📅 holiday

Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

Friday, May 1, 2026

— days to go

Vesak is a major Buddhist festival that is celebrated on two days of the Buddhist month of Vesakha. In 2027, Vesak Day falls on Thursday 20 May. The holiday will be on Tuesday 23 May in 2028. Many other nations that observe Vesak, however, only keep the first full moon day. It has long been a Buddhist holy day, but in 1950, the World Fellowship of Buddhists met in Sri Lanka to officially declare it such. Sometimes Vesak is called Buddha’s Birthday, and other times, it is called simply Buddha Day. The latter is probably more accurate since the day celebrates everything about Buddha, including his birth, enlightenment (called nirvana), and his death, rather than just his birth. Since Buddhism assimilated into many cultures as it spread around the world from its beginning point in India, there are differences in how it is kept and in how Vesak is kept from country to country. We will look below primarily at traditions specific to Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, the coming of Vesak means all liquor stores and slaughter houses will be closed by government order, and no one is allowed to sell or buy alcoholic beverages or fresh meat. Although there are two main days of Vesak, the week following the first full moon is scene to much of the celebrating. The most obvious sign that Vesak has arrived are the bright digital light designs, called thoranas, that are put up in Colombo, Kandy, and other Sri Lankan cities. These displays tell a story from the famed Jataka Tales in visual form. A second major sign is the presence of colorful lanterns positioned along streets and near homes. You will also notice numerous stalls set up along roadways where free food and drink are given away, and you may hear singing groups as they go about town singing Buddhist religious songs called bhakti gee. Buddhist worshipers will be seen going to local temples all over Sri Lanka, and some will travel to distant parts of the island to go to special temples where they offer flowers and incense. They also don white clothing and light lamps during the ceremonies. The monks will give special teaching sessions, devotees will remain at the temple all day to re-dedicate themselves to Buddha’s teachings and recite Buddhist verses. You will also notice the flag of Buddhism flying over each temple. Some things for the Sri Lankan tourist to do during the days of Vesak include the following: Should you be in Sri Lanka during Vesak, you will find it a colourful and festive time of year. It is the perfect time to learn about Sri Lankan culture and history and to learn of a land very different from your own.

History

Many other nations that observe Vesak, however, only keep the first full moon day. The latter is probably more accurate since the day celebrates everything about Buddha, including his birth, enlightenment (called nirvana), and his death, rather than just his birth. Since Buddhism assimilated into many cultures as it spread around the world from its beginning point in India, there are differences in how it is kept and in how Vesak is kept from country to country. We will look below primarily at t

How It's Celebrated

Vesak is a major Buddhist festival that is celebrated on two days of the Buddhist month of Vesakha. The holiday will be on Tuesday 23 May in 2028. Many other nations that observe Vesak, however, only keep the first full moon day. The latter is probably more accurate since the day celebrates everythi

Other Years

2027 Thu

20 May

2028 Tue

23 May

2026 Fri

1 May

2025 Mon

12 May

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

Defender of the Fatherland Day

Defender of the Fatherland Day is a public holiday in RU.

📅 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

Seward’s Day commemorates the signing of the treaty with the Russian Empire on 30 March 1867 that secured the purchase of Alaska. This holiday differs from Alaska Day, which commemorates the “formal actual transfer” of Alaska. In 2027, Seward's Day falls on Monday 29 March. The holiday will be on Monday 27 March in 2028. The treaty was single-handedly negotiated by Secretary of State William Seward, which arranged for the vast territory’s purchase at only $7.2 million. Russia was willing to sell because, at the time, Alaska was costing them more to maintain as a territory than it was producing in revenues. Thus, Seward was mocked by many and his purchase dubbed “Seward’s Folly” and, other times, “Seward’s Icebox.” However, in 1897, the discovery of gold in the Klondike River and the subsequent Alaska Gold Rush quelled the objections of “the doubters.” Seward, having passed away in 1872, never lived to witness his vindication. Later, the discovery of large oil, gas, and coal deposits and the development of the lumber and fishing industries proved once again how valuable Alaska was economically. Another factor to remember is that the removal of Russian influence from the North American continent was a significant political benefit the U.S. gained from the deal. Seward’s Day is observed every final Monday of March in Alaska, and many are off work or school. There are events held every year in Anchorage, Sitka, and Seward.