HOLIDAYS

The first European to visit the island was Christopher Columbus in November 1493. Puerto Rico would go on to become an important part of the Spanish Empire. In fact, along with Cuba, Puerto Rico was the last Spanish territory in the Americas.

In 1898, during the Spanish–American War, Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States. After the Treaty of Paris, Spain ceded ownership of Puerto Rico and Cuba to the United States.

When America took control, the name of the island was changed to Porto Rico. It was changed back to Puerto Rico in 1932.

On March 2nd 1917, the U.S. Congress passed the Jones-Shafroth Act (commonly known as the Jones Act), which granted Puerto Ricans born on or after April 25th 1898, U.S. citizenship.

The act also created the Senate of Puerto Rico, established a bill of rights, and authorized the election of a Resident Commissioner.

Even though they are American citizens, Puerto Rico’s nearly 3.2 million residents are not allowed to vote in U.S. presidential elections.

March gets its name from the Roman Martius, which was Latin for Mars, the Greek god of war.

In Roman times, New Year was celebrated on March 1st. In addition to his military role, Mars was also an agricultural deity, so having Mars mark the onset of spring and the start of the new year was fitting.

The date of March 1st as New Year is also said to have used by the Dacians, the tribe who were ancient inhabitants of Romania and Moldova, so the customs of Martisor may predate its Roman name.

The most common tradition associated with this festival is the Martisor, which are red and white threads tied in a bow and attached to a small trinket. The Martisor will be on sale in every town and village and they are bought as gifts for the female family members. The red is said to represent summer (heat) and the white is winter (cold) with the combination marking the turning point in the season.

The Martisor is worn by women throughout March as it is believed they bring strength and health in the coming year. At the end of March, the Martisor threads are tied on a branch of a fruit tree as that is supposed to bring wealth and prosperity.

Known as ‘Día de Andalucía’, this holiday commemorates the Statute of Autonomy of Andalucia referendum held on February 28th 1980, in which the Andalusian people voted for the statute that made Andalusia an autonomous community of Spain.

Depending on what day of the week that February 28th falls on, the holiday may be extended to bridge the weekend or moved if it falls on a weekend. While these may not be official holidays, many businesses and shops may close on these days.

With over eight million inhabitants, Andalucia is the largest autonomous community in terms of population and the second-largest in area. The Andalucian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality within Spain.

The word Andalucia derives from Vandalucia, the ‘land of the Vandals’, referring to the German tribe that settled there in the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.

Christopher Columbus left for his famous 1492 journey, which led to the discovery of America, from the Andalusian harbour Huelva. 

To mark the Day of Andalucia, many towns are decorated with the flag of Andalucia, and green and white bunting is a common sight. Cultural competitions are often held in conjunction with the day.

A hymn is also sung to mark the day. It is a composition by José del Castillo Díaz with lyrics by Blas Infante, inspired by ‘the Holy God’, a popular religious song that the peasants and day labourers of some Andalusian regions sang during the harvest.

Following the arrival of Christopher Columbus on Hispaniola on December 5th 1492, the island became the site of the first permanent European settlement in the New World.

The Spanish went on to rule the region known as Spanish Haiti for over 300 years until the Dominican Republic gained independence in 1821. This independence was short-lived as shortly afterwards a military invasion by Haiti unified the island of Hispaniola.

In 1844 Juan Pablo Duarte,  along with other leaders, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and Matías Ramón Mella created a secret society named ‘La Trinitaria’ (The Trinity) to revolt against the Haitian regime. On February 27th 1844, the Trinitaria declared independence from Haiti, with Francisco del Rosario Sánchez raising the blue, red, and white flag of the new republic at Puerto del Conde, he main entrance to the fortified city of Santo Domingo.

Known across the country simply as “The Chief”, Michael Somare was Papua New Guinea’s longest-serving leader after it became independent of Australia in 1975. He was Prime Minister for 17 years during four separate periods.

He died February 26th 2021, aged 84, after being diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and admitted to a hospital on February 19th, his daughter Betha Somare said.

