📅 holiday

Mary Prince Day

Friday, July 31, 2026

— days to go

The Bermudan holiday once called Somers Day has been renamed Mary Prince Day in honour of the great abolitionist leader of Bermuda who was once herself a slave. The holiday occurs on the Friday preceding the first Monday in August each year. In 2026, Mary Prince Day falls on Friday 31 July. The holiday will be on Friday 30 July in 2027. Mary Prince Day takes place on the second day of a two-day Cup Match holiday season in Bermuda. This is a time when the island’s two major cricket teams square off. There are concerts, beach parties, and feasting and merriment all weekend long. Mary Prince was born in Bermuda as a slave girl but also spent time in the Caribbean Turks and Caicos Islands as a slave. She wrote a book detailing her life experiences as a slave and, in that way, became a major voice and lightning rod for the Abolitionist Movement. When slavery was finally abolished in Bermuda and throughout the British Empire in 1834, Mary Prince and her 1831 autobiography were a significant part of the reason it happened. She also became an abolitionist leader after her years in slavery had ended. On Mary Prince Day and throughout Cup Match Weekend, there are many special events. These include the annual “raft up” where rafts and other barely seaworthy boats compete to stay afloat rather than to win a race. And it includes the Bacchanal Run, which is officially a race but is more of a fun jaunt to the park followed by a hose-down on a hot day!

History

The Bermudan holiday once called Somers Day has been renamed Mary Prince Day in honour of the great abolitionist leader of Bermuda who was once herself a slave. The holiday occurs on the Friday preceding the first Monday in August each year. She wrote a book detailing her life experiences as a slave and, in that way, became a major voice and lightning rod for the Abolitionist Movement. When slavery was finally abolished in Bermuda and throughout the British Empire in 1834, Mary Prince and her 18

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2026 Fri

31 Jul

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30 Jul

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4 Aug

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1 Aug

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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.