Festivals and Special Days

SEPTEMBER

First Monday in September: Labour Day (US)

29th September: Michaelmas England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland (Old)


OCTOBER

Second Monday of October: Columbus Day vs Indigenous Peoples' Day (US) Canadian Thanksgiving (Canada)

31st October:  Halloween (All over the English-speaking world and beyond. It originated in Ireland and was popularised in the US)

NOVEMBER

5th November: Bonfire Night /Guy Fawkes' Day (England)

11th November: Martinmas (Old, UK),  Remebrance Day (UK) Veteran's Day (US) and MOVEMBER

Diwali: The Indian Festival of Light

4th Thursday of November: Thanksgiving (US) 

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Buy Nothing Day (Originally the US but now all over the World)

16th November: International Flamenco Day

25th November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

30th November: St Andrew's Day(National Day of Scotland)

DECEMBER

4th Sunday Before Christmas until Christmas Day: Advent (All English-speaking countries and beyond)

Hanukkah

21st December: Winter Solstice (A celebration of Celtic-pagan origin)

24th December and 25th December: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (English-speaking countries and beyond)

26th December: Boxing Day (UK and Commonwealth)

31st December and 1st January: New Year's Eve / Hogmanay and New Year's Day (English-speaking countries and beyond; Hogmanay is Scottish)

JANUARY

5th January Twelfth Night

6th January Epiphany 

Third Monday in January: Martin Luther King's Day (US and rest of the world)

17th January: Twelfth Night: Wassailing (England)

25th January: Burns' Night (Scotland)

26th January: Australia Day and Republic Day in India

Chinese New Year

30th January: International School Day of Non-violence and Peace


FEBRUARY

2nd February: Groundhog Day

6th February: Waitangi Day (National Day of New Zealand)

14th February: St Valentine's Day

Third Monday in February: President's Day (US)



MARCH

1st March: St David's Day: (National Day of Wales)

Pancake Day/Shrove Tuesday Mardi Grass (All English-speaking countries and beyond)

8th March: International Women's Day

Holi: The Ancient Hindu Festival of Colours and Love

17th March:  St Patrick's Day

Superbloom

Easter (All English-speaking countries and beyond)


APRIL

1st April: April's Fool's Day (All English-speaking countries )

22nd April: Earth Day

23rd April:   St George's (National Day of England and Shakespeare's Day or International Book Day)

Passover  (Jewish celebration)


JUNE

16th June:  Bloomsday (Ireland)

19th June: Juneteenth (US)

21st June: Summer's Solstice


JULY

1st July: Canada Day

4th July: Independence Day (US)

18th July: Mandela Day (South Africa)