CCU Group 11

Special Days in 5 Continents

Aulia Azmi (A1B209031)

Mahdina Al Umairah (A1B209056)

Restia Erniyati (A1B207262)

Titin Dwi Astuti (A1B208236)

Rusmi Saniti (A1B208215)

Special Days in the Continents

1. America

(1). Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. Many Americans take a vacation day on the following Friday to make a four-day weekend, during which they may travel long distances to visit family and friends.

The Thanksgiving holiday dates to 1621 - the year after the Pilgrim Fathers arrived in Massachusetts. After a bleak winter, in which about half of them died, the Pilgrims turned for help to the neighbouring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The Thanksgiving feast has become a national tradition. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion.

Thanksgiving Day, official public holiday in the U.S., initially celebrated in early regal times in New England. The real source, though, is perhaps the harvest festivals that are customary in a lot of parts of the world Festivals and Feasts. After the first harvest was finished by the Plymouth colonists in 1621, Governor William Bradford announced a day of thanksgiving and prayer, shared by all the colonists and nearby Native Americans. The Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock held their Thanksgiving in 1621 as a three day "thank you" festivity to the leaders of the Wampanoag Indian tribe and their families for coaching them the survival talent they desired to make it in the New World. It was their good luck that the custom of the Wampanoag’s was to treat any guest to their homes with a share of whatsoever foodstuff the folks had, even if provisions were short. It was also an remarkable stroke of luck that one of the Wampanoag, Tisquantum or Squanto, had turn out to be close friends with a British explorer, John Weymouth, and had learned the Pilgrim's words in his travels to England with Weymouth.

After the first New England Thanksgiving the tradition extended all the way through the colonies, but every province decided its individual date. In 1789 George Washington, the first president of the United States, announced November 26 a day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving Day continued to be celebrated in the United States on diverse days in different states until Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's Book, resoluted to do somewhat about it. For more than 30 years she wrote mails to the senate and presidents requesting them to make Thanksgiving Day a nationwide holiday.

Finally, in 1863, President Lincoln issued a White House public statement calling on the "whole American people" wherever they lived to fuse "with one heart and one voice" in observing a particular day of thanksgiving. Setting apart the last Thursday of November for the reason, the President advocated for the prayers in the churches and in the homes to "beseech the interposition of the almighty had to heal the wounds of the nations and to restore it to full pleasure of calm, concord, serenity and unification." He also states that they articulate sincere thanks for the "blessing of fruitful fields and healthful skies."

President Franklin D. Roosevelt advanced Thanksgiving Day one week in 1939. Nevertheless, as some states used the new date and others the old, it was changed again 2 years afterward. Thanksgiving Day is at the present celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. The foremost official celebration of Thanksgiving in North America was held by an English voyager, Martin Frobisher, who tried to found an English settlement on Baffin Island, after failing to discover a northern way to the Orient in 1576. Canada recognized the second Monday in October as a countrywide holiday, "a day of general thanksgiving," in 1957.

New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as a yearly tradition, in 1817. By the middle of the 19th century a lot of other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln selected a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day declaration, regularly assigning the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

The American customs of Thanksgiving orbit around a enormous and abundant meal, more often than not with Turkey as the attraction. For those who do not like Turkey, a Roast or Prime Rib is universal. As custom has it in the majority of the families, a particular prayer of thanks head the meal. In many homes, family members will each talk about something they are very grateful for. Thanksgiving is a occasion for folks to generate customs and reminiscences that last a life span.

In New York City, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade frequently mistakenly referred to as the "Macy's Day Parade" is held yearly every Thanksgiving Day from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Macy's flagship store in Herald Square. The procession features parade floats with detailed themes, scene from Broadway drama, huge balloons of cartoon characters and TV personalities, and high school marching group. The glide that conventionally ends the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the Santa Claus glide. This glide is a sign that the Christmas season has commenced.

(2). St Patrick’s day

St. Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious festival celebrated on 17th of March by Irish people and around the world. St. Patrick's Day, along with St. Valentine's Day is probably one of the most widely celebrated saint's day in the world. The pious day has a significance as the feast day of Saint Patrick, and commemoration of the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

The holiday has been celebrated on the North American continent since the late 18th century, prior to the American Revolution. In the United States, St. Patrick's Day is primarily celebated as a celebration of Irish and Irish American culture. St. Patrick, born in Roman Britain in the 4th century was taken as a slave to Ireland by Irish raiders, when he was 16. Later, he, as a bishop, started to christianise the Irish from their native polytheism. Irish folklore tells that St. Patrick used shamrock (a particular leaf with 3 leaflets) illustratively to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) to the Irish people. After 30 years of evangelism, he passed away on 17th March, 461. Patrick was the principal champion of Irish Christianity, and is held in high esteem in the Irish church.

