HolidayList
📅 holiday

Macau S.A.R. Establishment Day

Sunday, December 20, 2026

— days to go

Macau SAR (Special Administrative Region) Establishment Day is observed every 20 December. The day celebrates the change of status of Macau from a Portuguese dependency to a Chinese special administrative region. Thus, it marks the end of Macau’s colonial past. In 2026, Macau SAR Establishment Day falls on Sunday 20 December. The holiday will be on Monday 20 December in 2027. Macau’s geography as an peninsula with two main islands nearby has always given it a degree of distinctiveness, but it was still a normal part of mainland China until the Portuguese colonised it in 1550. During its time as a colony, Macau experienced great economic benefits and became a cultural melting pot. Yet, many were not satisfied with Portuguese rule. After World War II, many of the world’s colonies were fast becoming independent, but Portugal held to its colonies with a tight fist until a revolution in 1974 overthrew the Portuguese dictator. From 1974 on, Macau gradually moved toward independence. In 1987, Portugal signed an agreement to turn over Macau to China in 1999, which it fulfilled on 20 December of that year. Macau remained, however, as a specially governed district rather than a regular province of China. Macau SAR Establishment Day is a great time to get out and explore the plethora of tourist attractions in the city. It is especially an appropriate time to visit the city’s historic centre, where you can see old colonial houses, temples, little shops, and narrow cobblestone streets.

History

The day celebrates the change of status of Macau from a Portuguese dependency to a Chinese special administrative region. Thus, it marks the end of Macau’s colonial past. After World War II, many of the world’s colonies were fast becoming independent, but Portugal held to its colonies with a tight fist until a revolution in 1974 overthrew the Portuguese dictator. From 1974 on, Macau gradually moved toward independence. In 1987, Portugal signed an agreement to turn over Macau to China in 1999, wh

How It's Celebrated

Macau SAR (Special Administrative Region) Establishment Day is observed every 20 December. The day celebrates the change of status of Macau from a Portuguese dependency to a Chinese special administrative region. The holiday will be on Monday 20 December in 2027. It is especially an appropriate time

Other Years

2026 Sun
20 Dec
2027 Mon
20 Dec
2028 Wed
20 Dec
2025 Sat
20 Dec
2024 Fri
20 Dec

Countries

🇲🇴 MO

You Might Also Like

View all →
🌍 observance Feb 3

Mozambican Heroes Day

In 1962, FRELIMO. Founded. The Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) is founded to fight for the independence of Mozambique from Portuguese colonial rule

MO
📅 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:

MT
📅 holiday Feb 23

Defender of the Fatherland Day

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

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