Mothers Day: May 13

Mothers Day is celebrated in Australia, Canada, and the USA.

Motherhood is perhaps one of the most glorious things in the world. Mothers shape their children’s life in a way that no one else can do. Mother’s day has always been celebrated to cherish our dear mothers and make the day special for them. The Mother’s day concept was conceived by Anna Jarvis who felt it was essential to have a day to commemorate the glory of motherhood. It is now celebrated world wide.

Mothers Day History

Mother’s day has a recent history dating to the early 20th century. The one that is celebrated throughout the world is derived from the US one. There are other festivals like the Mothering Sunday of the UK that has an origin much earlier. This dates back to the 16th century. There are also beliefs that it originated from the ancient Greece who honored the great mother of Greek Gods Cybele. There was one in Rome dedicated to Juno.

Dating back to 1912, the founder Anna Jarvis copyrighted the name “Mother’s day” and the “2nd Sunday of May”. Jarvis is supposed to have been very particular about the position of the apostrophe. It was supposed to come after the ‘r’ in mother. This denoted that this was singular possessive. This means that it is expected of each person in the family to cherish their mother. It was not to denote a general term for all the mothers. This was the spelling that President Wilson used in making the holiday official.

Mothers Day Traditions and Activities

The day is usually celebrated by giving gifts to the mothers. Children usually like taking in charge of some of the household work such as cooking or doing the dishes. It is done to recognize the role of mothers in making their everyday life smooth. The mothers are also taken out for dinner. Recent traditions involve in getting the mothers a “Mother ring” as a token of affection.

There has been rampant commercialization of the Mother’s day. The sales of Mother’s day cards earn so much of revenue that it disgusted even the founder Jarvis. She became famous for her vociferous protest against this form of commercialization. She thought that the cards destroyed the bond and it made people lazy to write a personal letter. She even gave a statement saying that she wished she had never started the day because it was not the way she expected it to be celebrated.

There is nothing better than being at home with our mothers and spending some quality time with them. It would probably bring in more joy than any of the fancy gifts. The commercialization is to be condoned, but in the wake of modern life, there is no other go than to accept it.

Nowadays billions of dollars are generated on a single day. According to a survey, Americans usually spend 2.6 billion dollars on flowers and 1.53 billion dollars on very indulgent gifts like spa visits. There is a whopping sixty eight million dollars spent on the cards alone. The jewelers have a happy day with 7.8% of their revenue getting generated on one day.

Other interesting posts:

• Mothers Day Australia
• Georgia Honors Mothers on March 13 (Georgia Mothers’ Day)
• Syria Observes Mothers’ Day Celebration

Anzac Day: April 25

Anzac Day is a national holiday in Australia and New Zealand.

The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and April 25 is the day that Australia and New Zealand remember the Anzac members who fought during World War I at Gallipoli in Turkey. More recently it commemorates all members who have served in military operation for both countries.

History of Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand, as part of the Commonwealth of Nations, became part of the Allied forces during World War I. In 1915, under a plan designed by Winston Churchill to take back Istanbul, capital of the Ottoman Empire and an ally of Germany, the Anzac army joined the Allied expedition on their way to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula. They landed in Gallipoli on April 25 and were received by the fierce Turkish forces. The battle for Gallipoli went on for eight months, with both sides suffering heavy casualties and enduring great hardships. By the end of the war, more than 8,700 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders died.

Even if the campaign to take Gallipoli was unsuccessful, it created what has been called the Anzac legend, or Anzac spirit, that today marks both the Australian and New Zealand identity. It suggests that Australian and New Zealand soldiers share many of the same qualities as brothers in arms.

The Gallipoli campaign is often described as the birth of both nations, Australia and New Zealand. In 1916, April 25 was officially named as Anzac Day, and a wide variety of ceremonies were held nationwide in both countries. In London, 2,000 soldiers marched through the streets dubbed as The Knights of Gallipoli. During the 1920s, Anzac Day became a memorial day for the deceased.

