of Prayer is not a public holiday. Schools, post offices, stores and other businesses and organizations are open as usual. Public transport services run to their usual schedules and no extra congestion on highways is to be expected.

Background

In 1775 the Continental Congress allocated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. Over the years, there have been calls for a day of prayer, including from President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer.

The National Prayer Committee was formed in the United States in 1972. It went on to create the National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events for the National Day of Prayer. According to the Legal Information Institute, the President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.
While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.

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National Day of Prayer 2024 in the United States

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National Day of Prayer calls on all people of different faiths in the United States to pray for the nation and its leaders. It is held on the first Thursday of May each year.

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New Zealand Centenary Exhibition of 1940 at Wellington (1940)

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4th-National Remembrance Day in Netherlands

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4th-National Remembrance Day in Netherlands

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A Pew Research Center report indicates that more than 1 in 4 Asian Americans (26 percent) live in multigenerational households, compared to just 19 percent of U.S. households overall. Bhutanese people (53 percent), Cambodians (41 percent) and Laotians (38 percent) are particularly likely to live in multigenerational families, which means family incomes, including women's wages, support more people.

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The 12 day Festival of Ridvan signifies the anniversary of the Declaration of Baha'u'llah's mission to His followers, and in The Most Holy Book Baha'u'llah ordained Ridvan as one of two of the "Most Great Festivals", the other being the Declaration of the Bab. Although the entire festival is sacred, Baha'is suspend work on three specific days of the Ridvan Festival - the 1st, 9th and 12th days.

I don't think there is any way to write a blog article that can summarize or make comment on such a momentous and sublime occasion as what took place when Baha'u'llah proclaimed to be the Promised One of all Ages in the Garden of Ridvan. It's like trying to imagine the infinitude of the universe, or count all the waves in the ocean. And it's likewise difficult to describe what took place on the 12th Day of Ridvan, when Baha'u'llah left the Ridvan Garden and began the long and arduous exile to Constantinople. Thankfully, we can turn to Baha'u'llah's descriptions of what occurred in Days of Remembrance.

Days of Remembrance is a collection of Baha'u'llah's Writings, many of which are translated into English for the first time. It includes Tablets revealed in honor of nine Baha'i holy days and a significant portion of Days of Remembrance is dedicated to Tablets about Ridvan and its significance.

The Tablets about Ridvan are diverse, from the poetry of "The Tablet of the Wondrous Maiden", to Writings describing the bounty of celebrating Ridvan, to those that chronicle, in wondrous and mystical terms, what took place. For example, Baha'u'llah revealed these words about His departure from the Ridvan Garden:

And when the appointed time of tarrying was fulfilled and the decree of departure was received, the Beauty of the All-Merciful arose and went out from the Ridvan Garden riding upon the finest stallion. Blessed, then, be the All-Glorious, Who appeared in the world of creation with a sovereignty that transcendeth the heavens and the earth!

As He departed, a cry of sorrow ascended from the garden, and its trees, and leaves, and fruits, and walls, and air, and ground, and pavilion, while the dwellers of the deserts and the wilderness, and even the very dunes and the dust of the earth, rejoiced at His approach.

Baha'u'llah also describes His departure in these words:

In the arrival and departure of the Ancient Beauty, the signs and tokens of God were made clear and evident, and the light of Revelation was made to shine forth in the plenitude of its glory. Verily, His majesty was exalted, His power magnified, and His sovereignty revealed.

I've been reflecting and meditating on that last sentence about how, in His departure from the Ridvan Garden, "His majesty was exalted, His power magnified, and His sovereignty revealed". These qualities are reflected in Shoghi Effendi's description in God Passes By of the 12th Day of Ridvan:

The departure of Baha'u'llah from the Garden of Ridvan, at noon, on the 14th of Dhi'l-Qa'dih 1279 A.H. (May 3, 1863), witnessed scenes of tumultuous enthusiasm no less spectacular, and even more touching, than those which greeted Him when leaving His Most Great House in Baghdad. "The great tumult," wrote an eyewitness, "associated in our minds with the Day of Gathering, the Day of Judgment, we beheld on that occasion. Believers and unbelievers alike sobbed and lamented. The chiefs and notables who had congregated were struck with wonder. Emotions were stirred to such depths as no tongue can describe, nor could any observer escape their contagion."

Mounted on His steed, a red roan stallion of the finest breed, the best His lovers could purchase for Him, and leaving behind Him a bowing multitude of fervent admirers, He rode forth on the first stage of a journey that was to carry Him to the city of Constantinople. "Numerous were the heads," Nabil himself a witness of that memorable scene, recounts, "which, on every side, bowed to the dust at the feet of His horse, and kissed its hoofs, and countless were those who pressed forward to embrace His stirrups." "How great the number of those embodiments of fidelity," testifies a fellow-traveler, "who, casting themselves before that charger, preferred death to separation from their Beloved! Methinks, that blessed steed trod upon the bodies of those pure-hearted souls." " He (God) it was," Baha'u'llah Himself declares, " Who enabled Me to depart out of the city (Baghdad), clothed with such majesty as none, except the denier and the malicious, can fail to acknowledge. " These marks of homage and devotion continued to surround Him until He was installed in Constantinople.

What strikes me most when I think about the 12th Day of Ridvan is the marriage of joy and pain; the elation, jubilation, and exaltation upon hearing Baha'u'llah's unveiled Proclamation, and the grief and intense sorrow of the people of Baghdad upon His departure. Imagine having a Manifestation of God in your city and then being told He was being banished far beyond your reach! Baha'u'llah describes the grief of this separation as a "grief that none in the heavens or on the earth could bear its weight."

While the historical details of Baha'u'llah's departure from the Ridvan Garden are few, the descriptions of what occurred during those 12 days in Baha'u'llah's own words are priceless gems I will visit and revisit and revisit again. If you don't own a copy, you can read Days of Remembrance online in its entirely on the Baha'i Reference Library website but I would like to end with this ringing clarion call about the significance of this Most Great Festival:

By God! This is the festival wherein the beauty of the Unknowable Essence hath appeared unveiled and arrayed with such sovereignty as to lay low the necks of them that have repudiated His truth. All hail then to this, the Festival of the Lord, that hath appeared with supreme dominion!

This is a festival wherein all things have been absolved by virtue of the appearance of Him Who is the Ancient King from behind the veil of names. Wherefore, rejoice in your hearts, O peoples of the world, for the breezes of forgiveness have been wafted over the entire creation and the spirit of life hath been breathed into the world. All hail then to this, the Festival of the Lord, that hath appeared above a dayspring of resplendent holiness!

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What Happened on the 12th Day of Ridvan? | Baha'i Blog

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The 12 day Festival of Ridvan signifies the anniversary of the Declaration of Baha'u'llah's mission to His followers, and in The Most Holy Book Baha'u'llah ordained Ridvan as one of two of the "Most Great Festivals", the other being the Declaration of the Bab.

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History of Brothers and Sisters Day

Brothers and Sisters Day is a celebration of the lifelong relationships that exist between brothers and sisters. It strives to commemorate family values in the spirit of Mother's Day and Father's Day. The event is comparable to Brothers Day, which was inspired by Claudia Evart, a New Yorker who founded the Siblings Day foundation in memory of her late siblings.

Brothers and Sisters Day was inspired by a woman who realized how little she expressed her love and admiration for her brother before his death. Life is short, and it's easy to become distracted by the minor inconveniences that may arise. But our focus and priority should remain on our loved ones. This holiday is all about siblings bonding, enjoying, and connecting so that they don't miss out on having a close relationship.

The holiday is not commercial in any manner, and it was created to be enjoyed from the heart when brothers and sisters take the time to love and cherish each other, as well as to make new memories. This event, which is not to be confused with National Siblings Day, was developed to honor the unique kinship that only brothers and sisters can share. There is no right or wrong way to spend this event; all you have to do is enjoy and grow with your sibling.

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Brothers and Sisters Day is today! If you have a sibling, today we celebrate our brothers and sisters.

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30 Best Teacher Appreciation Quotes to Thank Your Favorite Educators

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“If you can read this, thank a teacher.”

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Labor Day, is also called International Workers' Day and May Day. It's a worldwide holiday on May 1st but also falls on other days.

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History of Marshall Islands Constitution Day

Marshall Islands Constitution Day is marked across the Marshall Islands on May 1 every year. This day is also known as Jemenei Day. It is a day of national celebration across the islands and a significant public holiday.

The Marshall Islands is an island country in the Pacific Ocean, near the equator, and comprises five islands and 29 atolls. The largest city in the country is Majuro, which is also the capital. Marshall's islanders were amongst the great Pacific voyagers. Later the islands were visited by the Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar, followed by American whaling ships in the 19th century. They were controlled by Spanish colonists and grouped with the Caroline Islands which are now known as Palau in the Federated States of Micronesia. The German Empire made several moves to annex the islands, which eventually resulted in a Spanish agreement with Germany about the islands. German administration controlled the islands effectively ruled by the Marshallese high chiefs.

During the first World War, the Japanese controlled the Marshall Islands, and at the end of the war, the U.S.A. took control after a battle directed by the U.S. Marines and Army forces. The U.S.A remained the occupying power, with official sanctions from the United Nations. As time passed, the status of the Marshall Islands evolved in the political field. The people of the islands voted for their independence by referendum and drafted a new constitution. Respecting the new status of the Marshall Islands in the political sphere, the U.S.A. recognized the constitution of the Marshallese and the establishment of a new Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

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Get set for this Marshall Islands Constitution Day with our great article. Find out more about their history and islands.

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This Kūkahekahe Cultural Conversations column celebrating May Day and Lei Day is contributed by Hoʻokahua Cultural Specialist Nanea Armstrong-Wassel. It is a reprise of an article originally shared in 2017 but the timeless nature of these celebrations merits another read!
Modern May Day celebrations in Hawaiʻi bring together traditional Hawaiian symbolism and contemporary pageantry. The symbols employed in these celebrations - colors, beloved aliʻi, mountains, flora and fauna, and so on - have long-standing associations with particular islands.

These associations continue today, as the symbolic color and floral emblem of each island are often noted in mele and moʻolelo. The first the mele to record all the island symbols was composed shortly after the turn of the 19th century.

Nā Lei o Hawaiʻi

Reverend Samuel Kapū of Maui wrote "Nā Lei O Hawaiʻi" (The Wreaths of Hawaiʻi). This mele was dedicated to the goddess Hiʻiakaikapoliopele, whose epic journey took her across Nā Kai ʻEwalu (the eight seas/channels of Hawaiʻi). The mele mentions the flower symbol of each island. Kapū's mele of the many lei of Hawaiʻi was set to music by Peleuli Amalu and sung in 1901 in Hoʻokena, South Kona, on Hawaiʻi Island at a concert for Pukaʻana Church.

When the Amalus returned to Oʻahu in 1903, they continued to perform the mele at church and it quickly became a hōʻike favorite. Six years later, in 1909, the Kaʻahumanu Society members sang the song at the old Opera House, formerly located next to Aliʻiōlani Hale, the judiciary building.

The society had young women acting out the song by representing each island while adorned with the appropriate color and lei. The pageant-like event garnered many admirers who soon followed suit by adding in pāʻū-riding royal courts using this song as the template for color and flower assignments.

By 1912, the colors had become customary and the popularized performance of Reverend Kapū's "Nā Lei O Hawaiʻi" mele by the Kaʻahumanu Society inspired Charles E. King's version of "Nā Lei O Hawaiʻi" in 1914.

Both versions describe each island with an identifying flower, color, chief, or with a famed seascape or landscape.

Why do we celebrate May Day as Lei Day on May 1st in Hawaiʻi?

In 1923, the Hawaiʻi Territorial Legislature passed Joint Resolution No. 1 acknowledging floral emblems. The Outdoor Circle initiated this resolution, which sought to name the hibiscus (aloalo) as the flower emblem of the territory. Their successful reasoning relied on the widely-accepted knowledge of the connection between designated colors, lei, and respective islands.

May Day celebrations as we know them with the royal courts dressed in their island colors, wearing their island lei, find their origin in the first lei contest held on May 1, 1928 - referred to as Lei Day.

