📅 holiday

Paraguay Independence Day

Thursday, May 14, 2026

— days to go

In 1524, Paraguay. Spanish explorer Alejo GarcÃa became the first European to reach Paraguay territory

History

Paraguay declared independence from Spain on May 14, 1811, following the Spanish American wars of independence. The territory was inhabited by the Guaraní people before Spanish explorer Alejo García arrived in 1524. Paraguay was part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata during colonial times, with Asunción as its capital. The independence movement was led by leaders including Bernardo de St. Martín and José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, who organized a revolution against Spanish authority. Paraguay's independence was declared on May 14, 1811, making it one of the first South American nations to break free from Spanish rule. The country subsequently experienced periods of dictatorship under Rodríguez de Francia and the Lopez family. May 14 commemorates Paraguay's independence day and the nation's emergence as a sovereign republic in the heart of South America.

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.

Countries

🇵🇦 PA

View all →

🎉 festival Jan 9

Panama's Martyrs' Day

Panama's Martyrs' Day, or Dia de los Martires, is a national day of mourning observed annually on January 9 in Panama, commemorating the Panamanian citizens who lost their lives during the 1964 protests against United States control of the Panama Canal Zone. On January 9, 1964, a dispute over the flying of the Panamanian flag alongside the American flag at Balboa High School in the Canal Zone escalated into a major confrontation between Panamanian civilians and U.S. military forces. Over three days of violent clashes, at least 22 Panamanians and 4 U.S. soldiers were killed, and hundreds more were wounded. The event, known as the Flag Incident or the Day of the Martyrs, marked a turning point in U.S.-Panama relations and was a crucial catalyst in the eventual negotiation of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977, which led to the full transfer of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control on December 31, 1999. Martyrs' Day is a public holiday in Panama, observed with solemn ceremonies, flag-raising events, and memorial services.

📅 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:

🌍 observance Feb 21

International Mother Language Day

Mother's Day, on the second Sunday in May in the U.S., honors mothers and maternal figures with gifts, cards, flowers, meals, and quality time. It is one of the busiest days for restaurants and florists.

BAPA

📅 holiday Feb 23

Defender of the Fatherland Day

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