Australia’s and New Zealand’s Anzac Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Australians and New Zealanders celebrate April 25 as a ceremonial occasion to reflect on the futility of war and to remember those who fought and lost their lives for their country. The day starts with dawn services; these are held at war memorials across Australia and New Zealand. Before dawn veterans will gather and will stand for two minutes of silence, remembering the landing at dawn in Gallipoli.

The “Last Post”, a bugle call used at Commonwealth military funerals and ceremonies, is played, commemorating those who have fallen in war. The service ends with the “Reveille”, another bugle call chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise.

One of the traditions of Anzac Day is the “gunfire breakfast”, coffee with rum added, which occurs shortly after many dawn ceremonies. The practice is done to honor the troops that took this sort of “breakfast” before facing battle. Later in the day, veterans meet and join in marches throughout the major cities.

Other interesting posts:

• Australia Day
• New Zealand Celebrates Waitangi Day
• Mothers Day Australia

Fiji’s National Youth Day: March 26

National Youth Day is a public holiday in Fiji.

To commemorate the active contribution of the youth in nation-building, Fiji celebrates National Youth Day in March every year. The actual date may vary for purpose making people enjoy a longer weekend but usually set on the last Monday of March. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports designates the actual date as to which the National Youth Day should be celebrated. The holiday is considered to be one of the most important dates in Fiji’s holiday calendar.

History of Fiji’s National Youth Day

Fiji’s population is young and it is this fact that led the government to create a date when the country could celebrate the many contributions of the youth in may aspects of Fijian society be it from socio-civic action, education, science, engineering, medicine, etc.

In 2009, there has been a call from the business sector for the removal of some of the public holidays in Fiji. This was opposed by Fiji Public Service Association (FPSA) after it made with concerned heads of the government.

Fiji’s National Youth Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

The National Youth Day is a highly-anticipated festivity in Fiji. Various Youth’s groups and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) which serves the welfare of the youth also participate in this event and organizes activity plans to be made for the entire day.

March parade is also a common event in the street. Also, mini-concerts and other for-youth-only activities are usually held in Sukuna Park. Schools usually form dance groups to entertain people in stage setup in parks during the holiday especially in Suva, the country’s capital. The government also awards notable youths who have made valuable social contributions in the country.

Other interesting posts:

• Taiwan Observes Youth Day
• Fiji Celebrates Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day
• Youth Day Celebration and Nation-Building in Cameroon

Palau’s Youth Day: March 15

Youth Day is a public holiday in Palau.

Youth Day is one of the most important holiday celebrations in the island nation Palau. The country celebrates the holiday every year on the 15th of March.

History of Palau’s Youth Day

The institution of Youth Day in Palau was based on the call to integrate the youth in public service early on in order to help them become better decision-makers in the future and to create a reservoir of highly-intellectual pool of educated men in the country. To formally recognize this cause, a national holiday is set aside to celebrate the role of youth in shaping Palau society and government – Palau Youth Day which is celebrated every 15th of March.

Palau’s Youth Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

Youth Day is a work-free holiday in Palau. Government offices and establishments including the education sector also close during the occasion.

The government may hold awarding ceremony to honor young people who have made valuable contributions to their immediate community or the entire country as a whole. Government projects made towards the improvement of services provided to the youth are also revealed during this date.

Various government agencies usually coordinate with various youth non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for any other plans to be made during the holiday and coordinate with youth leaders for various projects where their assistance is required.

Other interesting posts:

• Palau’s Celebrates Senior Citizens
• Palau Celebrates United Nations Day
• Fiji Observes the Celebration of National Youth Day

Custom Chief’s Day of Vanuatu: March 5

Custom Chief’s Day is a public holiday in Vanuatu

In Vanuatu’s calendar of events, Chief’s Day is celebrated annually every 5th of March. The country observes the holiday to recognize the power on chieftains or locally known as ‘Jifs’ on matters concerning politics, economy, judiciary, among others.

