Author Archives: Rob Burroughs

Dominica Independence Day This day marks independence from the United Kingdom in 1978. The Spanish first found the island, but didn’t make a serious effort to colonise due to a lack of national resources. The French showed an interest in the 17th century and established the first permanent European settlement in 1690. British gained possessionContinue reading “Holidays on 3rd November”

This marks the country’s independence from the United Kingdom on 1st November 1981. The British arrived with sailors from St. Kitts in 1632, founding a settlement at Falmouth on the south coast. It formally became a British colony in 1667, from 1685 until 1860 the island of Barbuda was leased to the Codrington family, whoContinue reading “Antigua & Barbuda Independence Day”

The Day of the Dead (or Dia de Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated in the country and elsewhere associated with the Cathloic celebrations of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day. The holiday sees family and friends gather to pray for and remember friends and family who have died. It is divided on whether thisContinue reading “Day of the Dead”

This is a day of prayer and remembrance for the souls of those who have died observed by Catholics and other Christian denominations. Many traditions on this day are associated with popular notions about purgatory. Bell toiling was meant to comfort those being cleansed. Lighting candles was to kindle a light of the poor soulsContinue reading “All Souls Day”

All Saints Day is a Christian solemnity in honour of all the saints, known and unknown. It is a day where we can celebrate all the saints, including those who do not, or are no longer, celebrated individually, either because the number of saints has become so many or because they were celebrated in groups,Continue reading “All Saints Day”

Halloween is a celebration on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day, and begins the observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs and all the faithful departed. There are many traditions for Halloween. The most popular are trick or treating, carvingContinue reading “Happy Halloween!”

Greece Flag Day This day celebrates the flag of Greece. It is the day before Oxi Day, which is known as the “Day of No”. This commemorates when the Greeks fought the Axis Powers for Crete, and lost, but their bravery served as an example to the world. Oxi Day is a national reminder ofContinue reading “Holidays on 27th October”

This day commemorates Austria’s Declaration of Neutrality in 1955. It was enacted as a constitutional act of parliament. It was as a result of the allied occupation of the Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and France between 1945 and 1955. The Soviet Union would not have agreed to the signing of aContinue reading “Austria National Day”

Lithuania Constitution Day Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union on 11th March 1990 and adopted a provisional constitution. Work on a new constitution was done over the next two years, and was approved by the Supreme Council in October 1992 and submitted to popular vote. It was approved in a referendum on 25th OctoberContinue reading “Holidays on 25th October”

International Day of Climate Action This was first celebrated in 2009, organised by 350.org to influence the delegates going to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in December of that year. They organised walks, arches, rallies, teach-ins, bike rides and many other activities. They reported 5,200 synchronised demonstrations in 181 countries. International FreshwaterContinue reading “Holidays 0n 24th October”