100th Day of School: The 100th Day of school is celebrated to mark the halfway point of the school year. Generally falls
Advent: Advent means arrival. To Christians it means the four weeks leading up to Christmas. In some homes s
All Souls-Saints Day: November first, All Saints' Day, celebrates: all saints, known and unknown, according to Pope Urban
Anzac Day: Anzac Day, a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, commemorates the landing at Gallipoli in 1
April Fools Day: Playing tricks on April 1 dates back a long way. In early European history there was an event called
Arbor Day: The Latin word arbor means tree. J. Stanley Morton, in the 19th century in Nebraska came up with the
Ash Wednesday: The first day of Lent, between February 3 and March 5. Ash Wednesday is the seventh Wednesday before
Australia Day: Australia Day commemorates the founding of the first white settlement in Australia in 1788. Celebrat
Autumn Equinox: The Autumn equinox and the spring equinox are the two days in the year when the hours of daylight an
Baisakhi: Known as the Solar New Year considered to be a spring New Year's celebration for Hindus, Buddhists,
Black History Month: Black History Month started in 1926 in the United States as Negro History Week. February was chosen
Bon Chol Chhanam: People from Kampuchea [formerly known as Cambodia] celebrate their New Year, Bon Chol Chhnama, at th
Boxing Day: English custom of giving Christmas boxes containing food or money to family servants and suppliers.
Burns Night: In many parts of the world, Burns Night is the most celebrated Scottish event. Scots gather to celeb
Canada Day: Canada Day celebrates the events that occurred on July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act c
Canadian Thanksgiving: The second Monday in October Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving. The Sunday before Thanksgiving Monday
Chanukah: The Jewish festival of Chanukah falls around the time of the winter solstice and is often called The
Chinese Dragon Boat Festival: This ancient Chinese festival was once an outdoor boat race where dragon-shaped boats raced, symboli
Chinese New Year: Chinese New Year is actually two celebrations. New Years' and a birthday. According to Chinese tradi
Ching Ming: In China, Ch'ing Ming, the Clear and Bright Festival, is celebrated 106 days after the winter solsti
Christmas Day: Christmas day is the most widely observed Christian festival of the year. It celebrates Jesus Christ
Christmas Eve: Many families celebrate Christmas Eve with dinners, visiting and carol-singing, followed by midnight
Cinco de Mayo: Cinco de Mayo celebrates a victory by the Mexican Army over the French Army in the Battle of Puebla
Citizenship Day - Canada: Citizenship Day in Canada has been held on the Friday before Victoria Day since 1958. Canada's Citiz
Columbus Day: Latin Americans and Hispanics celebrate October 12 as the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's disc
Consecutive Holidays: As the name implies, consecutive holidays are ones that fall one after the other. Typically, familie
Culture: The social behavior of a group of people. This includes work, art, institutions and thought.
Dia de la Raza: Latin Americans and Hispanics celebrate October 12 as the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's disc
Diwali: Deepawali or Diwali has emerged as the most popular of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lig
Earth Day: In 1970, Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin proclaimed April 22 to be 'Earth Day,' he helped give birth to
Easter: Many Christians believe Easter is the greatest festival of the year. The holy day when Jesus came ba
Easter Monday: The day after Easter. Easter Monday is traditionally a joyous day full of merriment and games. Egg-r
Easter Sunday: Between March 22 and April 25. Christians welcome Easter Sunday with a sunrise service. Ukrainians m
Eed-ul-Fitr: Known as the Little Festival or the Festival of Fast-breaking. It marks the end of Ramadan. On the e
Epiphany: Epiphany is the Twelfth Day of Christmas and the end of the Christmas season. Comes from the Greek w
Fathers Day: Many Catholics call St. Joseph's Day, on March 19, Father's Day because Joseph was the father of Jes
Federal Holiday: A holiday recognized by the Government. Federal employees are given the day off and are paid for it.
