Holidays? Why holidays?

I happened upon this idea by chance after reading a post from "On this day in History." As a fan of history and historical things, I thought about what issue I could explore for this blog. After much thought, I came to this: a blog dedicated to updating people on the happenings of religious and national holidays this year from around the world. As a fan of holidays and celebrations, it seemed like a natural choice, and I hope that readers have as much fun learning about different holidays as I have had researching them. Enjoy!

December 1: Freedom and Democracy Day

In Chad, today marks the Day of celebration for Freedom and Democracy. The holiday specifically commemorates the official ousting of Hissène Habré by Idriss Déby in 1990. After achieving independence in 1960 from France, François Tombalbaye

felt that Chad was not able to sustain itself purely on it's own resources, and hoped that France would aid in their democratic emergence. Unfortunately, rebels in 1963 began to threaten the nation, and in 1975, Tombalbaye was assassinated. His successor was unable to pacify the rebels, and in 1982, Habré's forces were able to take control and assert political dominance over the government. Habré eventually was forced out in December of 1990, and Idriss Déby,

 who was a member of the Patriotic Salvation Movement, became the president of Chad. As a measure of promoting safety and stability, the French government sent troops to the region. Today, government offices are closed and the people of Chad celebrate for Freedom and Democracy.

November 27: Thanksgiving

Unlike the popular myth of Thanksgiving, the first ever Thanksgiving was not between the pilgrims and the native people, but instead between settlers just north of the Jamestown colony (called Berkeley Hundred) in 1619. See photo for the American myth version that, while glamorous, is inaccurate. It has been celebrated in the US every year as a federal and national holiday since 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who hath dwelleth in the Heavens."Lincoln originally declared Thanksgiving to be on the final Thursday of November, instead of the fourth Thursday that is observed today.

Franklin D. Roosevelt is to thank for that change, when in 1939 he declared that Thanksgiving would be on the 4th Thursday. There is debate to the reasoning behind this, but many attribute it to his acknowledgment that having more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas would allow merchants to sell more goods than they would had the "season" not begun yet. That particular year, because there were to be 5 Thursdays in the month instead of the normal 4, made FDR nervous because the nation was still caught up in the Great Depression. Today, Thanksgiving is generally celebrated by the consumption of fall harvest foods, like sweet potatoes and cranberries, and turkey is cooked. The day is marked by parades (like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade) and football, and is considered to be a distinctly American holiday.

November 22: Albanian Alphabet Day

In Macedonia, November 22 is the commemorative day to celebrate the Congress of Manastir, who met from November 14 to November 22, 1908 with the goal of standardizing the Albanian alphabet. The alphabet, which prior to the Congress was comprised of 6 different alphabets, was made the most phonemically possible, meaning that it corresponded best to the written language.

Today, the holiday is a national holiday celebrated by Albania, Kosovo, and the Republic of Macedonia, as well as the Albanian diaspora. In 2008, festivities were held to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the congress, but most often the day is met with education in schools, with one hour of this day dedicated solely to the teaching about the congress and the language.

November 19: Discovery of Puerto Rico Day

On November 19, 1493, Puerto Rico was found (not discovered, as there were already people living there, Columbus wasn't great about these things) by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to what he called the West Indies. He was attempting to find more land to colonize in the name of Spain, under the name of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

The native people called the island Borinquen, and Columbus renamed it San Juan Bautista. The island would later become a great trading port for the Spanish empire, and thus renamed Puerto Rico, meaning "rich port." Puerto Rico celebrates today with a national holiday, and a huge parade shows the spirit of the public today. The flag can be seen almost anywhere today, as people happily wave it in praise of their discovery. The holiday is also celebrated in the US, and Jennifer Lopez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, participates in the parade (pictured in New York).

November 17:25th Anniversary of the Velvet Revolution

25 years ago today, a peaceful uprising against the Communist regime took place in Czechoslovakia. Demonstrators met against the government, and the result was the collapse after 41 years of Communist rule. The largest of the demonstrations was in Prague, the Czech Republic's current capital, on November 17, 1989. This was the first of many protests, which spanned from November 16/17 through December 29.

On the 28th of November, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia claimed that it would relinquish power, thereby dismantling the single-party state. Czechoslovakia held it's first democratic election in June of 1990, it's first since 1946. Today, the president of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, met and stood with presidents of Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia in celebration of the anniversary. He was surprised by eggs, which were thrown at him throughout a speech he made to commemorate the day. Many protestors today chant "Resign, Resign!" and carry banners that read "We don't want to be a Russian colony."

