📅 holiday

Mahasivarathri Day

Sunday, February 15, 2026

— days to go

Maha Shivratri in Sri Lanka is a Hindu holiday that gives Hindus an opportunity to pay tribute to Lord Shiva. In 2027, Mahasivarathri Day falls on Saturday 6 March. The holiday will be on Wednesday 23 February in 2028. It also allows Hindus to preserve sacred Hindu traditions. This holiday is closely related to the story of the Samudra Manthan and other events from Hindu texts. Since Hindus make up nearly 13 percent of the Sri Lankan population, Mah Shivrati is an important and exciting day in Sri Lanka. As a public holiday, Maha Shivrati gives Hindus and other Sri Lankans a chance to relax and spend time with their friends and family members. The story of the Samudra Manthan is commonly recited during Maha Shivrati. This is a story that demonstrates the love that Lord Shiva has for mankind. According to both oral and literary traditions, the Samudra Manthan was a period of warfare between gods and demons. The demons understood that the gods favoured humans, so they released a poison from the ocean to destroy humanity. Upon learning that the oceans were poisoned, many humans sought the guidance of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu told the humans that they should pray to Lord Shiva for assistance. Since Lord Shiva was caring, he responded to the prayers of the humans by consuming the poison. Many of the other gods feared that Shiva would perish if he was allowed to fall asleep with the poison still in his body. To prevent Shiva from dying in his sleep, the gods danced and played music throughout the night. When the poison was gone, Lord Shiva thanked the other gods and told the humans that they could enjoy good fortune if they were loyal to him during Maha Shivrati. Many Hindus also enjoy reciting the story of Lord Shiva and his burning pillar during Maha Shivrati. According to this story, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were overcome with hubris. Both of these gods thought that they were the most superior deity in the world. Lord Shiva did not enjoy seeing his two noble friends bickering and challenging each other, so he devised a clever ploy to end their conflict. When Vishnu and Brahma were arguing, Shiva intervened with an infinite pillar of flames. Since the pillar was infinite, it did not have ends. To prove their dominance over each other, Brahma and Vishnu raced in opposite directions to find an end of the pillar. After following the pillar for many years, Vishnu determined that the pillar was infinite. Lord Shiva confirmed that Vishnu was correct. Lord Brahma also failed to find an end, but he lied and told Vishnu and Shiva that he discovered the top of the pillar. Since Shiva knew the truth, he was deeply angered by Lord Brahma’s treachery. After Lord Shiva scolded Brahma, Brahma admitted that he was equal to Vishnu. This story represents Lord Shiva as a keeper of order. Maha Shivrati is a day of respect and obedience. Because of this, most of the celebratory activities are very religious. To show their respect for Lord Shiva and other Hindu gods, Hindus participate in the puja. The puja is a worship ritual that consists of many hymns and prayers. During Maha Shivrati, Hindus are expected to eat only small rations of milk and fruit. This allows people to show humility. Many Hindus also engage in long meditation sessions during Maha Shivrati. These meditations give Hindus opportunities to reflect on topics like religion and self-improvement. In every Hindu community, images and statues of Lord Shiva are paraded through the streets on decorated chariots. These processions are often accompanied by gifts of charity to less fortunate members of society. Hindus in Sri Lanka also visit temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva during this holiday. Some of the most popular temples for worshiping Lord Shiva are:

History

It also allows Hindus to preserve sacred Hindu traditions. This holiday is closely related to the story of the Samudra Manthan and other events from Hindu texts. Since Hindus make up nearly 13 percent of the Sri Lankan population, Mah Shivrati is an important and exciting day in Sri Lanka. According to both oral and literary traditions, the Samudra Manthan was a period of warfare between gods and demons. Since Lord Shiva was caring, he responded to the prayers of the humans by consuming the pois

How It's Celebrated

Maha Shivratri in Sri Lanka is a Hindu holiday that gives Hindus an opportunity to pay tribute to Lord Shiva. The holiday will be on Wednesday 23 February in 2028. It also allows Hindus to preserve sacred Hindu traditions. This holiday is closely related to the story of the Samudra Manthan and other

Other Years

2027 Sat

6 Mar

2028 Wed

23 Feb

2026 Sun

15 Feb

2025 Wed

26 Feb

Countries

🇱🇰 LK

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📅 holiday Nov 30

St Andrew's Day

Saint Andrew’s Day is celebrated every 30 November in Scotland. The day celebrates the Feast of Saint Andrew and is also considered Scotland’s National Day. In 2026, Saint Andrew's Day falls on Monday 30 November. The holiday will be on Tuesday 30 November in 2027. *Please refer to this note for Scotland-specific information. This patron saint day was declared a bank holiday in 2006 by the Scottish Parliament although banks are not required to close if they do not wish to. If 30 November occurs on a weekend, the bank holiday is moved to the following Monday. Saint Andrew is notable in that he was one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and was also the brother of Saint Peter. Before following Jesus, Andrew was a fisherman. He was born at Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. The main colour you will see in Scotland on Saint Andrew’s Day is the white diagonal cross on blue background of the Scottish flag – the Saltire. This is the Saint Andrew’s cross, and represents the shape of the cross on which Saint Andrew was said to have been crucified. The history of the Scottish link to Saint Andrew goes back as far as 832AD when Óengus II promised God that if the Scots and Picts were victorious in battle against the Angles he would make Saint Andrew the patron saint of Scotland. And they were. Saint Andrew’s Day’s amazing menus include cullen skink (haddock and potato soup), highland venison casseroles, potted hough (shin) with mustard sauce and Scottish tablet (a very sweet treat). Events around Scotland include flag ceremonies, the Shindig in George Square of Glasgow that features live music, and local celebrations in the town of Saint Andrews in the Kingdom of Fife. There is also free entry to many of Scotland’s castles and attractions on the day. Scotland has a free Saint Andrew’s Day app available for iPhone and Android with Scottish and worldwide events, menu ideas and much more.