History of Vanuatu Custom Chief’s Day

Vanuatu is an Island nation spread across the South Pacific Ocean just east of Northern Australia. This archipelago, of volcanic origin, was inhabited by Melanesian people, a region south of Vanuatu, before the Islands were occupied by the Europeans in 1880, particularly by the French and British, and claimed the archipelago under a British-French ‘condominium’ status as allowed by the International law. The condominium status allowed sharing of powers by the two countries.

The two European superpowers called the country the ‘New Hebrides.’ The continued sharing of power over the region continued until a call for liberation in 1970 eventually brought independence to the country in 1980.

Chieftainship is still a popular figure in Vanuatu although the government is formed around parliamentary democracy backed up by a constitution. ‘Malvatu Mauri’ is the lead National Council of Chiefs in the country with a leader elected by the representatives of the district council of chiefs. The primary purpose of this council is to feed the prevailing government with guide or direction that touch base on the interest of the ni-Vanuatu language and culture.

The chiefs in each village are highly regarded to have authority on all matters of Vanuatu life. They form the smallest political unit of Vanuatu society and are the most influential in the clan. To recognize the Jifs in their critical role in the country’s political system and in Vanuatu’s way of life, the Custom Chief’s Day was proclaimed to be celebrated every 5th of March yearly in 1977.

Vanuatu Custom Chief’s Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

Lavish feast is done in each village in celebrating the Custom Chief’s Day. Each village hold their own festivity during the holiday including cultural shows and programs in public entertainment centres. Organized sports activities and matches are also held. Public entertainments such as carnivals are also available during the holiday.

Other interesting posts:

• Vanuatu Independance Day

Memorial Day: March 1

Memorial Day is a public holiday in Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands celebrates Memorial Day or Nuclear Victims’ Memorial Day every 1st of March every year. The holiday serves to commemorate those who perished in the nuclear done in Marshall Islands. The holiday was used to be called Decoration Day.

The Marshall Islands were named after British navigator John Charles Marshall when he arrived in the Islands in 1788. Several countries managed to invade the Island, from Spain, Germany, Japanese, and later the United States of America after the latter’s invasion on the Island against Japanese Imperial forces in World War II.

History of Marshall Islands’ Memorial Day

From 1946 to 1958, motivated by exploring the potential of nuclear weapons in warfare, the US made Marshall Islands as test site for its various nuclear tests. The US approximately conducted around 67 nuclear tests in the Island which contaminated most of the Island country’s territory.

The Bikini Island, known previously as Escholtz Atoll during the Second World War, became a test site for various nuclear tests by the US (Operation Crossroads). The US conducted atomic bomb tests in the area to determine radioactive fallout’s effects on naval vessels. Bikini and Enewetak, two of the country’s major atolls, were sites for this nuclear experiment.

The Castle Bravo, the largest atomic bomb test ever made by the US in the island caused so much damage and contamination in the surrounding Islands with health effects lingering until today. Marshall Island and the US are in a dialogue for nuclear claims that had happened in the area during the Nuclear test era.

Marshall Islands’ Memorial Day: Traditions, Customs and Activities

People in the Marshall Islands celebrate Memorial Day by visiting memorials and cemeteries to honor those who died in the nuclear tests in the country. Public speeches are conducted along with parade and cultural events.

Other interesting posts:

• Marshall Islands celebrates Labor Day
• Madagascar: Martyrs’ of the Revolt of 1947 – Memorial Day
• French Polynesia Observes Missionary Day

International Marathon: February 25

Tahiti International Marathon is a public holiday in Tahiti

Tahiti International Marathon, or more commonly called Moorea International Marathon is a yearly athletic celebration in Tahiti. It is described as an ‘exotic’ way to exercise and race while you’re in a relaxing vacation on a beautiful Island nation. The marathon has varying length although a 5 km fun run is specifically provided to be joined by an entire family on vacation both for locals and foreigners visiting the area.

The marathon offers visiting athletes with four race game to choose from: 42km, 21km, 5km, and the Family Run. This event is not heavily participated by athletes but also by families or couples who are there to experience the beautiful sceneries and beaches of Tahiti.

