HH Sheikh Zayed Accession Date: August 6

UAE celebrates HH Sheikh Zayed Accession as a public holiday.

Accession day or the day on which H. H Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan became the president of United Arab Emirates is celebrated in UAE on August 6 of every year. The accession of Sheikh Zayed to the throne happened in the year 1966. This accession marked the start of a new epoch in the history of United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Zayed was a futurist and farsighted thinker who wanted to unite the country and its people. In more than 3 decades of his rule, he made sure that with every step he is moving an inch closer towards his goal.

UAE HH Sheikh Zayed Accession History

H. H Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the brain behind what UAE is today. He implemented many new infrastructure projects, which lead to the development of United Arab Emirates. He took many steps in the direction of uniting his country and as well as maintaining healthy relations with the neighboring countries. He exploited the oil reserves of UAE in well planned and technical ways which lead to prosperity and filling up the treasure of the states. This was the reason why Forbes considered him as one of the wealthiest person in the world.

UAE HH Sheikh Zayed Accession Traditions and Activities

Accession day is celebrated in UAE with great enthusiasm. For almost a week, the whole country is gripped in the festive atmosphere. Many government and non-government organizations prepare for more than a month so that Accession Day celebrations are colorful and flamboyant than ever. Shining and sparkling fireworks lit up the night sky of Abu Dhabi. Many traditional concerts and dances take place, which attracts many tourists to the country. People flock the roads in their traditional attire and cars and other vehicles are decorated with the national flag. The television channels show many documentaries about the Accession Day throughout the day.

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Sri Lanka Nikini Full Moon Poya Date: August 24

Sri Lanka celebrates Nikini Full Moon Poya as a public holiday.

Sri Lanka Nikini Full Moon Poya History

The rainy season starts in the Indian sub continent in the Esala month (between July and August). It is during this time that the bhikkus (Buddhist monks) sojourn from meditation since they cannot meditate under trees and forests and it is very cold in the mountains i.e. the Himalayas at that period. Most of the monks sojourn in the Esala full moon poya but those monks who do not do so can sojourn from their meditation in the full moon poya. The period of sojourn is known as the “Vas’ period and the sojourn commencement during the Nikini Poya is known as the “Pasu Vas” period.

The commencement of “Pasu Vas” or the Nikini Poya is carried due to an enactment known as the “Santhaha Karanaya”. This act came into force during the time the monks used to meditate even during the rainy season giving extreme pain to themselves. The people criticized this type of penance. Due to this protest “King Bhimsara” the then ruler of “Rajagaha Nuwara” requested Buddha on Nikini Poya day to stop penance during the rainy season, for which he agreed. From then onwards Nikini full moon poya started to be celebrated as the beginning of the “Pasu Vas.”

Three months after the Buddha’s “parinibbana”, full moon day was the one when the 1st Dharma Sangayana – convocation for settling the Buddhist Canon was held. It all started after Subaddha, a monk, consoled the monks after the “parinibbana” of the Buddha. All the monks, who did not attain “Arahatship”, mourned excepting him. He asked other monks for being happy (and not mourn) since there was none following Buddha for give them the orders. Due to this incident the “Maha Sangha” led by “Maha Kasyapa Thera” sought out the probable problems that may result in the community leading to the first Dharma sangayana.

Another incident took place on this day when an elephant started chasing the Buddha. Ananda Maha Thera, his chief attendant, came in front of the elephant in order to save the Buddha. This was due to this incident that he attained Arahatship.

Sri Lanka Nikini Full Moon Poya Traditions and Activities

Nikini Poya comes a month after the Esala full moon day i.e. the commencement of the rainy season and generally falls during August in the Gregorian calendar. However, on 2009 it will be celebrated on 6 August. This day is of great joy and delight for many.

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El Salvador Feast of San Salvador Date: August 6

El Salvador celebrates Feast of San Salvador as a public holiday.

In honor of its patron saint almost every town in El Salvador celebrates a traditional fest. These religious feasts are attended by many people from the rest of the country as it is a time for trading and organizing fairs.

Feast of San Salvador History

“La Bajada” is the final day celebration of the weeklong August Festival.
One of the most popular of these religious feasts is “La Bajada”. “La Bajada” or “The Descent” is celebrated on August 6th in honor of the “World’s Savior”, El Salvador’s Patron Saint. It is called “la Bajada’ because on this day the agricultural workers from the San Salvador volcano and neighboring towns came together to worship the patron saint and to take part in the procession through the thoroughfares of the capital city.

Feast of San Salvador Traditions and Activities

At an average around 1,500 people attended Shavout every night. It raised enough funds to cover all the expenses. In 1998, Feasts of Lord began as a non-profit corporation, which is dedicated to encourage the celebration of God’s appointed times.

Having discussed about the Feasts of Lords, we come back to the August Festival. In San Salvador, the culminating event of the August Festival is “La Bajada”. La Bajada or The Descent symbolizes God in the form of Jesus Christ descending to participate in the world.

This day is marked by a procession in which the statue of El Divino Salvador is carried to the Metropolitan Cathedral. The statue is dressed in purple robes. At the Cathedral there is a giant blue globe representing the world. The statue of Christ disappears into this giant globe. Then a few minutes later El Salvador again emerges from the globe, this time clad in white. This represents transfiguration. The figure of Christ emerges to the loud applause and cheers of the tens of thousands of devotees who gather at the square in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

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Bolivia Independence Day Date: August 6

Bolivia celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.

