Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 12th 2014 we celebrate

Xicolatada

Years ago August 15th was a festival day (not sure what for or why) in Catalonia and the people would drink to excess. A local merchant said that hot chocolate was the best cure for hangovers and offered them to the town folks.  This turned into a tradition that has lasted for over 300 years.

Happy Xicolatada!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 15th 2014 we celebrate

Gwangbokjeol (South Korean Independence Day)

Celebrating the day when Korea was liberated from Japan in 1945. It is also the day when South Korea became its own country 3 years later.  Along with speeches being given by important politicians, most museums and public transportation are free this day. People are encouraged to fly the nations flag.

Happy Gwangbokjeol!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 14th 2014 we celebrate

Independence Day Pakistan

August 14th, 1947, Pakistan received its independence from Great Britain along with separating from India. The day is now celebrated with the flag being displayed throughout the country, the President and Prime Minister broadcasting speeches to the nation, 31 gun salute in the capital, as well as parades and the traditional fireworks.

The weeks prior to the celebration are filled with sports and cultural festivals as well.

Happy Independence Day Pakistan!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 13th 2014 we celebrate

Awa-Odori Folk Dance Festival

A festival of both dancing and music, held in Tokushima, it is said to have originated in 1587 when the lord of the land wished to celebrate the building of his new castle. The sake flowed so freely that the whole town became drunk and started to dance in an unsteady gait. Today the people will split into groups of men and women and dance throughout the town to drums and gongs. The dance consists of moving the left arm with the left leg and the right arm with the right leg while saying “It’s a fool who dances and a fool who watches! If both are fools, you might as well have fun dancing!”

Happy Awa-Odori Folk Dance Festival!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 12th 2014 we celebrate

Torch Festival Yi people of China

The current celebration started in 1993 and consists of wrestling, horse racing, dance shows and a beauty contest. Historically it is to remember the the wrestler Atilaba who drove away a locust plague using torches. Celebrated by the Yi people, one of the 55 ethnic minority groups in China. A culture of 8 million people, they have their own written language that dates back some 3,000 years as well as their own religious practices.

Happy Torch Festival!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 11th 2014 we celebrate

Independence Day Chad

Chad, a country in central Africa, received its independence from France in 1960. As early as 9,000 years ago the area in what is now the northern part of Chad became a good place for human habitation. Having several different empires and cultures living in the area since that time till the 1920s when, during Frances colonizing time, secured control of the area.

Happy Independence Day Chad!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 10th 2014 we celebrate

Melon Day

Celebrated in Turkmenistan since 1994, the day is set aside for the muskmelon or Turkmenbashi melon (named after the first president of Turkmenistan). Turkmenbashi mean leader of the Turkmen, and is what the first president liked to be called. He established the day to celebrate many of the great things about the country and used the melon as a symbol of this. There are displays to the fruit of course but also music and dancing festivals as well.

Happy Melon Day!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 9th 2014 we celebrate

National Day Singapore

Celebrating the day when Singapore gained its independence from Malaysia in 1965, the day will have a parade, a speech from the Prime Minister and fireworks at night.

Happy National Day Singapore!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 8th 2014 we celebrate

Name Day the Queen of Sweden

Through out the year in Sweden there are a number of flag days, where it is traditional to fly the flag in recognition. The name day of Queen Silvia of Sweden is one of them. The longest serving Queen consort of Sweden, been enthroned since 1976.

Happy Name Day Queen Silvia!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 7th 2014 we celebrate

Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri

A new festival (by Japanese standards) started in 1964 in Tohoku, it is now one of the four major festivals of the area.

A parade that now has up to 10,000 individual dancers wearing hanagasa (a hat decorated with artificial flowers) originally had them doing the same choreography. Today the 100 different groups, who are all dressed the same will have their own interpretation of the dance.

Happy Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 6th 2014 we celebrate

Independence Day Bolivia

Bolivia, a nation in South America, declared its independence on August 6th, 1825, after years of being ruled by Spain.

