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Lists of holidays

 

Lists of holidays

This is a of holidays and observances by various categorization.

Contents

  • Consecutive holidays 1
  • Religious holidays 2
    • Paganism 2.1
    • Bahá'í holidays 2.2
    • Sikh holidays 2.3
    • Buddhist holidays 2.4
    • Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays 2.5
    • Christian holidays 2.6
    • Hindu holidays 2.7
    • Jewish holidays 2.8
    • Muslim holidays 2.9
  • Western winter holidays in the Northern Hemisphere 3
  • National holidays by country 4
  • Secular holidays 5
    • Regional 5.1
  • Unofficial holidays 6
  • See also 7
  • References 8

Consecutive holidays

Religious holidays

Paganism

Bahá'í holidays

Sikh holidays

Buddhist holidays

Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays

In the order of the Wheel of the Year:

Christian holidays

The Catholic patronal feast day or 'name day' are celebrated in each place's patron saint's day, according to the Calendar of saints.

Hindu holidays

Jewish holidays

  • Hanukkah (also: Chanukah, the Festival of Lights)
  • Passover (Deliverance of Jews from slavery in Egypt)
  • Purim (Deliverance of Jews in Persia from Haman)
  • Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
  • Shavuot (Festival of Weeks; Harvest Festival)
  • Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles)
  • Tisha B'Av (Day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples)
  • Tu Bishvat (New year of the trees)
  • Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
  • Simchat Torah (Completion of the Sefer Torah)
  • Shemini Atzeret (The beginning of the rainy season in Israel, sometimes confused as being the 8th day of Sukkot)
  • Shabbat (The day of rest, the seventh day of the week, and the holiest day of the week)

Muslim holidays

Western winter holidays in the Northern Hemisphere

The following holidays are observed to some extent at the same time during the Southern hemisphere's summer, with the exception of Winter Solstice.

  • Thanksgiving – (fourth Thursday in November in United States) — Holiday generally observed as an expression of gratitude, traditionally to God, for the autumn harvest. It is traditionally celebrated with a meal shared among friends and family in which turkey is eaten. It is celebrated by many as a secular holiday, and in the USA marks the beginning of the "holiday season". In Canada, since the climate is colder, the harvest season begins (and ends) earlier and thus, Thanksgiving takes place on the second Monday in October.
  • Black Friday – (Day after Thanksgiving in United States) — Day after Thanksgiving. In the USA, it is generally viewed as the first day of the Christmas shopping season. Stores generally give sales and discounts to attract customers.
  • Winter Solstice, Yule – (Winter solstice, around 21–22 December in the northern hemisphere and 21–22 June in the southern hemisphere) — The celebrations on the winter solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year, are traditionally marked with anything that symbolizes or encourages life. Decorations of evergreens, bright objects and lights; singing songs, giving gifts, feasting and romantic events are often included. For Neopagans this is the celebration of the death and rebirth of the sun and is one of the eight sabbats on the wheel of the year.
  • Hanukkah – (26 Kislev – 2/3 Tevet – almost always in December) — Jewish holiday celebrating the defeat of Seleucid forces who had tried to prevent Israel from practicing Judaism, and also celebrating the miracle of the Menorah lights burning for eight days with only enough olive oil for one day.
  • Christmas Eve – (24 December) — Day before Christmas. Observances usually include big feasts at night to celebrate the day to come. It is the supposed night that Santa Claus delivers presents to all the good children of the world.
  • Christmas Day – (25 December) — Christian holiday commemorating the traditional birth-date of Jesus. Observances include gift-giving, the decoration of trees and houses, and Santa Claus folktales.
  • Kwanzaa (USA) – (26 December – 1 January) — A modern American invention held from 26 December to 1 January honoring African-American heritage, primarily in the United States. It was invented in 1966 by black activist and marxist Ron Karenga.
  • St Stephen's Day or Second Day of Christmas (26 December) — Holiday observed in many European countries.
  • Boxing Day (26 December or 27 December) — Holiday observed in many Commonwealth countries on the first non-Sunday after Christmas.
  • New Year's Eve – (31 December) — Night before New Year's Day. Usually observed with celebrations and festivities in anticipation of the new year.
  • New Year's Day – (1 January) — Holiday observing the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar.

National holidays by country

Secular holidays

Many other days are marked to celebrate events or people, around the world, but are not strictly holidays as time off work is rarely given.

Regional

Other secular holidays not observed internationally:

Unofficial holidays

These are holidays that are not traditionally marked on calendars. These holidays are celebrated by various groups and individuals. Some are designed to promote a cause, others recognize historical events not recognized officially, and others are "funny" holidays, generally intended as humorous distractions and excuses to share laughs among friends.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Put A Pillow On Your Fridge Day", The Fact Site
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