St. Patrick's story is the story of a great soul taken captive to Ireland as a slave who turns a patron saint of the nation by his greatness. Patrick's life story inspires the humanity for the levitation of ones life energy upto a starry height from the earthly attachments of slavish worldly/sensual pleasures.

Christian leaders in Ireland have expressed concern about the secularisation or rather the effective degradation of St. Patrick's Day. Fr. Vincent Twomey wrote, "It is time to reclaim St. Patrick's Day as a church festival". He questioned the need for "mindless alcohol-fuelled revelry" and concluded that "It is time to bring the piety and the fun together".

St. Patrick's Day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, religious observances, feasting, attending celidth, and numerous parades. Wearing and display of shamrock-inspired designs in green, a colour of hope and nature, have become a unanimous feature of the day.

Parade on The St. Patrick's Parade Day in Scranton is the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the United States. It is held in Scranton, Pennsylvania every year on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day even if St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday.

People often dress as leprechauns on St. Patrick's Day. A leprechaun is a type of fairy in Irish folklore, usually taking the form of an old man, clad in a red or green coat, enjoying playfulness with practical jokes. Leprechauns' principal occupation is making and mending shoes, and storing away all their coins in a hidden pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. These stories are a favorite among kids.

Some shamrock-inspired innovative ideas are mentioned here to create state-of-the-art St. Patrick's Day Gift Items. Emerald studded earrings/ear tops in the shamrock design, green colour forehead shamrock ( equivalent to Indian forehead-bindi ) can make awesome jewellery for women. Children, ladies as well as gentlemen can decorate their palms with henna, creating clover shaped patterns. Girls and women can knot their hairs in three-leaflets shamrock hair style. T-shirts with tri-foliage clover can be created depicting the life story of St. Patrick in a three-stages- trinity, first as a slave, secondly as a bishop, and thirdly as a patron saint of Ireland.

(3). Fathers Day

Fathers Day is celebrated to honor every father and to make father’s realize how special he is in everyone’s life. There are some

To wish a father for his unending and self-less duties towards our life, we celebrate fathers day.

Just like celebrating mother’s day to wish her how special she is in our life, fathers day is also a similar celebration to the expression of male parenting or fatherhood important.

Friendship Day

Friends are one of the most valuable people in our life. Having a good friend whom we can share our feelings and problems will make our world happy and worth living. Understanding, compassionate, loving, and mending is some of the quality a friend shows. They are the people who says silently, that " You Are Special and important'. So shouldn’t we thank all our dear friends and tell them how much their support and friendship mean to us. Most of the time, we don’t find an opportunity to express our gratitude, or to tell them how important they are. Friendship day is a right occasion celebrating this wonderful bonding between two hearts and a very good chance to say, "Hey I would never be the same without your friendship".

Every year, the first Sunday in the month of August is celebrated the beautiful bond between two person; friendship. The idea of honoring friendship and friends began in the year 1935 in the United States of America. As the popularity and the true reason behind the celebration spread, friendship day became an international observation and more and more countries started observing this day. Today the first Sunday of August is celebrated in most of the country dedicating this day to friends all over the world. Every person is a friend of one or many, so the friendship day is a celebration for each and every person on mother earth.

Friendship day is a great opportunity even for the shyest friend to say "friend you made my day" or "you mean a lot". On this day, friends express their love by exchanging friendship bands and gifts like flowers, cards to each others. People spend their entire day as part of celebration with their special friends where they share their joy and have fun. Friendship is one of the strongest relationships which influences ones behavior. Affection, care, respect, understanding and trustworthiness are important which helps maintain a good bond with their friends. This is a day where peoples can recollect their beautiful memories about their friends or friendship.

In today's life every persons give more importance to their relationship with friends which has increased importance of the friendship day. .  Friendship day is celebrated as a day to dedicate to their friends, to show how much they care and love them. As friends are the mirror image of each other's personality friend's decisions, opinions, lifestyles and their perceptions will greatly influence in persons behavior. Specialty of this day is that people forgets their sorrows, celebrates their day with friends by making each other's happy and most of all making each other feel worthy.

Youth and students celebrate the day with much enthusiasm, they spent time with each other and enjoy the day to its maximum. the friendship is acknowledged by giving each other flowers, gifts, chocolates, friendship bands, greeting cards and even a framed photo of one of their best moments together. Winnie the pooh has been decided as the world ambassador of friendship by the united Nations in the year 1997 an d presenting stuffed toys, clay models and greeting card with this cute Ambassador of friendship has become a trend among friends. These are not the only gifts which are given, a pen, a good novel, or even a serving of your friends favorite ice cream does the job as long as it is given with a lot of friendship and love. Even a small note or a handmade card can convey the real meaning of the friendship you share. Now, the day is not just for youth though they are the ones who celebrate it with the most enthusiasm. Many elderly enjoys friendship which has begun many decades ago and is still strong, and they are the one to whom the celebration really mean to. And celebrating this year long relationship together and going through the pages of the old memories of the friendship can be the best gift they can give each other. 