The day starts with Congress meeting in the same hall that the Declaration of Independence was signed, Casa de la Libertad. Speeches are given and as are calls for unity within the country. The president will also give a speech though the tradition that it be done in this location has recently changed. It was decided in 2010 that the president will visit different cities to make this much more inclusive.

The celebrations in the different locations mostly consist of parades though there are also cultural festivals around the nation.

Happy Independence Day Bolivia.

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 5th 2014 we celebrate

Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri

In both the Aomori and Hirosaki areas this festival has been celebrated since the 800s. A parade of bamboo and wooden frames covered with paper illustrations depicting famous historical persons as well as samurai warriors. The images will also sometimes have animals as well.

Happy Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 4th 2014 we celebrate

Akita Kanto Matsuri

One of the three main festivals of the Tohoku region in Japan, the festival is dedicated to the five grains; wheat, rice, beans, foxtail millet and Chinese millet.

During the festival bamboo poles, reaching over 26 feet in height with 46 paper lanterns shaped like rice bags are carried by young people. These kanto, as they are called are used to drive away evil spirits. Weighing up to 130 pounds, the kanto are paraded through the town by people wearing short jackets, hachimaki headbands, white tabi socks and sori straw sandals while not using their hands.  The poles are supported using hips shoulders and foreheads.

Happy Akita Kanto Matsuri!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 3rd 2014 we celebrate

Independence Day Niger

A country in west central Africa that received its independence on August 3, 1960. Throughout the country there are festivals celebrating the independence but the day has also been repurposed to be an arbor day as well. Every person in the country is supposed to plant a tree to help fight desertification.

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 2st 2014 we celebrate

Virgen de los Angeles - Patron Saint of Costa Rica

On August 2, 1653, the story goes that a local woman found a representation of the Virgin Mary. She tried to take this somewhere and twice it reappeared back at the location where she found it. The people then built a shrine where it stood. In 1824, it was taken as the patron saint of Costa Rica. Many people from around the country will walk the distance from the capital to the shrine every year on this day, some 22 kilometers, some even making the last of the journey on their knees.

Happy Virgen de los Angeles!

Republic Day Macedonia

Celebrating two events that both happened on this day that contribute to the current country of Macedonia, located in part of the area that was once the Turkish Empire,  The first of these events was the Llinden Uprising in 1903, when for a short time there was a Macedonian Republic. Then in 1944, the first assembly of ASNOM, helped to establish what today is the current nation. The holiday has been celebrated since 1944. It also happens to fall on Saint Elijah day, a holiday that has been important in the area for many many years. On this day there will be a parade of horses from the Capital Skopje to where the Uprising happened, Krusevo.

Happy Republic Day Macedonia!

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.

Hello and welcome to Holiday a Day, your daily dose of Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world.

I’m Jeffrey Johnson

On August 1st  2014 we celebrate

The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833

This was the Act of Parliament of Great Britain that outlawed slavery in the British Empire save for a few areas that were covered by other acts. Today mostly celebrated as part of Carnival in the Caribbean, it still an important turning point in the West's understanding and treatment of their fellow human beings. In reality it only freed those who were six years and younger, but did mark the beginning of the end of slavery in the Empire.

Also on August 1st

Minden Day

Soldiers of certain British regiments wear roses on their head gear on this day to mark their regiments involvement during the Battle of Minden during the 7 years war in 1759. It was thought to be a turning point during the war.

And keeping with the theme of  Great Britain

Yorkshire Day

A day to celebrate the distinctive culture of the people of Yorkshire, the day was chosen to coincide with both Minden Day and the Abolition of Slavery. Minden Day as one of the regiments during the battle was from there and the Abolition of Slavery because a key figure in the championing of the cause in the British Parliament was from Yorkshire.  Through out the county events take place to show off Yorkshire pride.

Happy Yorkshire Day

If I have missed anything for this date or if you think I might miss a future holiday let me know by emailing me at holidayaday@gmail.com or you can tweet me @holidayaday. Remeber to subscribe to the podcast at “Holiday a Day” in iTunes or Stitcher or you can just visit holidayaday.com so you won’t miss out on any celebrations

And remember to have a great day because there is a holiday out there somewhere.