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📅 holiday

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Thursday, January 1, 2026

— days to go

For visitors to Vatican City, all Roman Catholic holidays take on greater significance since they are celebrated in the Holy See and often include a sermon by the sitting Pope himself. But the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on 1 January is especially looked forward to each year. In 2027, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God falls on Friday 1 January. The holiday will be on Saturday 1 January in 2028. This holy day is devoted to remembering the motherhood of Mary in relation to Jesus. There are many other feast days dedicated to Mary as well, so the day is not just a general celebration of Mary but something more specific. Actually, the original emphasis of the term “Mother of God”, which was adopted at the Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431 was to affirm Christ’s Deity. Mary was merely recognised as the “bearer of God,” meaning that she was the vehicle through whom the Eternal Son entered the world clothed in human flesh. While most focus on New Year’s celebrations around the world, in The Vatican, 1 January is the occasion for a very special Papal Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The Pope gives a sermon on the meaning and significance of the Marian title “Mother of God” according to the faith of the Roman Catholic Church.

History

For visitors to Vatican City, all Roman Catholic holidays take on greater significance since they are celebrated in the Holy See and often include a sermon by the sitting Pope himself. But the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on 1 January is especially looked forward to each year. Actually, the original emphasis of the term “Mother of God”, which was adopted at the Council of Ephesus in A. While most focus on New Year’s celebrations around the world, in The Vatican, 1 January is the occasion for

How It's Celebrated

For visitors to Vatican City, all Roman Catholic holidays take on greater significance since they are celebrated in the Holy See and often include a sermon by the sitting Pope himself. The holiday will be on Saturday 1 January in 2028. There are many other feast days dedicated to Mary as well, so th

Other Years

2027 Fri
1 Jan
2028 Sat
1 Jan
2026 Thu
1 Jan
2025 Wed
1 Jan

Countries

🇻🇦 VA

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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:

MT
📅 holiday Feb 23

Defender of the Fatherland Day

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

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📅 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.

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📅 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.

US