Friendship does not need a verbal thank you or expression of love to make each other understand the real value they give for the relation. But expressing it can always help as a small thank you will be treasured. As someone said, "In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." So take this opportunity to at least call up your friends who are really special and tell them that you always treasure them and their friendship.

(4). Hallowen

Halloween is said to have originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. The Celts celebrates their New Year on 1 st, November. Halloween day signified the advent of winter and human death. According to the ancient belief, the worlds of the living and dead merged onHalloween day. The spirits of dead ancestors were believed to return on the night of October 31. The priests claimed to communicate with the dead for prophesies. Prophesies helped the Celtic community to survive through the long, severe winter.

Halloween was introduced to America in the 1840’s by Irish immigrants.

The Jack-o-lantern custom was an important part of Irish folklore.

Jack was said to have trapped the Devil into scaling a tree and catching him up there.

Jack was rejected entry into Heaven since he had tricked the Devil.

The Devil is said to have given Jack a small ember for light and warmth.

This fire was kept alight in a hollowed out turnip.

The Irish settlers in America began to use pumpkins instead of turnips as they were more easily available.

2. Asia

(1). Spring Festival

Each year, when winter is at its end and spring around the corner, people throughout China enthusiastically celebrate the first traditional holiday of the year, the Spring Festival.  In the past, when the Chinese people used the lunar calendar, the Spring Festival was known as the "New Year."  It falls on the first day of the first lunar month, the beginning of a new year.  After the Revolution of 1911, China adopted the Gregorian calendar.

To distinguish the lunar New Year from the New Year by the Gregorian calendar, the lunar New Year was called the Spring Festival (which generally falls between the last 10-day period of January and mid-February).  The evening before the Spring Festival, the lunar New Year's Eve, is an important time for family reunions.  The whole family gets together for a sumptuous dinner, followed by an evening of pleasant talk or games.  Some families stay up all night, "seeing the year out."  The next morning, people pay New Year calls on relatives and friends, wishing each other good luck.  During the Spring Festival, various traditional recreation activities are enjoyed in many parts of China, notably lion dances, dragon lantern dances, land-boat rowing and stilt-walking.

(2). Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival falls on the15th day of the first lunar month, the night of the first full moon after the Spring Festival.  Traditionally, people eat sweet dumplings during this festival.  Sweet dumplings, round balls of glutinous rice flour with sugar filling, symbolize reunion.  During the festival people display

multicolored lanterns on the street and courtyards, and stroll around admiring them at night, hence the name "Lantern Festival."  Some places also hold evening parties for people to guess riddles written on lanterns.

(3). Dragon Boat Festival

It is generally believed that this festival originated to honor the memory of the patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who lived in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period.  In despair at not being able to halt the decline of his country, he drowned himself in the Miluo River in modern Hunan Province on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month after the capital of Chu fell to the State of Qin.  Legend has it that after Qu Yuan's death people living on the banks of the river went out in their boats to try to find the corpse.  

Every year thereafter, on this day people would row their boats out onto their local river, throwing sections of bamboo filled with rice into the water as an offering to him.  Today, the memory of Qu Yuan lives on, zongzi (pyramid-shaped dumplings made by wrapping glutinous rice in bamboo leaves) remains the traditional food and dragon-boat races are held.

(4). Jamia Shashthi

Nowadays, it is quite common in many parts of the world to celebrate particular days for special people in our lives. So we have the Mother's Day, Father's day and suchlike. However, In India, Bengali mothers-in-law have traditionally celebrated, with great fanfare, an occasion/social custom called jamai shashthi - a special day for their jamai [son(s)-in-law].

On this auspicious day, the married daughter and the the son-in-law are invited by the girl's parents and the son-in-law is honored, treated to a scrumptious meal and pampered with gifts by his mother-in-law. Sons-in-law look forward to this day and if you happened to visit Kolkata on 17th June this year (which is when jamai shashthi was celebrated this year), chances are you would have seen a significant number of married men rushing off early from office so as not to miss the occasion when he would be treated like a king by his mother-in-law.