November 11: Veterans Day/Day of Remembrance

Today is known both as Veterans Day and Day of Remembrance for people of the US and the Commonwealth of Nations, respectively. Veterans day, celebrated in the US, honors people who have served in the armed forces, originally was born out of Armistice day, which recalls the end of hostilities of World War I.

It became a holiday in 1954, and unlike Memorial day, reflects on and appreciates the lives of veterans past and present. It is a federal holiday in the US, much like the Day of Remembrance for countries of the Commonwealth.

Day of Remembrance is more like memorial day, recalling veterans who have fallen in the line of combat. Traditionally, a red remembrance poppy is worn to commemorate the day, and represents the blood spilled in battle as a reference to the poem In Flanders Fields.

November 7: October Revolution Day

Russia was changed forever in 1917 when the Czar Nicholas II of Russia was overthrown by the Bolshevik Party, led by one Vladimir Lenin. Shortly after seizing control, the party signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with Germany in 1918, which ended the war for them.

War was not completely over, however, and civil war began between the Red (Bloshevik) and White (anti-Bolshevik) factions in Russia, which paved the way for the future USSR. Peasants took back land, and it marked the end of feudalism in Russia. Lenin became the leader of the first ever Marxist state, and it established itself in 1922 after defeating the White Army in 1920. Since the fall of the USSR, this holiday has largely fallen out of practice, but it is not completely gone. In it's place has come National Unity Day, or Consolidation day, which people celebrate on November 3/4. On National Unity Day, thousands of Russian Nationalists parade the streets in "Russian Marches", and leaders in Russia come together to make speeches and celebrate.

November 4: Day of Ashura

The Day of Ashura, as celebrated by Muslims, is a voluntary day of fasting that marks the day Noah left the Ark, the time when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, and the death of Imam Hussein, who is known as the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The day is widely regarded as one of fasting for remembrance and prayer for forgiveness, but some take it in a different context. Shi'a Muslims see this day as a remembrance of Hussein, who was killed in 680 AD in a battle against the Caliph in what is now Iraq. Some groups gather throughout towns and parade whilst whipping themselves or reenacting battle, showing their remembrance of his martyrdom.
 In less violent cases, black is worn and people mourn and pray to pay their respects.

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November 1: Samhain

Ending Halloween leads right into our next holiday: Samhain. This holiday, of Gaelic origin, celebrates the halfway point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice. It is one of the four season festivals, and accompanies Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh. Samhain is observed mainly in Ireland, but has spread into Scotland and Wales.

Samhain is seen as particularly special because it is believed to be the time in which it is easier for spirits and fairies to travel to Earth and have interaction with humans. According to Irish myth, Samhain was the time when the door to the Otherworld was the most open, and allowed the dead to be in closer connection with the living. Bonfires, dances, feasts, and alter construction are common practices on this holiday. It is largely celebrated by Pagans and Wicca.

October 31: Halloween

Halloween, Allhalloween, or All Hallows Eve are all acceptable names for this holiday. A Western, Christian precursor to All Saints Day, this holiday has transformed beyond a day of reverence for the dead and has moved toward a celebration of other aspects of life. It fits in with the original intent of Allhallowtide, which revolves around the theme of using humor and ridicule to confront the power of death, but has moved beyond that. Today, Halloween is characterized by dressing up, trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, attending parties and haunted houses, and watching horror films or reading scary stories.

In many parts of the world, religious observance of All Hallow's Eve includes attending services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead. Many of the modern customs, like wearing costumes, may be attributed to past practices like "souling," in which criers dressed in black paraded the streets, ringing bells of mournful sounds and calling on people to remember lost souls. Superstition is also somewhat present on this day, and black cats and witches have become some of the symbols of Halloween festivities.   

October 29: Boun Ok Phansa

Boun Ok Phansa is the end of Buddhist Lent, in which Buddhist monks and priests retreat during the rainy season and reemerge on this day. Candles lit on Khaon Pansa, which is characterized by a candle festival and offering time to Buddhist monks, will have burned through the rainy season. These show a physical illumination of the temple and a mental illumination of the mind. After these 3 months, young priests and monks are free to return home to celebrations and merriment in the form of Boun Ok Phansa. Rice offerings are given to the monks when they return, and banana leaf floats are set along the Mekong River in celebration of their return.

