Festivals & Holidays, MEM-ÂĄVI
The commemoration of many eventsâreligious, agricultural, or socioculturalâhelps to keep traditions alive, while at the same time it unifies the participants in the celebratory spirit of a holiday, feast, or anniversary. In a similar manner, local and international exhibitions, festivals, and fairs unite people with similar causes, interests, or beliefs.
Festivals & Holidays Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Memorial Day
Memorial Day, in the United States, holiday (last Monday in May) honoring those who have died while serving in......
Midsummer
Midsummer, a holiday celebrating the traditional midpoint of the harvest season and the summer solstice (June 20......
Motherâs Day
Motherâs Day, holiday in honor of mothers that is celebrated in countries throughout the world. In its modern form......
National Day
National Day, holiday celebrated on October 1 to mark the formation of the Peopleâs Republic of China. The holiday......
National Gun Violence Awareness Day
A broad coalition of U.S. public health, education, and advocacy groups are marking June 2 as the first annual......
National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month, month (September 15âOctober 15) in which the people of the United States honour......
National Womenâs History Month
National Womenâs History Month, honorary observance of the month of March in the United States, as designated in......
National Womenâs History Month 2016
For too long, womenâapart from the likes of Hatshepsut and Cleopatraâhave been granted only a marginal place at......
New Year festival
New Year festival, any of the social, cultural, and religious observances worldwide that celebrate the beginning......
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, annual festival in Munich, Germany, held over a two-week period and ending on the first Sunday in......
Onam
Onam, Hindu harvest festival that occurs in the Malayali month of Chingam, which overlaps with August and September......
Parentalia
Parentalia, Roman religious festival held in honour of the dead. The festival, which began at noon on February......
Parilia
Parilia, ancient Roman festival celebrated annually on April 21 in honour of the god and goddess Pales, the protectors......
Patriot Day
Patriot Day, holiday observed in the United States on September 11 to commemorate the lives of those who died in......
Pongal
Pongal, four-day harvest festival of Tamil Nadu state, southern India. Pongal is also celebrated by the Tamil diaspora......
Presidentsâ Day
Presidentsâ Day, in the United States, holiday observed annually on the third Monday in February. The day is legally......
Pride Month
Pride Month is an annual celebration, usually in June in the United States and at other times in some countries,......
procession
procession, in Christianity, organized body of people advancing in formal or ceremonial manner as an element of......
Qingming Festival
Qingming Festival, bittersweet Chinese festival for honoring ancestors that is celebrated on the 15th day after......
Reformation Day
Reformation Day, anniversary of the day Martin Luther is said to have posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door......
Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday, in the United Kingdom, holiday held on the second Sunday of November that commemorates British......
Republic Day
Republic Day, in India, national holiday celebrated annually on January 26 to commemorate the entry into force......
Revolution Day
Revolution Day, public holiday celebrated in Egypt to commemorate the military coup of July 23, 1952, that led......
Running of the Bulls
Every year from July 6 to July 14, the city of Pamplona in northeastern Spain holds a rollicking festival dedicated......
Saturnalia
Saturnalia, the most popular of Roman festivals. Dedicated to the Roman god Saturn, the festivalâs influence continues......
Shine On, Harvest Moon Festival
The harvest moon kicks off several festivals and traditions around the world. The full moon observed nearest the......
Six Fascinating Festivals from Around the World
Festivals are culminations of cultures. Take a look at six of the worldâs most fascinating examples! list, celebrations,......
Solomon Northup Day
Solomon Northup Day, annual observance held in July in Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S., in recognition of Solomon......
Songkran
Songkran, splashy and water-filled New Year festival observed in Thailand and, by other names, in Cambodia, Myanmar......
St. Luciaâs Day
St. Luciaâs Day, feast day in honor of St. Lucia (St. Lucy), one of the earliest Christian martyrs, celebrated......
St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day, feast day (December 6) of St. Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra. St. Nicholas is the patron......
St. Patrickâs Day
St. Patrickâs Day, holiday honoring St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. It is held annually on March 17, which......
St. Stephenâs Day
St. Stephenâs Day, the name for either of two holidays that are observed in honor of two Christian saints, both......
St. Swithinâs Day
St. Swithinâs Day, (July 15), a day on which, according to folklore, the weather for a subsequent period is dictated.......
Super Bowl Sunday: An Unofficial Holiday
On Sunday, February 7, 2016, the Carolina Panthers will meet the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl to determine......
Tano
Tano, Korean holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month to commemorate the start of summer and......
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day, annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings......
Thanksgiving Day in the United States
In the United States the holiday of Thanksgiving has been an official national holiday since Pres. Abraham Lincoln,......
The Haggis! Burns Night in Scotland
Scottish food, drink, and verse are celebrated on January 25, the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. Burns......
Today in HistoryâDecember 31: The Ball That Started It All
On New Yearâs Eve in 1907, the first ball was dropped in Times Square. It was made of iron, bedecked with 25-watt......
Today in HistoryâJune 19: The Origin Story of Juneteenth
On this day in 1865, freedom finally arrived in Texas. Union soldiers stood before residents of Galveston and announced......
