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Lists of holidays

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(Redirected fromList of minor secular observances)

For a list of holidays by country, seeList of holidays by country. For a list of multinational holidays by date, seeList of multinational festivals and holidays.

Lists of holidays by various categorizations.

Religious holidays

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Further information:Category:Observances

Chag HaMatzot (Feast ofUnleavened Bread – 7 or 8 days of consumption of matzo with wine and avoidance of leavened foods)
Chanukkah (Feast of Dedication; Also called the Festival of Lights – Commemoration of the rededication of theJerusalem Temple)
Pesach (Passover – Deliverance of Jews from slavery in Egypt)
- Lag BaOmer (A holiday celebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, which occurs on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar)
Purim (Feast of Lots – Deliverance of Jews in Persia from extermination by Haman)
Reishit Katzir (Feast ofFirstfruits – Collecting and waving of grain bundles (barley orwheat); Occurs during the 7 days of unleavened bread after the Sabbath)
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year – First day of Tishrei every year)
Shabbat (The 7th Day Sabbath – The day of rest and holiest day of the week, Saturday)
Shavuot (Feast of Weeks – Wheat harvesting in Israel and the receiving of the Torah atMount Sinai)
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles; Also called the Feast of Ingathering – Dwelling within sukkahs for 7 days (in Israel) or 8 days (the diaspora); Considered by some to be a mini-campout)
- Shemini Atzeret (A holiday sometimes confused as being the 8th day of Sukkot; Beginning of the rainy season in Israel)
  - Simchat Torah (Observed after Shemini Atzeret; Completion of the Sefer Torah)
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement – A day of fasting and repentance of one's sins from the past year)

Islamic holidays

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Main article:Islamic holidays

Ashura (Day of Atonement; Tenth day of Muharram. Muharram is the first month of the lunar year)
Eid (feast): Date determined by thelunar calendar and observation of the Moon
- Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice; Tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the lunar year)
  - Arafah (Eve ofEid al-Adha)
- Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast; First day of Shawwal. It marks the end of Ramadan, the fasting month. Part of honoring this occasion is "zakaat ul-fitr" (giving alms to the needy on the day of Eid al-Fitr))
  - Chaand Raat (Eve ofEid al-Fitr)
Holy Month of Ramadan (First day of Ramadan; A 30-day period of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of theQuran)
- Jumu'atul-Wida (Friday of Farewell; Last Friday of Ramadan before the celebration ofEid al-Fitr)
- Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Decree; Last ten days of Ramadan. The revealing of the first verses of the Quran toMuhammad)
Isra and Mi'raj (Night Journey; Ascension ofMuhammad into Heaven)
Jumu'ah (More commonly known as the Day of Assembly or the Day of Gathering; Held every Friday of the lunar year as an alternative to theZuhr prayer)
Mawlid (Birth ofMuhammad)
Mid-Sha'ban (Bara'a Night; Decisions of the fortunes of men in the approaching year)
Nuzul Al Quran (First revelation of theQuran)
Raʼs as-Sanah al-Hijrīyah (Islamic New Year; First day of Muharram every year)

Baháʼí holidays

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Main article:Baháʼí Holy Days

Mandaean holidays

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Main article:Mandaean calendar § Festivals

Dharmic holidays (Indian)

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Buddhist holidays

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Hindu holidays

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Jain holidays

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Sikh holidays

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Pagan holidays

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Ancient Greek/Roman holidays

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Celtic, Norse, and Neopagan holidays

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Other holidays

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East Asian holidays

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Messianic interpretations of Jewish holidays for Christians

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Main article:Christian observances of Jewish holidays

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The following table is a chart based on aMessianic Jewish perspective of the 9 biblical holidays (including the Sabbath), along with their times and days of occurrence, references in theBible, and how they point toYeshua (Jesus). All the holidays shown below are major with the exceptions of the Feast of Dedication and the Feast of Lots which are minor festivals.

