📅 holiday

Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

— days to go

The Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche is an official public holiday in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. It celebrates the birth of Padmasambhava, who is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan. In 2026, Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche falls on Wednesday 24 June. The holiday will be on Sunday 13 June in 2027. Padmasambhava is referred to as Guru Rinpoche, meaning “precious master”, in Tibet and Bhutan. He is thought to have been born on day ten of month six of the Buddhist Calendar. On the Western Calendar, that generally works out to some time in June or July. The legend has it that Padmasambhava turned his wife into a flying tiger and then flew on her back all the way to Bhutan. Once there, he is said to have spent over three years in intense meditation in a cave. Paro Taktsang monastery was later built on the site of that cave, according to tradition. The monastery is often called, “The Tiger’s Nest”. Padmasambhava is credited with disseminating Buddhism throughout Bhutan and with taming the opposition of demonic forces that disliked his new religion. Tibetan Buddhism is now the state religion of Bhutan, and Padmasambhava is honoured with the title “precious master” or “precious teacher”. On the Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche, there are special religious rituals performed at temples all across Bhutan. Most people in the country see this holiday as one of the most important on the calendar.

History

It celebrates the birth of Padmasambhava, who is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan. Once there, he is said to have spent over three years in intense meditation in a cave. Paro Taktsang monastery was later built on the site of that cave, according to tradition

How It's Celebrated

Other Years

2026 Wed

24 Jun

2027 Sun

13 Jun

2028 Mon

10 Jul

2025 Sat

5 Jul

2024 Sun

16 Jun

Countries

🇧🇹 BT

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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:

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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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