National celebrations

Discussion in 'The Guru's Pub' started by thatguy91, Nov 28, 2015.

  1. thatguy91

    thatguy91 Guest

    I see many non United States of American's on here, like myself. Since Thanksgiving is strictly a US holiday and really holds no meaning elsewhere, what celebrations do your countries have that are country specific?

    In Australia, we have, as public holidays or other major events:
    • Australia day (26 January)
    • ANZAC day (also celebrated as a public holiday in New Zealand, with ceremonies in several other countries)
    • Queen's birthday, more of an excuse for a public holiday I think, seeing as different states have it at different times of the year (none of which is the actual queen's birthday!). Other Commonwealth countries have this as well, but never on the same dates!
    • Horse racing. No, I'm not kidding! South Australia (where I live) has a statewide public holiday for Adelaide Cup day. Melbourne has a city public holiday for the Melbourne Cup
    • Melbourne Cup, as mentioned above, does actually kind of 'stops the nation'. In workplaces around the country people watch it or list to it, and put on social bets. This isn't just the odd workplace, I mean literally everywhere!

    What national events or public holidays do you celebrate in your country? Events etc should be limited to state wide or national events, and events that have some uniqueness to your country or state.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2015
  2. Fox2232

    Fox2232 Guest

    Messages:
    11,808
    Likes Received:
    3,371
    GPU:
    6900XT+AW@240Hz
    Here are ours:
    • January 1st - split of Czechoslovakia to Czech Republic And Slovakia (Did no good to anyone except appointed officials in Slovakia.)
    • April (Sometimes March) - Easter Monday - Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Exact Date is connected to Equinox and Moon cycle.)
    • May 1st - May Day
    • May 8th - End of WWII
    • May 10th - Mother's Day
    • July 5th - Saints Cyril (Constantine) and Metodej (Methodius) Day - They are source of our special letters and most core grammar we have as they unified it
    • July 6th - Burning execution of Mr. Jan Hus in Konstanz for not giving up on his belief that Catholic Church has to be reformed
    • September 28th - Den Svateho Vaclav-a (Saint Wenceslaus Day) - Duke which brought peace to region. he has been given title of king post mortem by Roman Emperor.
    • October 28th - Foundation of Czechoslovakia in 1918
    • November 17th - 1989 protests which ultimately led to end of communist era in Czechoslovakia (How sadly those people think about that day today...)
    • December 24th - Christmas Eve
    • December 25th - Christmas Day
    • December 26th - Svaty Stepan (Saint Stephen)
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2015
  3. thatguy91

    thatguy91 Guest

    We have Easter and Christmas holidays too of course, as well as New Years day. In South Australia, we have the South Australia proclamation day instead of Boxing day.

    In South Australia, Christmas Eve is only a public holiday between 7 pm and midnight. Tasmania also has Easter Tuesday as a public holiday. Each state in Australia has the core holidays then specific state holidays. For instance, Labour day is a different time of the year in some states.

    The other time of observation is 1100 hours on 11 November, but this is in numerous countries. Not sure how formal other countries observe it though, most radio stations here will have either a minutes silence or play the last post. It is otherwise a normal day.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2015
  4. airbud7

    airbud7 Guest

    Messages:
    7,833
    Likes Received:
    4,797
    GPU:
    pny gtx 1060 xlr8
    Here are a few...

    Martin Luther King Day

    Presidents' Day

    Valentine's Day (Observance)

    St. Patrick's Day (Observance)

    Memorial Day

    Veterans Day

    Thanksgiving Day

    TidBit:

    According to data, the U.S. is the only country out of all those featured that does not require employers to give their workers paid leave.

    [​IMG]

    Give us a break: This graphic shows that Brazil, Bolivia, the U.K. and others parts of Europe lead the world in paid vacation time - whereas American workers are not legally entitled to any paid days off :bang:
     

  5. Fox2232

    Fox2232 Guest

    Messages:
    11,808
    Likes Received:
    3,371
    GPU:
    6900XT+AW@240Hz
    We have 20 days guaranteed by law (for people working 8 hours long shifts).
    On other hand, here people are rarely taking non paid leave of absence as local economical situation does not allow them to. In Germany, people take their regular vacation, then they take few weeks of non-paid vacation.
     
  6. thatguy91

    thatguy91 Guest

    I forgot that Victoria also has a public holiday on the Friday before the AFL Grand Final (Aussie Rules football), and certain rural towns apparently have additional holidays specific to the area.

    Another interesting thing in South Australia is that every Sunday is technically a public holiday under the Holidays Act of 1910. Basically it's not quite like other public holidays, the main difference is that people working on Sunday's get time and a half. This recently dropped from double time.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 28, 2015
  7. elkosith

    elkosith Maha Guru

    Messages:
    1,433
    Likes Received:
    19
    GPU:
    PowerColor RX 6600
    We have 14 official national public holidays.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Indonesia

    We also have extra 7 - 10 days during the Islamic Eid al-Fitr festival.
    Beside official holiday, there are the so-called "cuti bersama", or joint leave(s) declared nationwide by the government.

    And as a teacher I get extra 2 months of holidays in a year
     
  8. anticupidon

    anticupidon Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    7,864
    Likes Received:
    4,115
    GPU:
    Polaris/Vega/Navi
  9. Fox2232

    Fox2232 Guest

    Messages:
    11,808
    Likes Received:
    3,371
    GPU:
    6900XT+AW@240Hz
    Interesting, You have there "Good Friday" for crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We are celebrating 3 days later his resurrection.

