📅 holiday

Adhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day

Saturday, January 3, 2026

— days to go

Poya Day is not a single day but a name for any holiday in Sri Lanka that is held to mark a full moon. There are around a dozen Poya Days every year, in conformity with the Buddhist lunar calendar and moon-phase marking system. As 70 percent of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, most of the population celebrates each Poya Day as of religious significance. The fact that the moon is largest and brightest when it is full is the rationale behind full moons being occasions for celebration. In Sinhalese, “poya” is derived from a word meaning “fast day,” which explains why many Buddhists go to temple and fast during Poyas. On Poya Days, Sri Lankan workers are legally guaranteed a paid off-work day, unless they are paid time and a half by their employer during Poya Day hours. Most businesses will be closed, and alcoholic beverages and meat are not allowed to be sold until the Poya is over. Each full moon, and each corresponding Poya Day, has its own name and specific events it is meant to commemorate. These will be events related to Buddha and Buddhism. Some of the key events remembered on Poya Days include: Buddha’s birthday, Buddha’s enlightenment, Buddha’s sending out of 60 disciples as missionaries, the personal visits Buddha made to Sri Lanka, the bringing of Buddhism to Sri Lanka by Mahinda, and the first Buddhist Council held after Buddha’s death. Four ideas for things to do in Sri Lanka on any of the various Poya Days are: Should you be in Sri Lanka while the moon is full, you will notice that a day of celebration ensues. Some of these Poya Days are large and bring in celebrants from other religions besides Buddhism, while others are not as noted except by the Buddhist devout. You will find there is plenty to explore as far as Buddhist history and culture and that there are often events to attend on Poya Days.

History

There are around a dozen Poya Days every year, in conformity with the Buddhist lunar calendar and moon-phase marking system. As 70 percent of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, most of the population celebrates each Poya Day as of religious significance. Each full moon, and each corresponding Poya Day, has its own name and specific events it is meant to commemorate. These will be events related to Buddha and Buddhism. Some of the key events remembered on Poya Days include: Buddha’s birthday, Buddha’s enl

How It's Celebrated

Poya Day is not a single day but a name for any holiday in Sri Lanka that is held to mark a full moon. As 70 percent of Sri Lankans are Buddhist, most of the population celebrates each Poya Day as of religious significance. The fact that the moon is largest and brightest when it is full is the ratio

Other Years

2026 Sat

3 Jan

2027 Fri

22 Jan

2028 Wed

12 Jan

2025 Mon

13 Jan

2024 Thu

25 Jan

Countries

🇱🇰 LK

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📅 holiday Feb 10

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is a holiday unique to Malta because it was on Malta that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked around the year A.D. 60. In 2027, Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck falls on Wednesday 10 February. The holiday will be on Thursday 10 February in 2028. The feast is kept on February 10th each year, and as Paul is the patron saint of Malta, it is a much-anticipated event. Out of dozens of “saint days” on the church calendar in Malta, the Feast of Saint Paul is one of only a handful that have the status of a national holiday. The account of Paul’s shipwreck and three-month, wintertime stay on Malta is found in the Bible’s Acts 27:27 through 28:11. He was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to eventually stand trial before Caesar. God let him know in advance he would be shipwrecked but would spare the lives of all on board, which promise was later kept and in answer to Paul’s prayers for their lives. The Bible says the storm was in the Adriatic Sea, though Malta borders the Ionian Sea, because in ancient times, the Adriatic’s boundaries were considered to extend much farther south. The ship broke up on the rocks near the shores of Malta, and all swam ashore. The local population greeted them, but thought he might be a murderer whom the “goddess of justice” had finally caught up with after he was bitten by a poisonous snake. After he lived, however, they supposed him to be, perhaps, a god. Paul, however, soon showed them it was God’s power at work in a mere man by healing the governor of the island, Publius, and many others who were sick or disabled among the island’s population. No doubt, Paul preached the Gospel to them as well, and when he left Malta, the inhabitants gave him all necessary supplies out of gratitude. The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is kept at the “Parish Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked” in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. It is also a day of processions and family get-togethers. Three things to do should you visit Malta, though hopefully not be shipwrecked there, on February 10th are:

📅 holiday Feb 23

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📅 holiday Mar 19

St Joseph's Day

Every 19 March is celebrated as Saint Joseph’s Day in Roman Catholic cantons of the Swiss Confederation. In 2027, St Joseph's Day falls on Friday 19 March. The holiday will be on Sunday 19 March in 2028. However, in recent years, people have paid it less and less mind, and many local businesses in these regions don’t even close on Saint Joseph’s Day like they used to. Interestingly, there are two different religious feast days dedicated to Joseph in Roman Catholicism. Saint Joseph’s Day focuses on his role as the husband of Mary and “step father” of the child Jesus. But on 1 May, Saint Joseph the Worker day focuses on his role as the patron saint of all carpenters. There aren’t many events in areas of Switzerland celebrating Saint Joseph’s Day on 19 March. For those who have the day off, it is often spent relaxing, shopping or getting outdoors in the Spring weather.

CHESVA +1

📅 holiday Mar 30

Seward's Day

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