This official holiday in Cuba marks the day in 1868 when Cuba declared its autonomy from Spain. The declaration, called the Grito de Yara, began the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878), which was the first of three wars that Cuba fought against Spain for its freedom. Schools and offices in Cuba are closed on this day. Discuss
Category: Today’s Holiday
St. Denis's Day
Also known as St. Dionysius, St. Denis is the patron saint of France. According to legend, Pope Clement sent him to what is now France to establish the Church there, during the reign of Emperor Decius (249-251), but the pagans who greeted him did not treat him well. The most widely repeated legend is that they beheaded him on Martyr’s Hill—the place now known as Montmartre in Paris—but he miraculously picked up his head and carried it for two miles before expiring at the site where the Church of St. Denis was later built. Discuss
Ivy Day
October 6 is the anniversary of the death of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891), the famous Irish statesman and leader of the Home Rule Party. He is a symbol of Irish pride and independence, and his name appears frequently in Irish literature, particularly the poetry of William Butler Yeats and the short story in James Joyce’s Dubliners called “Ivy Day in the Committee Room.” It is somewhat ironic that the sprig of green ivy traditionally worn on this day—chosen by Parnell himself as an emblem—is a color he apparently intensely disliked. Discuss
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
In Assisi, Italy, the feast of St. Francis commemorates the saint’s transition to the afterlife. For two days the entire town is illuminated by oil lamps burning consecrated oil brought from a different Italian town each year. A parchment in St. Francis’s handwriting is taken to the top of the Santa Maria degli Angeli basilica and the people are blessed by the pope’s representative. In the United States, people bring their pets to church to be blessed on St. Francis’s feast day, because of his love for animals as expressed in his Canticle of Creatures. Discuss
Honduras Soldiers' Day
This celebration is held on the birthday of Francisco Morazán (1792–1842), a highly revered Honduran general and statesman. Morazán’s achievements as a military leader in various liberation struggles led the Honduran government to designate his birthday as the official date to honor the country’s soldiers. The day’s main celebration is a military parade that takes place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras’s capital city. The procession features the service members of every branch of the armed forces, along with dozens of tanks and artillery carriers. Discuss
Guinea Independence Day
Guinea became an independent republic on this day in 1958, after having been a French colony since the late 19th century. Independence Day is a national holiday celebrated all over the country with parades, dances, and sports competitions, especially in the capital city of Conakry. Discuss
Cyprus Independence Day
Cyprus gained independence from Great Britain on August 16, 1960. On that day, British governor Hugh Foot departed amid much ceremony, and Greek Cypriot freedom fighters landed on a plane from Athens with a heroes’ welcome. The new Cypriot president, Archbishop Makarios III (1913-1977), gave a speech inspiring Cypriots to improve their new nation. Independence Day is observed as a public holiday on October 1 each year. Discuss
Michaelmas
The Feast of the Archangel Michael, or the Day of St. Michael and All Angels, is a traditional feast day in the Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion, and Orthodox churches. Churches dedicated to Michael can be found in Asia and throughout coastal Europe, usually in places where Michael is reputed to have saved the community from the threat of a monster or giant. The ninth-century abbey Mont St.-Michel, off the coast of Normandy, France, once held the shield said to have been worn by Michael in his fight against the dragon. Discuss
Armenia Independence Day
On September 21, 1991, the Armenian people voted in favor of independence from the USSR; they were granted independence on December 26 of that year, by which time the former Soviet Union had collapsed. Armenia had been part of the Soviet Union since the 1920s. Discuss
Defenders' Day
Defenders’ Day, a legal holiday in Maryland, celebrates the anniversary of the battle of North Point. The battle took place near Baltimore on September 12, 1814; two days later, the unsuccessful British attack on Baltimore’s Fort McHenry inspired Francis Scott Key to jot down the words of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” For this reason the two events are celebrated more or less in conjunction on September 12. Defenders’ Day is celebrated with a number of patriotic events, including an annual mock bombardment of the fort on the weekend nearest September 12. Discuss