📅 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

View all →

📅 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.