Federal Observances: A day recognized be the Federal Government as a day in need of recognition. Federal employees are no
Flag Day: Celebrated on June 14 to honor the American flag. Continental Congress adopted the official United S
Fourth of July: On July 4, 1776, the United States claimed it's independence from England and Democracy was born. Ea
Ghost Festival: The Ghost Festival is a traditional Chinese festival, which is celebrated by Chinese in many countri
Good Friday: Two days before Easter Sunday. It is likely Good Friday was originally called God's Day. Czechoslova
Greek Independence Day: Since 1821, the Greeks have observed March 25 as their national Independence Day. Commemorating the
Groundhog Day: Groundhogs are suppose to come out of hibernation on February 2 to see how the weather is doing. If
Guy Fawkes Day: Celebration of the capture and execution by burning an effigy (model) of Guy Fawkes who tried to blo
Halloween: Many of today's Halloween traditions go back to the time of the Celtic people. On October 31, their
Hana Matsuri: Some Buddhists, mostly from Japan, celebrate Hana Matsuri, the birth of Buddha on April 8. Hana mean
Hiroshima Day: Hiroshima Day is observed in many parts of the world with special vigils and peace marches. It is he
Holi: An ancient East Indian Festival held at the time of the full moon in March. In northern India, March
Holy Innocents Day: Catholic Holy Day, observed in commemoration of the slaughter of male infants in Bethlehem during He
Holy Saturday: The day before Easter Sunday. Some people celebrate Holy Saturday. The Czechs call it White Saturday
Holy Thursday: Four days after Palm Sunday and three days before Easter. Jesus ate the Last Supper and washed the f
International Childrens Book Day: April 2 is the birthday of famous Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. The International Boar
International Day of Peace: The third Tuesday in September is the opening day of the United Nations General Assembly. In 1981, t
International Womens Day: Celebrated on the Saturday nearest March 8, the anniversary of the first protest march against terri
Jamshedi Navroz: Zoroatrians call March 21 Jamshedi Navrox, which means, new day of the month of Jamshed. Spring fest
Janmashtami: This day-long religious event is held on the eight day of the waning moon in the Hindu month of Bhad
Jewish High Holy Days: The most important festivals of the Jewish religious year are celebrated during the first ten days o
Jewish New Year of the Trees: On the Jewish calendar there are four New Years: One for the months, one for the creation of the wor
Julian Christmas: Ukrainians and many others from the Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, On C
Kwanzaa: A professor, Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, wanted to encourage African Americans to celebrate their herit
Labor Day: Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to th
Las Posadas: The Hispanic community prepares for the arrival of Christmas with processions called Posadas. This r
Leap Year: Leap Year is not celebrated every year, it occurs every fourth year, at the end of February. The pro
Lent: The seven weeks prior to Easter. The period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) from Ash Wednesday unt
Louis Riel Day: Louis Riel was a famous Metis leader who helped his people form a goverment and become part of the n
Low Sunday: One week after Easter. The following Sunday after Easter, in Britain is called Low Sunday. Ukrainian
Mahavir Jayanti: The 24th leader of the Jain religion Lord Mahavir, or Mahaviraswami, born in 599 B.C. His birthday o
Mardi Gras: Before the sacrifices of Lent, people have traditionally held celebrations to let off steam and use
Martin Luther King Jr Day: American holiday celebrating the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. The first national celebration of
May Day: For over 3000 years, May 1 has been a day to welcome summer. It is also an international labor holid
Memorial Day: Memorial Day began in the United States on May 30, 1868, after the Civil War had ended. Flowers were
Midsummers Day-Eve: Midsummer's Eve - the night before Midsummer's Day is a time for fairies and magic according to old
Mothers Day: Mother's Day is a little over 100 years old. It started after the American Civil War in the early 18
Mummering: Starting on Boxing Day, December 26, and through the holiday period, homes in Newfoundland, Canada a
National Grandparents Day: The first Sunday after Labor Day has been declared National Grandparents Day in the United States. T
New Years Day: The tradition of ringing in the new year began from the Roman God Janus, who had two faces - one for
New Years Eve: A traditional time of celebrating the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. Many people at
Nirvana Day: Mahayana Buddhists are one type of Buddhists. Many of them are Japanese. They celebrate February 13
Now Ruz: Fire-jumping is just part of the preparations for the Middle Eastern Now Ruz Festival, which began m
Obon: The 13th through 16th of August is called o-bon in Japan. O-bon is a Buddhist event and one of the m
Octoberfest: Octoberfest is a time of music and merrymaking featuring beer, sausage and sauerkraut. German Octobe
Onam: The rice harvest festival is celebrated in Kerala in southern India. It is customary to have threshi