Today in HistoryâMay 5: The Battlefield Tale of Cinco de Mayo
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo hasâunfairlyâbeen reduced to an excuse to drink tequila and eat guac. Itâs......
Today in HistoryâOctober 3: President Lincoln Proclaims a Day of Thanksgiving
On this day in 1863, U.S. Pres. Abraham Lincoln heeded a request from a letter and proclaimed a day of âThanksgiving......
Today in HistoryâSeptember 16: A Cry for Independence for Mexico
Before dawn on September 16, 1810, a church bell rang in the small town of Dolores, Mexico. The man behind it was......
Trooping the Colour
Trooping the Colour, traditional observance of the British monarchâs official birthday with a military ceremony......
Táșżt
Táșżt, celebration of the Lunar New Year in Vietnam. The holiday likely has its origins in the observance of the......
Valentineâs Day
Valentineâs Day, holiday observed annually February 14, on which lovers express their affection with greetings......
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, in the United States, national holiday (November 11) honoring veterans of the armed forces and those......
Veterans Day
The holiday that became Veterans Day was first observed as Armistice Day in 1919. The cease-fire that marked the......
Victoria Day
Victoria Day, Canadian holiday observed annually on the Monday preceding May 25. Originally, this day was celebrated......
Walpurgis Night
Walpurgis Night, a traditional holiday celebrated on April 30 in northern Europe and Scandinavia. In Sweden typical......
What Is Bloomsday?
On June 16, 1904, Irish writer James Joyce had his first date with Nora Barnacle, a woman from western Ireland......
What Is Pi Day?
Pi Day is a celebration of the never-ending mathematical constant pi (Ï), which relates the circumference C of......
What Is the Difference Between May Day and Labor Day?
Arenât May Day and Labor Day basically the same thing? Not quite! While both May Day and Labor Day honor workers,......
What Is the History of Juneteenth?
On January 1, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, United States President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation......
When Was the First Thanksgiving?
The first Thanksgiving is said to have taken place in 1621, when the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth,......
Where Did Halloween Originate?
Halloween is believed to have connections to the festival of Samhain celebrated among the Celts of ancient Ireland.......
Why Do Americans Celebrate the Fourth of July with Fireworks?
Fireworks have been part and parcel of U.S. Independence Day, the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration......
Why Do We Carve Pumpkins at Halloween?
The jack-oâ-lantern has a long history with Halloween, although our favorite demonic faces havenât always been......
Why Do We Celebrate Halloween?
Did you know that parts of Halloween may have been around for more than a thousand years? What began as serious......
Why do we celebrate Juneteenth?
Juneteenth (also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Jubilee Day) commemorates the end of slavery in the......
Why Do We Drop a Ball on New Yearâs Eve?
âThe Times Building will be especially illuminated to-night in honor of the birth of 1908,â announced The New York......
Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?
As celebrated in the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving usually revolves around a bountiful meal. Typical......
Why Do We Pardon Turkeys on Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is not a good time to be a turkey in the United States. But at least one of these otherwise hapless......
Why Is Black History Month Celebrated in February?
âFebruary is Black History Month.â Since the 1970s that familiar declaration has introduced countless celebrations......
Why Is Labor Day Celebrated in September?
The origins of Labor Day can be traced to the labor movement of the late 19th century in the United States. There......
Why Is Pride Month Celebrated in June?
Colorful uplifting parades with floats and celebrities, joyous festivals, workshops, picnics, and parties are among......
Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the United States, but formally establishing the day on which......
Why Is Womenâs History Month Celebrated in March?
Each March, Americans celebrate National Womenâs History Month: a chance to recognize womenâs varied, and often......
Why We Celebrate MLK Day
In the United States, Martin Luther King, Jr., Day is observed annually on the third Monday in January. The day......
Winter Holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and More
The turn of seasons from winter to spring (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) is celebrated with great zeal and......
Womenâs Equality Day
Womenâs Equality Day, annual event in the United States, observed on August 26 since its inception in 1971, marking......
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day, annual observance aimed at raising awareness of AIDS and the spread of HIV. World AIDS Day occurs......
World AIDS Day
Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been observed every year on December 1. It was created by the World Health Organization......
World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day, annual observance held on February 4 that is intended to increase global awareness of cancer.......
World Heart Day
World Heart Day, annual observance and celebration held on September 29 that is intended to increase public awareness......
World Malaria Day
World Malaria Day, annual observance held on April 25 to raise awareness of the global effort to control and ultimately......
World Oceans Day
World Oceans Day, annual celebration honouring the majesty of Earthâs oceans and the economic, aesthetic, and environmental......
World Poetry Day
Poetry is a form of literature that often celebrates abstraction and the beauty of words. Written poetry is thought......
World TB Day
World TB Day, annual observance held on March 24 that is intended to increase global awareness of tuberculosis.......
Yule
Yule, winter festival observed historically by Germanic peoples and in modern times primarily by Neo-Pagans, coinciding......
ÂĄViva MĂ©xico!
On September 16, 1810, a Roman Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of the parish church......