Don Blanding, originally from Oklahoma, came to Hawaiʻi in 1915 after seeing a play in Kansas City called "The Bird of Paradise" that depicted a romantic (and completely fictional) Hawaiʻi. His first local success came in writing newspaper ads for Ajinomoto Foods. From there, he grew into being a successful writer, distinctive artist, and the author of many books.

In 1927, Blanding and a fellow "Honolulu Star-Bulletin" newspaper writer named Grace Tower Warren came up with the idea of honoring the tradition of the lei, which they thought to be in decline. The first Lei Day was held on May 1, 1928 and was a resounding success.

It took place in the lobby of Bank of Hawaiʻi and the official judges that day were: Princess Abigail Wahiikaahuula Campbell, Elizabeth Lahilahi Webb (lady-in-waiting for Queen Liliʻuokalani) and Aliʻi Lucy Kalanikiʻekiʻe Davis. The festival included a lei competition in which lei were judged based on the appropriate use of flowers and colors of islands as designated in 1923 by Hawaiʻi's Territorial Legislature's Joint Resolution 1.

Ever since this inaugural lei competition in 1928, we continue to celebrate May Day in Hawaiʻi as being synonymous with Lei Day. It is our unique and special way to celebrate our shared traditions, as memorialized in song:

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi
Garlands of flowers everywhere
May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi
May Day is happy day out here

Wāhine stringing lei. No date. Courtesy of the Hawaiʻi State Archives.

A May Day court celebration. No date. Courtesy of the Hawaiʻi State Archives.

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The history of May Day and Lei Day in Hawai'i

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This Kūkahekahe Cultural Conversations column celebrating May Day and Lei Day is contributed by Hoʻokahua Cultural Specialist Nanea Armstrong-Wassel. It is a reprise of an article originally shared in 2017 but the timeless nature of these celebrations merits another read! Modern May Day celebrations in Hawaiʻi bring together traditional Hawaiian symbolism and contemporary pageantry.

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History of Early May Bank Holiday

Bank holidays were first established by the banker, politician, and scientific writer Sir John Lubbock, who drafted the Bank Holiday Act in 1871. He also added Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August, and Boxing Day to the two public holidays that already existed, which were Good Friday and Christmas Day. These holidays were allotted to give a period of rest to the workers.

Initially, bank holidays strictly meant holidays for bank officials but gradually, businesses, shops, schools, and the government also started observing these holidays by halting the working day. The Bank Holiday Act of 1871 was repealed and replaced by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act of 1971, which is still followed today.

Britain has an old heritage of May Day celebrations dating back to pagan times that still have connections to customs such as the Maypole. In 1978, the first Monday in May became a public holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the first Monday in May was already one of the original bank holidays and had been since 1871.

In 1995, the Early May Bank Holiday was moved from May 1 to May 8 to mark the 50th anniversary of victory in Europe. In 2011, the British parliament debated replacing the May Day Bank Holiday with a different holiday in October. This change would have spread out the bank holidays more evenly throughout the year, however, they decided to stick to the original date.
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You'll have to put your banking work on hold this Early May Bank Holiday. Let the bankers get some rest!

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History of Calan Mai

Calan Mai's history is similar to those of May Day, Beltane Fire Festival, and Walpurgis Night. This was the day, according to ancient beliefs, when the boundaries between this world and the world of spirits faded, which led to a wonderful celebration of everything wicked. As evil spirits allegedly dislike fumes and loud noises, the custom of burning massive bonfires and celebrating loudly became a staple of the occasion. Calan Mai was also a prime time for divination, given its connection with the supernatural in Welsh mythology. The first of May, then, was just the right moment to find out the identity of your true love. The day is also characterized by the hawthorn decorations used to embellish the exterior of homes.

Calan Mai was a celebration of the approaching spring as well as the start of a new agricultural cycle. Ancient Welsh farmers rejoiced, for it meant the beginning of a period of bountiful harvests. It was also the time of year when animals came out of hibernation. As a result, some farmers would celebrate the day their cattle went out to the forest to begin their seasonal grazing. In ancient times, the first day of May was celebrated as the beginning of a new spring, the end of a difficult winter, and the coming of balmy weather. People would frequently participate in dancing, singing, and feasting events to celebrate the joy of summer warmth.

The Calan Mai Festival combines all of these historical customs and is still celebrated in Wales the way it always has.

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Today is Calan Mai, the celebration of the arrival of summer in Welsh tradition and one of the 'witches nights' according to local folklore.

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Make your principal feel special on School Principals’ Day.

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May Day, also called Workers' Day or International Workers' Day, day commemorating the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement, observed in many countries on May 1. In the United States and Canada a similar observance, known as Labor Day, occurs on the first Monday of September.

In 1889 an international federation of socialist groups and trade unions designated May 1 as a day in support of workers, in commemoration of the Haymarket Riot in Chicago (1886). Five years later, U.S. Pres. Grover Cleveland, uneasy with the socialist origins of Workers' Day, signed legislation to make Labor Day-already held in some states on the first Monday of September-the official U.S. holiday in honour of workers. Canada followed suit not long afterward.

In Europe May 1 was historically associated with rural pagan festivals ( see May Day), but the original meaning of the day was gradually replaced by the modern association with the labour movement. In the Soviet Union, leaders embraced the new holiday, believing it would encourage workers in Europe and the United States to unite against capitalism. The day became a significant holiday in the Soviet Union and in the Eastern-bloc countries, with high-profile parades, including one in Moscow's Red Square presided over by top government and Communist Party functionaries, celebrating the worker and showcasing Soviet military might. In Germany Labour Day became an official holiday in 1933 after the rise of the Nazi Party. Ironically, Germany abolished free unions the day after establishing the holiday, virtually destroying the German labour movement.

With the breakup of the Soviet Union and the fall of communist governments in eastern Europe in the late 20th century, large-scale May Day celebrations in that region declined in importance. In dozens of countries around the world, however, May Day has been recognized as a public holiday, and it continues to be celebrated with picnics and parties while serving as the occasion for demonstrations and rallies in support of workers.

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May Day | History, Meaning, Traditions, & Facts

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May Day, day that commemorates the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement. It is observed on May 1 in many countries, where it is the occasion for demonstrations and rallies in support of workers. It was of particular significance in the Soviet Union during the 20th century.

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History of Deaf Awareness Week

From the earliest times, deaf people have formed communities whenever they come together in a specific geographic area. One example is the island of Martha's Vineyard in the U.S., where a large population of deaf people lived in harmony from the 17th to the mid-20th century with their hearing counterparts. Sign language was widespread on the island, and deafness was an accepted part of life.

However, such communities were rare. In Europe, only a few religious leaders attempted to educate the deaf children of the nobility. In the 1540s, Spanish monk Pedro Ponce de León of the Benedictine order taught 10 to 12 other deaf people at his monastery. It is only in the 18th century that the state began sponsoring deaf education.

Education for the deaf in the early 19th century was largely religiously motivated. It was more focused on saving deaf people's souls, to ensure that they were sufficiently trained to understand the word of God. Later in the century, the conversation shifted to training deaf people to become good national citizens.

Unfortunately in the 20th century, there was a suppression of sign language in schools. This led to the rise of clubs, associations, international organizations, and events that highlighted the plight of deaf communities. One of the most notable events is the Silent Games (also known as the World Games of the Deaf, or the Deaflympics), established in 1924. Such moves reminded the public that the deaf are healthy, vigorous, and modern individuals.

Today, deaf communities are politically organized on local, national, and international levels. Advancements in technology have brought about improved auditory enhancement devices and implants. This has resulted in a better quality of life for the deaf and hard of hearing.

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During Deaf Awareness Week, the focus is on the positive aspects of living with deafness. The holiday advocates for an inclusive society that accommodates the deaf community.

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Stay active. Eat healthy. And get some sleep! Most important? Start today. The federal government's Office on Women's Health created National Women's Health Week as a way to encourage all women to make the choices which are right for them.

Women have unique health issues such as pregnancy and menopause. And some of the health issues that affect both men and women can touch women differently. Examples include osteoarthritis and urinary tract problems - both of which tend to affect women more.

The observance, which begins each Mother's Day, runs from May 12 to 15, 2024. National Women's Health Week also encourages women to consider the factors that influence their mental health, such as managing stress, in order to ward off anxiety and depression. This year marks the 21st annual event.

Read on for much more - including a look at how to improve your overall wellbeing - and learn five valuable women's health tips along the way.

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Stay active. Eat healthy. And get some sleep! Most important? Start today. Check out our health tips for National Women's Health Week.

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OAM History

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to designating May as "Senior Citizens Month," the prelude to "Older Americans Month."

Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country. Every President since Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other such activities.

Older Americans Month Themes

2022-Age My Way

2021-Communities of Strength

2020-Make Your Mark

2019-Connect, Create, Contribute

2018-Engage at Every Age

2017-Age Out Loud

2016-Blaze a Trail

2015-Get into the Act

2014-Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow.

2013-Unleash the Power of Age

2012-Never Too Old to Play

2011-Older Americans: Connecting the Community

2010-Age Strong! Live Long!

2009-Living Today for a Better Tomorrow

2008-Working Together for Strong, Healthy and Supportive Communities

2007-Making Choices for a Healthier Future

2006-Choices For Independence

2005-Celebrate Long-term Living

2004-Aging Well, Living Well

2003-What We Do Makes A Difference.

2002-America: "A Community for all Ages"

2001-The Many Faces of Aging

2000-In the New Century ... The Future is Aging

1999-Honor the Past, Imagine the Future: Towards a Society for All Ages

1998-Living Longer, Growing Stronger in America

1997-Caregiving: Compassion in Action

1996-Aging: A Lifetime Opportunity

1995-Aging: Generations of Experience

1994-Aging: An Experience of a Lifetime

1993-No theme selected (proclamation signed on May 25, 1993)

1992-Community Action Begins with You: Help Older Americans Help Themselves

1986-Plan on Living the Rest of Your Life

1985-Help Yourself to Independence

1984-Health: Make it Last a Lifetime

1978-Older Americans and the Family

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When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F.

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Founded in 2004 to commemorate Haiti's Bicentennial, the Haitian Heritage Museum (HHM) is a 501c3 organization that is committed to highlighting and preserving Haiti's rich culture and heritage globally.

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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2023

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Paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success.

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Honor American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S. this National American Indian Heritage Month.

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History of Day of the Child

Since 1925, Mexico has commemorated Children's Day every year. Because children are seen as valuable members of society, the day emphasizes the necessity of loving, accepting, and respecting them. Teachers plan a day for their students on this day (or the nearest weekday if it occurs on a weekend), which includes games, music, and food sharing. 'Piñatas' (which means 'jugs' or 'pots') are frequently made and broken by youngsters. Lessons are halted for the day in certain schools. Some families also take their children on a day trip. In parks and sports centers, children may participate in unique activities. Families occasionally offer gifts to their children. Children of radio and television hosts appear on their parents' shows, which are often themed with children's entertainment for the day - more like a de facto Take Your Children to Work Day in the media industry.

The original Children's Day was observed on May 8 in Tantoyuca, Veracruz, but it was altered in 1925 by President Lvaro Obregón after the country ratified the Geneva Conventions and began to care for children devastated by World War I. The League of Nations then issued the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child on November 26, 1924, acknowledging that children are the ones most affected by war occurrences.

The United Nations proposed that the world celebrate Children's Day on November 20. There was one problem though - the day fell on Revolution Day in Mexico. So April 30 was chosen to avoid the celebrations on May 1 (Labor Day) and Cinco de Mayo (The Day of the Battle of Puebla).

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Today is Day of the Child, which highlights the significance of literacy among children of various language and cultural backgrounds.

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Hung Kings Temple Festival in Vietnam in 2024 | Office Holidays

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Read about Hung Kings Temple Festival in Vietnam in 2024. The Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival is held each year from the 8th to the 11th days of the third lunar month in honour of the Hùng Kings who ruled Vietnam from 2879

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History of Togo Independence Day (Togo)

The coastal region around modern-day Togo became a major trading center for Europeans looking for slaves in the 16th century, earning Togo and the surrounding regions the moniker "The Slave Coast." Germany took control of "Togoland" in the late 1800s and established it as a successful colony. It was one of Germany's most valuable overseas assets despite it being one of the smallest.

