Category: Today’s Holiday

First held in 1902 as part of the celebration for the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, the Battle of Flowers takes place on Jersey in the British Channel Islands every August. It begins with a parade of floats covered in flowers, many of which are quite elaborate and take months to prepare. Spectators no longer engage in a flower-throwing melee after the parade—these days the “battle” consists of a competition for the finest floats. A moonlight parade Friday night displays the floats with their illuminations and concludes with a fireworks finale. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Independence Day, or National Day, in Ecuador celebrates its independence movement of 1809. Freedom from Spanish rule was finally achieved on May 24, 1822. (That event is commemorated each year on May 24 with another holiday called Battle of Pichincha Day.) Patriotic festivities are held throughout the country, but particularly in the colorful capital city of Quito. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

On August 9, 1956, a protest march was held at the Union BuildingsUnion Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. Approximately 20,000 women participated in a peaceful march to protest against policies that restricted the rights of African women. Every year on August 9, people gather at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront Amphitheatre in Cape Town to celebrate National Women’s Day. This day celebrates the contributions and achievements women have made to society and for women’s rights, and to acknowledge the difficulties and prejudices many women still face. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) commemorates the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Allies in 1945, ending World War II. The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima on Aug. 6 and Nagasaki on Aug. 9, and the Soviet Union’s invasion of Manchuria in the previous week made the surrender inevitable. V-J Day is a legal holiday only in the state of Rhode Island, where it is called Victory Day. It is celebrated on the second Monday of August. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

During the 19th century, a large Irish immigrant population settled throughout the United States. One enclave established north of Columbus, Ohio, took the name of the capital of Ireland. In 1987, the first Dublin Irish Festival was held to commemorate the city’s rich heritage. One of the festival’s main events is the Columbus Feis, in which competitors square off in a Gaelic dance known as the ceilidh. Other activities include listening to storytelling and folklore at three cultural stages, eating traditional Irish food, shopping for imported Irish goods, and watching sheepherding demonstrations. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

As described in the first three Gospels, Jesus took his three closest disciples to a mountaintop to pray. While he was praying, his face shone like the sun and his garments became glistening white. Then a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from within the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This feast is observed by Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Lutherans, and Anglicans. The mountaintop on which the Transfiguration took place is traditionally believed to be Mount Tabor, a few miles east of Nazareth in Galilee. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

On this date in 1995, the Croatian Army defeated Serbian forces at the city of Knin in a decisive battle called Operation Storm. The victory enabled Croatia to regain control of the Serbian-declared breakaway Republic of Serbian Krajina. The main celebration of this national holiday takes place in Knin, where thousands gather to watch a parade and to listen to speeches by the country’s leaders. Church bells toll, and wreaths are laid in honor of those who died in the war. The national flag is hoisted atop of the fortress overlooking southern Knin as part of the celebration. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

The Dog Days are known as the hottest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and usually occur in July and early August. In ancient times, the sultry weather in Rome during these months often made people sick, which they blamed on the fact that this was when Sirius, the Dog Star, rose at about the same time as the sun. There are many different ways of calculating which days in any given year are the dog days, but it is impossible to be precise; nowadays it is generally assumed that they fall between July 3 and August 11—slightly later than they occurred in ancient times. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Costa Rica honors its patron saint, La Virgen de los Angeles (also known as La Negrita), on this day. La Negrita is a statue of the Virgin Mary carved in dark wood, which is how La Negrita (“little dark one”) earned its name. It is housed in the Basilica Virgen de Los Angeles in Cartago, next to a small stream. People from all over the country come to Cartago on August 2 to celebrate the mass at the Basilica, pray to Little Negrita, and collect water from the stream. Celebrations include street fairs, live music, and feasts throughout Costa Rica. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

This nationwide celebration of the Swiss Confederation is observed with torchlight processions, fireworks, shooting contests, and folkloric events. The day commemorates the occasion in 1291 when representatives of the three original cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden met on the Rutli meadow and swore an oath of alliance and mutual defense to lay the foundations of the Confederation. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary