Festivals & Holidays, 5 H-NAT
The commemoration of many events—religious, agricultural, or sociocultural—helps to keep traditions alive, while at the same time it unifies the participants in the celebratory spirit of a holiday, feast, or anniversary. In a similar manner, local and international exhibitions, festivals, and fairs unite people with similar causes, interests, or beliefs.
Festivals & Holidays Encyclopedia Articles By Title
The harvest season falls at different times of the year depending upon region, climate, and crop, but festivals......
If you’re a thrill seeker, here are seven festivals and celebrations from around the world that will get your blood......
The winter solstice, the longest night of the year, falls on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June......
June 19, 1956, fell on a Tuesday. It was 90 years to the day from the first celebration of Juneteenth, commemorating......
Adae, an important festival of the Akan people of western Africa that involves the invocation, propitiation, and......
Following in the footsteps of every U.S. president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, on February 29, 2016, Pres. Barack......
ANZAC Day, in Australia and New Zealand, holiday (April 25) that commemorates the landing in 1915, during World......
April Fools’ Day, in most countries the first day of April. It received its name from the custom of playing practical......
Arbor Day, holiday observed in many countries by planting trees. It was first proposed in the 19th century by J.......
Armed Forces Day, public holiday observed in Egypt on October 6, celebrating the day in 1973 when combined Egyptian......
Armistice Day, international holiday observed each year on November 11 to commemorate the end of World War I. The......
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, monthlong commemoration of the history and achievements of......
Australia Day, holiday (January 26) honouring the establishment of the first permanent European settlement on the......
Baisakhi, spring harvest festival celebrated primarily by Punjabis in India and around the world. Also spelled......
bank holiday, in the United Kingdom, any of several days designated as holidays by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871......
Bastille Day, national holiday in France and its overseas départements and territories, marking the anniversary......
Bihu, three distinct festivals—Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu, and Magh Bihu—celebrated in the Indian state of Assam, each......
Black History Month, monthlong commemoration of African American history and achievement that takes place each......
Boxing Day, in Great Britain and some Commonwealth countries, particularly Australia, Canada, and New Zealand,......
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, international health campaign lasting the month of October that is intended to increase......
Buy Nothing Day, day of protest in which participants pledge to buy nothing for 24 hours to raise awareness of......
Canada Day, the national holiday of Canada. It is celebrated with parades, displays of the flag, the singing of......
2015 marks the 45th annual celebration of Earth Day, observed on April 22 in the United States and elsewhere around......
May is officially designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States, celebrating......
The month of June is nationally recognized as Caribbean American Heritage Month in the U.S. The year 2015 marks......
Millions of African Americans and other members of the African diaspora gather with family and friends each year......
Throughout the month of June, communities in the U.S. and many other nations hold events celebrating lesbian, gay,......
Children’s Day, any of the various holidays in honor of children that are celebrated on different dates in countries......
Chinese New Year, annual 15-day festival in China and Chinese communities around the world that begins with the......
Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also......
Chuseok, Korean holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month to commemorate the fall harvest and to......
Cinco de Mayo, holiday celebrated on May 5 in parts of Mexico and the United States in honor of a military victory......
Cinco de Mayo (”Fifth of May”) is a Mexican national holiday that celebrates the country’s victory over the French......
Columbus Day commemorates the landing of Italian-born navigator Christopher Columbus in the New World—i.e., the......
Columbus Day, in the United States, a holiday (originally observed on October 12; since 1971 observed on the second......
On October 12, 1492, the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Caribbean, which......
Day of Reconciliation, public holiday observed in South Africa on December 16. The holiday originally commemorated......
Day of the Dead, holiday in Mexico, also observed to a lesser extent in other areas of Latin America and in the......
Dragon Boat Festival, prominent and festive Chinese holiday that originated at least 1,500 years ago and features......
Earth Day, annual celebration honoring the achievements of the environmental movement and raising awareness of......
“Emancipation Park is Juneteenth.” That’s what Ramon Manning, chair of the Emancipation Park Conservancy, told......
Earth is home to more than 16,000 species of plants, animals, fungi, and algae that are currently listed as endangered......
Father’s Day, holiday in honor of fathers that is celebrated in many countries around the world. It originated......
feast, day or period of time set aside to commemorate, ritually celebrate or reenact, or anticipate events or seasons—agricultural,......
Although somewhat resembling Halloween, the Day of the Dead is a time when death is celebrated, not feared. During......
feriae, ancient Roman festival days during which the gods were honoured and all business, especially lawsuits,......
Feriae Latinae, in Roman religion, the Festival of Jupiter Latiaris (Latialis), held in the spring and fall each......
Fiesta de San Fermín, festival held annually in Pamplona, Spain, beginning at noon on July 6 and ending at midnight......
Flag Day, in the United States, a day honouring the national flag, observed on June 14. The holiday commemorates......