History of Tahiti International Marathon

Every year, Tahiti organizes the Tahiti-Moorea International Marathon and asked athletes from different countries to participate in this yearly festivity. The marathon is known for its non-competitive and relaxing feel and theme. Those who have participated in the marathon in the past would surely endorse the breath-taking sceneries around the region especially the areas around the designated track in the long-distance foot race.

The first Tahiti-Moorea International Marathon was organized in 1988 although a local marathon event already took place in one of the Islands of Tahiti in 1971. Tahitians organized this event as a result of the 4th South Pacific Games. It used to be a local event, but due to its local success and the feedback coming from the foreign participants who happened to be in the area, the marathon then opened its door to International athletes who are keen on experiencing an exceptional foot race along the islands of Tahiti. The race starts at Temae beach and runs through the Cook and Opunohu bays.

Tahiti International Marathon: Traditions, Customs and Activities

Apart from the joyful racing among participants, tourists also enjoy other fun activities sponsored by the Tahiti community. Street dancing and free concerts awaits everybody with grand fireworks at night.

Cultural events showcasing Tahiti culture and tradition are also held in entertainment theatres and streets for the public to enjoy. These and other activities aim to drive awareness on the beauty of Tahiti culture and tradition and what the Island can offer international travellers.

Other interesting posts:

• Tahiti Observes Internal Autonomy Day
• Syria Marks International Tourism Day
• International Children’s Day Observed in Many Parts of the World

Waitangi Day: February 6

Waitangi Day is a public holiday in New Zealand.

Waitangi day is celebrated every 6th of February every year to mark the signing of Treaty of Waitangi which was made into effect on February 6, 1840. This is to recognize the understanding between the local Maori people and the Europeans representative of The Crown.

History of Waitangi Day

The Treaty of Waitangi marks the beginning of conferring right to both Maori people and the British settlers in terms of land ownership and sovereignty at a certain degree. Under the terms, the representatives of the British crown will be granted citizenship and right to own land, among other things. It was a peaceful pact of coming together in friendship among the locals and the British although there was wide range of disagreements among politicians in New Zealand of today as to the scope of rights of the British in the area.

The original Treaty of Waitangi was not ratified until after 1975 and was set to recognize both the rights of the Maori people and the British. It was, however, put under intense debate and disagreement among the Maori activists and some politicians serving today’s parliamentary government.

Nevertheless, Waitangi Day is recognized as a peaceful day that marks the celebration of New Zealand’s nationhood and the beginning of a new era of friendship between the representatives of the British Royalty and the Maori’s.

Waitangi Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Waitangi Day is celebrated in much the same way as other national holidays in the country but a little muted. Concerts and festivals are done everywhere but there is few, if not at all, parades happening on the street of New Zealand. Maori also use this day as an opportunity to help Maori members better understand this important tradition and reflect on their culture and tradition.

Free concerts are everywhere during the celebration. Reggae music is particularly popular during this day because the date of the celebration of Waitangi is also the birth date of the famous Jamaican singer, Robert Nesta Marley, or also known as Bob Marley.

Since Waitangi Day falls on the country’s summer months, most people usually spend the day at the beach which forms a significant part of Maori and Pakeha’s way of life.

Other interesting posts:

• Anzac Day Solemnly Observed in Australia and New Zealand
• Kuwait Celebrates Liberation Day
• Liberia Celebrates The Armed Forces Day

Australia Day: January 26

Australia Day is of course celebrated by Australia.

Australia day is also known as the foundation day or the anniversary day. It is the official national day of the Australian country. It is celebrated every year on the twenty sixth of January. This day commemorates the coming of the first fleet at the Sydney cove in the year 1788 when the unfurling of the British flag takes place here and also the there is a proclamation of the British sovereignty over a eastern seaboard of the country of Australia. In every territory and the state of Australia the Australian day is celebrated as an official holiday for the public. It is also marked by an order of the country of Australia and the Australian of the years’ awards with the address from prime minister.