German soldiers were quickly destroyed following the allied assault on the small colony, forcing the colony's surrender on August 26, 1914. Togoland was partitioned between the victorious parties in 1916, resulting in the creation of the new colonies of British Togoland and French Togoland. Togoland was then conquered by Britain and France during WWI, establishing the Anglo-French condominium. The condominium fell on December 7, 1916, and Togo was partitioned into British and French zones. The League of Nations mandated Great Britain to manage the western portion of Togo and France to govern the eastern part on July 20, 1922. The power to send three members of parliament to the French parliament was granted to the country in 1945.

After World War II, these mandates were renamed U.N. Trust Territories. British Togoland's citizens decided to join the Gold Coast as a member of the newly created Ghana in 1957. In 1959, French Togoland was granted autonomy within the French Union but France kept responsibility over defense, foreign affairs, and economics. On April 27, 1960, the Togolese Republic was established. Sylvanus Olympio was elected president for the first time in 1961, receiving 100% of the vote in elections boycotted by the opposition.

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Today is Togo's Independence Day! No, not "Togo" the movie, but Togo, the West African country! Join us in celebrating with the Togolese.

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When is Independence Day in Sierra Leone?

Independence Day is a public holiday in Sierra Leone. It is observed on 27 April.

This day is the National Day of Sierra Leone and commemorates independence from Great Britain on 27 April 1961.

History of 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 who named the shape of the local hills after a lioness - Sierra Leone.

The British began to take an active role in Sierra Leone as both a trading port to send slaves from and as a place for freed American slaves to live following evacuation in the American War of Independence. The capital, Freetown, was founded as a home for repatriated former slaves in 1787.

British colonial control of Sierra Leone began in the early 1800s. After 1807, when the British Parliament passed an act making the slave trade illegal, the new colony was used as a base from which the act could be enforced.

In 1951, the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) was formed and some local powers were given in 1953. The first parliamentary elections took place in May 1957 with the SLPP winning the most seats under the leadership of Sir Milton Margai.

Did you know?

Despite being only the 117th largest country in the world, Sierra Leone has the largest natural harbour in the African continent and the third largest in the world at Freetown's Queen Elizabeth II Quay.

In April 1960, a series of conferences were held and as a result, at midnight on 27 April 1961, Sierra Leone was granted its independence from the UK ending almost 150 years of British colonial rule.

In the ceremony at Brookfields Playground in Freetown, the Duke of Kent handed over royal instruments recognising Sierra Leone as an independent nation as the nation's new flag was unfurled in front of the cheering crowds. Sir Milton Margai became the first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone.

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Independence Day in Sierra Leone in 2024 | Office Holidays

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Read about Independence Day in Sierra Leone in 2024. Independence Day is a public holiday in Sierra Leone on 27 April. It is the National Day of Sierra Leone and commemorates independence from Great Britain on 27 April 1961.

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History of Lapu Lapu Day

The little island of Mactan was a thriving community before Spanish colonization when the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived in Cebu in the 16th Century. The brave Spanish navigator heard that the inhabitants of Mactan refused to recognize the King of Spain, and in response set one of its villages on fire. The great warrior Lapu-Lapu was one of the native leaders on the island who refused to acknowledge the sovereignty of Spain over the Islands.

After the incident, Magellan then led a group of fellow Spaniards (about three boatloads of them) and an even larger number of Cebuanos (indigenous inhabitants of Cebu, who form a major ethnicity in the Philippines today) on a visit to Mactan, to help a chief who had apparently recognized the sovereignty of the King of Spain and therefore had the favor of the Spanish. On this visit, the entourage was ambushed by Lapu-Lapu and his men, armed with native fighting gear, including wooden shields, bows and arrows, and lances. The invading Spaniards and Cebuanos were ultimately driven back to their boats by Lapu-Lapu's men, but their leader, Ferdinand Magellan, met his death at the hands of Lapu-Lapu. He stayed back to fight Lapu-Lapu and his men, but he was ultimately overwhelmed and killed by Lapu-Lapu himself.

This event took place on April 27, 1521. Today, there is a monument of Ferdinand Magellan which was mounted on the approximate spot on which he fell and died, to honor his bravery. The original town of Opon was founded by an Augustinian friar in 1730 before being renamed 'Datu Lapu-Lapu' in 1961 after it became a city in honor of the warrior who defeated Magellan and his troops in 1521. This battle is commemorated at the Lapu-Lapu shrine in Punta Engaño.

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Lapu-Lapu Day is a holiday in the Philippines that was created by Filipino President Duterte to celebrate the bravery of the warrior Lapu-Lapu.

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Learn about an enduring conservation legacy, complete with some fun tips and activity suggestions.

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Street art depicting the Carnation Revolution in Lisbon, Portugal. Image by Jeanne Menjoulet , via Flickr

When is Freedom Day in Portugal?

Freedom Day on April 25th is a national holiday in Portugal, with official commemorations.

It celebrates the 1974 Revolution that ended the dictatorship and started a democracy. It also commemorates the first free elections that took place a year later on April 25th 1975.

History of Freedom Day

Known as the Carnation Revolution, this was a virtually bloodless, leftist, military-led coup.

It ended the rule of Marcello Caetano, who had assumed the country's leadership from dictator António Salazar five years earlier.

The revolution began on April 25th 1974, in Lisbon and transformed the Portuguese regime from an authoritarian dictatorship to a democracy.

It followed a long period of social change and power struggles between the left and right-wing political forces.

Did you know?

The military coup was started by an airing of two songs. "Grândola Vila Morena" (Grândola, Swarthy Town) was followed by "E Depois Do Adeus" by Paulo de Carvalho, Portugal's entry in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. This were secret signals that alerted the rebels to begin their coup.

Whilst the government forces killed four people before surrendering, the revolution was somewhat unusual in that the revolutionaries didn't resort to violence to achieve their goals. The population, holding red carnations, convinced the army not to resist and the soldiers swapped their bullets for flowers.

The revolution marked the end of the longest authoritarian regime in Western Europe.

While April 25th is a public holiday, the majority of stores will remain open to the public, though banks and government offices will be closed. Buses will operate on a weekend schedule. In Portuguese look for 'Todos os Dias and Sábados, Domingos e Feridos' schedules.

One of Lisbon's two famous bridges has been named after the revolution. The bridge that heads towards beaches of Costa da Caparica and Almada, has been nicknamed Portugal's Golden Gate Bridge but it is officially called Ponte 25 de Abril (25 of April Bridge).

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Freedom Day in Portugal in 2024 | Office Holidays

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Read about Freedom Day in Portugal in 2024. Freedom Day on April 25th is a national holiday in Portugal. It celebrates the 1974 Revolution that ended the dictatorship and also commemorates the first free el

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Anzac Day (; Māori: Rā Whakamahara ki ngā Hōia o Ahitereiria me Aotearoa or Rā o ngā Hōia) is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served". Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli campaign, their first engagement in the First World War (1914-1918).

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand; however, the ceremonies and their meanings have changed significantly since 1915. According to Martin Crotty, a historian at the University of Queensland, Anzac commemorations have "suited political purposes right from 1916 when the first Anzac Day march was held in London and Australia, which were very much around trying to get more people to sign up to the war in 1916-1918."

In 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of an Allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula to open the way to the Black Sea for the Allied navies. The objective was to capture Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, which was an ally of Germany during the war. The ANZAC force landed at Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Army commanded by Mustafa Kemal (later known as Atatürk). What had been planned as a bold strike to knock the Ottomans out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915, the Allied forces were evacuated after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. The Allied deaths totalled over 56,000, including 8,709 from Australia and 2,721 from New Zealand. News of the landing at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders at home and 25 April quickly became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.

Though the Gallipoli campaign failed to achieve its military objectives of capturing Constantinople and knocking the Ottoman Empire out of the war, the actions of the Australian and New Zealand troops during the campaign bequeathed an intangible but powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as an " Anzac legend" became an important part of the national identity in both countries. This has shaped the way their citizens have viewed both their past and their understanding of the present. The heroism of the soldiers in the failed Gallipoli campaign made their sacrifices iconic in New Zealand memory, and is often credited with securing the psychological independence of the nation.

On 30 April 1915, when the first news of the landing reached New Zealand, a half-day holiday was declared and impromptu services were held.

Adelaide, South Australia, was the site of Australia's first built memorial to the Gallipoli landing, unveiled by Governor-General Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson on " Wattle Day", 7 September 1915, just over four months after the first landings. The monument was originally the centrepiece of the Wattle Day League's Gallipoli Memorial Wattle Grove on Sir Lewis Cohen Avenue in the South Park Lands. The original native pines and remnant seedlings of the original wattles still grow in "Wattle Grove", but in 1940 the Adelaide City Council moved the monument and its surrounding pergola a short distance away to Lundie Gardens. Also in South Australia, Eight Hour Day, 13 October 1915, was renamed "Anzac Day" and a carnival was organised to raise money for the Wounded Soldiers Fund. The name "Anzac Day" was chosen through a competition, won by Robert Wheeler, a draper of Prospect.

Melbourne observed an Anzac Remembrance Day on 17 December 1915.

However, the first instance of what would soon become an annual national ritual of observance - Anzac Day - started in Queensland. On 10 January 1916, Canon David John Garland was appointed the honorary secretary of the Anzac Day Commemoration Committee of Queensland (ADCCQ) at a public meeting which endorsed 25 April as the date to be promoted as "Anzac Day" in 1916 and ever after. Queensland Premier T.J. Ryan urged the other Australian states to enact a similar parade, and soon the date became a national day of reflection. Devoted to the cause of a non-denominational commemoration that could be attended by the whole of Australian society, Garland worked amicably across all denominational divides, creating the framework for Anzac Day commemorative services. Garland is specifically credited with initiating the Anzac Day march, the wreath-laying ceremonies at memorials and the special church services, the two minutes silence, and the luncheon for returned soldiers. Garland intended the silence to be used in lieu of a prayer to allow the Anzac Day service to be universally attended, allowing attendees to make a silent prayer or remembrance in accordance with their own beliefs. He particularly feared that the universality of the ceremony would fall victim to religious sectarian disputes. The State Library of Queensland holds the minutes from the Anzac Day Commemoration Committee of Queensland, the collection has been digitised and available to view online. In 2019, the collection was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Australian Register.

The date 25 April was officially named Anzac Day in 1916; in that year, it was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services in Australia, New Zealand and London. In New Zealand, it was gazetted as a half-day holiday. Over 2,000 people attended the service in Rotorua. In London, over 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops marched through the streets of the city. An unnamed London newspaper reputedly dubbed them "The Knights of Gallipoli". Marches were held all over Australia; wounded soldiers from Gallipoli attended the Sydney march in convoys of cars, accompanied by nurses.

In Egypt, General John Monash paraded the troops on Anzac Day 1916.

For the remaining years of the war, Anzac Day was used as an occasion for patriotic rallies and recruiting campaigns, and marches of serving members of the AIF were held in most cities. From 1916 onwards, in both Australia and New Zealand, Anzac memorials were held on or about 25 April, mainly organised by returned servicemen and school children in cooperation with local authorities. Early morning services were solemn, with a more upbeat tone set for honouring returned soldiers during afternoon activities.

Australian troops did not return to great victory parades at the end of the war. This was partly because their arrival home depended on available shipping, but also because of the influenza epidemic of 1919, which prevented people assembling in large numbers. The 1919 Sydney parade was cancelled as a result, but a public commemorative service was held in the Domain, where participants were required to wear masks and stand three feet apart.

Anzac Day was gazetted as a public holiday in New Zealand in 1920, through the Anzac Day Act, after lobbying by the New Zealand Returned Services' Association, the RSA.