Feast of Fools, popular festival during the Middle Ages, held on or about January 1, particularly in France, in......
Fête Nationale du Québec, official holiday of Quebec, Canada. Observed on June 24, the holiday marks the summer......
Golden Week, series of four holidays closely spaced together and observed at the end of April and beginning of......
Greek Independence Day, national holiday celebrated annually in Greece on March 25, commemorating the start of......
Groundhog Day, in the United States and Canada, day (February 2) on which the emergence of the groundhog (woodchuck)......
Guy Fawkes Day, British observance, celebrated on November 5, commemorating the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of......
Halloween, a holiday observed annually on October 31 and noted for its pagan origins and its Christian roots as......
Hanukkah, Jewish festival that begins at sundown on Kislev 25 (usually in December, according to the Gregorian......
While now associated with costumes, trick-or-treating, and scary movies, Halloween wasn’t always a time of fun......
Britannica celebrates the extraordinary courage of Harriet Tubman, who endured great hardship and danger to free......
Harvest Home, traditional English harvest festival, celebrated from antiquity and surviving to modern times in......
Heritage Day, Canadian holiday celebrating the country’s history and architecture. Heritage Day is not an official......
Hilaria, in Roman religion, day of merriment and rejoicing in the Cybele-Attis cult and in the Isis-Osiris cult,......
Every October 31 millions of children and teenagers put on costumes and go door-to-door, shouting a familiar demand:......
Hogmanay, New Year’s festival in Scotland and parts of northern England. The name is also used for the dole of......
holiday, (from “holy day”), originally, a day of dedication to religious observance; in modern times, a day of......
Holocaust remembrance days, international commemorations of the millions of victims of Nazi Germany’s genocidal......
It was more difficult than one might think. In its early history, Thanksgiving Day was more of a lightning rod......
Human Rights Day, international day of observance, held annually on December 10, in commemoration of the anniversary......
Independence Day, in the United States, the annual celebration of nationhood held on July 4. It commemorates the......
Independence Day, in the Philippines, national holiday observed every June 12. It commemorates the country’s declaration......
Independence Day, in Pakistan, national holiday celebrated annually on August 14. Independence Day commemorates......
Independence Day, in India, national holiday celebrated annually on August 15. Independence Day marks the end of......
Indigenous Peoples’ Day, holiday in the United States that takes place on the second Monday of October. The day......
International Nurses Day, annual observance held on May 12 that commemorates the birth in 1820 of Florence Nightingale,......
International Women’s Day (IWD), day (March 8) honouring the achievements of women and promoting women’s rights.......
Perhaps it would be best to state this at the beginning: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. That holiday......
Jamhuri Day, one of the most important national holidays in Kenya, observed on December 12. The holiday formally......
Jewish festivals, holidays commonly observed by the Jewish community. Below is a summary of the major Jewish holidays,......
Juneteenth, holiday observed annually on June 19, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. A combination......
On September 22, 1862, during the American Civil War, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation,......
Kwanzaa, annual holiday affirming African family and social values that is celebrated primarily in the United States......
La Quema del Diablo, annual festival celebrated throughout Guatemala on December 7, on the eve of the Feast of......
Labor Day, in the United States, holiday (first Monday in September) honoring workers and recognizing their contributions......
Lammas, the conventional name of the Quarter Day which falls on August 1. The Quarter Days—Candlemas (February......
Lantern Festival, holiday celebrated in China and other Asian countries that honours deceased ancestors on the......
Tired of socializing in seedy bars where they were likely to be harassed and arrested, sick of lying and denying,......
This is a list of holidays and observances organized alphabetically by religion, followed by a list of secular......
Lunar New Year, festival typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries that begins with the first new......
Lupercalia, ancient Roman festival that was conducted annually on February 15 under the superintendence of a corporation......
Makar Sankranti, Hindu festival in January celebrating the entrance of the Sun into the astrological sign of makara......
In 2005 the state of Florida declared November Manatee Awareness Month in honor of the large aquatic mammals that......
March is the time to wish your favorite cetacean friends a happy Dolphin Awareness Month. While the monthlong effort......
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, in the United States, holiday (third Monday in January) honouring the achievements......
Matronalia, in Roman religion, ancient festival of Juno, the birth goddess, celebrated annually by Roman matrons......
May Day, day commemorating the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement, observed in......
May Day, in medieval and modern Europe, holiday (May 1) for the celebration of the return of spring. The observance......
Memorial Day, in the United States, holiday (last Monday in May) honoring those who have died while serving in......
Midsummer, a holiday celebrating the traditional midpoint of the harvest season and the summer solstice (June 20......
Mother’s Day, holiday in honor of mothers that is celebrated in countries throughout the world. In its modern form......
National Day, holiday celebrated on October 1 to mark the formation of the People’s Republic of China. The holiday......