A boat racing festival follows, and people line the river to watch and cheer on the boats. It is a time of music and dancing, celebrations with copious amounts of food.

October 23: Diwali

Diwali is the largest festival in India, as it is celebrated across faiths (Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs) and has been declared a national holiday. Known the world over as "the festival of lights," Diwali is not only celebrated in India, though India does provide the largest celebration. It originated as a harvest festival that marked the final harvest before winter. Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, is worshiped as people hope for financial success in the new year (Diwali marks the first day of the new financial year). Festivities include family gatherings, the lighting of clay lamps called diyas,

fireworks, electric light strings across houses and other buildings, bonfires, decorations of flowers, and the sharing of sweets, as well as the worship of Lakshmi. Some believe that the clay lamps usher Lakshmi into their homes as she roams the Earth, while others say the light is more symbolic of light triumphing over darkness. Dhanteras, the first night, is characterized by cleaning and decorating, as well as massive shopping.

It is followed by Naraka Chaturdasi, which includes more decorating and food preparation. Lakshmi Puja contains the most celebration, with new clothing dawned and dijays lit. Padwa is the fourth day, celebrating love between husband and wife, followed by Bhai Duj, which celebrates siblings.

October 20: Nanomonestotse

In the early 1900s, Marion Young, a Native American woman, began passing ideals of peace to her descendants. She is credited in part with the foundation of Nanomonestotse, a celebration both of the coming of autumn and of peace. The word "nanomonestotse" means peace in the Cheyanne language, and the preparation takes place on the third Monday in October. The holiday is celebrated with the construction of miniature Native American villages by children, and introspection and reflection from adults. A celebration meal is served on the Friday following these preparations, and the message of the event is to say:

"Peace in our world

Peace in our village

Peace in our home

Peace in our hearts"

 

October 18: Sweetest Day

Welcome to the USA, where corporations can create holidays. That may sound cynical, but this story has sweet and humble beginnings. Sweetest Day comes to us from the Midwest, specifically from Cleveland, Ohio. The tradition started in 1921when 12 of the top candy and confectionary companies gave out 20,000 boxes of free candy to "newsboys, orphans, old folks, and the poor" in a show of goodwill and affection. The two staple cities for the production of this holiday were Cleveland and Detroit, with Sanders Candy Company in Detroit
campaigning to nationalize the holiday. It is more regional than national, but does have a large following. Today, it is viewed to some degree as a second Valentines day, serving as a time for loved ones to send one another candies, cards, and gifts. It is criticized for it's commercialization overall, but people enjoy showing affection to one another, and ultimately it's a day of love and care for people.

October 14: Double Ninth Festival

This holiday, celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar, is marked by festivities in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean communities. The tradition is derived from China originally, and is based on a story of a devil that lived in the Nu River,

causing disease amongst the neighboring people. Hengjing, who's parent died at the hands of the devil, went through great tasks to defeat the devil. He was told that by using the power of dogwood and chrysanthemums, he would be aided in destroying the devil and disease. Hengjing and villagers who bore these goods climbed the nearest mountain to wait for the spirit. When the devil did emerge, the chrysanthemums and dogwood distracted him, and Hengjing was able to defeat him. Today, festivities revolve around the consumption of chrysanthemum wine, carrying of driftwood, and the climbing of mountains to celebrate. Chongyang cake, a multi-layered cake with nuts and jujubes, is also enjoyed. Chrysanthemums bloom throughout, and it is a holiday with much joy.

October 12: Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity

Instead of celebrating the harbinger of disease and death to Americas, Argentina has taken a different route in celebrating what was formerly known as "Columbus Day." Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity has taken it's place, and it has been met with great celebrations and pledges of diversity and education. While appreciating Columbus

for pioneering exploration and interconnection through the "Columbian Exchange," this day has taken on a greater appreciation for the peoples that now inhabit Argentina as well as a celebration of the resistance against the arrival of Europeans in the Americans and an emphasis on the native races and cultures.The government of Argentina holds parades, marches, meetings, and cultural events for the education and edification of the public. They hope to encourage education on traditions and holidays. Costumes are worn, displaying the heritage of people throughout Argentina, and showing a celebration of culture that has come out of history.