It is hard to overstate the importance of Mary to Catholic and Orthodox Christians around the world, but in Greece, the worship of Mary is elevated to another level. This importance of Mary to the Greeks is demonstrated by the wide number of local customs that are celebrated across Greece. The churches of Panayia Evangelistria […]
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For most Islamic countries, Monday March 11th 2024 will be the first day of the Islamic month of Ramadan. The month of Ramadan will last for 28 days, though the exact start and end dates in some countries is dependent on sightings on the moon. During Ramadan Muslims will fast from dawn until dusk, pray […]
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What day is the Most Boring Day in 2024? In the UK, Monday January 15th 2024 is the so-called Blue Monday. It is said to be the most depressing day of the year, as Christmas and New Year holidays are fast disappearing in the rear view mirror, and it is over 75 days until the […]
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What better way to celebrate the birth of someone who is the basis for one of the world’s greatest religions than by chopping down a tree, sticking shiny things on it and putting it in your living room for a few weeks in December? This rather strange arboreal custom emerged in the 16th century in […]
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Is Columbus finally sailing off the edge of the world? Columbus Day has been a federal holiday since 1937 and has been observed on the second Monday in October since 1971. The holiday that marks Europe’s discovery of the new world has run into uncharted waters and feels as though it could sink without a […]
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During September there are several national days and notable holidays and festivals. Why not brighten up your video calls by using our virtual backgrounds to highlight these special days? You’ll find some instructions on how to use these images in Zoom and Microsoft Teams at the bottom of the page. September 1st – US Labor […]
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The revolutionary spirit in July continues into August with a large amount of independence days taking place around the world as many countries threw off their colonial shackles during this month. The biggest religious festival in August this year is the widely observed, but not well known Christian festival of Assumption. Month info: Originally called Sextilis […]
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In the Northern Hemisphere, June is a summer month when individual vacations start to take precedence over wondering when the next public holiday. However there are still some important and diverse festivals and holidays taking place. For the first time in about 30 years, June welcomes the major Islamic festival of Eid Al-Adha. Month info: Probably the name June is derived from […]
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On Wednesday 8 March 2023, many countries will have a public holiday for International Women’s Day. While it is clearly a good thing to highlight the contributions and accomplishments of women, does it hide a gender gap between public holidays that celebrate people? In 1977, the United Nations declared 8 March as International Women’s Day, […]
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In the UK, Monday January 16th 2023 was the so-called Blue Monday. It is said to be the most depressing day of the year, as Christmas and New Year holidays are fast disappearing in the rear view mirror, and it is nearly 90 days until the next public holiday on Good Friday (April 7th). Does […]
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