All things Easter, Spring Solstice, Passover, or Ostara

[CellarDweller]

My neighbors and I have developed a custom that every holiday we go out to lunch at Dairy Queen (for those not familiar, it's a soft-serve ice cream chain). So we find plenty of holidays -- even though we generally skip Thanksgiving and Christmas!

January: NY Day, MLK Day
February: Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day
March: Ides of March, St. Patrick's Day
April: April Fool's Day, Earth Day
May: Cinco de Mayo, Mothers Day, Memorial Day
June: Fathers Day, Flag Day, Juneteenth
July: 4th of July
August:
September: Labor Day
October: Indigenous People's Day, Halloween
November: Veteran's Day, Black Friday
December: Hannukah; Christmas

We also try to celebrate one or two Jewish holidays as they occur along the way.

As you can see, there's no famous holiday in August. We'll have to consult this list, and maybe pick Woman Astronomers Day or National Coloring Book Day or Big Forehead Day.

https://nationaltoday.com/august-holidays/

It seems they havce a "day" for everything. 

Also, Sonja, while Katy gave a good list of holidays, they are not all federal holidays where people have the day off work.  The holidays that I made green are the ones where government offices and banks and post offices are closed.

[serious crayons]

Also, Sonja, while Katy gave a good list of holidays, they are not all federal holidays where people have the day off work.  The holidays that I made green are the ones where government offices and banks and post offices are closed.

Good point, Chuck! Yes, almost all of the above days have some form of traditional celebration -- cards, candy and fancy dinners on Valentine's Day, wearing green and celebrating Irish culture on St. Patrick's, costumes and trick-or-treating on Halloween, etc. But not all are national holidays.

Chuck would be familiar with national holidays, of course, because banks are closed. Newspaper reporters have to work, or at least a few on any given holiday. Usually, people volunteer to work on holidays, either to be cooperative or because on holidays we'd get eight hours pay for five-hour shifts.


 

[Sason]

It seems they havce a "day" for everything. 

Also, Sonja, while Katy gave a good list of holidays, they are not all federal holidays where people have the day off work.  The holidays that I made green are the ones where government offices and banks and post offices are closed.

You actually do have quite a few holidays! Paul always complains that you never have any holidays and we always have them.

I count ten above, we have twelve. But you always get the Monday off instead if a holiday falls on the weekend, we never get that. So I guess it's about the same amount in a year.

[Sason]

Good point, Chuck! Yes, almost all of the above days have some form of traditional celebration -- cards, candy and fancy dinners on Valentine's Day, wearing green and celebrating Irish culture on St. Patrick's, costumes and trick-or-treating on Halloween, etc. But not all are national holidays.

Chuck would be familiar with national holidays, of course, because banks are closed. Newspaper reporters have to work, or at least a few on any given holiday. Usually, people volunteer to work on holidays, either to be cooperative or because on holidays we'd get eight hours pay for five-hour shifts.

I've always had all holidays off work, which I've always been very greatful for, esp when my son was little.
When I worked at the hospital, OTs weren't considered essential, so while most of the staff of course had to work, me and my colleagues were off.
For the most of my working life though, I worked in a public clinic, they are always closed on a holiday.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Tonight (April 30) is Walpurgisnacht. Tomorrow (May 1) is Beltane.

[Sason]

Walpurgisnacht, although we call it valborgsm?ssoafton, is celebrated here with bonfires and singing spring songs.

Usually it's fucking cold and ppl stand around the fire freezing their asses off 

But yesterday was lovely and warm. There was an unusually big crowd in the park across the street from my house. Other than the fire there was a choir, balloons and sausages were sold, and there was a fire truck just in case. The kids were allowed into the truck and the firemen showed them all the exciting things in it.

1st of May is always a holiday here, as I think in all Europe. It's the international labour movement's day, celebrated with various demonstrations by all the leftist parties and several unions.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Walpurgisnacht, although we call it valborgsm?ssoafton, is celebrated here with bonfires and singing spring songs.

Usually it's fucking cold and ppl stand around the fire freezing their asses off 

But yesterday was lovely and warm. There was an unusually big crowd in the park across the street from my house. Other than the fire there was a choir, balloons and sausages were sold, and there was a fire truck just in case. The kids were allowed into the truck and the firemen showed them all the exciting things in it.

1st of May is always a holiday here, as I think in all Europe. It's the international labour movement's day, celebrated with various demonstrations by all the leftist parties and several unions.

I think I knew that once because it sounds familiar, but I'd forgotten it. Thanks for the reminder! 

[Sason]

You're welcome 

I don't know why USA picked another day instead of going with the rest of the world.