    I wonder which is better, our hope in God and miracles or yours reminder that bad people go around killing even those nicest of us.
     
  10. Clouseau

    Clouseau Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    2,841
    Likes Received:
    508
    GPU:
    ZOTAC AMP RTX 3070
    While technically correct (FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act), one needs to consider employers by the fringe benefit package that is offered. Paid leave is considered part of the benefit package. Not all companies offer PTO (paid time off: vacation and sick leave accrued into one pool) but still have separate vacation, and sick leave banks. Paid holidays are in addition to this. Not all companies offer the same accrual rate either. When first started, PTO was accrued at two weeks per year in addition to 12 paid holiday days. Now earning 8.31 hours every two weeks with a max accrual of 260 hours. Also work for one of the few places that still offer COLAs and allow the sale of vacation time (pay in lieu of leave): exempt employees are required to take a minimum of 40 hours off in a row per year. This is all part of doing research on the organization one chooses to work for.
     
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2015

  11. Twiddles

    Twiddles Maha Guru

    Messages:
    1,155
    Likes Received:
    11
    GPU:
    MSI 2080 2190-7550
  12. Ryu5uzaku

    Ryu5uzaku Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    7,546
    Likes Received:
    608
    GPU:
    6800 XT
    Ours
    • January 1st - First day of the new year
    • January 6th - Epiphany
    • April (Sometimes March) - Easter Monday and Good friday - Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Exact Date is connected to Equinox and Moon cycle.)
    • May 1st - May Day
    • Feast of the Ascension every 40th day after easter. Tho aimed at thursdays
    • Between june 20th and 26th - Midsummers eve friday is paid leave
    • December 6th - Independence day but of course sometimes during weekend
    • December 24th - Christmas Eve
    • December 25th - Christmas Day
    • December 26th - Svaty Stepan (Saint Stephen)

    Good friday is such a funny name. Our word for it is "pitkäperjantai" which means Long friday.
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2015
  13. Clouseau

    Clouseau Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    2,841
    Likes Received:
    508
    GPU:
    ZOTAC AMP RTX 3070
    That is the Catholic name for that day. Orthodox have Holy Week with that Friday being Holy Friday not Good Friday.
     
  14. thatguy91

    thatguy91 Guest

    I'm not religious, but calling it Holy Friday makes more sense. If Christians really believe that Jesus was their saviour, why call the day when he was nailed to the cross 'Good'. I would have thought 'Pretty sh*t Friday' would be more appropriate? Okay, maybe something a bit more censored like 'Not so Good Friday'. 'Terrible Friday'. Of course, the people that allegedly nailed this reported victim to the cross would have thought the day was pretty 'Good'... However, in the modern world the day can be seen as good since it's a public holiday in Christian countries :).
     
  15. elkosith

    elkosith Maha Guru

    Messages:
    1,433
    Likes Received:
    19
    GPU:
    PowerColor RX 6600
    I have no idea.

    Maybe it's because when he died on the cross his blood cleansed the sins of the world?

    Also isn't that Jesus himself ordered his disciples to remember his death? He never said anything about celebrating his birth or resurrection.

    Btw, let's not turn this thread into a religious talk.
     

  16. thatguy91

    thatguy91 Guest

  17. AndreasGuido

    AndreasGuido Guest

    Messages:
    4,986
    Likes Received:
    55
    GPU:
    MSI GTX 970
    11 November - Lachplesa Day, basically remembrance day
    18 November - Independence day

    But one of the biggest is Ligo, June 23, midsummer holiday! Probably my favourite

    Also i like Old New Year, its mainly Russians who acknowledge it and its on January 14th, or my Christmas is actually on January 7th :D

    Name days are pretty big in Latvia.
     
  18. Netherwind

    Netherwind Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    8,813
    Likes Received:
    2,396
    GPU:
    GB 4090 Gaming OC
    • New Year's Day (nyårsdagen) - January 1
    • Epiphany (trettondedag jul) - January 6
    • Good Friday (långfredagen) - The Friday before Easter Sunday
    • Easter Monday (annandag påsk) - The day after Easter Sunday
    • International Workers' Day (Första maj) - May 1
    • Ascension Day (Kristi himmelsfärds dag) - 39 days after Easter Sunday
    • National Day of Sweden (Sveriges nationaldag) - June 6
    • Midsummer's Day (midsommardagen) - The Saturday during the period 20–26 June. (2015: June 20)
    • All Saints' Day (alla helgons dag) - The Saturday during the period 31 October–6 November. (2015: October 31)
    • Christmas Day (juldagen) - 25 December
    • Second Day of Christmas (annandag jul) - 26 December

    Events from the US that us Swedes have "absorbed" are:
    ¤ Black Friday (from an American POV it would be Cyber Monday since most of the sales is generated from e-commerce)
    ¤ Cyber Monday (not as big as Black Friday but it might be in the future)
    ¤ Halloween (its really become a thing here now with people trying to make the best costumes and stuff
     
  19. Clouseau

    Clouseau Ancient Guru

    Messages:
    2,841
    Likes Received:
    508
    GPU:
    ZOTAC AMP RTX 3070
    Old New Year as is mentioned is based off of what is referred to as the old calendar. The difference right now between the Gregorian Calendar/New Calendar and the Julian Calendar/Old Calendar is 13 days. So, January 1st on the old calendar translates to January 14 on the new calendar. So New Years is still being celebrated on January 1st. This old and new has its roots in religion.
     

Share This Page