Australia Day History

Records of this celebration of the Australia day go back to the year 1808 along with the governor once the official celebration of this formation of the New South Wales in the year 1818. This day is seen as a controversial day by many historians. Alongside the proposals to change this Australian day date they have also been some significant protests that are seen from the indigenous Australian community.

Many of these indigenous Australians do see this Australia day as a day that is celebrated for what has been destroyed of the indigenous culture by the colonialism by the British. Since the year 1988 the invasion day protests are being held in supporting the view. Due to all this there have been concerns and also some proposals to have the date changed of this Australian day to another day.

On the thirteenth of May in the year 1787 a fleet of about eleven ships came and they were known to be the first fleet. These were sent by the British admiralty to Australia from England. Under Captain Arthur Phillip a fleet was sought to establish this penal colony at the Botany Bay on the New South Wales coast. This was already explored by Captain James cook much earlier in the year 1770. This settlement was quite necessary as there was a loss of the colonies in the northern part of America.

This fleet then arrived between the eighteenth and the twentieth of January in the year 1788. This was not suitable and hence he moved forward and went on to Port Jackson. This was the finest harbor according to him in the whole world. The site that was first decided was a place that had some level land and also a stream with portable water. The British flag was then raised there. There were officers and a few marines who attended this ceremony. By the afternoon of the twenty sixth the remaining fleets had come off from Botany Bay and were then anchored near the Sydney cove.

In Brisbane this day is celebrated to be the foundation day or the first landing as the colony had been surviving for twenty years in spite of the hardships that they faced initially and also the starvation and the deprivation that had been suffered by those who were the settlers of the first fleet. The celebrations begin here on the twenty fifth of January each year as the sun goes down and then goes on into the night.

The chief toast here goes to the major George Johnston. He was the first officer who came on to the shore from the first fleet. Even through his ill effects back home he made sure that he led the officers of New South Wales corps and arrested the governor William Bligh the following day. This was now called the rum rebellion.

On the twenty sixth of January in the year 1818 which was the thirtieth anniversary, the governor Lachlan Macquarie held a thirty gun salute at the Dawes point and then gave a holiday to the workers of the government. This tradition was soon followed by other public offices as well as the banks. In the year 1888 all the colonial capitals except Adelaide were celebrating the anniversary day.

South Australia adopted Australia day in the year 1910. This was soon followed upon by Victoria in the year 1931. All the states in Australia are now celebrating this day since the year 1935.

Australia Day Traditions and Activities

As the hundred and fiftieth anniversary this day was celebrated for a whole long week through out Australia other than New South Wales. The anniversary was held on the twenty sixth of January which is the actual anniversary day of the Australia day.

Australia Day is also known as:

• Foundation Day
• Anniversary Day

Other interesting posts:

• Mothers Day Australia
• Anzac Day Solemnly Observed in Australia and New Zealand

Lunar/Chinese New Year Eve

Lunar New Year’s Eve is a joyfully celebrated by Chinese all over the world.
The day is also a public holiday for Bhutan, Brunei, China, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Tahiti, Taiwan, Vietnam

The Lunar New Year’s Eve in the Chinese Lunar calendar is known as chĂș xÄ«, Year Pass Eve in English. It lasts 15 days and starts with the second or third new moon after the winter solstice. In 2012, of the Gregorian calendar, starts the 4709th Chinese year.

History of Lunar New Year’s Eve

Chinese have used the lunar calendar since the Shang Dinasty, late second millennium BCE. Progress in astronomy and mathematics allowed determining with better accuracy days and months within a year. It was with the Shang dynasty that Chinese began to celebrate the New Year with the first new moon after the winter solstice. This wasn’t the most correct way to determine that date, and with the introduction of advanced astronomic studies in China by the Jesuits in 1645, it was then that the New Year’s Eve date was to be calculated as the second or third new moon after the winter solstice, depending on the year.