In Australia at the 1921 State Premiers' Conference, it was decided that Anzac Day would be observed on 25 April each year. However, it was not observed uniformly in all the states until 1922 when the States were invited to co-operate with the Commonwealth in observing the day, and an invitation was telegraphed to the various religious bodies suggesting that memorial services be held in the morning. In the early 1920s returned soldiers mostly commemorated Anzac Day informally, primarily as a means of keeping in contact with each other. But as time passed and they inevitably began to drift apart, the ex-soldiers perceived a need for an institutionalised reunion. During the late 1920s, Anzac Day became established as a National Day of Commemoration for the 60,000 Australians and 18,000 New Zealanders who died during the war. The first year in which all the Australian states observed some form of public holiday together on Anzac Day was 1927. By the mid-1930s, all the rituals now associated with the day - dawn vigils, marches, memorial services, reunions, two-up games - became part of Australian Anzac Day culture. New Zealand commemorations also adopted many of these rituals, with the dawn service being introduced from Australia in 1939.

With the coming of the Second World War, Anzac Day became a day on which to commemorate the lives of Australians and New Zealanders which were lost in that war as well and in subsequent wars. The meaning of the day has been further broadened to include those killed in all the military operations in which the countries have been involved. Anzac Day was first commemorated at the Australian War Memorial in 1942, but, due to government orders preventing large public gatherings in case of Japanese air attack, it was a small affair and was neither a march nor a memorial service. Anzac Day has been annually commemorated at the Australian War Memorial ever since. In New Zealand, Anzac Day saw a surge in popularity immediately after World War II.

By the 1950s, many New Zealanders had become antagonistic or indifferent towards the day. Much of this was linked to the legal ban on commerce on Anzac Day, and the banning by many local authorities of sports events and other entertainment on the day. Annoyance was particularly pronounced in 1953 and 1959, when Anzac Day fell on a Saturday. There was widespread public debate on the issue, with some people calling for the public holiday to be moved to the nearest Sunday or abolished altogether. In 1966, a new Anzac Day Act was passed, allowing sport and entertainment in the afternoon.

During and after Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War (1962-1975), interest in Anzac Day reached its lowest point in Australia. On 26 April 1975, The Australian newspaper covered the passing of Anzac Day in a single story. In the 1960s and 1970s, anti-war protesters used Anzac Day events as a platform to voice opposition to conscription and Australia's military involvement in general; in the following 20 years, the relevance of Australia's war connection with the British Empire was brought into question. In 1967, two members of the left-wing Progressive Youth Movement in Christchurch staged a minor protest at the Anzac Day ceremony, laying a wreath protesting against the Vietnam War. They were subsequently convicted of disorderly conduct. In 1978, a women's group laid a wreath dedicated to all the women raped and killed during war, and movements for feminism, gay rights, and peace used the occasion to draw attention to their respective causes at various times during the 1980s. In 1981, the group Women Against Rape in War marched up Anzac Parade towards the Australian War Memorial to lay their wreath at the Stone of Remembrance. At the head of the procession, women held a banner which read, 'In memory of all women of all countries raped in all wars'. More than 60 women were arrested by police. Following this time, there were calls for a new type of comradeship that did not discriminate based on sex or race.

However, since the late 1980s and especially the 1990s, interest in and attendance at Anzac Day has grown. On 25 April 1990, Bob Hawke became the first Australian politician to visit Gallipoli, and he also decided that government would pay to take Anzac veterans to Gallipoli for the 75th anniversary of the dawn landing. This is seen by historians as a major milestone in the recovery of Anzac Day.

Prime Minister John Howard was also a huge proponent of Anzac Day commemorations, and visited Gallipoli on 25 April in both 2000 and 2005.

An increasing number of attendees have been young Australians, many of whom attend ceremonies swathed in Australian flags, wearing green and gold T-shirts and beanies and with Australian flag tattoos imprinted on their skin. This phenomenon has been perceived by some as a reflection of the desire of younger generations of Australians to honour the sacrifices made by the previous generations.

Australians and New Zealanders recognise 25 April as a ceremonial occasion to reflect on the cost of war and to remember those who fought and died in war. Commemorative services and marches are held at dawn, the time of the original landing, mainly at war memorials in cities and towns across both nations and the sites of some of Australia and New Zealand's more-recognised battles and greatest losses, such as Villers-Bretonneux in France and Gallipoli in Turkey.

One of the traditions of Anzac Day is the " gunfire breakfast" (coffee with rum added) which occurs shortly after many dawn ceremonies, and recalls the "breakfast" taken by many soldiers before facing battle. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen meet and join in marches through the major cities and many smaller centres.

In 2018, female veterans were encouraged to march at the front of their sections. The "By The Left" initiative was launched following a number of reported cases where servicewomen had been challenged that they were wearing their medals on the wrong side, as people should wear their own medals on the left side of their chest, but people marching in place of their parents or other ancestors should wear that person's medals on the right side.

According to historian Carolyn Holbrook of Deakin University, "We reached Peak Anzac in 2015 sure, and there has been some backing off since then, but in terms of the dawn services and Anzac Day commemoration, it will remain huge for a good while yet," says Carolyn. "There is nothing better to take its place in terms of a national mythology."

In recent years, there has been greater recognition of the often overlooked role that women, immigrants and Indigenous Australians played in the wars, in the news and in the arts. Black Diggers, which premiered at the Sydney Festival, told the stories of the Aboriginal men who enlisted, whose sacrifices were ignored, and who were quickly forgotten upon their return. Country Arts SA's Aboriginal Diggers Project is a 3-year project (2017-2019) capturing the stories and experiences of Aboriginal servicemen and women who have served in Australia's Military from the Boer War to the present day through film, theatre and visual arts.

In 2020, most Anzac Day marches in Australia and New Zealand were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of the cancellation of the service, two Army veterans, Bill Sowry and Terry James, suggested standing in front of the driveways to observe a minute of silence; and, at the same time, Justin Wilbur, the son of a Vietnam veteran, offered to light a candle as a tribute to the soldiers. He created a Facebook group "Aussies and Kiwis for ANZACS", and Ashleigh Leckie, a Navy veteran, combined their ideas and put forth what we now know as the "Driveway at Dawn" movement. This movement was later adopted by the RSL and RSA and was consequently renamed "Light up the Dawn" and "Stand at Dawn".

In the United Kingdom, Kathy Lette presented a Zoom performance of The One Day of the Year with five actors performing from their homes.

In 2021 major state marches occurred although under pandemic restriction settings such as in Queensland and the Northern Territory, others with ticketing and/or restrictions on numbers marching and watching, such as the national event in Canberra, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania. Overseas services were not be held. Services did not happen in Perth as on 24 April Perth city and the Peel region entered a sudden 3 day COVID-19 lockdown and Anzac Day services in the affected areas were cancelled.

In 2022 dawn services returned in both Australia and in Gallipoli. The end of pandemic restriction meant crowds returned to pre-pandemic levels in Queensland New South Wales South Australia, Victoria, The ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory where Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles (representing Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese who was sick with COVID at the time) attended a dawn service. Perth saw the return of the dawn service for the first time in three years albeit with only 500 attendees due to ongoing COVID restrictions. Dawn services occurred in New Zealand but parades were cancelled due to the pandemic.

30,000 attended the Canberra war memorial service in 2023, continuing a trend since 2015 of crowds declining.

ANZAC Day is a public holiday in Australia, New Zealand and Tonga (including in the dependencies of Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Cook Islands, Niue, Norfolk Island and Tokelau).[better source needed ]

A dawn service was held on the Western Front by an Australian battalion on the first anniversary of the Gallipoli landing on 25 April 1916, and historians agree that in Australia dawn services spontaneously popped up around the country to commemorate the fallen at Gallipoli in the years after this. The timing of the dawn service is based on the time that the ANZAC forces started the landing on the Gallipoli peninsula, but also has origins in a combination of military, symbolic and religious traditions. Various stories name different towns as having the first ever service in Australia, including Albany, Western Australia, but no definite proof has been found to corroborate any of them. In Rockhampton, Queensland on 26 April 1916, over 600 people attended an interdenominational service that started at 6.30 am. However, the dawn service held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1928 can lay claim to being the first of a continuous tradition. The 1931 service at the Cenotaph was the first attended by the Governor and representatives of state and federal governments.

Dawn services were originally very simple and in many cases they were restricted to veterans only, to remember and reflect among the comrades with whom they shared a special bond. Before dawn the gathered veterans would be ordered to "stand-to" and a lone bugler would play the " Last Post". Two minutes of silence would follow, concluded with the " Reveille". In more recent times the families of veterans and the general public have been encouraged to take part in dawn services. Some of the ceremonies have also become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, prayer readings, laying of wreaths, laments and the playing of the Australian national anthem, but others have retained the simple format of the dawn stand-to. The fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon's poem " For the Fallen" (known as the " Ode of Remembrance", or simply as "the Ode") is often recited.

Despite federation being proclaimed in Australia in 1901, it is argued that the "national identity" of Australia was largely forged during the violent conflict of World War I, and the most iconic event in the war for most Australians was the landing at Gallipoli. Dr. Paul Skrebels of the University of South Australia has noted that Anzac Day has continued to grow in popularity; even the threat of a terrorist attack at the Gallipoli site in 2004 did not deter some 15,000 Australians from making the pilgrimage to Turkey to commemorate the fallen ANZAC troops.

In cities and towns nationwide, marches by veterans from all past wars, as well as current serving members of the Australian Defence Force and Reserves, allied veterans, Australian Defence Force Cadets and Australian Air League, members of Scouts Australia, Guides Australia, and other service groups take place. The Anzac Day March from each state capital is televised live with commentary. These events are generally followed by social gatherings of veterans, hosted either in a public house or in an RSL club, often including a traditional Australian gambling game called two-up, which was an extremely popular pastime with ANZAC soldiers. (In most Australian states and territories, gambling is forbidden outside of licensed venues; however, due to the significance of this tradition, two-up is legal only on Anzac Day.)

A National Ceremony is held at the Australian War Memorial, starting at 10:30 am, with the traditional order of service including the Commemorative Address, wreath laying, hymns, the sounding of the Last Post, observance of one minute's silence, and the national anthems of Australia and New Zealand. Families often place artificial red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial's Roll of Honour. Sprigs of rosemary or laurel are often worn on lapels.

Although commemoration events are always held on 25 April, most states and territories currently observe a substitute public holiday on the following Monday when Anzac Day falls on a Sunday. When Anzac Day falls on Easter Monday, such as in 2011, the Easter Monday holiday is transferred to Tuesday. This followed a 2008 meeting of the Council for the Australian Federation in which the states and territories made an in-principle agreement to work towards making this a universal practice. However, in 2009, the Legislative Council of Tasmania rejected a bill amendment that would have enabled the substitute holiday in that state.

Australia Post has issued stamps over the years to commemorate Anzac Day, the first being in 1935 for the 20th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

The list of issued stamps includes:[better source needed ]

1955 - the then current 3½d Purple Nursing commemorative stamp was privately overprinted with the words "ANZAC 1915-1955 40 YEARS LEST WE FORGET" and a value ranging from 1d to £1 was also added which was the fundraising amount in addition to the legal cost of stamp of which the denomination was 3½d. Eight values were issued and were intended to raise funds for the Anzac commemorations. It is believed these stamps were authorised by the secretary of a leading Melbourne RSL club.

1990 - 75th Anniversary (5 values) 41¢ x 2, 65¢, $1, and $1.10 all featuring various Anzac themes.

2000 - ANZAC legends (4 values) 45¢ x 4 featuring Walter Parker, Roy Longmore, Alec Campbell and the Anzac medal.

2014-2018 - A Century of War

During many wars, Australian rules football matches have been played overseas in places like northern Africa, Vietnam, and Iraq as a celebration of Australian culture and as a bonding exercise between soldiers.

