Holidays Around The World � Angola Holidays

Peace and Reconciliation Day Observed in Angola

Noel — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:00:17 +0000

Peace and Reconciliation Day: April 4

Peace and Reconciliation Day is a public holiday in Angola.

April 4 in Angola is celebrated as Peace and Reconciliation Day. It commemorates the signing of the agreement between the Angolan government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola. (In Portuguese, it is commonly known as União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola in Portuguese [UNITA].) The agreement ended decades of civil war in Angola.

History of Peace and Reconciliation Day in Angola

Angola became independent from Portugal on November 11, 1975, after the coup in Lisbon that ended the dictatorial regime in Portugal. This action started a process of democratization in Angola and encouraged the push for independence in other colonies of Portugal.

After independence, Angola entered a dark period of a bloody civil war between Angola’s three main guerrilla groups: FNLA, MPLA, and UNITA. These armed groups quickly established controlled zones and spread violence to the whole country. Angola drew the attention of the United States and the Soviet Union, becoming a country where both superpowers controlled their own supported political groups. FNLA and UNITA sided with the United States, while the Soviet Union supported the MPLA.

MPLA had been the governing force in Angola since independence, while UNITA, led by Jonas Savimbi, had fiercely opposed the government until Savimbi’s death in February 2002. Soon, UNITA gave up its weapons and became the main opposition group in Angola. The cease fire was then formalized with a peace agreement that was signed by the government and UNITA on April 4, 2002.

Angola’s Peace and Reconciliation Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Even though Angola still struggles to be at peace with its own history, April 4 is for the Angolan people a day of hope in the reconstruction of the country and consolidation of the peace process between the political parties. Organized cultural and sporting events are held across the country to celebrate this day. Especially anticipated are soccer events with the Angolan national team. Also in Luanda, capital of Angola, there are organized official events with the participation of the government and politicians. There are also religious services offered on this day for peace and harmony among brothers in Angola.

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International Women’s Day Celebrated Around the World

Noel — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:00:20 +0000

International Women’s Day: March 8

International Women’s Day is a public holiday in several countries worldwide.

Generally observed worldwide, International Women’s Day offers people the opportunity to highlight challenges that women face around the world and signs of hope for the work done to promote women. While some cultures have removed the political nature of it and use it as a day to show love to women, others have retained the strong political themes, promoting human rights for women around the world. The day is typically not considered a public holiday, but is given prominence in many parts of the world.

History of International Women’s Day

March 8, 1857 marks when women in New York protested, demanding better working conditions and better wages. The protesters were dispersed by the police, and two years later, the women created their own labor union. More protests were held in following years on the same date of March 8. In 1910, Copenhagen hosted the first international women’s conference, and an International Women’s Day was instituted, though no date was officially set.

On the eve of World War I, women from all over Europe came together in peaceful protests on March 8, 1913. March 8 entered the calendars as International Women’s Day first in the former USSR as a celebration of heroic and patriotic Soviet women that participated in the communistic construction of the USSR and defense of the Motherland. Since then, the date has found its way in the calendars of countries all over the world.

International Women’s Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

In countries like Albania, Italy, and Russia, yellow mimosas and chocolates are common gifts given to women on International Women’s Day. Many other Eastern European countries also have flower-giving customs. In Poland, feminist demonstrations are held in many major cities. In Benin and many other African countries, the day is used to highlight the public health, human rights, and socioeconomic problems that women have to struggle with. Armenia has combined the day with its own Beauty and Motherhood Day on April 7 to make a month-long celebration of women between the two days.

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Carnival Tuesday Festively Celebrated

Noel — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:00:38 +0000

Carnival Tuesday: February 21

Carnival Tuesday is a public holiday in Angola, Bolivia, Brazil, the Caribbean Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, Panama, Portugal, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The date of Carnival changes from year to year in Portugal and always falls on a Tuesday. Carnival Tuesday is always seven Sundays before Easter Sunday. Easter is set on the first full moon Sunday after March 21, which is the date of the Spring Equinox in the North Hemisphere.

History of Carnival Tuesday

Carnival Tuesday has its roots in pagan traditions even though it is connected to the Christian Lent season. It was declared by the Catholic Church that before Easter Sunday there would be 40 days of fasting and praying, starting with Ash Wednesday. Some countries called this day Fat Tuesday for the simple reason that since people would have to fast during Lent, they would take advantage of their last days to feast as they could.

The Carnival word may have it’s origin in the fact that it may mean Good Bye Meat. During the Renaissance period, these festivities started to incorporate mask parades in the streets of the cities, which gave origin to what is today the world famous Carnaval in Brazil, Portugal, and other countries influence by Portuguese culture.