It is this very interesting custom followed amongst bengali mother in laws where they pamper, feed, gift their son in laws - all in a day! … jamais do fare well in this custom but all depends which model are they - as in a brand new one or the one people often mistakes as the son. brand new ones are less on talking and show some restriction in movements except a constant bowing down to elders to touch their feet and being introduced to whole new faces. they get the same reaction from the people they meet - biyete dekhechilam ..tarpor ei kotah holo (i last saw you in the marriage ceremony…and now we get to talk) . with a sheepish smile he escapes all these and makes his way to the plate and the platter. advice for new ones, do avoid second helpings as the options are too many ! advice for old ones, you know what to avoid already!

Then there are gifts! from both the sides. often getting restricted to clothes! but innovations are always welcome! for this one day, your mother in law , if she is the kind, restricts her daughter from interfering and its like the husband (WOW) becomes really important !the rest of the 364 days its always the other way round (ya ya we know)!

Nowadays, life is getting busy and children often live far away from their parents. That notwithstanding, the celebration of jamai shoshthi continues to survive, having undergone some mutation [bn] in these cases. Long distance calls are made to wish the son-in-law living in distant lands, restaurants in the city lay out lavish jamai shashthi spreads for the busy Bengalis who no longer have the time or patience to whip up traditional delicacies, and parents use the webcam to consult with their children regarding gift purchases.

Nowadays, married men should also work towards deserving a jamai shashthi,  quips Kamalika and offers some advice to men who hope to be feted by their shashuri (mother-in-law):

so to all my guy friends who are married… learn to earn the treat and gifts for Jamai Shoshti, otherwise…. your day might not turn out the way you imagined it in your head! You could say good bye to second helpings, sumptuous food and any respect given to you for that matter! Coz in this world nothing comes for free… So to earn the platter learn to flatter your shashuri and your wife all year long…!

It is interesting to note that Jamai Shashthi was also the name of the first Bengali talkie released in 1931. Aritra jokes, so the son in law added the dimension of sound to an otherwise silent era!

(5). Pure Brightness Day

Pure Brightness Day falls around April 5th every year.  Traditionally, this is an occasion for people to offer sacrifices to their ancestors.  In recent years, many people have also been going to the tombs of the revolutionary martyrs to pay their respects.  At this time of year the weather has begun to turn warm, and the earth is once again covered with green.  People live to go to the outskirts of cities to walk on the grass, fly kites and appreciate the beauty of spring.  That is why Pure Brightness Day is sometimes also called "Walking amid Greenery Day."

3. Australia

(1). The Saltwater Freshwater

The Saltwater Freshwater Festival is the largest regional Aboriginal Cultural event on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Australia.  It is a nomadic event that moves to a different location in the region each Australia Day (26 January).

The Festival is run by the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance Aboriginal Corporation, a regional body for Aboriginal arts and culture on the Mid North Coast, that aims to position Aboriginal art and culture as the foundation for the long-term social, economic and cultural development of the region’s Aboriginal communities.

The Saltwater Freshwater Festival is a showcase of the best Aboriginal talent in the country and most importantly, in the region.  It is a culmination of a range of arts and cultural activities undertaken by Saltwater Freshwater Arts during each calendar year, providing an authentic Aboriginal experience for visitors and local communities.

Where the saltwater and freshwater meet, is rich in Aboriginal music, art, dance and food.

(2). Crazy Hair Day

Crazy Hair Day for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a great way for schools to have fun on the last day of the second term while raising awareness and money for kids living with Cystic Fibrosis. Staff and students are encouraged to come to school with “crazy” hair and a gold coin donation. In exchange for a gold coin donation they can colour, gel, tease, tie, spike or twist their hair for Cystic Fibrosis NSW.

Your choice of date to suit your curriculum

Some ideas for crazy hair:

· Plait it                      · Tease it

· Tie it in knots           · Wear a wig

· Hair spray                 · Twist and twirl it

(3). Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day (11 November) marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18). Each year Australians observe one minute silence at 11 am on 11 November, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

(4). National Ceremony

The National Remembrance Day Ceremony includes a formal wreathlaying and will be attended by many high level dignitaries and diplomats. Australian’s Federation Guard and the Band of the Royal Military College will be on parade.

10.15 am – 12 noon approximately

We suggest you arrive by 9.45 am. Guests with entrée cards are required to be seated by 10 am.

Standing room for the public will be provided on the day. Members of the public are welcome to bring chairs or rugs. The Memorial will open 15 minutes after the completion of the National Ceremony, and will remain open until 5 pm. Here the public may view the Tri-Service Guard mounted at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier. You are invited to lay a single poppy at the Tomb at the completion of the ceremony.

Location

Parade ground, Australian War Memorial

Wet weather arrangements

The National Ceremony will proceed even in inclement weather; visitors are asked to come prepared.

General information

Visitors are invited to lay a poppy on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the ceremony.

Poppies will be on sale at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Members of the general public are welcome to bring their own seats or rugs.

The Memorial will open after the ceremony at approximately 12.30pm.

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/remembrance/

(5). CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY

Clean Up Australia Day is the most well-known effort by Clean Up Australia. It is held on the first Sunday of March every year, and encourages people to clean up their local areas. Any person can register a place they plan to clean up, on the Clean Up Australia website, and others can join them there. Activities on the day include removing large items such as car bodies from water ways and the collection of general waste lying around.

Clean Up Australia Day was first held in January 1990.[3] The idea was borne out of an Australian Bicentenary event, "Clean-Up Lake Macquarie" which was instigated in 1987 by Ivan Welsh as Mayor of Lake Macquarie.[4] Then followed the local "Clean Up Sydney Harbour" event in 1989 which received an enormous public response with more than 40,000 volunteers who collected some 5,000 tonnes of rubbish. The 1990 Clean Up Australia Day event was launched by the then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke over the initial derision of the then state Premier, Nick Greiner.[5] Greiner later reversed his position and offered his support for the event.[6]

"The Rubbish Report" is produced each year from data collected by surveying participants.

Other Clean Up campaigns and projects

Business Clean Up Day

Business Clean Up Day[9] provides Australian businesses with an opportunity to contribute to waste reduction and the improvement of the environment.

Businesses register their commitment to implement at least one enivironment-friendly initiative in their workplace, giving them an opportunity to work as a team and make a difference to their local environment.

Schools Clean Up Day

Schools Clean Up Day[10] is designed to allow students to participate in Clean Up Australia as part of a school activity.

Hundreds and thousands of students get involved each year, learning about the impact of waste on the environment and how they can make a difference to their local community.

Clean Up the Kimberley

Clean Up the Kimberley[11] is a series of community action based projects aimed at promoting environmental, social and economic sustainability in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

The primary objectives of this initiative are to clean up rubbish hot spots, increase awareness of the scale and impact of rubbish in the region, change tourist and local community behaviour and improve recycling and waste management infrastructure in the Kimberley region.

Clean Up the Alps

Clean Up the Alps[12] is a project aimed at protecting the Alpine region of Victoria.

Clean Up the Alps is run in conjunction with Parks Victoria, Conservation Volunteers Australia and local communities as part of the Victorian Government’s ‘The Alps: A fresh start – a healthy future’ program.

The project culminates in the Clean Up the Alps weekend, held annually in November. =)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Up_Australia

4. Africa

(1).Guy Fawkes Day

Guy Fawkes Day happens every year on 5 November and celebrates the failing of the Gunpowder Plot of the 5 November 1605, in which a number of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London, England.

Expect to see Cape Town’s skies filled with many beautiful fireworks explosions on the night of 5 November. Guy Fawkes Day and to a lesser extent New Year's Eve are the best days to experience fireworks displays in Cape Town, South Africa.

The city has designated a number of sites where people may discharge shop bought fireworks. It is illegal

to discharge them anywhere else without obtaining permission from the chief inspector of explosives and the city.

The City of Cape Town dedicates special areas where fireworks can be let off on Guy Fawkes Day, so if you want to witness some firework displays (or organise some yourself), make sure you’re at one of the safe sites.

These sites have been declared safe for Guy Fawkes Day 2011 in Cape Town:

1. Theo Marais Park, Koeberg Road, Milnerton

2. Bishop Lavis Sportsfield, Lavis Drive, Bishop Lavis

3. Wesfleur Sportsfield, Reygersdal Drive, Atlantis

4. Macassar Beach parking area, Macassar Road, Macassar

5. Swartklip Sports Complex, corner Spine and Swartklip Roads, Mitchells Plain

6. Maidens Cove parking area, Victoria Road, Camps Bay

7. Athlone Stadium parking area (Eastern side), Klipfontein Road, Athlone

(2).Thanks Giving Days In Africa

History

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Because of the longstanding traditions of the holiday, the celebration often extends to the weekend that falls closest to the day it is celebrated. Several other places around the world observe similar celebrations. Historically, Thanksgiving had roots in religious and cultural tradition. Today, Thanksgiving is primarily celebrated as a secular holiday.

Liberia

In the West African country of Liberia, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the first Thursday of November.

Thanksgiving Day Celebration in AfricaAfrican harvest festivals have a lot of religious connotations. African harvest festivals are characterized with lot of dancing and singing.

Dancers wear traditional masks and outfits. Each dance sequence unfolds a unique story. Festival of Yams is a popular harvest festival celebrated with days of ceremonies and offerings to God and ancestors. It is later distributed among the village folk. It is usually held in the month of August, marking the end of rainy season.

