Sao Tome Agricultural Reform Day: September 30

Agricultural Reform Day is a Public Holiday in Sao Tome.

Sao Tome and Principe are the 2 Islands. It is the smallest country in the world. The provinces are further divided into seven districts, six on São Tomé and one on Príncipe. In 19th century, Sao Tome was the world’s largest producer of cocoa. The main economic activities are fishing and small scale industries. Sao Tome and Principe celebrate Agricultural Reform Day on September 30 every year.

Sao Tome Agricultural Reform Day History

The islands of São Tomé and Príncipe were uninhabited before the arrival of the Portuguese sometime between 1469 and 1471. The islands were discovered by Fernão do Pó and bore his name until the twentieth century. Portuguese navigators explored the islands and decided that they would be good locations for bases to trade with the mainland.

The first successful settlement of São Tomé was established in 1493 by �lvaro Caminha, who received the land as a grant from the crown. But it difficult to attract the settlers, they found suitable for agriculture is growing sugar. Sao Tome economy had changed in mid-17th century. In the early 19th century, two new cash crops, coffee and cocoa, were introduced. The rich volcanic soils proved well suited to the new cash crop industry, and soon extensive plantations (roças), owned by Portuguese companies or absentee landlords, occupied almost all of the good farmland.

By 1908, São Tomé had become the world’s largest producer of cocoa, which remains the country’s most important crop. Since the 1800s, the economy of São Tomé and Príncipe has been based on plantation agriculture. At the time of independence in July 1975 Portuguese-owned plantations occupied 90% of the cultivated area. After independence, control of these plantations passed to various state-owned agricultural enterprises, which have since been privatized. The dominant crop on São Tomé is cocoa, representing about 95% of exports. Other export crops include copra, palm kernels, and coffee.

Sao Tome Agricultural Reform Day Customs and Activities

Many events are held all across Sao Tome to mark the day of Agriculture Reform Day. Farmers make special meals and celebrate the day with friends and family. Other then that, many events are held to provide more knowledge to farmers about the new developments in the agricultural sector.

Other interesting posts:

• São Tomé Day Celebrated in São Tomé e Príncipe
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• Family Day Observed in São Tomé

Botswana Day: September 30

Botswana Day is a Public Holiday in Botswana

Botswana Day, September 30, commemorates Botswana’s independence from the British on 30 September 1966. The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Citizens of Botswana are called “Batswana”, regardless of ethnicity. Formerly a British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. Botswana was one of the most impoverished countries in Africa when it became independent in 1966.

Botswana Day History

The earliest inhabitants of the region were the San, who were followed by the Tswana. About half the country today is ethnic Tswana. The term for the country’s people, Batswana, refers to national rather than ethnic origin. Encroachment by the Zulu in the 1820s and by Boers from Transvaal in the 1870s and 1880s threatened the peace of the region.

In 1885, Britain established the area as a protectorate, then known as Bechuanaland. When the Union of South Africa was formed in 1910 out of the main British colonies in the region, the Bechuanaland Protectorate, Basutoland (now Lesotho) and Swaziland (the “High Commission Territories”) were not included, but provision was made for their later incorporation. An expansion of British central authority and the evolution of tribal government resulted in the 1920 establishment of two advisory councils to represent both Africans and Europeans.

Proclamations in 1934 regularized tribal rule and powers. A European-African advisory council was formed in 1951, and the 1961 constitution established a consultative legislative council. In June 1964, Britain accepted proposals for a democratic self-government in Botswana. Self-government began in 1965, and on Sept. 30, 1966, the country became independent. Botswana is Africa’s oldest democracy. Seretse Khama, a leader in the independence movement and the legitimate claimant to the Ngwato chiefship, was elected as the first president, re-elected twice.

