Orthodox Easter Monday: April 16

Orthodox Easter Monday is a religious observance for Orthodox Christians all over the world.

Easter Monday is the second day of Bright Week for Orthodox Christians, and it follows immediately after Easter Sunday. It is also the first day of the Pentecostarian, the 50 days after Easter that end with the day of Pentecost.

History of Orthodox Easter Monday

Even though Easter Sunday is the day of celebration of the resurrection of Christ, soon Christian communities discovered that one day to celebrate such a great event wasn’t enough and extended the celebration of the resurrection to one week. The same celebratory tone is given to the liturgy and religious practices, and the events are considered to be part of one continuous day.

For Orthodox Christians, Easter Sunday starts what is known as Bright Week, or Renewal Week, symbolizing the new light that came forth in their lives from the resurrection of Jesus and the renewed opportunity to a fruitful life with Christ. The second day of Bright Week is Easter Monday. It is a national holiday in many Orthodox Christian countries and serves not only to continue the celebrations of Easter Sunday but also to slowly re-enter the rhythm of work and studies.

This tradition resembles that of Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday on which, before the period of fasting during Lent season, are celebrations and preparations for the following day’s more serious tone. So Easter Monday is a day to rejoice and come out from fasting and eat the blessed foods from the previous liturgical celebration on Sunday.

Orthodox Easter Monday Traditions, Customs and Activities

Easter Monday continues with the celebrations of Easter Sunday and is considered to be as if it is the same day with some minor changes in the liturgical celebrations. In Orthodox Christian churches the altar is separated by a screen from the nave, where the faithful attend the liturgical services.

This screen is called the iconostasis. The doors on the iconostasis are closed and only the high clergy can pass through them. During Easter Monday, and all throughout Bright Week, these doors are open.

Easter Monday is a day to rejoice and enjoy the fact that the rules of fasting have been lifted and within the same spirit of recollection and prayer everything can be eaten again. It is common to eat the Pascha, which is a dish made of cheese and eggs, with other ingredients, that are forbidden to be eaten during the days of the Great Fasting. Easter eggs colored red to symbolize the blood of Christ are also eaten on Easter Monday.

In Greece it is an important tradition to gather the whole family on this day and roast a lamb. In Russia during Bright Week all taverns used to be closed and no alcohol was allowed to be sold, but the lighter mood of Bright Week has since taken hold.

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.

Eid Tahrir Sinai: April 25

Eid Tahrir Sinai is a public holiday in Egypt.

Egypt’s Eid Tahrir Sinai or Sinai Liberation Day is a public holiday in Egypt celebrated every 25th of April yearly. The holiday commemorates the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Sinai as stipulated in the 1979 Israel- Egypt Peace Accords.

The holiday also commemorates the life of Anwar Sadat, the hero of the liberation of Sinai.

History of Egypt’s Eid Tahrir Sinai

Sinai has been a battle ground for many incoming military forces namely, the Ottoman, and British empires, and later the Israelis which invaded the area twice in 1956 (Suez War) and 1967 (Six Day War). Sinai also was the battlefront in the 1973 October War between Egypt and Israel.

Egypt initially lost Sinai during the three wars it fought against Israel. Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat was instrumental in regaining Sinai when the two countries signed the Israel and Egypt peace treaty in 1979. It was signed in Washington DC in the US on March 26, 1979. This made Egypt officially recognize Israel as a country amidst criticisms and threat of military attack from member countries of the Arab League some including countries in Europe such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and Albania.

Sadat made intense negotiations to totally bring peace in the region and stop Egypt-Israel infighting in Sinai. He was awared Nobel Peace Prize together with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in the signing of Camp David Accords and the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.

Egypt’s Eid Tahrir Sinai: Traditions, Customs and Activities

Sinai’s Liberation Day, although a national holiday, is only celebrated in Sinai. A national parade is organized every year during the holiday commemorating the pulling out of Israel’s troops from Sinai’s soil. Government offices in Sinai are closed including schools during the holiday.

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

Armed Forces Day: October 6

Armed Forces Day is a public holiday in Egypt.

Egypt celebrates Armed Forces Day on October 6 to commemorate the Egyptian Army’s successful crossing of the Suez Canal which led to the capture of the Bar Lev Line during the 1973 October War.

