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The latest news about holidays and special dates worldwide.

Three people in Krampus costumes at night in Bad Toelz, Germany.
Calendar

7 Weird and Wonderful Christmas Traditions

Call them strange, weird, or simply unusual: These seven Christmas traditions are certainly a special gift to the world.

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Latest Calendar & Holiday News

A large turkey float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, surrounded by confetti and a crowd of spectators on a city street in New York.
Thanksgiving Around the World
How do other countries celebrate Thanksgiving? We give you four thankful festivals from Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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Late afternoon at the Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City's main opera and theatre house. A extravagant neoclassical building from 1934.
New Holiday in Mexico City for 2026 World Cup Kickoff?
Mexico's capital wants to add a local holiday for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff match at Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026.

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Interior of a riad or inner courtyard with an opening for the sky in Marrakesh, Morroco.
New Public Holiday in Morocco Celebrates UN Resolution
Morocco designates October 31 as a national holiday from 2026, marking a UN resolution supporting its autonomy plan for Western Sahara.

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The skyline of Seoul City, South Korea, seen at sunset.
South Korea Changes May 1 Holiday
From 2026, South Korea will call May 1 Labor Day (Nodongjeol) again. Today it’s a paid day off only for Labor Standards Act workers; the government aims to make it a public holiday for all employees.

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Landscape of Cairo, with the pyramids of Giza in the background.
Egypt: Public Holiday for Monumental Museum Opening
Egypt will observe a public holiday on Saturday, November 1, 2025, to celebrate the Grand Egyptian Museum’s opening just 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Giza Pyramids—an ambitious, decades-long project showcasing 100,000+ artifacts, including Tutankhamun’s treasures.

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A yellow tramway is winding its way through the aging cityblocks of Sofia, Bulgaria. The street shows blue mountains in the horizon.
Bulgaria Sets Up 5-Day New Year Break for Euro Changeover
Bulgaria plans two extra days off—Dec 31 and Jan 2—to prepare systems for adopting the euro on Jan 1, 2026. If approved, New Year’s becomes a five-day break from work for many.

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Elephant carrying large load of leaves a busy road in central Kathmandu in Nepal.
Nepal Declares Public Holidays for Safety
After landslides killed dozens, Nepal took an unusual step: two national holidays to keep people off risky roads and free space for rescue teams. Here’s how emergency “holidays” work—and why this creates a rare three-day break.

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Italian flag blowing in Piazza dell'Unità, Trieste.
Will Italians Get an Additional Holiday in October?
Italy restores October 4 as a national holiday for Saint Francis, but a calendar issue will delay its real effect until 2027 and make Italians miss an additional day off.

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The attorney general chambers building in Gaborone, Botswana, photographed with longer exposure in the evening hours, showing streaking lights of cars in front of a glass and metal office building.
Botswana’s 5-Day Weekend Celebrates Athletics Gold
Botswana added a public holiday on September 29, 2025, turning its Independence Day celebrations into a rare five-day weekend after winning historic World Athletics Championships gold in the men’s 4×400 relay.

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St. Peter's Basilica in front of a beautiful sunrise, Vatican City, Rome, Italy.
Vatican Marks Pope’s Name Day with Public Holiday
The Vatican City State started observing September 17 as a public holiday for Pope Leo XIV’s name day, the Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine.

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The skyline of Seoul City, South Korea, seen at sunset.
Will South Korea Have a 10-Day Holiday in October?
South Korea’s calendar hinted at a rare 10-day October break, but officials now say it won’t happen. Concerns include lost productivity, small business strain, and spending shifts abroad rather than at home.

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California state flag, flying in the wind in front of a setting sun. The flag shows a single red star in the canton, a red stripe along the bottom, and a California grizzly bear atop a mound of green grass defacing a white field.
California Recognizes Diwali as a Public Holiday
California joined other US states in recognizing Diwali. The first celebration of the new state holiday will be November 8, 2026.

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A smiling black woman pointing to a blackboard with math equations.
Why September 27, 2025, Is Mathematical Perfection
This only happens eight times this century: September 27, 2025, is a rare “global” square date.

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Aerial photo showing Perth (Elizabeth Quay) at sunset with an urban scene of scyscrapers, metal, and glass, reflecting in the waters below.
Western Australia May Overhaul Public Holiday Calendar
Australia’s largest state is considering adding Easter Saturday and a new Show Day as public holidays while moving three other holidays starting in 2028.

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Historic building with the Paraguayan flag flying on top.
Paraguay’s Soccer Holiday Boosts Spending
The holiday, declared after the national soccer team qualified for the 2026 World Cup, lifted consumer spending across multiple sectors despite higher costs for employers.

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Celebrating Constitution Day in Norway
As we are based in Stavanger, Norway, here at timeanddate.com, we are counting down to celebrate our Constitution Day on May 17. The date is obvious even for non-Norwegians.

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The standard meter engraved in stone on the left of the entrance of the French Ministère de la Justice in Paris, France.
In 1875, 17 Countries Signed the Metre Convention
May 20 is the 150th anniversary of the Metre Convention. The meter is the standard unit of length—it’s even part of day-to-day life in the USA.

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Orange Supermoon rises over a city skyline with tall buildings, dark sky, and foreground rooftops.
A Moonlit Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day comes with a cosmic companion in 2025.

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A man standing in front of a very large blackboard with math equations scribbled all over it.
2025 Is Oddly Satisfying for Math Nerds
2025 hasn’t exactly been a square year so far. But for number wonks, it’s square. Perfectly square.