Botswana Day Customs and Activities

To commemorate Botswana Independence Day, which falls on September 30th, members of the Botswana Irish Community, the Social Inclusion Unit of Limerick City Council and Doras Luimni come to together and host an exhibition of Botswana Arts, Crafts and Cultures. Early in the morning people start to blow their horns in celebration of Botswana’s independence. Activities continue all day and into the night. The morning begins with many speakers, choirs and dance groups performances. At around lunch time the DJ music begin and all the kids gathers around to listen to the music. Food is also served and there are some special events such as a beauty contest to crown Miss Independence.

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Israel Rosh Hashanah Date: September 29

Israel celebrates Rosh Hashanah as a public holiday.

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday widely known and celebrated as the New Years Day on the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah has four different meanings: First, it is the Jewish New Year; second, it is the Day of Judgment; third, it is the Day of Remembrance, and fourth it is the Day of Shofar Blowing.

Israel Rosh Hashanah History

According to early Hebrew traditions, the Hebrew year began in autumn. Following in succession are the seasons of seed sowing, growth and ripening of the grain. In addition to this were the great agricultural festivals namely, the feast of unleavened bread at the beginning of the barley harvest, the feast of harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the end of the year.

During ancient times, it was likely that the New Year was celebrated in some special way. This took place on the tenth day of the month (Tishri). The beginning of the year of jubilee was to be proclaimed by the blowing of trumpets on the same day. On the first day of the seventh month as well as on the first day of the first month special sacrifices were to be offered. According to Jewish Laws that first day of the seventh month has to be “a day of blowing of trumpets”. On that day there was to be a holy assembly of the clergy, no work was to be done and special sacrifices were to be offered.

Rosh Hashanah occurs on the following days of the Gregorian calendar:

Jewish Year 5769: sunset September 29, 2008 – nightfall October 1, 2008
Jewish Year 5770: sunset September 18, 2009 – nightfall September 20, 2009
Jewish Year 5771: sunset September 8, 2010 – nightfall September 10, 2010
Jewish Year 5772: sunset September 28, 2011 – nightfall September 30, 2011
Jewish Year 5773: sunset September 16, 2012 – nightfall September 18, 2012

Israel Rosh Hashanah Traditions, Customs and Activities

On the first and second day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar, Tishri, Rosh Hashanah is observed. This usually occurs in the fall season of the western calendar around September. Israel considers Rosh Hashanah as too important of a holiday that it cannot be celebrated in just twenty-four hours. Therefore, they celebrate it for 48 hours straight and they consider this as one long day.

Other interesting posts:

• Yom Kippur Observed by Jews Around the World
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Sri Lanka Bandaranaike Memorial: September 26

Bandaranaike Memorial is a public holiday in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka Bandaranaike Memorial is dedicated to the assassination to the Sri Lanka Prime Minister Solomon West Ride-way dias Bandaranaike on September 26, 1959. (SWRD) died from the gun shot wounds the very next day on September 26th. As a result of his death, his wife Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike became the first female Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 1960.

Sri Lanka is an island country in the Indian ocean of southeast India with a population estimate of twenty-million . Many traders and colonists such as the Dutch, British, Portuguese, and Arab have visited this island. In 1972, Sir Lanka was declared a republic and adapted the Singhalese name of Sri Lanka. The decades since Sri Lanka became a republic many conflicts have occurred that resulted in many deaths. Without question. this small island country has seen its ups and downs without question.

History of Bandaranaike Memorial

The Bandaranaike Memorial Conference Hall in Colombo, Sir Lanka was built in 1971 to honor fallen Prime Minister Solomon West Ride-way dias Bandaranaike. The building itself is a multi-purpose conference hall that include for separate buildings. A bust of SWRD sits in the Assemble Hall in his honor.

SWRD was Sri Lanka’s prime Minister from 1956-1959. During his relatively short life SWRD was an accomplished individual who made a major impact on Sri Lanka’s development. In 1952, he founded the nationalist Sri Lanka’s Freedom Party. Before SWRD English was Sri Lanka’s national language – under SWRD it became Sinhalese.