Holiday	Season (Northern hemisphere)	Month	Biblical references	Symbolic significance
Passover	Spring	14 Nisan	Levites 23:4-8, Words 16:1-8, Matthew 26:17-27, John 6:1-71–11:55	He dies.
Feast of Unleavened Bread	Spring	15-21 Nisan	Levites 23:5-8, Matthew 27:1-50, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8	He is buried and rids His House of sin.
Feast of Firstfruits	Spring	16 Nisan	Levites 23:9-14, Matthew 28:1-6, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23	He rises from the dead.
Feast of Weeks	Spring	6-7 Sivan	Levites 23:15-22, Numbers 28:26-31, Tobit 2:1, Acts 2:1-4	He sends the comforter (The Holy Spirit) 7 weeks later.
Feast of Trumpets	Autumn	1-2 Tishrei	Levites 23:23-25, Daniel 7:25, 1 Corinthians 5:8–15:52	He returns.
Day of Atonement	Autumn	10 Tishrei	Levites 23:26-27, Matthew 24:29-30, Romans 11:25-29, Hebrews 9:7	He judges the non-believers.
Feast of Tabernacles	Autumn	15-21 Tishrei	Levites 23:33-43, John 7:1–10:21, Ephesians 2:20-22, Revelation 21:3	He will gather us for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Feast of Dedication	Autumn-Winter	25 Kislev-2/3 Tevet	Maccabees 4:52-59, John 10:22-23	He is the Light of the World.
Feast of Lots	Winter	14 Adar	Esther 9:20-31	He deliversIsrael and brings salvation to His people.
The 7th Day Sabbath	Every Saturday of the year	All months of the year	Levites 23:3, Words 5:12-14, Hebrews 4:9-11	He will dwell with us for a perpetual day of rest.

Western winter holidays in the Northern Hemisphere

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Main article:Christmas and holiday season

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

Winter Solstice (the longest night and shortest day of the year) orYule (Winter solstice, around 21–22 December in the Northern Hemisphere and 21–22 June in the Southern Hemisphere) – The solstice celebrations are traditionally marked with anything that symbolizes or encourages life. Decorating evergreens with bright objects and lights, singing songs, giving gifts, feasting and romantic events are often included. ForNeopagans this is the celebration of the death and rebirth of the Sun and is one of the eightsabbats on theWheel of the Year.
Christmas Eve (24 December) – Day before Christmas. Traditions usually include big feasts at night to celebrate the day to come. It is the night whenSanta Claus delivers presents to all the good children of the world.
Christmas Day (25 December) – Christian holiday commemorating the birth ofJesus. Traditions include gift-giving, the decoration of trees and houses, andSanta Claus folktales.
Hanukkah (25Kislev–2Tevet – almost always in December) – Jewish holiday celebrating the defeat ofSeleucid forces who had tried to preventIsrael from practicing the Jewish faith, and also celebrating the miracle of theMenorah lights burning for eight days with only enough olive oil for one day supply. InHebrew, "Hanukkah" means "dedication" or "to dedicate".
Saint 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 theGregorian calendar.

Secular holidays

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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.

International

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Further information:List of multinational festivals and holidays

Halloween – (31 October, especially in the UK and former British colonies, including the United States, Canada, and Australia). Also called All Hallows' Eve, it is a highly secularized outgrowth of ChristianAll Hallows' Day on 1 November, and pagan CelticSamhain (halfway point between autumn equinox and winter solstice).
International Men's Day – (19 November in Canada, Australia, India,Jamaica,Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom,Singapore, South Africa, andMalta)
International Women's Day – (8 March, particularly inAustralia, formerSoviet bloc countries andmainland China)
May Day,Labor/Labour Day, orInternational Workers' Day – (1 May in many European and South American countries. The United States and Canada both celebrate on the first Monday in September)
Saint Nicholas Day – (5 or 6 December in the Netherlands, Belgium, Lebanon, and other countries)
Saint Patrick's Day – (17 March in Ireland, the United States, Canada, and other countries by people of Irish descent or heritage)
Saint Valentine's Day – (14 February in the United States, Canada, and many other countries as a day to celebrate love and affection)
Thanksgiving Day – (4th Thursday in November in the United States, 2nd Monday in October in Canada). 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. In Canada, since the climate is colder than in the US, the harvest season begins and ends earlier.