Carnival Tuesday Traditions, Customs and Activities

All across Portugal there are private organizations that sponsor the Carnival mask parades that take to the streets and cross the cities during the whole afternoon until late evening, usually ending in dances near the headquarters of the sponsoring organization or local club. People are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and join the parties.

The parades include big colorful cards decorated with funny themes and sometimes critiques of the central government. On this day nobody is taken very seriously since it is a day to enjoy and party, Portuguese politicians receiving with a smile the funny critiques addressed to them. Tourists come to Portugal to watch the parades and enjoy themselves to the sound of samba music, originally imported from the Brazilian carnival.

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New Year

Noel — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 00:41:57 +0000

New Year Date: January 01

New Year Day is celebrated worldwide.

New Year is an extravagantly celebrated festival in all the cultures in the world. Each culture celebrates New Year according to their calendar. Countries which follow the Gregorian calendar celebrate New Year on January 1st every year which is considered the most festive day amongst all the other days of the year.

New Year History

During the Roman period the New Year was celebrated on the first day of March. Later in 47 BC, Julius Caesar made changes in the calendar and named it the Julian calendar. Marco Antonio and Augustus Caesar later modified the calendar in 44 BC and 8 BC respectively. Finally in the late 1582, Pope Gregory XIII modified the calendar to the form of the one that we all use these days.

January 1st is the first day in this calendar and is celebrated with great significance to it. The expansion of the Western culture all over the world then made January 1 a universally celebrated festival. The New Year which is celebrated worldwide is celebrated with huge fireworks and balloons etc. People wish each other for a very healthy and a prosperous year ahead.

Previously, in Jewish tradition, honey is used to represent a sweet New Year ahead, Rosh Hashana (New Year celebrations in the Jewish tradition). As the traditional meal for that holiday, apple slices are dipped in honey and eaten after a prayer and with blessings recited for a good, prosperous and sweet new year. Some Rosh Hashana greetings show an apple and honey, symbolizing the feast. In some other Jewish communities, small straws of honey are given out to usher in the New Year. The New Year feast which is always followed by the Christmas celebrations, the last week of the year is considered as a week of enjoyment and celebration in the winter season.

Many countries celebrate the New Year in a very grand way. This celebration usually consists of fireworks display and other parades and festivities. For example, London has a major fireworks display along the River Thames, followed by a parade on New Year’s Day. Once, Sydney which had more than half a million people present to witness the celebrations of New Year launched more than 80,000 fireworks at midnight. It was the highest watched celebration on tele-vision worldwide. In Valparaiso more than two million visitors witnessed the huge fireworks in a natural setting. A total of more than 21 kilometers of fireworks were set up on the bay, starting from the commercial port city of Valparaiso to Concon, Chile. These all were set up for 25 minutes of entertainment.

New Year Traditions and Activities

Usually in New York, the celebration is focused around a large crystal ball that slowly descends in a ten second countdown in Times Square, and last year was also the party with the largest number of attendees with more than three million people witnessing the New Year celebrations. Edinburgh plays host to one of the world’s largest Hogmanay (meaning ‘the last day of the year’) events. Celebration here lasts for four days and visitors from all around the globe are attracted to take part in the street parties and festivities, and attend the concerts which take place during midnight.

Important Facts about New Year

New Year is the only festival which is celebrated worldwide. Even though there is no special history behind the festival, all people around the world look forward for this celebration. New Year is a festival in which something innovative and better is done each and every year.

New Years Day is also known as:

New Year Celebrations
New Year Holidays

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Angola Pays Tributes on Day of the National Hero

Noel — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:36:23 +0000

Angola Day of the National Hero: September 17

Angola celebrates Day of the National Hero as a public holiday.

In Angola, National Heroes Day is September 17 and it is the birthday of the national hero Agostinho Neto.

History of Angola Day of the National Hero

Agostinho Neto was born in September 17, 1922 in the village of Icolo in Bengo province, Angola. Neto completed high school and then worked for the Portuguese Colonial Health Service until 1947. He traveled to Portugal to study medicine when he was provided with funds by his home village.

While studying in Portugal, Neto made friends with other students from Africa and formed an Africa cultural society. Years later members of this group became leaders of anti-colonial movements in Africa.

Agostinho published his first volume of poetry in 1948 and this was followed by authorities arresting him for the first time. A series of arrests followed which interrupted his studies. In 1956, he joined the Movimento Popular da Libertação de Angola (MPLA, Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola). He was allowed to complete his studies in 1958. The he returned to Angola with his new wife, Maria Eugénia da Silva. In Angola he set up a medical practice in gynecology.