The modern-day tradition began in 1995 and is played every year between traditional AFL rivals Collingwood and Essendon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This annual match is often considered the biggest of the AFL season outside of the finals, sometimes drawing bigger crowds than all but the Grand Final, and often selling out in advance. The inaugural match in 1995 drew a crowd of 94,825 people, with the 2023 match drawing a crowd of 95,179, the second biggest home and away crowd in AFL history. The Anzac Medal is awarded to the player in the match who best exemplifies the Anzac spirit - skill, courage, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play. As of 2021, Collingwood hold the advantage 15 wins to 9, with one draw (in the inaugural year, 1995). The match was not played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2013, St Kilda and the Sydney Swans played an Anzac Day game in Wellington, New Zealand, the first AFL game played for premiership points outside of Australia. The winning team, Sydney, were presented with the inaugural Simpson-Henderson Trophy by the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The trophy was named after two notable Anzac soldiers: John Simpson Kirkpatrick and Richard Alexander Henderson.

From 1997, the Anzac Test, a rugby league test match, has commemorated Anzac Day, though it is typically played prior to Anzac Day. The match is always played between the Australian and New Zealand national teams, and has drawn attendances of between 20,000 and 45,000 in the past. The final Anzac test occurred in 2017.

Domestically, matches have been played on Anzac Day since 1927 (with occasional exceptions). Since 2002, the National Rugby League (NRL) has followed the lead of the Australian Football League, hosting a match between traditional rivals St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters each year to commemorate Anzac Day in the ANZAC Day Cup, although these two sides had previously met on Anzac Day several times as early as the 1970s. Since 2009, an additional Anzac Day game has been played between the Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors.

New Zealand's Commemoration of Anzac Day is similar. The number of New Zealanders attending Anzac Day events in New Zealand, and at Gallipoli, is increasing. For some, the day adds weight to the idea that war is futile.

Dawn Marches and other memorials nationwide are typically attended by the New Zealand Defence Force, the New Zealand Cadet Forces, members of the New Zealand Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Order of St John Ambulance Service (Youth and Adult Volunteers) as well as Scouting New Zealand, GirlGuiding New Zealand and other uniformed community service groups including in most places the local Pipe Band to lead or accompany the March, and sometimes a Brass Band to accompany the hymns.

Anzac Day now promotes a sense of unity, perhaps more effectively than any other day on the national calendar. People whose politics, beliefs and aspirations are widely different can nevertheless share a genuine sorrow at the loss of so many lives in war.

Paper poppies are widely distributed by the Returned Services Association and worn as symbols of remembrance. This tradition follows that of the wearing of poppies on Remembrance Sunday in other Commonwealth countries.

The day is a public holiday in New Zealand. Shops are prohibited from opening before 1 pm as per the Anzac Day Act 1966. A prior Act passed in 1949 prevented the holiday from being "Mondayised" (moved to the 26th or 27th should the 25th fall on a weekend), although this drew criticism from trade unionists and Labour Party politicians. In 2013, a member's bill introduced by Labour MP David Clark to Mondayise Anzac Day and Waitangi Day passed, despite opposition from the governing National Party.

In Turkey the name " ANZAC Cove" was officially recognised by the Turkish government on Anzac Day in 1985. In 1934, Kemal Atatürk delivered the following words to the first Australians, New Zealanders and British to visit the Gallipoli battlefields. This was later inscribed on a monolith at Ari Burnu Cemetery (ANZAC Beach) which was unveiled in 1985. The words also appear on the Kemal Atatürk Memorial, Canberra, and the Atatürk Memorial in Wellington:

Those heroes that shed their blood
And lost their lives.
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
And the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side
Here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers,
Who sent their sons from far away countries
Wipe away your tears,
Your sons are now lying in our bosom
And are in peace
After having lost their lives on this land they have
Become our sons as well.

In 1990, to mark the 75th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing, Government officials from Australia and New Zealand (including Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke and New Zealand Governor-General Paul Reeves) as well as most of the last surviving Gallipoli veterans, and many Australian and New Zealand tourists travelled to Turkey for a special Dawn Service at Gallipoli. The Gallipoli Dawn Service was held at the Ari Burnu War Cemetery at Anzac Cove, but the growing numbers of people attending resulted in the construction of a more spacious site on North Beach, known as the "Anzac Commemorative Site" in time for the year 2000 service.

A ballot was held to allocate passes for Australians and New Zealanders wishing to attend Anzac Day commemorations at Gallipoli in 2015. Of the 10,500 people who could be safely, securely and comfortably accommodated at the Anzac Commemorative Site, in 2015 this comprised places for 8,000 Australians, 2,000 New Zealanders and 500 official representatives of all nations involved in the Gallipoli campaign. Only those who received an offer of attendance passes attended the commemorations in 2015.

In Ypres, Belgium, a dawn service is held at the Buttes New British Cemetery in Zonnebeke; there is a 9:30 am service at the Tyne Cot Cemetery; a procession from the Ypres Cloth Hall to Menin Gate begins at 11:10 am and the Wreath-laying ceremony at the Belgian War Memorial takes place at 11:35 am. In addition, the nightly Last Post Ceremony takes place at the Menin Gate at 8 pm, when buglers from the Last Post Association sound this act of homage as they have every night since 1928.

In Winnipeg, Manitoba Anzac Day was commemorated by the Down Under Club of Winnipeg on Saturday 29 April 2017 from 6 pm until 10 pm at the Scandinavian Cultural Centre.

In Calgary, Alberta, a Cenotaph Service is held annually at Central Park with participation from the local military, held in the evening.

In Edmonton, Alberta, Anzac Day ceremonies have been held since 2009.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, Anzac service is held at Victory Square, Vancouver.

In Comox, British Columbia, Canada, "Vancouver Island Anzac Day" is held on the Sunday closest to 25 April. Hosted by the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial, the ceremony is held in various locations each year on Vancouver Island.

In Cairo, Egypt, Anzac Day is remembered by the expatriate New Zealand and Australian communities with a dawn ceremony held at the Cairo Commonwealth War Memorial Cemetery, Abu Seifen Street, Old Cairo. New Zealand and Australian Embassies rotate hosting the service.

In the town of Villers-Bretonneux, the Australian Government holds an annual dawn service. For decades, the commemoration was organised by French locals (on the next closest weekend to Anzac Day) until the Australian Government took over the organisation of an Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux. Historian Romain Fathi has explained that several factors contributed to this "commemorative take-over", such as the need to have an official service in France, a deteriorating relationship with Turkey in the mid-2000s that jeopardised access to Anzac Cove, and associating Anzac Day with "victory" on the Western Front, rather than "defeat" at Gallipoli. Indeed, in the Australian narrative of Second Villers-Bretonneux, the town was re-taken on 25 April 1918, a symbolic anniversary. In fact, that operation was not finished until 27 April.

The Town of Fromelles holds an annual service at Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery where a few hundred lost Australian soldiers were reburied after being discovered nearby. The ceremony is attended by representatives of the Australian Government and French Military. The Battle of Fromelles, an important battle for Australians, happened near the Town.

In French Polynesia, Anzac Day has been commemorated with an official ceremony held in Papeete since 2006. The 2009 ceremony was attended by French Polynesia President Oscar Temaru, who praised the "courage and liberty" of Australian and New Zealand soldiers in a statement.

In Dublin, Anzac Day is remembered by the expatriate New Zealand and Australian communities. In the absence of an official World War I remembrance, and in honour of Irish soldiers who fought and perished in the Dardanelles and elsewhere, Anzac Day commemorations are also attended by members of veterans groups and historical societies, including the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, ONET, the Royal British Legion, and UN Veterans.[citation needed ] Since the mid-1980s, an evening service has been organised by the New Zealand-Ireland Association, which currently takes place in St Ann's Church, Dawson St, Dublin 2. For the 90th anniversary in 2005, a daylight service was held for the first time in the re-furbished Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin 7. A Turkish Hazel tree, planted by the Ambassadors of Australia, New Zealand and Turkey, commemorates this occasion. It can be found to the south of the limestone Memorial Wall. Since this date, a dawn service has been held at this location.

The Australian Borneo Exhibition Group organises annual trips for ANZAC veterans and students to commemorate World War II in the states of Sabah and Sarawak.

In Kanchanaburi, Thailand, a dawn service is held at Hellfire Pass, a rock cutting dug by allied Prisoners of War and Asian labourers for the Thai-Burma Railway. This cutting is where the greatest number of lives were lost during railway construction. The dawn service is followed by a "gunfire breakfast". At 10 am or 11 am a second ceremony is held at the main POW cemetery in the city of Kanchanaburi. In addition to this, in 2018 the Australian Consulate-General held a dawn service in Phuket at 5.45 am at Phuket Yacht Club, Soi Phon Chalong. The closest Saturday to Anzac Day also sees an Australian Rules football match between the Thailand Tigers AFL club and a team invited from neighbouring Asian countries. In 2018 The Thailand Tigers and the Vietnam Swans played their first ever Anzac Day home and away series over two weekends.

In the capital city Dili, in the Australian Army peace keeping base, a dawn service is held each ANZAC Day.[citation needed ]

In London a 5 am Dawn Service is held, alternating between the Australian War Memorial, and the more recently constructed New Zealand War Memorial, both of which are at Hyde Park Corner. The day is also marked by a 9 am Wreath Laying Ceremony and service at the Gallipoli Memorial in the crypt of St Paul's Cathedral and an 11 am Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade at The Cenotaph, Whitehall, both of which are attended by official representatives and veterans associations of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other countries. The Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Cenotaph is directly followed by a Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey. The Dawn Service, ceremony at the Cenotaph and the Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving are usually attended by a member of the Royal Family representing the monarch, and by the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand. Anzac Day has been officially observed in London since 1916, when King George V and Queen Mary attended the first commemorative service at the Abbey.

In Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England, a March is held on the nearest Sunday to Anzac Day. A march followed by a service is held in Leighterton Cemetery, which has several war graves of servicemen from Australia and New Zealand. Veterans and cadets from the local ATC squadron attend.

At the Los Angeles National Cemetery, the New Zealand and Australian Consulates-General host the service, held at 9 am. The largest expatriate community of New Zealanders and Australians were in Southern California as at 2001.

In Santa Barbara, California, Anzac Day is remembered by the expatriate Australian and New Zealand communities. In the absence of an official World War I remembrance, several dignitaries from many countries including Australia, New Zealand and the US attend an 11.11 am morning service held at the Elings Park Veteran's Memorial Walk on 25 April of each year.[citation needed ]

In New York City, a memorial is hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Consuls-General at the Vietnam Veterans Plaza, and a commemorative service is held on the nearest Sunday to Anzac Day in the roof garden of the British Empire Building in Rockefeller Center; it is an annual tradition that has been held at this locale since 1950.

Commemoration services are also held at Bloomington (Indiana), Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Leonard Wood, Houston, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, San Diego and Seattle.

From the beginning, there has been concern to protect the Anzac tradition from inappropriate use. In Australia, use of the word "Anzac" is regulated under the Protection of Word "Anzac" Act 1920. The Protection of Word 'Anzac' Regulations 1921 state that: "no person may use the word 'Anzac', or any word resembling it, in connection with any trade, business, calling or profession or in connection with any entertainment or any lottery or art union or as the name or part of a name of any private residence, boat, vehicle of charitable or other institution, or other institution, or any building without the authority of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs". The maximum penalty is 12 months imprisonment, or $10,200 for a person and $51,000 for a corporation.

Over recent years, some historians and commentators have raised concerns over what they see as the increasing commercialisation of Anzac Day. In 2015, historian Carolyn Holbrook stated that companies were seeking to associate themselves with Anzac Day as "Anzac is the most potent and popular brand going around in Australia today". Questionable Anzac marketing campaigns included Woolworths' notorious 'Fresh in Our Memories' campaign in 2015, which provoked a strong public backlash. According to Holbrook, Anzac is more sacred than Easter or Christmas to many. Historian Professor Joan Beaumont, researcher Jo Hawkins and historical commentator David Stephens have argued that the Federal Government has not been sufficiently enforcing regulations which limit the extent to which companies can refer to Anzac Day, or use the word "Anzac", in their marketing. There has been widespread public opposition to the more blatant attempts to commercialise Anzac Day, which has led to some products being withdrawn from sale. Many of the products associated with the centenary of the Gallipoli landings were also commercial failures.

A notable exception is the manufacture and sale of the Anzac biscuit, originally home made to published recipes from about 1920, and for many decades manufactured commercially for retail sale in both Australia and New Zealand. Commercial manufacture and sale of the biscuits is explicitly exempted from restrictions on the use of the word "Anzac".

