World Holidays
81 worldwide holidays & observances
Click any holiday to see notable deaths that occurred on the same date.
Christmas Day
Christian feast day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed worldwide as a cultural and religious holiday.
New Year's Day
First day of the Gregorian calendar year, celebrated globally with fireworks, gatherings, and new beginnings.
Easter Sunday
Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the date varies by year according to the lunar calendar.
Halloween
Eve of All Saints' Day, celebrated with costumes, trick-or-treating, and spooky traditions rooted in the Celtic festival of Samhain.
Valentine's Day
Feast day of Saint Valentine, celebrated globally as a holiday of romantic love and affection.
Good Friday
Christian commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, observed two days before Easter Sunday.
Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday)
Day of feasting and celebration before the Christian fasting season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
St. Patrick's Day
Cultural and religious celebration of Ireland's patron saint, observed worldwide with parades, green attire, and festivities.
New Year's Eve
Final evening of the Gregorian calendar year, celebrated worldwide with countdowns, fireworks, and gatherings.
International Women's Day
Global observance celebrating women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements; a call to action for gender equality.
May Day (International Workers' Day)
International celebration of the labour movement, observed as a public holiday in over 80 countries.
Easter Monday
Day after Easter Sunday, observed as a public holiday in many Christian-majority countries.
Ash Wednesday
First day of the Christian penitential season of Lent, marked by the imposition of ashes on the forehead.
Thanksgiving (United States)
American national holiday on the fourth Thursday of November, celebrating the harvest and giving thanks.
Christmas Eve
Evening or entire day before Christmas Day, celebrated with church services, family gatherings, and gift exchanges.
Independence Day (United States)
American national holiday commemorating the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Earth Day
Annual event on April 22 raising awareness about environmental protection, observed in more than 193 countries.
Nowruz (Persian New Year)
Persian and Zoroastrian New Year marking the spring equinox, celebrated by over 300 million people across Central Asia and the Middle East.
Mother's Day (United States)
Celebration of mothers and motherhood, observed on the second Sunday of May in the US and many other countries.
Bastille Day (French National Day)
French national holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a pivotal moment of the French Revolution.
Father's Day (United States)
Celebration of fathers and paternal figures, observed on the third Sunday of June in the US and many other countries.
Memorial Day (United States)
American federal holiday on the last Monday of May, honoring military personnel who have died in service.
Labor Day (United States)
American and Canadian federal holiday on the first Monday of September, celebrating the labor movement and workers' contributions.
Remembrance Day (Veterans Day)
Observed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, commemorating the end of World War I and honoring veterans.
All Saints' Day
Christian feast day honoring all saints on November 1, widely observed in Catholic and Protestant traditions worldwide.
Canada Day
Canadian national holiday celebrating the anniversary of Canadian Confederation on July 1, 1867.
April Fools' Day
Annual tradition of practical jokes and hoaxes on April 1, celebrated in many countries around the world.
Boxing Day
Public holiday on December 26, observed in the UK, Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth countries; historically a day for giving gifts to the poor.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
American federal holiday on the third Monday of January, honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Day of the Dead (Dรญa de los Muertos)
Mexican tradition on November 2 of honoring deceased relatives with altars, marigolds, and offerings; recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Epiphany (Three Kings' Day)
Christian feast commemorating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus; celebrated as Three Kings' Day across Latin America and Southern Europe.
All Souls' Day
Christian remembrance of the faithful departed on November 2, observed with prayers and cemetery visits across Catholic traditions.
Thanksgiving (Canada)
Canadian national thanksgiving holiday observed on the second Monday of October, celebrating the harvest season.
Groundhog Day
North American tradition on February 2 in which a groundhog's shadow is used to forecast the remaining weeks of winter.
International Day of Peace
United Nations observance on September 21 dedicated to world peace and the cessation of war and violence.
Star Wars Day
Informal commemoration on May 4 celebrating the Star Wars franchise, referencing the phrase "May the Force be with you."
Cinco de Mayo
Anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862; widely celebrated in the United States.
Independence Day (India)
Indian national holiday marking independence from British rule on August 15, 1947.
Australia Day
Australian national day marking the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson on January 26, 1788; a subject of ongoing national debate.
Republic Day (India)
Indian national holiday commemorating the adoption of the Constitution of India on January 26, 1950.
Mexican Independence Day
Mexican national holiday celebrating the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence on September 16, 1810.