Agostinho Neto was arrested again in June 6, 1960 because of his campaigns against the Portuguese colonial administration of Angola. Patients, friends, and supporters where fired upon by the police when they to show their support, 30 were killed and 200 more were injured. Portuguese authorities held him in exile first in Cape Verde and finally in Lisbon, there he wrote a second volume of poetry.

The Portuguese authorities released Neto into house arrest in Lisbon following sustained international pressure. Neto later escaped and went to Morocco and then Zaïre – joining the Angolan Liberation movement in exile. He late became president of the MPLA in 1962.

In 1974, Portugal underwent the Revolução dos Cravos (Carnation Revolution). Marcelo Caetano was removed as leader by a military coup d’état and led a year later to a democratic election. Portugal’s African colonies saw its silver lining. On 11 November 1975, the MPLA declared independence in Angola. In November 11, Agostinho Neto was proclaimed president.

Agostinho Neto died in 10 September 1979 in Moscow Russia, where he had traveled to receive treatment.

Angola Day of the National Hero Traditions, Customs and Activities

A daylong program of activities is prepared for the celebration of which includes activities like singing of the National Anthem and patriotic Pledges. These are followed by dancing, singing, music and parades.

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Angola Celebrates Africa Day

Carol — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:01:01 +0000

Angola’s Africa Day: May 25

Africa Day is a public holiday in Angola.

Another holiday, African Unity Day, a day that remembers the dark past of colonialism in the continent and apartheid in South Africa is celebrated on Africa Day. Africa Day commemorates the effort of the fallen African heroes who gave their lives towards the unity of the African people.

History of Angola’s Africa Day

The struggle for independence of the countries in Africa challenged their colonial masters and pushed them to create an organization to support the relinquishment of colonized countries from foreign rule so that on May 25, 1963, the Organisation of African Unity was established until it was replaced by African Union on July 9, 2002. A charter was signed by majority of the members of independent states in Africa on the same date in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The effort leads to the establishment of these organizations which aims to establish national unity, peace, and economic progress among all African nations. This important event is commemorated yearly as Africa Day.

Angola’s Africa Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

Angola celebrates Africa Day through various cultural and sports activities such as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Confederation Cup. Musical concerts are also organized in connection with the holiday and features famous bands all over Angola. Admission is free most of the time.

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Labour Day; May Day; Workers’ Day; Day of Kazak

Noel — Sun, 01 May 2011 06:00:14 +0000

May Day Date: May 1

May Day is celebrated throughout most of the world as a public holiday.

May 1 is considered as the Labour Day by almost all the nations of the world. The workers of the world celebrate this as an annual holiday. This day is the result of a massive labor union movement; this day celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers. This day is also known as May Day. Not only these two names, May 1 has many other names like Worker’s day, National Unification Day, Day of Kazak people’s Unity, Eid el-Ommal, etc.

History of May Day/Labour Day

The Eight-Hour day movement is the origin of the Labour Day. This movement advocated eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, and eight hours of recreation for workers everywhere. It was a revolution in that period.

In Europe, this day has a much older significance. This day is celebrated as a rural festival, which is primarily more important than the Labour Day movement. This is now an international holiday and various countries hold multi-day celebrations. Some of the countries conduct parades, patriotic and labour oriented events, and shows and other events on this day. On the other hand, in Northern Europe, Walpurgis Night is on this scheduled night, and this holiday combines with the Labour Day in some nations.

Although, May 1 is considered as the Labour Day in various nations, Germany celebrates it on May 2. In 1933, Labour Day was established as an official holiday after the Nazi Party came to power. It was expected that this day would prove to be the symbol of the newfound unity between the state and the people. The next day, that is on May 2, all the free unions were prohibited and outlawed by the Nazis. Yet, since workers celebrated the holiday for numerous decades before any official state approval, the Nazi Party’s endeavor to appropriate it left no more term offense.

Although this day has many names, but the essence of them all is the same – to honor the work force of the nation.

May Day/Labour Day Traditions and Celebrations

Time has changed; so the way of celebrating the day too. Throughout the rest of the world, there are May Day marches and rallies held out in the various part of the country. In England, a grand May Day march at the the famous Brewhouse Yard gardens starts near the Castle, Nottingham.

Even today celebration of May Day has a touch of ancient culture and tradition. The maypole is still one of the major features of the May festivities with distinctive interpretations. But whatever way you look at it the theme of the May Day celebration is all about celebrating the renewal of life with new hopes, new dreams and new resolutions. May Day flower baskets are made and treats are left at the thresholds of the loved ones as a token of good wishes and love to strengthen the bondage and to rekindle the lost touches.

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