Bandaranaike Memorial Traditions, Customs, and Activities

September 26th is the day the commemoration for former Prime Minister Solomon West Ride-way dias Bandaranaike. On September 26th there is a memorial ceremony given by important political leaders, after the ceremonies are held a dinner is served for the political leaders, the Bandaranaike family members.

With the assassination of SWRD created the opportunity for the first female Prime Minister in Sri Lanka’s long history. To this day civil unrest has been a major problem for Sri Lanka, tireless efforts have been made to restore some peace. Progress for a more peaceful country is slowly moving forward.

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Syria International Tourism Day: September 27

International Tourism Day is a public holiday in Syria.

Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted. The adoption of these Statutes is considered a milestone in global tourism. Similarly, Syria marks this day as a National Holiday as the main income for the people of Syria comes through tourism. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide.

Syria International Tourism Day History

The main purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values. At its 3rd session (Torremolinos, Spain, September 1979), that General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) determined to organization, inauguration in the year 1980, WORLD TOURISM DAY to be renowned on 27th September every year by proper events on premises chosen by the General Assembly, on commendation of WTO’s Executive Council.

This date was selected to agree with a significant milestone in the World Tourism: anniversary of espousal of WTO Statues on the 27th September 1970. The focal intention of the World Tourism Day is to promote consciousness among the worldwide community of the significance of tourism and its cultural, political, economic and social values. The timing of the World Tourism Day is certainly particularly proper and that it approaches at the ending of high season in northern half a sphere and starting of the season in southern half a sphere, when tourism is also of current interest to hundreds of thousands of community globe from entire walks of being and to travelers and also the equipped sector in fastidious. The association invites all fascinated parties to be included on 27th September every year in particular carnivals proceeding in their individual country or vacation destination.

Syria International Tourism Day Customs and Activities

On the day of International Tourism Day, Syria highlights the importance of Tourism and globalization; the job opportunities that Tourism creates in many industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, retail trade and the important components of tourism businesses such as guide services; shopping; transport; entertainment; accommodation and photography. The National Planning Committee has come out with a comprehensive implementation program aimed at spreading the celebration of the event nationwide. Activities lined-up include a high level global forum to discuss how tourism diversifies; a communication workshop; an interface with the international/local travel writers; nongovernmental organizations and tourism practitioners to discuss how to develop a new image.

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South Africa, Heritage Day: September 24

Heritage Day is a Public Holiday celebrated in South Africa

Heritage Day, September 24, is a public holiday in which South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people. People of South Africa celebrate this holiday with great enthusiasm and various cultural events are held all across the country.

Heritage Day is one of South Africa’s newly created public holidays and its significance rests in recognising aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and difficult to pin down: creative expression, historical inheritance, language, the food as well as the land.

South Africa Heritage Day History

In KwaZulu-Natal, the September 24 was known as Shaka Day, in commemoration of the Zulu King, Shaka. Shaka was the legendary Zulu King that played an important role in uniting disparate Zulu clans into a cohesive nation. Contrary to western discourse Shaka was not a “chief.”

The Public Holidays Bill presented to the Parliament of South Africa at the time did not have September 24 included on the list of proposed public holidays. As a result of this exclusion, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a South African political party with a large Zulu membership, objected to the bill. Parliament and the IFP reached a compromise and the day was given its present title and seen as a day “…when South Africans celebrate the diverse cultural heritage that makes up a ‘rainbow nation’.” It is the day to celebrate the contribution of all South Africans to the building of South Africa.

In 2005, a media campaign sought to re-brand the holiday as National Braai Day, in recognition of the South African culinary tradition of holding informal backyard barbecues, or braais. On September 5, 2007, Archbishop Desmond Tutu celebrated his appointment as patron of South Africa’s Barbecue (Braai) Day, affirming it to be a unifying force in a divided country (by donning an apron and tucking into a boerewors sausage). At the end of 2007 National Braai Day changed its name to Braai4Heritage and the initiative received the endorsement of South Africa’s National Heritage Council (NHC). Organiser Jan Scannell announced that the aim is not to have a mass braai, but smaller ones with friends and family.