Guy Fawkes Night (Bonfire Night)
British tradition on November 5 commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, celebrated with bonfires and fireworks.
Juneteenth
American federal holiday on June 19 commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans at the end of the Civil War in 1865.
Pi Day
Annual celebration of the mathematical constant ฯ on March 14 (3/14), popularized by physicist Larry Shaw in 1988.
World Health Day
Annual observance on April 7 organized by the World Health Organization to raise awareness of global health priorities.
Midsummer (Midsommar)
Celebration of the summer solstice around June 21, widely observed across Scandinavia and parts of Europe with dancing, flowers, and bonfires.
Presidents' Day (United States)
American federal holiday on the third Monday of February, originally celebrating George Washington's birthday.
World Environment Day
Principal United Nations vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of the environment, held on June 5 since 1974.
World Book Day
UNESCO observance on April 23 promoting reading, publishing, and copyright; the date marks the death of Shakespeare and Cervantes.
Mothering Sunday (UK)
British and Irish tradition on the fourth Sunday of Lent (three weeks before Easter), historically a day to visit one's mother church.
World Mental Health Day
International observance on October 10, organized by the World Federation for Mental Health, raising awareness of mental health issues worldwide.
Candlemas
Christian feast on February 2 celebrating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple; marks 40 days after Christmas and the midpoint of winter.
United Nations Day
Annual observance on October 24 marking the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
World AIDS Day
International observance on December 1 dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic and mourning those who have died from the disease.
Holy Saturday
Day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, commemorating the day Jesus lay in the tomb; also called Holy Saturday or Easter Vigil.
Gandhi Jayanti
Indian national holiday on October 2 marking the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi; also observed globally as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Human Rights Day
Annual observance on December 10 marking the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in 1948.
World Kindness Day
Global observance on November 13 encouraging individuals to overlook boundaries and celebrate kindness; launched by the World Kindness Movement in 1998.
International Coffee Day
Annual celebration of coffee on October 1, recognized by the International Coffee Organization since 2015.
Victoria Day (Canada)
Canadian public holiday on the last Monday before May 25, commemorating Queen Victoria's birthday and the reigning Canadian sovereign.
World Press Freedom Day
UNESCO observance on May 3 raising awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and reminding governments of their duty to uphold it.
International Day of Happiness
United Nations observance on March 20 recognizing the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal human goals.
World Tourism Day
UNWTO observance on September 27 raising awareness of the role of tourism in development, held since 1980.
Makar Sankranti
Hindu harvest festival on January 14 marking the sun's transit into Capricorn; celebrated across India with kite flying, bonfires, and sweets.
World Music Day (Fรชte de la Musique)
Annual celebration of music on June 21 (summer solstice), originating in France in 1982 and now observed in hundreds of cities worldwide.
Summer Solstice
Longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, around June 21, marking the astronomical start of summer.
Winter Solstice
Shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, around December 21, marking the astronomical start of winter; celebrated across many cultures.
World Oceans Day
United Nations observance on June 8 raising awareness about the importance of the oceans and promoting their conservation.
World Food Day
Annual observance on October 16 organized by the FAO to address global hunger and promote food security.
International Day of Non-Violence
United Nations observance on October 2 (Gandhi's birthday) promoting the message of non-violence as a universal value.
World Animal Day
Annual observance on October 4 (feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi) raising standards for animal welfare worldwide.
National Day of Quebec (St-Jean-Baptiste Day)
Quebec's national holiday on June 24 celebrating French-Canadian identity, observed with bonfires, concerts, and parades.
Spring Equinox (Vernal Equinox)
First day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, around March 20โ21, when day and night are approximately equal in length.
Autumn Equinox
First day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, around September 22โ23, when day and night are approximately equal in length.
World Refugee Day
United Nations observance on June 20 honoring the strength and courage of refugees worldwide; established in 2000.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
United Nations observance on December 3 promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities worldwide.
International Literacy Day
UNESCO observance on September 8 highlighting the importance of literacy for individuals, communities, and societies, held since 1967.
World Water Day
United Nations observance on March 22 focusing on the importance of freshwater and advocating for sustainable water management.
International Yoga Day
United Nations observance on June 21 recognizing the widespread benefits of yoga, established on India's initiative in 2014.
World Science Day for Peace and Development
UNESCO observance on November 10 highlighting the role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in science debates.
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
Novelty holiday on September 19 in which people are encouraged to speak like stereotypical pirates; created in 1995 by two Americans.
Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough. William Saroyan