A Comprehensive Look at Worldwide Holidays, Festivals, and Commemorations
Jan 1 (Wed): New Year's Day
Global secular holiday and start of the Gregorian calendar year.
Jan 4 (Sat): World Braille Day
UN observance marking Louis Braille's birthday.
Jan 6 (Mon): Epiphany
Christian feast day celebrating the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.
Jan 7 (Tue): Orthodox Christmas
Celebrated by Orthodox churches using the Julian calendar.
Jan 14 (Tue): Pongal
Harvest festival celebrated primarily by Tamils.
Jan 27 (Mon): Holocaust Remembrance Day
International day to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust.
Jan 29 (Wed): Chinese New Year / Spring Festival
Start of the Year of the Snake on the lunisolar calendar.
Feb 2 (Sun): Imbolc / Candlemas
Pagan/Wiccan festival marking the halfway point between winter and spring; Christian feast day.
Feb 4 (Tue): World Cancer Day
Global initiative to raise awareness and encourage prevention, detection, and treatment.
Feb 13 (Thu): World Radio Day
UNESCO observance celebrating radio as a powerful medium.
Feb 14 (Fri): Valentine's Day
Global celebration of love and affection.
Feb 20 (Thu): World Day of Social Justice
UN observance focusing on poverty eradication and promoting equality.
Feb 26 (Wed): Maha Shivaratree
Hindu festival honoring the god Shiva.
Mar 1 (Sat): Start of Ramadan
Holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims (date approximate).
Mar 5 (Wed): Ash Wednesday
Marks the beginning of the Christian season of Lent.
Mar 8 (Sat): International Women's Day
A day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
Mar 14 (Fri): Holi Phagwa
Hindu "Festival of Colors" celebrating spring, love, and the victory of good over evil.
Mar 20 (Thu): International Day of Happiness
UN observance coinciding with the Vernal Equinox.
Mar 30 (Sun): Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
The "Festival of Breaking the Fast" for Muslims (date approximate).
Apr 2 (Wed): World Autism Awareness Day
UN observance raising awareness about people with autism.
Apr 7 (Mon): World Health Day
Commemorates the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Apr 13 (Sun) - Apr 20 (Sun): Passover (Pesach)
Major Jewish holiday commemorating the Exodus from Egyptian slavery.
Apr 18 (Fri): Good Friday
Christian observance commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus.
Apr 20 (Sun): Easter Sunday
Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Apr 22 (Tue): International Mother Earth Day
Global observance dedicated to environmental protection.
Apr 23 (Wed): World Book and Copyright Day
UN observance promoting reading, publishing, and copyright.
May 1 (Thu): International Labour Day / May Day
Global celebration of workers' rights.
May 3 (Sat): World Press Freedom Day
UN observance celebrating the fundamental principles of press freedom.
May 12 (Mon): Vesak (Buddha Day)
Celebration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha (date varies by country).
May 15 (Thu): International Day of Families
UN observance to raise awareness of issues relating to families.
May 20 (Tue): World Bee Day
UN observance highlighting the role of bees in ecosystems.
May 29 (Thu): Ascension Day
Christian holiday commemorating Jesus's ascension into heaven.
Jun 2 (Mon): Shavuot
Jewish festival celebrating the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.
Jun 5 (Thu): World Environment Day
UN day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of the environment.
Jun 6 (Fri): Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
Islamic festival honoring the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son (date approximate).
Jun 8 (Sun): World Oceans Day
UN observance celebrating the role of oceans in everyday life.
Jun 20 (Fri): World Refugee Day
UN observance dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees.
Jun 21 (Sat): Summer Solstice / Int. Day of Yoga
The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, also UN Day of Yoga.
Jun 26 (Thu): Islamic New Year (1447)
Marks the beginning of the new Islamic lunar year (date approximate).
Jul 11 (Fri): World Population Day
UN observance focusing attention on the urgency and importance of population issues.
Jul 18 (Fri): Nelson Mandela International Day
UN observance marking the birthday of Nelson Mandela.
Jul 30 (Wed): International Day of Friendship
UN observance promoting friendship between peoples, countries, and cultures.
Aug 9 (Sat): Int. Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
UN observance promoting the rights of indigenous peoples.
Aug 12 (Tue): International Youth Day
UN observance drawing attention to cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.
Aug 15 (Fri): Assumption of Mary
Christian feast day, a major holiday in many Roman Catholic countries.
Aug 27 (Wed): Ganesh Chaturthi
Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha (date approximate).
Sep 4 (Thu): Mawlid an Nabi (Prophet's Birthday)
Islamic observance commemorating the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (date approximate).
Sep 8 (Mon): International Literacy Day
UNESCO observance reminding the public of the importance of literacy.
Sep 15 (Mon): International Day of Democracy
UN observance promoting and upholding the principles of democracy.
Sep 21 (Sun): International Day of Peace
UN observance devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace.
Sep 23 (Tue) - Sep 24 (Wed): Rosh Hashanah
Jewish New Year (5786) and High Holy Day.
Sep 27 (Sat): World Tourism Day
Global observance promoting awareness of tourism's value.
Oct 2 (Thu): Yom Kippur
Jewish Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year.
Oct 5 (Sun): World Teachers' Day
Global celebration of teachers and their contributions.
Oct 6 (Mon): Mid-Autumn Festival
Harvest festival celebrated in East and Southeast Asian communities.
Oct 10 (Fri): World Mental Health Day
Global day for mental health education and advocacy.
Oct 20 (Mon) - Oct 21 (Tue): Diwali (Deepavali)
Hindu, Jain, and Sikh 'Festival of Lights' celebrating the victory of light over darkness.
Oct 24 (Fri): United Nations Day
Marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter.
Oct 31 (Fri): Halloween / Samhain
Global secular tradition; ancient Pagan festival marking the end of the harvest season.
Nov 1 (Sat): All Saints' Day
Christian solemnity honoring all the saints.
Nov 2 (Sun): All Souls' Day / Day of the Dead
Christian commemoration of the faithful departed; major cultural holiday in Mexico/Latin America.
Nov 10 (Mon): World Science Day for Peace and Development
UN observance highlighting the role of science in society.
Nov 13 (Thu): World Kindness Day
Global observance promoting acts of kindness.
Nov 20 (Thu): Universal Children's Day
UN observance promoting international togetherness and awareness for children's welfare.
Dec 1 (Mon): World AIDS Day
Global day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic.
Dec 8 (Mon): Bodhi Day
Buddhist observance commemorating the day the Buddha attained enlightenment.
Dec 10 (Wed): Human Rights Day
Commemorates the day the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Dec 15 (Mon) - Dec 22 (Mon): Hanukkah
Jewish "Festival of Lights" celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple.
Dec 21 (Sun): Winter Solstice / Yule
The shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere; a Pagan/Wiccan celebration.
Dec 25 (Thu): Christmas Day
Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated globally as a holiday.
Dec 31 (Wed): New Year's Eve
Global secular observance marking the final day of the Gregorian year.