For decades, there have been concerns that the participation of young people in Anzac Day events has injected a carnival element into what is traditionally a solemn occasion. The change was highlighted by a rock concert-style performance at the 2005 Anzac Cove commemoration during which attendees drank and slept between headstones. After the event the site was left strewn with rubbish. In 2013, historian Jonathan King said that "escalating commercial pressures threaten to turn the centenary [of the landing at Gallipoli] into a Big Day Out."

Digital change has been the focus of recent concern. The centenary commemoration of Anzac and the First World War has coincided with the emergence of a mature internet and comprehensive use of social media. According to Tom Sear, a new era of 'digital commemoration' of Anzac Day has begun. Anzac Day selfies, memes, virtual reality Anzac avatars, Facebook posts and Tweeting are part of a new participative, and immersive experience of the day. Digital media have "personalised" the experience of Anzac Day, focusing on "sharing" the activities online. In a time when the line between being "online" and "offline" is increasingly blurred, there has been a turn towards commemorative activities that seek to generate empathy and connection between contemporary audiences and historical subjects through digital media. Leading news organisations such as the ABC and News Corp "live tweeted" and "Facebooked" the original Anzac landings in 2015. These online forums, and their capacity for personalised feedback, have disquieted some historians, who are concerned about the distance, solemnity and critical perspective of traditional Anzac Day commemorations being lost. Equally others emphasise how, particularly young people, using these technologies of the present, play a role in connecting wider communities of Anzac Day commemorators.

At its inception, Anzac Day faced criticism from the Australian labour movement, and in the country at large, there has been opposition to political exploitation of what was seen as a day of mourning. One controversy occurred in 1960 with the publication of Alan Seymour's classic play, The One Day of the Year, which dramatised the growing social divide in Australia and the questioning of old values. In the play, Anzac Day is critiqued by the central character, Hughie, as a day of drunken debauchery by returned soldiers and as a day when questions of what it means to be loyal to a nation or Empire must be raised. The play was scheduled to be performed at the inaugural Adelaide Festival of Arts, but after complaints from the Returned Services League, the governors of the Festival refused permission for this to occur.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, related to Australia's involvement in the Vietnam war and other issues, Anzac Day not only sank in popularity but was the focus for the expression of much dissent. ( See § Popularity sinks)

Anzac Day has been criticised in recent years by a number of Australians and New Zealanders, as, for example, "a day that obscures the politics of war and discourages political dissent". In October 2008, former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating stated that he believes it is misguided for people to gather each year at Anzac Cove to commemorate the landing at Gallipoli, because it is "utter and complete nonsense" to suggest that the nation was "born again or even, redeemed there." Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister at the time, rejected Keating's views, saying the Gallipoli campaign is "part of our national consciousness, it's part of our national psyche, it's part of our national identity, and I, for one, as Prime Minister of the country, am absolutely proud of it."

Some critics have suggested that the revival in public interest in Anzac Day amongst the young results from the fact that younger Australians have not themselves experienced war. Critics see the revival as part of a rise of unreflective nationalism in Australia which was particularly fostered by the then Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Some historians believe Anzac Day events are now on the decline, although it is likely there will continue to be smaller dawn services and official events in the future. Martin Crotty thought that perhaps it was now a ritual for older, traditional Australians, with old values of mateship and loyalty and even as a "reaction against globalisation"; however, Carolyn Holbrook disagrees, arguing that young people are responsible for the resurgence, and among older people there is a big group of sceptics, Baby Boomers who were influenced by Vietnam War protests.

Other criticisms have revolved around a perceived overzealousness in Australian attachment to the event, either from participants unaware of the loss or when the focus is at the expense of remembrance of the contribution of New Zealand. In 2005, John Howard was criticised for shunning the New Zealand Anzac ceremony at Gallipoli, preferring instead to spend his morning at a barbecue on the beach with Australian soldiers. In 2009, New Zealand historians noted that some Australian children were unaware that New Zealand was a part of ANZAC. In 2012, a New Zealand journalist caused controversy following comments that Australian World War I soldiers were bludgers and thieves.

^

^ Broadbent, Harvey (2005). Gallipoli: The Fatal Shore. Camberwell, VIC: Viking/Penguin. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-670-04085-8.

^ "ANZAC Day 2010 - The Gallipoli Campaign" (PDF). Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2013.

^ Sharpe, Maureen (1981). "Anzac Day in New Zealand, 1916-1939". The New Zealand Journal of History. 15 (2): 97-114. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017.

^ This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Anzac Day ritual (1 October 2022) by Kate Hall published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence, accessed on 2 February 2023.

^ This Wikipedia article incorporates text from Anzac Day ritual (1 October 2022) published by the State Library of Queensland under CC BY licence, accessed on 2 February 2023.

^ Parliament of Victoria. Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (October 2002). "ANZAC: Parliamentary review of Anzac Day laws" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 November 2018.

Helen Robinson, 'Lest we Forget? The Fading of New Zealand War Commemorations, 1946-1966', New Zealand Journal of History, 44, 1 (2010).

^ Anne-Marie Hede and John Hall, "Anzac Day and Australian nationalism: assessing the marketing lifecycle of this cultural phenomenon", Deakin University: www.deakin.edu.au/research/stories/hede/anzac-vietnam.doc

^ "Stay in Australia on Anzac Day: academic" Archived 9 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine, The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 April 2008.

^ "Anzac Day". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009.

"Anzac Day Services in France". Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 February 2014.

^ Miller, Jack (2010). Kingdom Collision: The Movement of God's Spirit in a Time of War. CrossBooks. p. 69. ISBN 978-1462700363.

^ "Anzac commemoration returns to Kings Park as families embrace driveway dawn services". ABC News. 25 April 2022.

^ "'Both historic and tragic': Dual nature of Anzac Day highlighted at services and marches across the country". ABC News. 24 April 2023.

^

^

^ Australian War Memorial H13624

^ Australian War Memorial P00851.009

^ Australian War Memorial MEB0068

^ New Zealand Ministry for Heritage and Culture - Atatürk Memorial[permanent dead link ] . Retrieved 11 November 2009

^ Fathi, Romain (2019). Our Corner of the Somme. Australia at Villers-Bretonneux. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 144-148. ISBN 9781108471497. Archived from the original on 4 July 2021.

[dead link ]

^ [permanent dead link ]

^ "Grangegorman Military Cemetery Conservation Management Plan 2015-2020" (PDF). Office of Public Works. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2019.

^ "2014 ANZAC Day Commemorative Service - Kuala Lumpur and Sandakan, Sabah" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2014.

^

Qpp Studio ^ [2] Retrieved on 25 April 2014

^ Bradley, Phillip (2013). Hell's Battlefield: To Kokoda and Beyond (Second ed.). Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen and Unwin. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-74331-755-6.

^ Source: Australian National Archives; Report on Japanese atrocities at Tarawa, Gilbert and Ellice Islands (execution of European prisoners at Betio, Tarawa on or about 15 October 1942), compiled by Major DCI Wernham, District Officer, Gilbert Islands, supplied to Australian government by High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, February 1944.

^ "Anzac Day - Warsaw". New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry. New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry. 7 April 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017. To commemorate the 101st anniversary of the landing, the Embassies of New Zealand and Australia, with support from the Warsaw Garrison, will be holding a Service of Remembrance at 1145 hours ... on Monday 25 April 2015 at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier, Pl. Piłsudskiego in Warsaw.

^

^ "Anzac Day Service & Parade - Leighterton, Nr Tetbury" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2018.

^ "Estimates of Australian Citizens Living Overseas as at December 2001" (PDF). Southern Cross Group (DFAT data). 14 February 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2008.

^

Duffy, Connor (16 April 2015). "'Brandzac Day': Historian criticises 'new low in the commercialisation of Anzac'". 7:30 Report. Archived from the original on 8 May 2018.

^ Sear, Tom. "'Dawn Servers: Anzac Day 2015 and Hyperconnective Commemoration', in West B (ed.), War Memory and Commemoration". unsworks.unsw.edu.au. Routledge. pp. 67-88. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020.

^ Lake, Marilyn (2010). What's wrong with ANZAC?: the militarisation of Australian history. p. 4. ISBN 9781459604957. OCLC 912368259.

^ McKenna, Mark (2013), "The history anxiety", The Cambridge History of Australia, Cambridge University Press, pp. 561-580, doi:10.1017/cho9781107445758.055, ISBN 9781107445758

^ Sear, Tom. "'Uncanny Valleys and Anzac Avatars: Scaling a Postdigital Gallipoli', in Frances R; Scates B (ed.), Beyond Gallipoli: New Perspectives on ANZAC, Monash University Press". unsworks.unsw.edu.au. pp. 55-82. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017.

^ Kirk, Neville (November 2006). "'Australians for Australia': The Right, the Labor Party and Contested Loyalties to Nation and Empire in Australia, 1917 to the Early 1930s". Labour History (91): 95-111. doi:10.2307/27516154. JSTOR 27516154.

^ Shanahan, Dennis (1 November 2008). "Kevin Rudd rejects Paul Keating's view on Gallipoli". The Australian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008.

Nick Bryant, ^ The revitalisation of Anzac Day Archived 28 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News, 24 April 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.

Matt McDonald, ^ 'Lest We Forget': Invoking the Anzac myth and the memory of sacrifice in Australian military intervention, Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association's 50th Annual Convention "Exploring the Past, Anticipating the Future", New York City, 15 February 2009.

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Anzac Day (; Māori: Rā Whakamahara ki ngā Hōia o Ahitereiria me Aotearoa or Rā o ngā Hōia) is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".

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MONDAY:
Gym-Lower
Specific Warm-up (See Notes):
Deadlift
Ready Now Set: Deadlift
23 Total Reps
Shaping Tomorrow Set: Squat - Hinge - Lunge
23 min As Many Reps As Possible (AMRAP)
(Goal: 5 Rounds)
*Recommend 1/3 Bodyweight

*Home Option Workout in Notes
TUESDAY:
Anaerobic Cardio
Specific Warm-Up (See Notes):
Ready Now Laps: 5 Laps = 1500 meters Shaping Tomorrow Set: WEDNESDAY:
Gym-Upper
Specific Warm-up (See Notes):
Military Press Ready Now Set: Military Press
Shaping Tomorrow Set: Push - Pull - Carry
23 min As Many Reps As Possible (AMRAP) (Goal: 5 Rounds)
*Recommend 1/4- 1/3 Bodyweight

* Home Option Workout in Notes
THURSDAY:
High Intensity Workout
Specific Warm-up (See Notes):
"23APR1908" For time:
For a total of 115 reps
*Alternate movements:

23 body weight hip thrust

23 hand release push-ups/from knees if needed

23 farmer carry (25 m) w/ weight of chance, i.e. 2 water bottles

23 broad jumps

23 shuttle sprints (25 m, run at own pace)

FRIDAY:
Specific Warm-up (See Notes):
Run a 5K!
NOTES: Warm Up options for all week:

Squat Bender

Windmill

Rower

Bent Leg Body Twist

Hand-release Push-up (2:2:2:2 Tempo)

General Warm-up:

Option Alpha - Run 800 m @ "10 km Pace"

Option Bravo - Jump Rope x 5 min

Option Charlie - Run in Place @ 180 bpm cadence x 5 min

Home Option Workout: 5 Rounds for Time (Goal 19:08 or faster) Alternate Workout Options: Option One: 19080423 (Team Workout) :

1,908 meter of farmer carry (with kettlebells, dumbbells, sandbags or ammo cans; teams of 2 or 3)

Every 4 minutes stop and perform 23 Air Squats.

*1908 meters is a little bit over a mile, this workout is all about groundwork and working as a team.
Option Two: 23's :
Start with 954 Meters of Run-bike or row, Then 4 rounds of

Finish with 954 Meter run-bike or row
*954 + 954 = 1908

23 x 5 =115 reps x round = years Army Reserve birthday

4 rounds for April

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Official site of the U.S. Army Reserve, the federal military reserve forces of the United States.

