📅 holiday

Otago Anniversary Day

Monday, March 23, 2026

— days to go

Otago Anniversary Day is a public holiday each year on the Monday nearest to 23 March. National law provides for the celebration of regional founding day holidays throughout the country, though the details and ways of determining exact dates vary from place to place. In the most southerly third of South Island, the whole region was originally Otago Province. Settlers arrived 23 march, 1848, on two ships sent by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland. They founded the town of Otago, and in 1853, Otago Province was created. All provinces were abolished in New Zealand in 1876, but the whole region still observes Otago Anniversary Day, not just the town of Otago. The landing date of 23 March forms the basis for the holiday, but for convenience’s sake, Otago Anniversary Day is instead observed on the Monday nearest to 23 March. There are many local events going on throughout Otago Region on Otago Anniversary Day, but it can vary from year to year. The main hub of action is the city of Dunedin. Many also take this off-work day as an opportunity to get in touch with nature, perhaps, by biking the rail trail through the breath-taking wilderness area near Dunedin.

History

Settlement of Otago. The first Scottish settlers arrived in Otago Harbor, New Zealand, forming the settlement which later became Dunedin city This observance marks an important moment in history, remembered annually for its cultural and historical significance.

How It's Celebrated

Celebrate by learning more about the occasion, sharing on social media with relevant hashtags, participating in community events, or taking small personal actions that align with the day's theme.

Other Years

2027 Mon

22 Mar

2028 Mon

20 Mar

2026 Mon

23 Mar

2025 Mon

24 Mar

Countries

🇳🇿 NZ

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🌍 observance Jan 20

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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: