Events
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Lady of Aparecida Day (Brazil)
Our Lady of Aparecida Day honors Nossa Senhora Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil. The day commemorates the 1717 discovery of a small clay statue of the Virgin Mary by fishermen in the Paraíba River, which became a symbol of hope and faith. Over centuries, devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida grew into one of Brazil’s most cherished traditions. Millions of pilgrims visit the Basilica of the National Shrine of Aparecida, one of the largest churches in the world, to pay tribute.
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Martyrs' Day (South Sudan)
Martyrs’ Day was created in memory of Dr. John Garang, who died in 2005, but it has since become a broader national commemoration of all South Sudanese who gave their lives in the long struggle for independence.
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Throne Day (Morocco)
Throne Day in Morocco marks the anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne in 1999, honoring national unity, loyalty to the monarchy, and Morocco’s progress under his reign.
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Emancipation Day (Bermuda)
Emancipation Day in Bermuda commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834. The day honors the resilience, freedom and cultural heritage of Bermudians of African descent. It also marks the beginning of the island's beloved Cup Match holiday, a two-day celebration featuring the historic cricket rivalry between Somerset and St. George's clubs.
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Mary Prince Day
Mary Prince Day honors Mary Prince, a Bermudian woman whose autobiography, The History of Mary Prince (1831), was the first account of a Black woman's life published in Britain. Her courageous testimony exposed the brutality of slavery in the Caribbean and Bermuda, helping to advance the abolitionist movement. Falling during the Cup Match holiday weekend, it joins Emancipation Day in commemorating the island's enduring fight for justice and equality.
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Grand Magal de Touba
The Grand Magal de Touba is a massive religious pilgrimage in Senegal, honoring the exile and return of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, founder of the Mouride Brotherhood. It is marked by prayer, charity, and community gathering, drawing millions of participants each year to Touba.
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August Bank Holiday
The August Bank Holiday in Ireland was introduced as part of 19th-century bank holiday legislation but draws on much older traditions of Lughnasadh harvest festivals. Today, it is celebrated with festivals, fairs, sports and holidays, marking the peak of the Irish summer.
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Emancipation Monday (BVI)
Emancipation Monday in British Virgin Islands honors the abolition of slavery on August 1, 1834, when enslaved Africans in the Virgin Islands and across the British Empire were granted freedom under the Slavery Abolition Act. The day is both a reminder of the struggles of the past and a celebration of freedom and resilience.
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Commerce Day (Iceland)
Once created as a holiday for shopkeepers and workers, Commerce Day has grown into Iceland's biggest summer festival weekend. It's celebrated with concerts, camping and community events across the country.
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Carnival Monday (Antigua and Barbuda)
Carnival Monday in Antigua and Barbuda marks the vibrant opening of the island’s Carnival celebrations. It follows the traditional J’ouvert morning festivities, when revelers take to the streets before dawn with music, dancing, and colorful paint and powder. The day celebrates freedom, creativity, and national pride, tracing its roots to the emancipation of enslaved Africans in 1834 and symbolizing the spirit of liberation and unity across the twin-island nation.
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Emancipation Tuesday (BVI)
Emancipation Tuesday in British Virgin Islands extends the holiday beyond a single day, showing the depth of importance emancipation holds in the BVI’s identity. It keeps alive both the joy of freedom and the cultural pride of Virgin Islanders.
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Carnival Tuesday (Antigua and Barbuda)
Carnival Tuesday in Antigua and Barbuda is the dazzling climax of the island’s Carnival celebrations. Revelers showcase elaborate designs competing for top band honors, while the atmosphere radiates color, pride and unity. The day marks the grand finale of the two-week Carnival season, a joyful tribute to freedom, creativity and Antiguan and Barbudan cultural heritage that began in the wake of emancipation.