📅 holiday Dec 26

Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti

The birth anniversary of freedom fighter Udham Singh, called “Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti”, is a public holiday in the Indian state of Haryana. In 2026, Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti falls on Saturday 26 December. The holiday will be on Sunday 26 December in 2027. From the British perspective, Shaheed Udham Singh was an assassin who killed their lieutenant governor of Punjab province on 13 March 1940. He shot Michael O’Dwyer to death at a meeting in London. He did not try to escape and was immediately arrested. In jail, he went on a hunger strike for over 40 days but was force fed to keep him alive until his execution on 31 July, 1940. In India, he is sometimes called “Shaheed i Azam”, which means “The Great Martyr”. The reason is that Michael O’Dwyer had supported a massacre of over 1,000 people over 20 years before he was assassinated. In 1919, riots broke out against British rule in Punjab, which were ultimately put down by firing on civilians, including women and children. There had been riots a few days before that had killed four Europeans and burned down some British banks, but the crowd fired upon is considered to have been a group of peaceful protesters. Mahatma Gandhi condemned the assassination, but many others, especially in his native province of Punjab, approved of it. There is a national memorial in the garden of Jallianwala Bagh in the Punjabi city of Amritsar, where the 1919 massacre took place, which mentions him honourably.

📅 holiday Aug 15

Assumption Day

Assumption Day is also known as the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is observed every 15 August in Lithuania. Assumption Day celebrates the day when, according to Catholic tradition and doctrine, the Virgin Mary was assumed bodily into Heaven. In 2026, Assumption Day falls on Saturday 15 August. The holiday will be on Sunday 15 August in 2027. The Assumption of Mary has been a church tradition since at least the 4th Century A.D., but it was not an officially recognised Catholic dogma until the 1950 declaration of Pope Pious XII. Over three-fourths of Lithuanians consider themselves Roman Catholic, so it’s no surprise that they have made Assumption of Mary a national holiday in their country. In Lithuania, however, ancient traditions are mixed in with Assumption Day teaching and practices. The day is called “Zoline” by many, a Lithuanian word meaning “Meadow Grass Day”. It became an official holiday only in 2000 but has been celebrated much longer. Flowers and wheatears are taken to churches on Zoline. It is a harvest tradition that has pagan roots but is now associated with Mary as the first of the Church, other than Jesus himself, to be given a glorified body. Thus, she is like the first of the new harvest in a spiritual comparison according to Roman Catholic teaching. There is a festival for Zoline in the town of Pivasiunai, which is the biggest such celebration in all Lithuania. It goes on for eight straight days. A painting of Mary with the baby Jesus is at the centre of the celebrations.

LTYTFR +42

📅 holiday Feb 25

EDSA Revolution Anniversary

The EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary occurs every 25 February in the Philippines. It commemorates the peaceful demonstrations that occurred in 1986 and led to the overthrow of the corrupt rule of President Ferdinand Marcos. In 2027, EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary falls on Thursday 25 February. The holiday will be on [Error: Data not found] in [Error: Data not found]. Note: Since 2010,The EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary has been a school holiday in the Philippines. This means that both public and private schools close down, while businesses remain open. In previous years, 25 February was a work holiday, but today, the Monday nearest that date is a holiday only for schools. The revolution is also known as the “Yellow Revolution” and the “EDSA Revolution” due to the colour worn by the original protesters and the street, Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue, where the protests took place. The demonstrations celebrated by this day were the culmination of unrest that began years earlier in 1983 and were immediately triggered by the assassination of opposition senator Benigno Aquino, Jr., and the widespread belief that elections had been rigged to keep Marcos in power. At the time, these were the largest non-violent demonstrations in the world, and they succeeded in toppling an oppressive autocrat without shedding a drop of blood. Today, the EDSA People Power Revolution Annversary is celebrated to remember when democracy was restored in the Philippines and as “the revolution that surprised the world”. The name of Marcos has remained synonymous with corruption to the present time, though there have been some efforts at historical revisionism. There are also those who decry the revolution as an example of “Imperial Manila” at work because few from outside the capital took part in the overthrow of Marcos. It is true that most People Power Revolution celebrations take place in and around Manila, but there are also celebrations throughout the country, showing that the Imperial Manila criticism is not held by all who live outside the capital. Many celebrate People Power Revolution by gathering in EDSA, wearing yellow, and attend concerts and church services in the vicinity to commemorate the 1986 events. The political party that led the revolution is known as “LABAN,” which means “fight,” and the crowds hold their hands up in an L-shape while gathered in EDSA to show support. Television and other media cover the event profusely each year, and documentaries on 1986 and general patriotic programming abound.