Regional

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Other secular holidays not observed internationally
Name	Date	Place	Details
Chosŏn'gŭl Day orHangeul Day	15 January	North Korea
Chosŏn'gŭl Day orHangeul Day	9 October	South Korea
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	3rd Monday in January	United States	HonorsCivil rights movement leaderMartin Luther King Jr.
Australia Day	26 January	Australia	National day of Australia
Groundhog Day	2 February	United States and Canada
Darwin Day	12 February		Birthday ofCharles Darwin to highlight his contribution to science.
Family Day	3rd Monday in February	Various regions of Canada
Washington's Birthday	3rd Monday in February	United States	Federal holiday. HonorsFounding Father George Washington.
National Science Appreciation Day	26 March	United States	Celebration of science and scientists.
Confederate Memorial Day	Celebrated by the original Confederate States at various times during the year; still celebrated on the fourth Monday in April in Alabama.	Parts of the United States
Siblings Day	10 April	Originally celebrated only in the United States. Can now be celebrated in various countries around the world.
Patriots' Day	3rd Monday in April	Massachusetts and Maine, United States
Earth Day	22 April	Celebrated in many countries as a day to cherish nature.
Children's Day	23 April	Turkey	National Sovereignty and Children's Day
King's Day	27 April	Netherlands
Constitution Day	3 May	Poland	One of the two most important national holidays (the other isNational Independence Day on 11 November). It commemorates the proclamation of theConstitution of 3 May 1791 (the first modernconstitution in Europe) by theSejm of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Youth Day	4 May	People's Republic of China	Commemorates Beijing studentswho protested against Western imperialism on this day.
Cinco de Mayo	5 May	Mexico State of Puebla & Parts of the United States
Parents' Day	8 May	South Korea
Parents' Day	4th Sunday in July	United States	Proclaimed byBill Clinton in 1994.
Internet Day	17 May	Parts of Latin America
Victoria Day	Last Monday before 25 May	Canada, also Edinburgh and Dundee in Scotland	Birthday ofQueen Victoria.
Children's Day	2nd Sunday in June	Various
Flag Day	14 June	United States
Flag Day	2 May	Poland
Juneteenth	19 June	United States	Federal holiday commemorates the abolition of slavery in Texas.
Canada Day	1 July	Canada	Celebration of the date of theConfederation of Canada. Formerly known asDominion Day, as this was the day on which Canada became a self-governing Dominion within the British Empire.
Independence Day	Various days;4 July in the United States and other dates in many other nations
Indian Arrival Day	Various days	Official holiday inTrinidad and Tobago,Guyana,Suriname,Mauritius,Grenada,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Celebrated on the day whenIndians arrived in various European colonies; Celebrated with parades re-enacting whenindentured Indian immigrants landed in their respective colonies.
Pioneer Day	24 July	Utah, United States
People's Liberation Army Day	1 August	Mainland territory of the People's Republic of China
Grandparents' Day	Sunday afterLabor Day	United States	Proclaimed byJimmy Carter in 1978.
Columbus Day	2nd Monday in October	United States	Honors explorerChristopher Columbus.
Indigenous Peoples' Day	2nd Monday in October	United States	Celebrates theIndigenous peoples of the Americas.
Nanomonestotse	Starts 3rd Monday in October		Celebration of peace, observed within some Native American families.
Republic Day	29 October	Turkey
Guy Fawkes Night	5 November	Great Britain and other countries of the Commonwealth	In memory of the failedGunpowder Plot byGuy Fawkes.
Melbourne Cup Day	1st Tuesday in November	Victoria, Australia	The day of theMelbourne Cup.
Remembrance Day orVeterans Day	11 November	United States, Canada and other Commonwealth nations
Saint Verhaegen	20 November	Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium	Celebrates the founding of theFree University of Brussels and its founderPierre-Théodore Verhaegen after whom it was named.
Kwanzaa	26 December to 1 January	United States	Celebration of African heritage created in 1966 by African-American activistMaulana Karenga. Holiday's name comes from "matunda ya kwanza" ("first fruits" inSwahili).Kinara, a seven-branched candleholder, means seven main concepts of Kwanzaa.^{[citation needed]}

Consecutive holidays

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In the People's Republic of China, theSpring Festival andNational Day are week-long holidays in themainland territory known asGolden Weeks.
InColombia, in theholy week there are consecutive holidaysJueves Santo (Holy Thursday) andViernes Santo (Holy Friday) with variable dates in March or April.
In The Netherlands,Remembrance of the Dead is celebrated on 4 May from 19:00 andLiberation Day on the 5th. This way Remembrance of the Dead and Liberation Day constitute one remembrance: for both Victims and Liberation.
In Ireland,Saint Patrick's Day can occasionally occur inHoly Week, the week beforeEaster; in this case the three holidays (Saint Patrick's Day,Good Friday, andEaster Monday) plus three days' leave can result in a 10-day break. SeePublic holidays in the Republic of Ireland.
In Poland during holidays on 1 and 3 May, when taking a few days of leave can result in9-day-long holidays; this is calledThePicnic (or Majówka).
In Japan,golden-week lasts roughly a full week. Then, in 2007, the law was amended so that if any 2 public holidays occur both on a weekday and are separated by a day, then that intermediate day shall also be a public holiday, thus creating a 3-day-long public holiday.
In Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Canada, Ireland, Poland, Russia, the British Virgin Islands and the UK, a public holiday otherwise falling on a Sunday will result in observance of the public holiday on the next available weekday (generally Monday). This arrangement results in along weekend.
In the British Virgin Islands, the Emancipation Festival is celebrated from the first Monday in August and ends on the Wednesday of that week for a three-day holiday in celebration of the emancipation from slavery on 1 August 1834.^[1]

Unofficial holidays, awareness days, and other observances

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These are holidays that are not traditionally marked on calendars. These holidays are celebrated by various groups and individuals. Some are designed to honor or promote a cause or a historical event not officially recognized, while a few others are both celebrated and intended as humorous distractions.