South Africa, Heritage Day Customs and Activities

South Africans celebrate Heritage Day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa. Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this day.Former Western Cape Provincial Premier Ebrahim Rasool addressed the public at a Heritage Day celebration at the Gugulethu Heritage trail in 2007 in Gugulethu. In Hout Bay, there is an army procession and a recreation of the battle fought there.

Other interesting posts:

• South Africa Commemorates Its Day of Reconciliation
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Japan Fall Equinox Date: September 23

Japan celebrates Fall Equinox as a public holiday.
Autumnal Equinox Day is on September 23 or 24, it is a national holiday in Japan. This day not only signals the changing of seasons but also it is a day to go visit the graves of dead relatives.

Japan Fall Equinox History

Fall Equinox Day is one of the most established Japanese National Holidays. Old Japanese traditions believe that this holiday has a double origin. Some believe that this holiday originated from the agricultural society of Old Japan to celebrate the changing of the seasons. On this day, daytime and nighttime have equal lengths. Due to leap year, the actual date of the Fall Equinox Day may change from year to year, but is generally around September 23rd. Starting on this day until the winter solstice comes, the night-time will have longer hours than the day time. Autumnal Equinox Day in Japan is also called HIGAN NO CHU-NICHI. The other origin of this holiday is believed to be based on Buddhist traditions. Based on old Buddhist teachings many Japanese will visit their family graves on this day midway through the week of HIGAN in order to pay their respects to their dead ancestors. People clean their family graves and bring flowers, incense and traditional Japanese food. It is believed that their ancestors’ spirits fancy round food!

Japan Fall Equinox Traditions, Customs and Activities

Like many other cultures around the world, the Japanese set aside the period around this time to pay their respects to the graves of their ancestors. This is one of the times when families have the chance to pull out the weeds and clean up the graves. The Japanese families will be engaged in these rituals during the one-week period straddling the equinoxes (higan) of spring and autumn.

Other interesting posts:

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New Caledonia Day: September 24

New Caledonia Day is a public holiday in New Caledonia.

New Caledonia is a “sui generis collectivity” of France located in the region of Melanesia in the southwest Pacific. It comprises a main island (Grande Terre), the Loyalty Islands, and several smaller islands. Approximately half the size of Taiwan, it has a land area of 18,575.5 square kilometres (7,172 sq mi). The population was estimated in January 2009 to be 249,000. The capital and largest city of the territory is Nouméa. The currency is the CFP franc.

New Caledonia became the overseas territory of France on September 24, 1853. The Day is celebrated as a national holidays in New caledonia since then.

New Caledonia Day History

Whalers operated off New Caledonia during the nineteenth century. Sandalwood traders were welcome but as supplies of sandalwood diminished, the traders became abusive. The Europeans brought new diseases such as smallpox, measles, dysentery, influenza, syphilis, and leprosy. Many people died as a result of these diseases. Tensions developed into hostilities, and in 1849 the crew of the American ship Cutter were killed and eaten by the Pouma clan.

As trade in sandalwood declined, it was replaced by a new form of trade, “Blackbirding”. Blackbirding was a euphemism for enslaving people from New Caledonia, the Loyalty Islands, New Hebrides, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands to work in sugar cane plantations in Fiji and Queensland. The trade ceased at the start of the twentieth century. The victims of this trade were called Kanakas, a label later shortened to Kanak and adopted by the indigenous population after the French annexation.

New Caledonia was made a French possession in late 1853, a part of an attempt by Napoleon III to rival the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. Auguste Febvrier Despointes led the expedition that seized the island. Following the example set by the United Kingdom in parts of nearby Australia, France sent a total of 22,000 convicted felons to penal colonies along the south-west coast of New Caledonia between 1864 and 1922. This number included regular criminals as well as political prisoners such as Parisian socialists and Kabyle nationalists.

