Category: International Holidays

  • Obon Festival

    Obon Festival

    Obon Festival   By Sharon Schweitzer   Obon Festival is an annual Japanese ritual observed from the 13th to the 15th of the seventh lunar month. This year, the holiday will be celebrated from August 13th to 15th. It can also be held from July 13th to 15th, depending on the calendar used. Obon is…

  • National Vinyl Record Day

    National Vinyl Record Day

    National Vinyl Record Day By Sharon Schweitzer   Music enthusiast and founder of the first nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the cultural influence of vinyl, Gary Freiberg created National Vinyl Record Day as a way to honor the art behind the music, collecting, and recording.  Also known as a phonograph record, the first…

  • National Book Lovers Day

    National Book Lovers Day

    National Book Lovers Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   A day for all those who love to read, National Book Lovers Day encourages you to find your favorite reading place, a good book (whether it be fiction or nonfiction) and read the day away. Book Lovers Day appreciates the medium that has withstood and preserved…

  • Sailor Moon Day

    Sailor Moon Day

    Sailor Moon Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   Sailor Moon Day, celebrated on August 6th every year, celebrates one of the most popular manga and anime series, Sailor Moon. The series starts with a small, very talkative black cat and a young girl, Usagi Tsukino. Usagi received a brooch that helped transform her into the…

  • Matice Slovenska Day

    Matice Slovenska Day

    Matice Slovenska Day By Sharon Schweitzer   Matica Slovenská Day (Deň Matice Slovenskej) is a remembrance day in Slovakia held on August 4th each year. This day commemorates the establishment of Slovakia’s primary scientific and cultural institution. It was founded in 1863, in a town named Martin, as part of the Slovak nation’s effort to…

  • Celebrating National Sisters Day

    Celebrating National Sisters Day

    Celebrating National Sisters Day Sharon Schweitzer (left) with her sister Lisa (right) and her parents in Tampa, Florida    By Sharon Schweitzer   Your sister may be your twin, triplet, complete opposite, or a mix of something else! People say you look alike, but you don’t see it. You may have the same preferences or…

  • International Day of Friendship

    International Day of Friendship

    International Day of Friendship   By Sharon Schweitzer   The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in…

  • World Tofu Day

    World Tofu Day

    World Tofu Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   World Tofu Day is annually observed on July 26th, in honor of tofu, a plant-based alternative to meat that is manufactured from soybeans. Tofu has seen a surge in popularity as more people switch to a plant-based diet. For vegans and vegetarians, it is particularly appreciated and…

  • Rational Harmony Day

    Rational Harmony Day

    Rational Harmony Day   By Sharon Schweitzer   Singapore’s identity as a cosmopolitan nation has evolved‌. The first of two racial riots in six weeks occurred in Singapore on July 21st, 1964, resulting in 36 deaths and over 500 injuries. Many racist events that have recently gone viral have elicited strong emotions and soul-searching about…

  • National Fortune Cookie Day

    National Fortune Cookie Day

    National Fortune Cookie Day   By Sharon Schweitzer While these nuggets of enjoyment are most often found at the end of a Chinese meal, they didn’t originate in China. The distinctively folded cookie began in Japan, where elegant desserts and folding techniques are quintessentially Japanese. However, in Japan, the fortune was tucked in the fold…