“Sir Michael was a loyal husband to our mother and great father first to her children, then grandchildren and great-granddaughter. But we are endeared that many Papua New Guineans equally embraced Sir Michael as father and grandfather,” she said.

Kuwait was first established as a small fishing village during the seventeenth century. At the end of the eighteenth century, Kuwait’s strategic position enabled it to flourish and become a key trading post and boat building centre in the region.

In 1756, the Al-Sabah family became the rulers of Kuwait, starting the dynasty that continues to this day.

In 1899, rather than face direct rule from the Ottoman Empire, Sheikh Mubarak ‘the Great’ agreed that Kuwait would become a British Protectorate, with Britain providing naval protection in return for Kuwait allowing Britain to control its foreign affairs.

on June 19th 1961, Kuwait became independent with the end of the British protectorate and the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah became an Emir.

Normally most countries celebrate their national day on the same date they gained independence. In Kuwait, this would have meant National Day would be on June 19th, marking the date of independence in 1961.

In fact, the first National Day holiday actually took place on this date in 1962. However, it was felt that the holiday should be moved due to the extreme heat in June, and so from 1963, the National Day was moved to February 25th, marking the date that the Sheikh who was in power at the time of independence, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah came to power in 1950.

On February 24th 1918, the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia was published, declaring an independent and democratic Republic of Estonia, from the new Soviet Russia. This was followed by a war with the Soviets to maintain Estonian liberty.

On February 2nd 1920, the war ended with the Tartu Peace Treaty which guaranteed Estonia’s independence for all time.

The Soviets went on to break this pact, however, and Estonia was under Soviet control for over 50 years.

In August 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. The pact’s secret protocol divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence, with Estonia belonging to the Soviet sphere. During this time, the Soviet’s “Russification” policy meant the Estonian flag was forbidden, with Russian was made the country’s official language.

In 1991 Estonia re-established its sovereignty after the peaceful “Singing Revolution” against Soviet rule, which saw music used as a tool of resistance and a declaration of intent.

From the capital city of Tallinn to historic Tartu, from Narva and Pärnu to Kuressaare on Saaremaa island, proud citizens of this northern Baltic state will take time to celebrate their national pride today.

Estonians start their Independence Day at sunrise with the traditional flag-hoisting on Toompea, a hill in the capital, Tallinn, and in other Estonian towns in the morning and progress through the day with the lighting of candles on the graves of state and public figures, and the organisation of ceremonies, services, and speeches.  The Defence Forces organise a traditional parade, and the evening ends with a concert ceremony and a reception by the President of the Republic.

In addition to participating in public celebrations, people get together with their families and friends to spend time in nature and enjoy the holiday. Estonian Public Broadcasting offers a special programme dedicated to the holiday.

In honor of Estonian traditions, a classic meal of kiluvõileib, an open-faced sandwich topped with a sprat filet, is served across the nation as citizens reflect on more than a hundred years of statehood.

Tallinn’s Old Town is the most intact medieval city in Europe. It has remained almost completely unchanged since the 13th century.

During the era of the Soviet Union, it was called Red Army Day or the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.

In 1918, just after the German had invaded and captured Minsk, the Soviets declared a state of emergency and called for a draft in St. Petersburg. As a result, ten thousand people signed up on February 23rd 1918.

The day was first celebrated in Moscow as “Day of the Birth of the Red Army” in 1922.

It was made an official holiday in 1923 under the name “Day of the Red Army.”

After the Second World War, the name changed again in 1946 to Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the holiday’s name was changed several times. In 1995, it became known as the “Day of Victory of the Red Army over the Kaiser troops of Germany (1918) – the Day of the Fatherland Defenders.” Since 2006, it has officially been “Defender of the Fatherland Day”.

In Moscow, a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin walls is traditionally held on this day.

Celebrations to mark the Defender of Fatherland Day end with firework displays in cities that were at the forefront of major conflicts such as Kerch, Moscow, Murmansk, Novorossiysk, Sevastopol, Smolensk, St. Petersburg, Tula, and Volgograd, as well as in the cities where the headquarters of the military are situated.