Holidays for the week of July 28th, 2014

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Week, your weekly preview of the Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

The week starting on Monday July 28th, 2014

July 28, 2014

Fiestas Patrias Peru (Independence Day)

One of the most important holidays in Peru along with Christmas, is the day that General José de San Martín declared independence on July 28th 1821. Celebrated by the entire country, flags are flown from almost all buildings including houses. as mandated by law during the entire month of July. As the head of state, the current President will give an address to the people outlining the state of the nation. This speech is given in the congressional bodies chambers at their invitation.

Happy Independence Day Peru!

Also celebrated on July 28th

Ólavsøka, the day when Løgting the parliament of the Faroe Islands opens it’s season. A small island nation between Iceland and Norway, it is self ruled country but still part of the Kingdom of Denmark.. The people of the Faroe Islands also take this time to hold both cultural and sporting events to celebrate their nation. One of the country's biggest sports, rowing, holds their national competition at this time every year. Also featured during the festivals is the famous Faroese chain dancing, a medieval dance that has only survived on the island nation.

Happy Olavsoka the Faroe Islands!

On July 29th 2014 we celebrate

International Tiger Day

Created in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, this is a day to celebrate and raise awareness of tiger conservation around the world. With less than 3,200 tigers in the wild, it is good to keep this in mind and see if there is anyway to help.

Also on July 19th

National Thai Language Day

Day to remember and celebrate the rich cultural history of the the Thai language.

On July 30th 2014 we celebrate

Enthronement Day Morocco (Aid Al Arch)

To celebrate and remember the day that His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine, was enthroned in 1999, the people of Morocco, a country in north west of Africa, sets aside this day. This happens to fall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan so eating and drinking during the day are not permitted. During the evening however people will get together and socialize as well as celebrate the King, even having fireworks for the event. One of the biggest days off during the year it is eagerly looked forward to.

Happy Enthronement Day Morocco!

Link:

http://inacitynearyou.net/2013/07/31/30th-july-kingdom-of-morocco-celebrates-throne-day/

Independence Day Vanuatu

An island nation in the South Pacific of less than 225,000 people, Vanuatu got it’s independence from France only in 1980. While the first Europeans landed on the island in the 1600s there have been people living there for at least 4,000 years ago. An interesting phenomenon happened do to American forces being stationed there during WWII, the famous cargo cult developed.

Happy Independence Day Vanuatu!

On July 31st 2014 we celebrate

Ka Hae Hawaii day

Hawaii has the distinction of being one of the only areas that the United States has taken within it’s borders that had a reigning monarch at one time and diplomatic relationships throughout the world, the flag of Hawaii represents this. It is the only state flag that has the Union Flag of Great Britain featured prominently and the flag was used during its time as a Kingdom, republic and territory. A day to celebrate the flag of Hawaii was established as recently as 1990.

Happy Ka Hae Hawaii!

On August 1st 2014 we celebrate

Celebration of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833

This was the Act of Parliament of Great Britain that outlawed slavery in the British Empire save for a few areas that were covered by other acts. Today mostly celebrated as part of Carnival in the Caribbean, it still an important turning point in the West's understanding and treatment of their fellow human beings. In reality it only freed those who were six years and younger, but did mark the beginning of the end of slavery in the Empire.

Also on August 1st

Minden Day

Soldiers of certain British regiments wear roses on their head gear on this day to mark their regiments involvement during the Battle of Minden during the 7 years war in 1759. It was thought to be a turning point during the war.

And keeping with the theme of Great Britain

Yorkshire Day

A day to celebrate the distinctive culture of the people of Yorkshire, the day was chosen to coincide with both Minden Day and the Abolition of Slavery. Minden Day as one of the regiments during the battle was from there and the Abolition of Slavery because a key figure in the championing of the cause in the British Parliament was from Yorkshire. Through out the county events take place to show off Yorkshire pride.

Happy Yorkshire Day

On August 2st 2014 we celebrate

Virgen de los Angeles - Patron Saint of Costa Rica

On August 2, 1653, the story goes that a local woman found a representation of the Virgin Mary. She tried to take this somewhere and twice it reappeared back at the location where she found it. The people then built a shrine where it stood. In 1824, it was taken as the patron saint of Costa Rica. Many people from around the country will walk the distance from the capital to the shrine every year on this day, some 22 kilometers, some even making the last of the journey on their knees.

Happy Virgen de los Angeles!

Republic Day Macedonia

Celebrating two events that both happened on this day that contribute to the current country of Macedonia, located in part of the area that was once the Turkish Empire, The first of these events was the Llinden Uprising in 1903, when for a short time there was a Macedonian Republic. Then in 1944, the first assembly of ASNOM, helped to establish what today is the current nation. The holiday has been celebrated since 1944. It also happens to fall on Saint Elijah day, a holiday that has been important in the area for many many years. On this day there will be a parade of horses from the Capital Skopje to where the Uprising happened, Krusevo.

Happy Republic Day Macedonia!

On August 3rd 2014 we celebrate

Independence Day Niger

A country in west central Africa that received its independence on August 3, 1960. Throughout the country there are festivals celebrating the independence but the day has also been repurposed to be an arbor day as well. Every person in the country is supposed to plant a tree to help fight desertification.

If I have missed anything for this week or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.