Category: Today’s Holiday

Widely recognized as Canada’s national air show, this three-day event is an opportunity for the aviation industry to display the latest developments in civilian aircraft. Since the first show was held in 1962, it has included aerobatic performances by the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Air Force, the Snowbirds Jet Team and the US Air Force’s Thunderbirds. There is also a large banquet featuring well-known personalities in the aviation and aerospace fields. The show is held at the airport in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and is regularly attended by upwards of 200,000 people. Discuss

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

Singapore National Day is a public holiday in Singapore to commemorate its independence. Singapore was the administrative seat for the Straits Settlements, a British crown colony, from 1867 until it was occupied by Japan in World War II. It was restored to Britain in 1945, became a part of Malaysia in 1963, and became independent in 1965. The holiday is celebrated with a spectacular parade, cultural dances, and fireworks. Discuss

This ceremony has been held each year since 1947 at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb that devastated the city in 1945. On August 15, Japan surrendered, ending World War II. The peace ceremony is held in the evening, when the city’s citizens set thousands of lanterns adrift on the Ota River and prayers are offered for world peace. Memorial services are also held throughout the world. Discuss

The Gambia, a former British colony in West Africa, celebrates the anniversary of a coup in 1994 that ousted the country’s president, Sir Dawda Jawara, and ushered in a military government. Following the bloodless coup, the government made the transition to civilian leadership and the people elected Yahya Jammeh president. The commemoration is essentially a vehicle to show the Gambian people’s approval of their president. Past celebrations have included the unveiling of new development initiatives as well as cultural festivities. Discuss

The first man to walk on the moon was American astronaut Neil Armstrong. On July 20, 1969, he and his fellow astronaut, Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, left the command module and landed the lunar module Eagle on the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong’s first words as he stepped out on the lunar surface were heard by an estimated 600 million viewers: “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” The Apollo 11 mission was completed eight years after President John F. Kennedy told Congress he believed that the United States could put a man on the moon before the decade ended. Discuss

The town of Itatí is situated on the banks of Argentina‘s Paraná River. Two days before the well-known festival of Neustra Señora de Itatí, which is held on July 16, thousands of pilgrims begin to arrive from San Luis de Palmar in a seemingly endless procession of people on horseback, in carts, and on foot; festival goers arrive from all over Argentina as well. Worship services take place on the 16th in the huge basilica that guards the copper statue of the Virgin, which is more than 24 feet high. Pilgrims even ascend up into the statue until their heads reach the Virgin’s crown. Discuss

In Greco-Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux were twin gods who helped shipwrecked sailors and received sacrifices for favorable winds. Worshipped as the Dioscuri (from the Greek Dioskouroi, or “sons of Zeus”), their cult was a popular one in 484 BCE, when, according to legend, the twins fought on the side of the Romans in the Battle of Lake Regillus and brought word of their victory to Rome. A temple was built for them in the Forum, and it was here that the annual festival in their honor was celebrated on July 15. Discuss

Each of the autonomous regions of Belgium observes its own feast day. The Flemish Community celebrates its heritage on the anniversary of The Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302. On the feast day, all Flemish governmental offices close for the holiday. Various cities, municipalities, and private groups hold cultural events; local Flemings and those resettled throughout the world pause to give a toast to Flanders; and many gather to hear the minister-president of the Flemish Community deliver a speech marking the anniversary. Discuss

What began in 1971 as a friendly camel race between two Alice Springs Lions Club members has grown into a major Australian event. Camels thrive in Alice Springs, which has one of the driest and harshest climates in Australia. Today the Camel Cup takes place at Blatherskite Park in Alice Springs and is only one of several camel-oriented events, which are accompanied by the eating and beer-drinking that are a hallmark of so many Australian festivals. Other events include polo on camels, helicopter rides, rickshaw races, the Miss Camel Cup competition, and fireworks. Discuss