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Think of St George and you're probably picturing a heroic knight slaying a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon. As the country's patron saint, today St George's story is as iconic as his white and red flag.

But like many early saints, the exact details of his life remain a mystery. Here, we separate fact from fiction to try to get closer to the truth behind the legend of St George.

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9 Things You Didn't Know About St George

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How did our St George's Day traditions become linked to our national identity? Can you identify the myth behind the legend? Find out the truth about St George.

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This In God We Trust Day, join together in prayer and reflection to show gratitude and appreciation for the blessings bestowed upon us.

Celebrate In God We Trust Day on April 22 with a renewed appreciation for faith and trust in the Lord! The phrase "In God We Trust" is now the official motto of the United States, but its origins go back centuries. It first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864 and was made the official motto in 1956 following a national campaign led by religious groups. On this day, take a moment to reflect on your faith and how it guides you through life.

History of In God We Trust Day

How to Celebrate In God We Trust Day

<div id="" class="celebrate-item"><h3 id="" class="celebrate-title"><span class="celebrate-number">1. </span>Attend a church service</h3><p id="" class="celebrate-text">Attending a church service is a great way to celebrate In God We Trust Day. You can take part in worship, learn from a sermon, and experience the community of faith.</p></div><div id="" class="celebrate-item"><h3 id="" class="celebrate-title"><span class="celebrate-number">2. </span>Read scripture</h3><p id="" class="celebrate-text">Take some time to read through scripture and reflect on the words of God. Choose a book of the Bible and read it from start to finish, or pick out verses that are meaningful to you.</p></div><div id="" class="celebrate-item"><h3 id="" class="celebrate-title"><span class="celebrate-number">3. </span>Pray</h3><p id="" class="celebrate-text">Take some time to pray and talk with God. Pray for yourself, your friends, family, and the world. Ask God for guidance and strength.</p></div><div id="" class="celebrate-item"><h3 id="" class="celebrate-title"><span class="celebrate-number">4. </span>Volunteer</h3><p id="" class="celebrate-text">Find a local charity or organization that aligns with your beliefs and help out in any way you can. Volunteering is a great way to serve others and show your faith to the world.</p></div><div id="" class="celebrate-item"><h3 id="" class="celebrate-title"><span class="celebrate-number">5. </span>Share your story</h3><p id="" class="celebrate-text">Tell your friends and family about your faith journey and the impact it has had on your life. Share why you trust in God and how He has worked in your life.</p></div>

Why In God We Trust Day is Important

<div id='' class='matter-item'><h3 id='' class='matter-title'><span class='matter-letter'>A.</span>It honors our nation's religious heritage</h3><p id='' class='matters-text'>The phrase "In God We Trust" has become a shorthand for America's commitment to honoring its spiritual history and traditions. By celebrating In God We Trust Day, we recognize the important role religion has played in the formation of this country and the values it was based on.</p></div><div id='' class='matter-item'><h3 id='' class='matter-title'><span class='matter-letter'>B.</span>It reminds us of where our strength comes from</h3><p id='' class='matters-text'>Whether we think of God as a divine being or just a source of unconditional support and love, remembering that In God We Trust provides us with strength and courage during difficult times. Knowing that there is something bigger than ourselves can be a great source of comfort and peace.</p></div><div id='' class='matter-item'><h3 id='' class='matter-title'><span class='matter-letter'>C.</span>It unites us as Americans</h3><p id='' class='matters-text'>The concept of trusting in something greater than ourselves is one that transcends all religions, political affiliations and backgrounds. While there may be disagreements about how to interpret the phrase "In God We Trust," celebrating this day serves as a reminder that we are all connected by faith in something greater than ourselves. </p></div>

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In God We Trust Day FAQs

When is In God We Trust Day?

In God We Trust Day is celebrated on April 22 every year. In 2023 In God We Trust Day will occur on a Saturday.

In God We Trust Day Dates

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In God We Trust Day 2023 - History, Importance & How to Celebrate

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This In God We Trust Day, join together in prayer and reflection to show gratitude and appreciation for the blessings bestowed upon us.

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Spanish Language Day in United Nations in 2024 | There is a Day for that!

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Read about Spanish Language Day in United Nations in 2024. Find out the dates, history and traditions of Spanish Language Day

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Earth Day 2024 | Activities & Resources for April 22 - Earth Day

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For Earth Day 2024, EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in our commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040.

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History of Ridvan Festival (Bahá'i)

Siyyid ʻAlí-Muhammad of Shiraz declared himself the "Báb" and his followers were known as Bábís. Báb's writings established the concept of "He whom God shall make manifest," a Messianic figure whose arrival was predicted in all the world's great faiths, according to Baháʼís.

While imprisoned at the Syáh-Chál in Tehran, Iran, in 1852, Baháu'lláh claimed that his mission as the Promised One of the Báb was revealed to him. Baháu'lláh was exiled from Persia after his release from the Syáh-Chál, and he settled in Baghdad, which became the center of Báb activity. Even though he did not openly disclose this prophetic mission, he grew to be the Báb community's leader.

The revival of the Persian Báb community, as well as Baháu'lláh's rising prominence in the city, drew the attention of his enemies in the Islamic clergy and the Persian government, who were eventually successful in having Baháu'lláh summoned from Baghdad to Constantinople by the Ottoman rulers. Many people came to see Baháu'lláh before he left. He moved to the Najibiyyih garden across the Tigris river from Baghdad to give his family time to prepare for the trip and to be able to greet all of these visitors. Although he was accompanied by his sons, Bahá'lláh's family could not join him until April 30, the ninth day, because the water had risen and made passage to the garden difficult, although the flooding was only nine days long. Baháu'lláh and his family left the garden on the twelfth day of their stay and embarked on their journey to Constantinople.

For Baháʼís, the time Baháu'lláh spent at the Garden of Ridván in April 1863, as well as the associated festival and celebration, is extremely significant. Baháu'lláh refers to it as one of two "Most Great Festivals."

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The Ridván Festival is right around the corner, and we have all the info you need to know about it! Head to the link to learn more.

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Battle of San Jacinto, (April 21, 1836), defeat of a Mexican army of about 1,200-1,300 men under Antonio López de Santa Anna by about 900 men (mostly recent American arrivals in Texas) led by Gen. Sam Houston. Fought along the San Jacinto River, near the site of what was to be the city of Houston, the battle ensured the success of American settlers in the Texas Revolution (War of Texas Independence).

Citizens of the new Republic of Texas responded to the destruction of the Alamo and massacre of the unarmed Texans captured at Goliad with outrage. Volunteer companies rushed to join General Samuel Houston's growing Texas army. Meanwhile, Mexican General Santa Anna marched his army to crush the Texan rebels.

Houston avoided contact with the pursuing Mexican army until his Texas army gained strength and training. Santa Anna, on the other hand, split his force, sending some units to secure his long supply line while others sought to capture the provisional Texan government. He personally led the remaining 600 men after Houston.

On 20 April, the two armies met in a low area of marshland and bayous near the San Jacinto River. Santa Anna attempted unsuccessfully to probe the Texan position, and there was an exchange of artillery fire. About 500 Mexican reinforcements arrived. Santa Anna decided to rest his new and tired troops before attacking, but he failed to post sentries. When no attack followed in the morning, the Mexican troops relaxed even further. A Texan council of war, in the meantime, voted to attack, and Houston launched his 900 Texans in a risky assault that afternoon. His mounted troops rode around the Mexican flanks while the Texan battle line moved quickly and quietly directly across the open prairie. They were within 200 yards (183 m) of the Mexican camp when discovered. At that moment, Houston's artillery opened fire, and the Texan infantry charged. After days of retreat, Houston's men relished the attack, taking the resting Mexican force by surprise (during the Mexicans' siesta), shouting, "Remember the Alamo, remember Goliad!" (Legend holds that Santa Anna was slow to respond to the assault because he was romantically involved with a woman when the attack unfolded, but that account is probably apocryphal.)

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The Texans fired at close range and rolled over the hasty Mexican breastworks. Santa Anna's defense collapsed as panicked Mexicans tried to flee the cavalry across the marshes. After an eighteen-minute fight, the remaining Mexicans surrendered, but Santa Anna slipped away in a private's uniform. Within 24 hours, some 600 Mexicans had been killed and more than 700 captured, including eventually Santa Anna himself, who was then freed after he came to terms with Houston to end the war. Nine of Houston's men had been killed or mortally wounded, and about 30 wounded less seriously, in this heavily lopsided victory.

Losses: Mexican, 630 dead, 208 wounded, 730 captured; Texan, 9 dead, 30 wounded.

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Battle of San Jacinto, (April 21, 1836), defeat of a Mexican army of about 1,200-1,300 men under Antonio López de Santa Anna by about 900 men (mostly recent American arrivals in Texas) led by Gen. Sam Houston.

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History of Piñata Day

The origins of the piñata may be traced back to the 13th century. The Chinese created piñatas for their New Year festivities to bring good fortune to the growing season. They were usually fashioned like cows or oxen and ornamented with vivid colors and ribbons and were brimming with seeds. The Chinese burned the remnants of the piñata and stored the ashes for good luck after it was shattered.

Marco Polo returned to Europe from his expeditions in Asia with several piñatas. They gained popularity during Lent in the 14th century. Piata Sunday was the first Sunday of Lent. The piñata was introduced to Mexico by Europeans in the 16th century. Mesoamerica, interestingly, had quite a similar custom. They stuffed god-shaped clay pots with beads, beautiful stones, nuts, and fruit. The pots were broken open with sticks. The Mayan practice was similar to the present piñata tradition in that the person struck the piñata while blindfolded. Huitzilopochtli's birthday was celebrated in Aztec culture. Priests would use multicolored feathers to adorn a clay pot. When the pot was cracked with a stick or club, the valuables within would fall as a gift to the idol's feet.

In 1586, the piñata was first used for evangelization in Acolman, in the present state of Mexico. Piñatas have also grown in popularity among Mexican-Americans, other Hispanic and Latino groups in the United States, and non-Hispanics. They're popular at birthday parties, Christmas, and Cinco de Mayo festivities. Amy Watkins was the first to suggest enjoying piñatas as a Christmas tradition. Watkins said on her blog, 'Cozy Reverie,' in March 2016 that she couldn't believe this holiday tradition didn't already exist. Watkins transformed National Piñata Day from a notion into an actual event with the support of some pals!

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All candy lovers, grab a stick and get ready to whack that piñata this National Piñata Day.

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History of 2A Day

The Second Amendment has roots that go back to ancient Roman and Florentine times, but it wasn't until the 16th century that the English roots began to emerge. This resulted from Queen Elizabeth I establishing a national militia made up of people from all social groups who were mandated by law to take part in defending the realm. Even though Queen Elizabeth's attempt to create a national militia was a dismal failure, the militia's philosophy served as a powerful political instrument up to the middle of the 18th century.

The political debate over the formation and administration of the militia had a considerable impact on both the English Civil Wars and the Glorious Revolution. Several constitutional historians contested and rejected the court's finding that the Second Amendment protected people's right to "keep and bear arms" for home defense, despite the outcome of the Heller and MacDonald case before the United States Supreme Court. Before the Supreme Court's ruling in the current case, judges and academics had been discussing for about 200 years whether the Second Amendment genuinely safeguarded the right of individuals to defend themselves.

However, the definition of "self-defense" was developed in the late 20th century, and a sizeable minority of judges had adopted it by that point. The majority of Americans, particularly those who opposed gun restrictions, did not hold the self-defense viewpoint in high regard.

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Today is 2A Day. It's a day set aside to commemorate the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and to honor American liberty.

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Independence Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Syria - PublicHolidays.me

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Syria celebrates its Independence Day every 17 April in remembrance of the date that French troops left the country in 1946. As the Ottoman Empire, which had long ruled Syria, was falling apart toward the end of World War I, the British and French agreed to divide the spoils. Syria went to France un…

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History of The Fuji Shibazakura Festival

This floral festival takes place for about six weeks, although visiting is recommended from early to mid-May. There are over 800,000 shibazakura flowers on display during the festival, more than anywhere else around Tokyo. A striking landscape is created with pink moss, anemones, muscaris, and tulips. The scientific name for shibazakura is 'Phlox subulata'. It is a creeping plant with vivid colors. The flowers bloom just after the cherry blossom trees from April to late May. It is a popular location for photographers due to its highly photogenic nature. It is the perfect contrast of pink flowers, the blue sky, and the majestic mountain.