(3). Valentine's Day South Africa             Traditional African societies commemorate Valentine's Day by holding an ancient Roman festival, 'Lupercalia'. In celebration of the young girls put a pin that has been inscribed with the name of their boyfriend on the arm of each. Even in beerapa where the men started to follow this festival by putting a pin in his arm which was named after their respective boyfriends. Valentien's Day so special in South Africa. Girls aged 16 to grandmothers berusioa 60-year-do celebrate it. On this special day of pampering their traditional African culture and art for Valentine's Day event.

(4). Mother’s Day

In Africa, Mothers Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May. People of South Africa celebrate Mother's Day in its true spirit by acknowledging the importance of mothers in their lives and thanking them profusely for all their love and care. People also gift flowers and cards to their mother as an expression of their heartfelt feeling of gratitude and affection.

The most commonly used flowers on Mothers Day is the traditional carnation. People wear red or pink carnation for the mothers who are living while white carnation is used as a symbol of mothers who are dead. In South Africa, Mother's Day is taken as an opportunity to thank not just mothers but also grand mothers and women who are like mothers.

Mothers are pampered by caring children on the day. Many children treat their mother with a delicious breakfast in bed but owing to the changing lifestyles, a large number of people take their mother out for dinners. Young children present their mothers with homemade gifts while the elder ones buy gifts for their mothers.

(5).Christmas Day

Christmas is celebrated throughout the African continent by Christian communities large and small. There are approximately 350 million Christians in Africa. On Christmas day carols are sung from Ghana on down to South Africa. Meats are roasted, gifts are exchanged and family visits made. The Coptic Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December in their calendar, which is the 7th of January for most of the rest of us. Kwanzaa is not celebrated in Africa, as it's an African-American holiday. And unless you're in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, there's little chance of anyone enjoying a white Christmas in Africa.

Even in some of Africa's predominantly Muslim countries, Christmas is still marked for celebration. In Dakar, Senegal's capital, hawkers are happy to sell plastic trees and inflatable santas. "While secularism may mean elsewhere that each person is free to celebrate his or her own holidays, many in Senegal have interpreted it to mean they should celebrate all holidays." (Mail & Guardian).

Gift GivingThose who can afford it will generally give gifts at Christmas but the holiday is not nearly as commercial as it is in Europe or the Americas. The emphasis is more on the religious aspect of celebrating the birth of Jesus and singing in church, than it is on gift giving. The most common thing bought at Christmas is a new set of clothes to be worn to the church service. Many Africans are too poor to be able to afford presents for their kids and there aren't too many toy stores in rural Africa to shop at anyway. If gifts are exchanged in poorer communities they usually come in the form of school books, soap, cloth, candles and other practical goods.

Christmas DinnerAs in most Christian cultures, celebrating Christmas dinner with friends and family tops the list after attending church. In most countries Christmas is a public holiday and people take the opportunity to visit friends and family. In East Africa goats are quickly snapped up at the local markets and roasted on Christmas day. In South Africa the sun is hot and the beaches are full of families enjoying braais (bbq's) or traditional Christmas dinners with paper hats, mince pies, turkey and plum pudding (a vestige of the British colonial legacy.) In Ghana Christmas dinner is not complete without fufu and okra soup and in Liberia rice, beef and biscuits are the order of the day. Zimbabweans make sure there's plenty of bread, jam and tea to eat along with their goat meat.

Church Services and CarolingThe history of Christianity in Africa dates back to the 1st Century AD. What every missionary has found since that time is that Africans are very spiritual people. (Besides Christianity, the other main religions are Islam and indigenous beliefs). Going to church is generally the main focus of Christmas celebrations in Africa. Nativity scenes are played out, carols are sung and in some cases dances are performed.

One of my earliest Christmas memories in Malawi is watching groups of young children go door to door to perform dances and Christmas songs dressed in skirts made of leaves and using home made instruments. They received a small gift of money in return. In many countries the processions after the Christmas Eve church service is a joyous occasion of music and dance. In the Gambia for example, people parade with large intricately made lanterns called fanals in the shape of boats or houses. Every country has their own unique celebrations no matter how small their Christian population.

Christmas DecorationsDecorating shop fronts, mango trees, churches and homes is common throughout African Christian communities. You may see fake snow decorating store fronts in Nairobi, palm trees laden with candles in Ghana, or oil palms loaded with bells in Liberia.