The people of Bolivia celebrate the Bolivian Independence Day on the 6th day of August every year to commemorate the end of the Spanish dominion. The Spanish conquered Bolivia in the year 1524, and a counter offensive against the Spanish Empire was launched under the leadership of the Bolivian leader Simon Bolivar (after whom Bolivia is named) in the year, and achieved independence from the Spanish rule on August 8, 1925.

Bolivia Independence Day History

Bolivia then known as “Upper Peru”, was a Spanish colony under the Viceroy of Lima. Initially it was an Aymara civilization however subsequently it was invaded by the Inca and then finally by the Spanish in the year 1524. The Spanish ruled Bolivia with the help of some local government authorities coming from the Audiecia de Charcas located in Chuquisaca (modern Sucre), and they generally employed people of Bolivia (then upper Peru) to work in the silver mines they had acquired.

Bolivian silver was very popular and expensive and was the main source of revenue of the Spanish Empire. The people of Bolivia served as the greatest labor force of the Spanish Empire in this greatest source of revenue, however the people were treated like slaves due to which resentment grew against the Spanish slowly and gradually among the people of Upper Peru (Bolivia).

Plots against the empire couldn’t be made since they lacked a good leader, and the Spanish authority was very strong, which almost made the Spanish invincible. The people were waiting for a chance to launch a revolt against the unjust and cruel Spanish Rule and finally the time arrived.

Due to different “Napoleonic Wars”, the Spanish power weakened by the year 1776, due to this, the people under the leadership of Simon Bolivar taking advantage launched a struggle for independence on the year 1809, and finally gained independence from the Spanish empire 16 years after the launch of the freedom movement in the year 1925. After the independence from the Spanish, Bolivia was ruled by a series of dictators, who tried to unite all the three regions of the country including Altiplano, the central region and the eastern Andes region.

Bolivia Independence Day Traditions and Activities

Bolivian Independence Day is celebrated every year with great pomp and show on the 6th day of August every year. The events are generally based on the History, the culture and traditions of Bolivia and the events include patriotic parades through the streets, school functions, music and other forms of entertainment, and loud gun salutes. The functions are organized throughout the country, and musical and theater shows displaying history, the gain of independence, and patriotism are organized everywhere on the day.

The main attraction and the general custom of celebrations are the Military parades on the day, which is simply magnificent. The day is a national holiday of Bolivia locally known as Dia de la Patria. The celebrations continue for a full day especially on the capital city of Bolivia ‘La Pez.’

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Jamaica Independence Day Date: August 6

Jamaica celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.

Jamaica National Day was first celebrated on August 6, 1962 by raising the National Flag which signified the birth of the nation. This auspicious occasion is celebrated every year in Jamaica and 6th day of August is noted as a national holiday in Jamaica.

Jamaica Independence Day History

The history of independence of Jamaica was approved through General elections. February 1962 saw the Legislation & the Premier Norman Manley approving the new constitution and called it the General Elections. In this way, Alexander Bustamente got elected during April and was first one to be the Jamaican Prime Minister.

On August 6, 1962, the nation was given the status of an independent country and a member of the British Commonwealth. The British would dominate the Jamaicans and they did not have access to rights and freedom. Jamaica becoming an independent nation now meant that Britain no longer controlled the affairs of the country. It was now the responsibility of the newly elected Prime Minister and the locally elected Cabinet to look into the matter to ensure equal rights and freedom to all the Jamaican citizens.

Jamaica has various national symbols, which are the representatives of their rich history & culture. Its national Flag, Tree, Fruit and Bird, all signifies its rich culture, which defines the Jamiacans, who are extremely proud of where they come from.

The Flag brings memories of the past achievements to mind. It also imparts inspiration toward further successes. It gets flown during several triumphant occasions and shows the pride, which Jamaicans have in the country as well as the flag. The flag is of three different colors such as black, gold and green. Black depicts creativity and strength of its people; gold depicts the wealth & beauty of the sunlight and the green, which shows the hope and the agricultural resources.

The Blue Mohoe (Hibiscus Elatus) is the National Tree of Jamaica. Its National fruit is the Ackee (Blighia sapida). Last but not the least, its National bird is the beautiful Doctor-bird, which is also called as Swallow-tail humming bird. Thus, these symbols distinguish the Jamaicans from the others.

Jamaica Independence Day Traditions and Activities

The Jamaica National Day is officially celebrated by announcing a national holiday in the whole country. The Jamaican people come down in the streets and go for parades. They celebrate their Independence Day by wearing clothes and shoes with the colors of the Jamaican National Flag.

A festival is held on this occasion, which is commonly known as the Jamaica Festival. This festival provides a major trading opportunity for a number of Jamaicans. The mandate of the Jamaica Festival is to primarily focus on the “Things Jamaican”; the creativity in Jamaican and their cultural awareness across different levels in socio-economic reforms.

Edward Seaga, the JLP Minister, who looked after Development & Welfare then, spelled out during the Jamaica’s Long-term Development Plan (1963-1968) that the festival was imperative for national development. According to him, it was the way to give Jamaicans the sense of what they are, and what is their culture and history is all about. It prevails even today and identifies the Jamaicans.