The festival is a popular destination for people traveling through the Five Lakes area during spring. Lake Motosoku lies on a flat expanse, providing a breath-taking view of Mount Fuji in the background - even when its snowy top is covered with clouds. The grounds are expertly laid out with attractive features such as a small lake and a lookout point to captivate the eye of the visitor. Paths are made to be accessible to people with reduced mobility.

The event also includes a food festival that features a variety of Japanese dishes. Visitors can stop by at one of the many food stalls offering Japanese street food. Options include a special dish from Yamanashi Prefecture, with meat and noodles, and both local and national favorites such as fried rice, bean-paste buns, and dumplings. Some classic Japanese desserts are flavored with the sakura flower for the occasion.

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Experience the delights of spring at the Fuji Shibazakura Festival in Japan.

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History of Divine Mercy Sunday

The story of Divine Mercy Sunday, also known as 'the Feast of the Divine Mercy,' is thousands of years old. However, the official recognition of the day was only authenticated by the Vatican in 2000. Pope John Paul II declared the Sunday after Easter to be called "Divine Mercy Sunday." Since that declaration, it has been marked in the General Roman Calendar as a religious observance celebrated by Catholics worldwide.

The significance of the day can be attributed to St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun who experienced visions from Christ himself. Born in 1905, she served her parish well and communed with Jesus on several occasions where he communicated with her that he wished to be "a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners." St. Faustina, also known as the 'Secretary of Divine Mercy,' died in 1938 in Krakow at age 33 after suffering from Tuberculosis.

Divine Mercy Sunday is a space specifically designated for those who feel unworthy of God's love and Jesus's acceptance. In a vision, he told St. Faustina, "I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy." Divine Mercy Sunday, from its advent, has been a source of reconciliation with faith and God's mercy. It provides a specific day on which people from all walks of life can humble themselves before God, and ask for his mercy, love, and forgiveness, which he grants to all those who are willing to ask for it. It is also about forgiveness and mercy, how Jesus offered his to us, and how we should act in kind throughout our lives.

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It's Divine Mercy Sunday - let's celebrate the Octave of Easter.

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National Heroes’ Day in Puerto Rico in 2024 | Office Holidays

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Read about National Heroes’ Day in Puerto Rico in 2024. This public holiday celebrates several key figures from Puerto Rico’s history who all had their own public holiday until 2014.

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Universal Day of Culture commemorates the Roerich Pact, promoting global cultures and the unity of humankind.

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Each year, on 15 April, World Art Day celebrations help reinforce the links between artistic creations and society, encourage greater awareness of the diversity of artistic expressions and highlight the contribution of artists to sustainable development. It is also an occasion to shine a light on arts education in schools, as culture can pave the way for inclusive and equitable education.

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Jackie Robinson Day | MLB Together | MLB.com

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Malacca City Hall, Malaysia Image by Catherine Poh Huay Tan , via Flickr

When is the Declaration of Malacca as a Historical City?

The Declaration of Malacca as a Historical City is a regional public holiday in the Malaysian state of Melaka on April 15th each year.

This holiday commemorates the declaration of the city as a historical city on this day in 1989.

History of the Declaration of Malacca as a Historical City

Malacca (sometimes spelt Melaka) was established in the 14th century by Parameswara, a Sumatran prince, who had to build a new kingdom following the fall of the Srivijaya Empire.

According to legend, Parameswara was resting under a Malacca Tree when he saw his hunting dogs being kicked into the nearby river by a small deer. This incident made him think that this was an auspicious place and a good location for his new settlement. He then named the place after the tree which he was resting under.

Malacca soon prospered and became an important centre for trading across Asia, attracting interest from the Portuguese.

On April 15th 1989, Malacca was declared a historical city.

In July 2008, UNESCO inscribed Malacca and George Town as cultural sites on the World Heritage List, with UNESCO explaining:

"Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the towns with a specific multicultural heritage that is both tangible and intangible. With its government buildings, churches, squares and fortifications, Melaka demonstrates the early stages of this history originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods beginning in the early 16th century. Featuring residential and commercial buildings, George Town represents the British era from the end of the 18th century. The two towns constitute a unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Convention

Penang also observes a public holiday on July 7th, the anniversary for recognition of George Town as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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declaration of malacca as a historical city

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Declaration of Malacca as a Historical City in Melaka in 2024 | Office Holidays

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Read about Declaration of Malacca as a Historical City in Melaka in 2024. Malacca City was declared as a UNESCO Historic City on April 15th 1989.

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When is Day of Silence 2022?

Day of Silence takes place on April 22 this year. Millions are expected to participate in planned silence across universities, workplaces, and sporting events.

History of Day of Silence

Day of Silence was created by a University of Virginia student named Maria Pulzetti. She felt that LGBTQ youth were consistently silenced and ignored by parents and administrators, and that their concerns and complaints were falling on deaf ears. Inspired by this, Maria created the Day of Silence as a one-time event held during the University's LGBTQ pride week. She believed the day would promote awareness amongst those who might not have been tuned into these issues, by surrounding them with a silence they couldn't help but notice.

In 1997, one year after the day's creation, it went national, with over 100 institutions participating. In 2000, GLSEN, one of the largest LGBTQ education networks in the country, adopted the Day of Silence as one of their official projects. Today, students at all levels participate in the day. Many participants choose to wear tape over their mouths or Xs on their hands to further call attention to the movement.

At the end of day, the silence is typically broken with a rally or speaking event, allowing all participants to end their vow together. Although some school districts oppose the day, considering it disruptive, most support it, actively encouraging participation through the school's LGBTQ alliance clubs. Today, there are over 10,000 institutions registered as participants in the day of silence. All 50 states are represented in this number, as well as a number of other countries, including Singapore and New Zealand. Day of Silence continues to grow, as more and more people become aware of the issues facing LGBTQ youth. You can participate in this year's Day of Silence by registering on the GLSEN website.

Day of Silence - Survey Results

THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THEIR LGBTQ* PEERS

78% of Americans who identify as straight believe that marriage should not be limited to between a man and a woman. 26% of straight Americans consider it important to teach youth tolerance. 4% plan to take a vow of silence in support of Day of Silence.

Silence is a powerful message. On Day of Silence, the LGBTQ community and its supporters use the same silence that they are subjected to for highlighting issues they face and promoting the rights of the LGBTQ community.

In solidarity with the LGBTQ community, students take a vow of silence and participate in silent campus rallies and demonstrations. The message is executed with colorful posters, tapes over mouths, and staged theatrics. The silence is broken by the end of the day.

1 in 8 - the number of LGBTQ people who have experienced unequal treatment from healthcare staff.

46% - the percentage of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people who are open about their sexual orientation with their family.

4.1% - the estimated percentage of women who identify as LGBT.

350,000 - the number of people in the LGBTQ community that are transgender women.

1 in 5 - the number of LGBTQ women living in poverty.

43% - the percentage of LGBTQ employees who haven't revealed their orientation at work.

<$12,000 - the annual income earned by 22% of LGBTQ people.

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Day of Silence takes place on April 22 this year. Millions are expected to participate in planned silence across universities, workplaces, and sporting events. Day of Silence was created by a University of Virginia student named Maria Pulzetti.

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Fast and Prayer Day is a holiday in Liberia that's observed on the second Friday during the month of April. The purpose of this holiday is for people to reflect on their spiritual life and to purify the nation through religious fasting.

In Liberia, it's believed that if each person in the nation dedicates one day out of the year and devotes it to praying and fasting for the country, then they can have a real impact on the survival and strength of the nation. It's also a public holiday, which means that government buildings, schools, and businesses are closed for the day.

The History Of Fast And Prayer Day In Liberia

This holiday can be traced back to 1883 when the National Legislature of Liberia created a law that made the second Friday in April a National Fast and Prayer Day. The holiday was created because the people of Liberia felt that the nation could use a little bit of extra help. And that extra help was the power of everyone praying and fasting at the same time.

Interesting Facts About Liberia

Let's go over some of the interesting things that we learned about this country while researching Fast and Prayer Day.

Liberia was established by the American Colonization Society in 1821.

Liberian independence was originally proclaimed in 1847.

The capital city of Liberia is Monrovia.

The flag of Liberia is modeled off of the flag of the United States.

Observing The History Of Fast And Prayer Day In Liberia

As the name of this holiday suggests, the main way that it's celebrated is through fasting, prayer, meditation, and supplication. Everyone in the country is encouraged to pray for Liberia on this day-regardless of their religious creed. Because it's a public holiday, all government buildings and schools are closed on this day, as are many businesses.

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Fast and Prayer Day is a holiday in Liberia that's observed on the second Friday during the month of April. The purpose of this holiday is for people to reflect on their spiritual life and to purify the nation through religious fasting. In Liberia, it's believed that if each person in the nation dedicates one [...]

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History of Americas Day

Americas Day celebrates the unity of the American nations across both continents. The day marks the anniversary of the establishment of the International Union of American Republics, now known as the Organization of American States (O.A.S.). The O.A.S. has been instrumental in developing a core sense of mutual respect and shared destiny amongst American nations that have a history of colonization. The O.A.S.is an evolution of the Monroe Doctrine, which rejected the long-withstanding monarchy of the European empire on the American continents.

The O.A.S. is an umbrella organization that includes all countries liberated from colonial repression, namely Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the United States. The organization works to strengthen the global collaboration of American states and acts as a union that defends the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of member nations.

The day is commemorated by a string of official ceremonies, starting with the solidarity flag show of all of the countries of the Pan-American union. All public buildings are decorated with flags. Performances and drama shows unfold in major schools and colleges, and parades are carried out in the city squares. Businesses put up historical memorabilia dedicated to the O.A.S.

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Americas' Day, also known as Pan American Day, celebrates the union of 35 American countries.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pan American Day

Official name

Pan American Day

Observed by

Several Countries in The Americas

Date
April 14

Next time

14 April 2024

Frequency

Annual

Pan American Day is a holiday observed by several countries in North and South America. It commemorates the First International Conference of American States which concluded on April 14, 1890, creating the International Union of American Republics, the forerunner to the Organization of American States (OAS). The holiday was originally proposed by the organization in 1930, and was first observed on April 14, 1930.

Parades are held, some schools put on plays, the orchestra plays music, people set up exhibits, and pageants are sometimes held.

In Belize, Pan American Day' refers to October 12, which is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States. It should not be confused with "Pan American Day," which celebrates the founding of the Organization of American States (OAS) on April 14.

Originally known as Columbus Day, Pan-American Day in Belize is a celebration of the migrations of the Mestizos and indigenous cultural groups from the Yucatan into Belize, creating the country we know today Belize chooses not to celebrate the achievements of Columbus, but rather the forging of its rich cultural diversity. The Mestizos and Yucatec Maya came to Belize looking for a calm and peaceful land, free from conflict where they could settle.

Though the Organization of American States (OAS) includes 35 countries, Honduras is the only country who observes a public holiday to mark the events of 1890. It is celebrated on April 14.

In the United States, Pan American Day is observed by Presidential proclamation on April 14. In addition, the entire week on which the holiday falls is observed as Pan American Week. On April 7, 2017, President Donald Trump proclaimed Pan American Day and Pan American Week on April 7, 2017.

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Pan American Day Official name Pan American Day Observed by Several Countries in The Americas Date April 14 Next time 14 April 2024 Frequency Annual Pan American Day is a holiday observed by several countries in North and South America.

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Dr Ambedkar Jayanti in India in 2024 | Office Holidays

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Read about Dr Ambedkar Jayanti in India in 2024. Celebrated to mark the birthday of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, an Indian jurist, politician, philosopher, anthropologist, historian and economist.

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Ready to celebrate Passover? We've got all the information you need, from the kosher meals to eat to the important background behind the day. Read on to learn more.