How to Say Merry ChristmasIn Akan (Ghana) Afishapa In Zimbabwe Merry KisimusiIn Afrikaans (South Africa) Geseënde KersfeesIn Zulu (South Africa) Sinifisela Ukhisimusi OmuhleIn Swazi (Swaziland) Sinifisela Khisimusi LomuhleIn Sotho (Lesthoto) Matswalo a Morena a MabotseIn Swahili (Tanzania, Kenya) Kuwa na Krismasi njemaIn Amharic (Ethiopia) Melkam Yelidet Beaal

In Egyptian (Egypt) Colo sana wintom tiebeenIn Yoruba (Nigeria) E ku odun, e hu iye' dun!

5. Europe

(1). Liberation Day

On June 6, 1944 (known as D-Day), the western Allies launched the single largest amphibious invasion force in world history, landing almost 150,000 soldiers under the command of U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the beaches of Normandy, France. By the end of the month, more than 850,000 American, British, and Canadian troops had come ashore to embark upon what Eisenhower called the “Great Crusade,” the “destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.”

On June 22, 1944, Soviet forces opened a major offensive that crushed the German forces defending the center of the eastern front in western Belorussia, sweeping the line of the front into central Poland by early August.

As Allied and Soviet troops moved across Europe in a series of offensives against Nazi Germany, they encountered concentration camps, mass graves, and numerous other sites of Nazi crimes. Soviet forces were the first to overrun a major Nazi concentration camp, Lublin/Majdanek, near Lublin, Poland, in July 1944. On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp complex, where they discovered some 7,000 prisoners, including young children, who had not been evacuated by the SS. American soldiers, too, witnessed evidence of the Holocaust and Nazi atrocities as they marched into the interior of Germany, liberating the major concentration camps such as Buchenwald, Dachau, and Mauthausen as well as hundreds of subcamps, including Ohrdruf (a subcamp of Buchenwald). Though the liberation of Nazi camps was not a primary objective of the Allied military campaign, U.S, British, Canadian, and Soviet troops freed prisoners from their SS guards, provided them with food and badly needed medical support, and collected evidence for war crimes trials.

On May 8, 1945, less than one year after D-Day, Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender became official, and the world could celebrate the liberation of Europe from Nazi rule.

In 2004, with the 60th anniversary of D-Day, the nation honored veterans of World War II with a memorial on the national mall. 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II. Explore the links on this page to learn about the liberators' experiences as Allied troops moved across Europe during the war.

(2). Celebrating Advent

Celebrating Advent is a fairly recent Christmas tradition of German origin. Advent is Latin for "coming towards". The Latin, "ad", means "towards" whereas "ven/vent" is core of the Latin verb "veno", meaning

"come". Advent refers to the days approaching the coming of Christ to earth. More specifically, in the German tradition, it refers to the 24 days immediately preceding Christmas day, from December first.

One of the most widely celebrated advent traditions is having an advent calendar. The Advent calendar finds its origins in the 19th Century from the protestant area of Germany. Protestant Christian families made a chalk line for every day in December until Christmas Eve. Before long, commercial entrepreneurs started replacing the ephemeral chalk lines with printed calendars. The first known Advent calendar is for the advent of 1851.

Soon, other devices helped Germans and German immigrants to America celebrate the advent. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the Adventclock or the Adventcandle - a candle for 24 days until Christmas - were found in many homes. The first printed calendar was made by Gerhard Lang (1881-1974) who was a Swabian parishioner from Maulbronn in Germany. When he was a child his mother made him an Advent Calendar with 24 "Wibbele" (little candies). Later Lang was a participator of the printing office Reichhold & Lang where he published miniature colored pictures which could be affixed on a cardboard at every day in December. This was the first printed Advent calendar, although without windows to open, published in 1908.

The celebration of advent and the associated Advent Calendar caught on like wildfire in the early decades of this century. However, despite the great success of Lang's Advent calendar, he had to close his company in the 1930s due to World War II. The same war ended this German practice in many homes and certainly stopped the increase of this tradition.

The first printed versions of the calendar after the war were printed by Richard Sellmer in 1946. Advent calendars continue to be printed to this day.

In some homes, 24 candles are kept, one for each night from December 1 through Christmas Eve. One candle is lit for a while on December 1, then a new candle is added each day for the 24 day period. However, for those homes using the candles, it was far more common to have four candles for the four weeks before Christmas. One candle was lit the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve, two the next week and so on. The candles were often placed on a wreath upon the dining room table.

The practice of advent is celebrated primarily in the German-speaking areas of Europe and in the protestant German areas of the United States.

(3). Christmas in Holland / The Netherlands.

For most children in Holland, the most important day during the Christmas Celebrations is 5th December, when Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) brings them their presents!

St. Nicholas' day is on the 6th December, but in Holland, the major celebrations are held on the 5th December. The name Santa Claus comes from the name Sinterklaas.