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Skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, under a Full Moon.
Full Moon Holidays 2025
Celebrate under the light of the Moon—from Mother's Day to Guy Fawkes Night.

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Illustration of two people sitting on a tree branch, watching the full moon.
Valentine’s Day 2025: A Moon for Lovers
A bright silvery Moon sets the scene for a romantic night on February 14, making it an unofficial Full Moon holiday.

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Two men with foam hands and a football are watching a game on TV.
Super Bowl Monday: A New US Holiday?
Lawmakers consider making ‘Super Sick Monday’ a holiday as millions struggle after Super Bowl Sunday.

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Illustration of a yellow snake winding around a tree branch with blossoming flowers and an Asian style lantern.
Year of the Snake 2025: New Moon and Lunar Celebrations
The Year of the Snake begins with the New Moon on January 29, 2025. Millions of people traditionally celebrate this lunisolar event.

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A man overlooks dramatic cliffs on the Australian coast
Best Days to Take Off in 2025 (Australia)
Create more time for relaxation or adventure in 2025 by taking the right days off work.

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Two people standing on SUPs on a beautiful lake surrounded by wooded mountains.
Best Days to Take Off in 2025 (Canada)
Create long weekends throughout the year by adding your time off to public holidays.

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Two people sitting in deck chairs in a sunny park.
Best Days to Take Off in 2025 (UK)
Take these days off work to create several long-weekend breaks in 2025.

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Two smiling men sitting in camping chairs by a river and holding fishing rods.
Best Days to Take Off in 2025 (USA)
Get the most out of holiday time in the United States this year by combining your days off with national holidays.

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A young woman’s hand holds a glass of champagne and a sparkler.
Three Surprising Facts about New Year’s 2025
The stroke of midnight December 31 brings a deceptive count, a dose of Sun confusion, and multiple midnights to the occasion.

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Close-up of a handmade advent calendar with small bags, greenery, and numbered heart-shaped clips on a wall.
25 Interesting Facts About Christmas
We’ll help you pass the time while waiting for Christmas. Here’s our list of what you did and didn’t know about the holidays.

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Traffic at sunset in Seoul, South Korea. Cars rushing along a highway in front of skyscrapers.
Chuseok: The Korean Thanksgiving Traffic Chaos
Every autumn, on a Full Moon, South Koreans suddenly leave their capital city, causing hour-long traffic jams. The reason is an ancient holiday connected to the Moon.

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Midsummer night at the beach in Skagen with bonfire as symbol of long summer days.
A Midsummer Night’s Moon
Summer celebrations fall on a Full Moon night this year, making Midsummer one of 417 Full Moon holidays in 2024. Coincidence? Or are some holidays designed for Full Moons?

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Illustration of Buddha sitting on the ground in a lotus position with a big cake in front of him.
Buddha’s Birthday: A Celebration Across Different Dates
Buddhists in many countries celebrate Buddha’s Birthday on May 22 and May 23. Elsewhere, the holiday fell on March 23, April 8, and May 15. Why so many dates?

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Map showing all countries celebrating a form of Mother’s Day around the world with the respective dates
When Is Mother’s Day Celebrated Worldwide?
Discover the varying dates of Mother’s Day across the globe. While most countries mark this special occasion in May, others choose March or even December.

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Three crosses on a mountain, signifying Easter or the resurrection of Christ
Why Is Easter 35 Days Late?
Did you know that there are two Easter dates? One date is 35 days late this year. The reasons are lunar cycles and calendar computations.

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A view of the planet Mars.
Why Mars Has More Leap Years than Earth
Earthlings are in for another Leap Day next week. That got us wondering: Do Martians have Leap Days, too?

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Portrait of George Washington in oil.
Which Day of the Week Were Most US Presidents Born On?
And what is the birthday connection between Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden?

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Illustration of a oriental dragon
Why Is the 2024 Lunar New Year So Late?
Billions of people celebrate the Lunar New Year and have to keep up with its shifting date. In 2024, the lunar year starts 19 days later than in 2023. The culprit? Hiding in the sky.

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A photo showing a red earth desert area in Australia where three different time zones meet.
Where to Celebrate New Year’s Twice (or Thrice!)
There are places on Earth where simply taking a short trip can give you the chance to ring in the New Year more than once.

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25 Interesting Facts About Christmas
We’ll help you pass the time while waiting for Christmas. Here’s our list of what you did and didn’t know about the holidays.

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A woman in traditional Indian clothing looking at the Full Moon through a sieve.
Karwa Chauth 2023
This Indian festival has millions of people search for moonrise times each year.

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People sitting in the grass outside a colorful row of houses.
When Is Labor Day This Year?
Only two major countries celebrate Labor Day in September—but why? And when is Labor Day this year?

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Firework at night in a park in Bangkok, Thailand
Independence Day: Global Celebrations
A look at revolutions and celebrations around the world—including a nation that celebrates independence from the Roman Empire.

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Waving flags: One for the coronation of Charles III (foreground) and the Union Jack (background)
New Holidays for King Charles III
The United Kingdom has a new king, and Charles III’s coronation on May 6, 2023 has allowed many countries around the world to introduce new bank holidays in his honor.

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The solar corona, as seen during the "Great American Eclipse" on August 21, 2017.
Will "New Moon Eclipse" Shorten Ramadan?
Could the Muslim month of Ramadan be cut short by a solar eclipse? The answer lies in religious translations and the term “New Moon.”

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Colorful flags flying, the Royal Standard and the Union Jack
These Holidays Change After the Queen’s Death
In the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death, several holidays and observances have been changed—not just in the United Kingdom. We have compiled a list of changes in countries around the world.

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