History of Armed Forces Day in Egypt

Shortly after midday on Saturday, October 6, 1973, the October War began when Egypt and Syria launched a combined surprise military assault on Israel. They timed the attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. During Yom Kippur, most Israelis were in synagogues praying and fasting. Due to the surprise attack, Egypt successfully crossed the Suez Canal on October 7 and Syrian forces advanced on the Golan Heights. However, after suffering heavy losses, Israeli forces succeeded in turning the tide of battle in the North by October 10. During the next three days, Israeli forces advanced into Syrian territory well beyond the 1967 ceasefire lines.

On October 14, Israeli forces succeeded in crossing the Canal and surrounded the Egyptian Third Army. Despite a cease-fire agreement on 22 October, fighting continued which almost brought the USSR and the US to confrontation. On October 26, all parties involved in the war accepted a US-Soviet backed Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.

Peace talks between Egypt and Israel continued for two months. US Secretary of State Kissinger actively participated in the said talks, which concentrated mainly on an Israeli withdrawal to post-Six Day War lines. Israel later agreed to pull back some 20 km from the Canal. On January 18, 1974, a Disengagement Agreement was signed between Israel and Egypt.

Egypt’s Armed Forces Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Armed Forces Day celebrations typically include parades and other activities, as well as songs, and fireworks displays. In 1981, President Sādāt was assassinated during an Armed Forces Day parade in Cairo.

The Egyptian Navy in October 2008 launched the largest exercise in its history to commemorate the Egyptian Armed Forces Day.

Evacuation Day: June 18

Evacuation Day is a public holiday celebrated in Egypt.

Egypt is a land rich in heritage and history, more than any other country or civilization in the world. One historic event in Egypt’s recent history is the declaration of full independence from the British on June 18, 1956. This historic event is celebrated as Evacuation Day in Egypt, locally called Eid el-Galaa. This day has been celebrated for over fifty years with significant importance and pride.

History of Evacuation Day in Egypt

British rule in the country of Egypt lead to instability in the political social spheres of Egyptians in the 1940s. In 1952, British rule became totally unstable and a coup attempt was made by military members. King Farouk I was forced to renounce his position, forcing Ahmed Foud II to the throne.

A republic was declared on June 18, 1953, with General Muhammad Naguib set to lead the country. However, the original architect of the independence movement, Gamal Abdel Nasser, took control of the republic with the resignation of Naguib. Finally, on June 18, 1956, Nasser finalized independence from Britain.

The day has been grandly and enormously celebrated with joy throughout the nation ever since. Notably, the evacuation of the British was initiated because of the defeat of the army officers who were in charge in the numerous regions of Egypt. The British Authorities considered it wise to evacuate their troops knowing they were losing against the movement led by Nasser.

Egypt’s Evacuation Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Evacuation day is celebrated every year and considered a national holiday. Most organizations and institutions don’t work on this day.

Egypt National Day Date: July 23

National Day is a public holiday in Egypt.

Egypt National day, also known as Revolution Day is to commemorate the establishment of a republic government in the country. It is celebrated every July 23rd, to remember the same day in 1952, when republic was first formulated after the overthrow of monarchy. It is an important annual national holiday for the country to remember hard-fought battle to reclaim their freedom, and the successful end of the revolution by completely abolishing the constitutional monarchy.

Egypt National Day History

The entire nation and Egyptians across the world come together on this day, every year to remember the 1952 Revolution, when a group of young army officers formed the “Free Officer’s Movement” led by Muhammed Naguib, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Abdel Hakim Amer and Anwar Al Sadat. They went about to depose the autocratic and pro-British monarch King Farouk I, thus abolishing the last constitutional monarchy and finally establishing a nationalist government in Egypt. Naguib subsequently became the first president of the republic nation. Egypt became a great example for its bloodless independence struggle and inspired many African nations to follow the same.

The revolution changed the face of Egypt dramatically allowing free trade, restoration of civil rights and a fair democratic government. The economy of the country flourished immensely. The National day of July 23rd is a public holiday for the entire nation to remember the reinstatement of people’s absolute rights, although Egypt obtained its independence from the British in 1922.

Egypt National Day Traditions and Activities

People all over Egypt celebrate this day every year by having national parades and musical and dance performances in the country’s capital, Cairo and also by singing patriotic songs. The constitution of the country also comes together to delegate international treaties and extend their relationship with the other countries of the world, discuss the country’s performance, progress and peace on this day.