The Gregorian calendar has been used by Chinese since 1949, but still the lunar calendar is used to determine the dates of these events like New Year. Each month of the Chinese calendar has the name of a flower, like apricot, peach or lotus. For the years, Chinese give them names of animals. The legend says that all animals were fighting to have their names in the calendar years, but there were only 12 months. So the gods had them placed in the banks of a river and told them that they had to cross the river and in the order that they would arrive at the end, their names would be placed from the first to the 12th year of the cycle of years in the calendar. The cat was afraid of the water. The ox was nearsighted so he was also afraid to cross. Then the rat told the cat that they should jump on the back of the ox and guide him across the river.

The three agreed on the plan. But the rat wanted to have first place and was afraid that the cat would arrive first after the ox came ashore on the other side. So, as the ox entered the water and the cat jumped on his back, the rat pushed the cat in the water and took the ride of the ox, which didn’t see what happened in his back. As the ox arrived to the other side of the river, the rat jumped of the back of the ox and ran for first place, the ox arrived second place an then the other animals ending with the lazy pig. The cat never crossed the river, so he vowed to be a deadly enemy of the rat forever. This was the list of the animals in the order they crossed the river: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Lunar New Year’s Eve Traditions, Customs and Activities

During the Chinese New Year’s Eve the most traditional color is red. You can see lots of red lanterns hanging everywhere, people wear red and red envelopes are offered as gifts to children. It is told that the Chinese New Year would start with a fight against a beastly monster called Nien. The beast would come out of his hiding and eat the animals of the farms and attack the people of the villages, especially children. For protection, on New Year’s Eve everybody would put food for the Nien at their doorsteps. One day, villagers noticed that the Nien was afraid of a little child wearing red clothes. So they started chasing him making loud noises as he was afraid of the child. Not only was he afraid of the red color, as he was also afraid of loud noises. So, every New Year’s Eve, Chinese hand red lanterns in their houses, wear red clothes, and release loud firecrackers. Eventually the Nien never came back. Legend says that the Nien was eventually captured by a Taoist monk that uses him as his ride.

From here we can already see the roots of many tradition of the Chinese New Year, the red lanterns, the red clothes and the Dragon Dance that personifies the Nien. New Year celebrations in China last for 15 days. Houses are cleaned very thoroughly and decorated, as everyone takes this opportunity to visit their families and have vacations at home. People buy new clothes, new shoes or even get a new hair cut for a fresh beginning of New Year. On the first day is the welcoming of the gods, and it is believed that if you do not eat meat on this day you will live longer. The older members of the family will give red envelopes to the younger ones with money. Firecrackers are popular and loud on the streets, as lion dance troupes dance everywhere to bring good luck and scare away the bad spirits.

On the second day it is time to pay respect to Chinese ancestors and visit their graves and have prayers for them. The second is believed to be the birthday of all dogs, so Chinese are extra kind to dogs on this day. It is also dedicated to the relationship between in laws, sons in law pay respect to their parents in law, this is also an opportunity for married daughters to visit their parents since by tradition they live in the house of the husband and do not have much time to visit during the year.

Third and fourth day, people stay at home. It is bad luck to visit their families, but it is appropriate to visit the graves of ancestors. Po Woo is the fifth day, people stay at home and welcome the god of Wealth, nobody can visit their relatives or friends, and it brings bad luck to whoever does. From the sixth to the tenth day it is the opportunity to visit relatives and friends without any bad luck problems. It is also proper to visit temples and pray for wealth and good fortune for the New Year.

The seventh day is for farmers to give thanks for their production and ask for better one for next year. It is considered the birthday of Mankind; noodles are to be eaten for longer life and raw fish if you want success. By the eighth day business open again and life goes back to its normal rhythm. But it is still a day to have one more dinner with the whole family. Ninth day is the birthday of Jade Emperor of Heaven, that prolongs into the 10th day.

The 13th day is dedicated to the Chinese God of War, Guan Yu. And it is strictly a day to eat vegetarian food to clean from the sweets and fried foods of the previous days. The 15th and last day is the celebration of the Lantern Festival, when everybody walks the streets at night with lanterns and lights them up in the houses and businesses.

Other interesting posts:

• Labour Day; May Day; Workers’ Day; Day of Kazak
• New Year
• Lunar Chung Yuan Festival