Towards the end of the penal colony era, free European settlers (including former convicts) and Asian contract workers by far outnumbered the population of forced workers. The indigenous Kanak populations declined drastically in that same period due to introduced diseases and an apartheid-like system called Code de l’Indigénat which imposed severe restrictions on their livelihood, freedom of movement and land ownership.

New Caledonia Day Customs and Activities

On the September 24 every year, a parade is held in New Caledonia to mark the day when it became as overseas Territory of France and Admiral Despointes took possession of New Caledonia for France. Other than parade, various events are held mainly in the glamorous capital of New Caledonia.

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Trinidad and Tobago Republic Day: September 24

Republic Day is a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on August 1, 1976. The event is celebrated as a public holiday on September 24 because this is the date when the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution. The date was removed from the official calendar of holidays from 1999 to 2001 to make way for the Spiritual Baptist (Shouter) Liberation Day which is celebrated on March 30. The Republic Day holiday was reinstated in 2002.

Trinidad and Tobago Republic Day History

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American country of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. It shares maritime boundaries with other nations including Barbados to the northeast, Guyana to the southeast, and Venezuela to the south and west. The country covers an area of 5,128 square kilometres (1,980 sq mi) and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous smaller landforms. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands; Tobago is much smaller, comprising about 6 percent of the total area and 4 percent of the entire population which is estimated at 1.3 million (2005). The nation lies outside the hurricane belt.

In November, 1969, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the United States , Sir Ellis Clarke said that “We as a nation, have reached an age of reason where we can take our time, sit calmly and deliberate what we want. The word goind around in the country was that they shoud abandon the Monarchy and go Republic. In June 1971, His Excellency, Sir Solomon Hochoy announced the decision to appoint a commission “to consider the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, and matters related the reto and to make recommendations for revision of the said constitution and for matters of constitution reform in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Trinidad and Tobago Republic Day Customs and Activities

People of Trinidad and Tobago celebrate Republic Day with great patriotism in their hearts. Various ceremonies are held throught the island nation to mark this day with hosting of flag to start with. As the day is a national holiday, people celebrate this day by making delicious food and sharing it with family and relatives. Students take pride in performing various patriotic events in their schools just one day prior to the public holiday.

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Dominican Republic Mercedes Day: September 24

Mercedes Day is a Public Holiday in Dominican Republic.

Domican Republic celebrates the Mercedes Day in honor of Our Lady of Mercy, Patroness of Dominican Republic. The catholic holiday is celebrated with very religiously throught Dominican Republic and is a public holiday on 24th of September every year.

Dominican Republic Mercedes Day History

The History about this old catholic holiday in not very clear but according to believers, the only common ground that can be established is that it is a Roman Catholic festival; in both places there are references to Our Lady being the Patroness; and both places were at one stage in conflict with the Spanish Empire and fighting for independence.

Our Lady of Las Mercedes (or the Virgin of the Mercedes) is the Patroness of the Tucuman people, having been bestowed with this title in 1687.

At the Battle of Tucuman on 24th September 1812, Our Lady is credited with ensuring the victory of some 1,800 Argentine troops over the colonial Spanish forces, who numbered about 3,000. The Argentines, under the command of General Manuel Belgrano, placed their faith in Our Lady, and their success enabled the United Provinces of La Plata to press on with their claims, eventually successful, for independence.

Dominican Republic Mercedes Day Customs and Activities

A series of events are held to commemorate this event, which is a national holiday. Masses are celebrated in honor of the patron saint, followed by a procession through the Colonial Zone. The first apparition of the patron took place in 1495 when she spoke to a group of Spanish soldiers who were fighting the Taino Indians.Our Lady of Mercies then appeared on several more occasions at Santo Cerro, where a church has been built in her honor.

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