Palm Sunday: 'The sixth Sunday of Lent, one week before Easter Sunday. The Last Sunday of Lent, the day Jesus ent
Passover: Dutch children carry a branch or stick, shaped like a cross, decorated with nuts and small bread fig
Pongal: Passover, also known as Pesach, is the Jewish festival of freedom. It is held every spring to celebr
Presidents Day: In parts of India, January is the season for the rice harvest. Pongal is a three-day-long harvest fe
Purim: The observance of Presidents' Day in the United States is reminiscent of the Indian fable of the bli
Raksha Bandhan: Purim is a Jewish holiday, sometimes called Feast of Lots. The Hebrew word Purim means lots. Drawing
Ramadan: Many Hindu families have a summer festival called Raksha Bandhan to celebrate the old legends of sho
Ratha Yatra: The holiest month of the year for Muslims. During Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar,
Remembrance Day: Ratha Yatra is the Hindu chariot festival that represents the travels of Lord Krishna. In India, a d
Rizvan: In the US Armistice Day officially received its name in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It
Rosh Hashanah: 12-Day Festival, the holiest time of the year for Baha'is. Rizvan, means paradies is the King of fes
Santa Cruzen Day: The Jewish New Year. Considered to be the first day of the New Year. Considered to be a very solemn
Sarasvati Puja: In the Philippines, May 3 is considered the first day of spring. Also a special day in the Filipino
Sawm: Hindu festival that can be in late January or early February. In honor of the Hindu goddess of learn
See you at the Pole: The act of abstaining from food or drink, or fasting, for a complete lunar month from dawn to sunset
Shavuot: See You at the Pole is a student-led, student-initiated movement of prayer that revolves around stud
Shiva Ratri: Jewish people celebrate the 50th day after the beginning of passover as the end of the Passover peri
Shrove Tuesday: All Hindus celebrate the night of the great Lord Shiva [ratri means night]. The holiday is marked by
Sizdeh Bedar: The day before Lent begins. For many ethnic groups, Lent was traditionally a time to give up not onl
Solnal: The 13th day after Now Ruz marking the end of the old Middle Eastern New Year Celebrations. Celebrat
Songkran: Korean New Year's Day. The biggest festive event of the year for Korean community. Usually celebrate
Spring Equinox: Buddhists throughout Southeast Asia celebrate the new solar year at the same time as Baisakhi. The T
St Andrews Day: The spring equinox and the fall equinox are the two days in the year when the hours of daylight and
St Catherines Day: The Scots, Poles and Russians celebrate St. Andrew's Day. Andrew was the first of Christ's apostles
St Davids Day: Saint Catherine's Day is known as la f?te des vielles filles (old maids), for ladies over 25 and sti
St Georges Day: National Day for Welsh people. St. David lived in the 6th century and died on March 1, 544 A.D. Patr
St Lucia Day: When people say the expression By George! they actually mean, By St. George. St. George was a famous
St Martins Day: A festival of light that marks the beginning of the Christmas season for people from Scandinavian co
St Nicholas Day: On the 11th day of the 11th month at exactly 11 minutes past 11 o'clock a.m. St. Martin's day is cel
St Patricks Day: In fourth-century Turkey there was a generous bishop by the name of St. Nicholas, now considered to
St Stephens Day: March 17, the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, is the day the Irish celebrate being Irish. A
State Holiday: St. Stephen's Day honors the first Christian martyr, stoned to death shortly after the Crucifixion.
Sukkot: A holiday recognized and celebrated by a single state. State holidays are recognized by the State Go
Summer Solstice: This joyful Jewish harvest festival lasts nine days in September or October. It begins five days aft
Tanabata: The sun shines for the greatest number of hours on this day. June 20, 21 or 22. The summer solstice
Thanksgiving: July 7th is called Tanabata in Japan. It's a Japanese tradition wherein people write their wishes on
The Assumption of Mary: The custom of celebrating Thanksgiving, an annual celebration held after the harvest began around 16
Twelfth Night: Many different Catholic congregations celebrate August 15 as a religious holiday for the Assumption
Twelve Days of Christmas: If you count from December 25, the Twelfth Night would be January 5th. Custom was that people had a
Valentines Day: Contrary to much popular belief, these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in the Western
Vesak: Valentine's Day is often refered to as St. Valentine's Day. There were two Saints attributed to the
Veterans Day: All Buddhists, no matter the country, celebrate three main events in the life of Buddha: his birth,
Victoria Day: In the US Armistice Day officially received its name in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It
Winter Solstice: Since 1952, the Monday before May 24 has been celebrated as Victoria Day in Canada, even though Quee
Yom Kippur: Winter officially begins on the shortest day of the year December 21 (or December 22 in some years)
Yule: Celebrated ten days after Rosh Hashanah, in September or October. The final day of the Jewish High H