On the morning of St. Nicholas' Day, Sinterklaas travels to a city or town in The Netherlands, wearing his red bishop's robes. He travels with his servant called Zwarte Piet (Black Peter). When Sinterklaas and Black Peter come ashore from the boat, all of the local church bells ring in celebration. Sinterklaas then

leads a procession through the town, riding a white horse. If he has gone to Amsterdam that year he will to meet the Queen in the Palace.

On December 5th children leave clogs or shoes out to be filled with presents. They also believe that if they leave some hay and carrots in their shoes for Sinterklaas's horse, they will be left some sweets. Children are told that Zwarte Piet keeps a record of all the things they have done in the past year in a book and that good children will get presents from Sinterklaas, but bad children will get chased by Zwarte Piet with a stick!! Dutch tradition says that he lives in Madrid, Spain and every year he chooses a different harbour to arrive in Holland, so as many children as possible get a chance to see him. Every town in Holland has a few Sinterklaas helpers, dressed the same as Sinter Klaas who help give the presents out.

If children are really lucky they might receive all their presents during the evening. This is called 'Sinterklaasavond' or 'Pakjesavond' (present evening). There might be a knock at the door and you might find a sack full of presents!

Sinterklaas parties are often held on St. Nicholas Eve (5th), where treasure hunt games are played with poems and riddles giving the clues. Children follow the clues to find little presents left by Sinterklaas. Special biscuits and sweets are also eaten at the party. One type of biscuit is called 'letter blanket' or 'banketletter' (meaning letter cake), which is made from marzipan or pastry. The biscuits are made in the shapes of the first letter of the peoples names who are at the party. Another sweet biscuit that is eaten at the parties (and the favourite of a Dutch friend of mine!) are 'pepernoot' which are made with cinnamon and spices in the pastry biscuit mix.

Surprise presents are also given on St. Nicholas' Day. This is a custom at the Sinterklaas parties and often within classes at schools. The custom is that everyone's name in put into a hat and everyone picks another person's name - then they have to make a surprise present for that person. The presents are often things that the person would find useful with their favourite hobby. My Dutch friend had a recorder bag made for her at school. The presents come with a poem inside that gives a clue to who might have sent the present, but it is all meant to be a mystery! This is a similar custom to a present sending one in Germany.

Christmas Day itself is a much quieter day in Holland, with a Church Service and family meal. Sometimes there is a special Christmas Day 'Sunday School' in the afternoon at the church, where the Christmas Story and other traditional stories are told. My friend was given a book, an orange and biscuits. These are often the only presents children will get on Christmas Day because they have already received most of their presents on St. Nicholas Day.

On Christmas Eve night, Dutch Children believe that Santa Claus, (who is also call 'Christmas man' to avoid confusion with Sinterklaas!) comes from Lapland in Finland to deliver more presents!

(4)Haloween

Halloween in Scandinavia: Traditions & Celebrations

While Halloween is very popular in the US, Scandinavia has only recently started to embrace Halloween and celebrate this annual event the way it is celebrated in other regions.

Halloween parties with scary costumes are now becoming much more popular with each year, and you will see Halloween-themed decorations and even a few pumpkins here and there. But, all in all, this day is still relatively quiet and you shouldn't expect this day to be a big event in the Scandinavian countries.

(5) The Sankt Hans Eve Festival

A traditional old figure resembling a witch was up on a stake and swaying with the breeze, while turning round and round as if to cast her last magic spell. There was also a little witch who had been tied in the branches of the bonfire. At precisely 21:00 hours  the fire was lit and amidst people clapping and chanting hymns the little witch burned...poor little soul... as the old witch watched...ouch! Anyhow, I hope we drove away the dark forces to where they belong.

This event is meant to scare the witches and the evil spirits away, not to burn them. The  bonfires are a remembrance of the burning of witches that was practised 600 years ago when churches would burn old women, who they thought were evil or brought bad luck to the community.

Many people, and also organisations, celebrate midsummer every 23rd of June, which is the eve of the Saint Hans day. In the programme of these celebrations, people can include speeches, fire works and different entertainment, but a big fire with a figure of an old witch on a stake is always a part of the Sankt Hans celebration.  As the bondfire burns people chant songs especially by Holger Drachmann like, “The light turns and it now goes to darker times”.

Conclusion

1. Every country in 5 continents has special days.

2. Sometimes special days in some country is same, but the way of celebration is different in each country.

3. Every special days has important meaning for the country.

4. Everyone should be respected about the special days and celebrate it depend in our belief.

Reference

http://www.byebyeblighty.com/united-states/public-holidays-special-days.html

http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Society/halloween-pictures.php

http://www.kitchenawayfromkitchen.com/2011/03/st-patricks-day-on-american-continent.html