HOLIDAYS

From 2023, the Queen’s Birthday public holiday will be known as the King’s Birthday. The name change comes following the ascension of King Charles III to the throne in September 2022 following the death of Australia’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II reigned as monarch for 70 years, taking the throne in 1952. Following the death of her father King George VI, Elizabeth ascended to the throne at just 25 years of age, ruling until her death at the age of 96.

Excluding a legislative amendment made to the states’ respective Public Holidays Acts to change the name, in practice nothing else about the day should be different

King Charles III was born on November 14th 1948 in Buckingham Palace. He ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday September 8th 2022.

Despite the November birthday, the day is usually in June in the UK. This is because having a summer birthday means a higher chance of good weather in England during the Trooping the Colour parade for the monarch’s birthday.

The King is the monarch of 15 countries, the United Kingdom and 14 commonwealth realms.

Since 1748, the monarch’s official birthday has been marked by an outdoor parade known as Trooping the Colour which was usually held on the king or queen’s actual birthday. Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910, was born in November. Instead of making the troops parade on a cold and dark November morning, the tradition began of celebrating his birthday officially in May or June as there was less chance of it being chilly and drizzly during the event. This tradition was then carried on by subsequent monarchs.

Confucius was an influential Chinese philosopher, teacher and political figure known for his popular aphorisms and for his models of social interaction.

After his death, Confucius became the official imperial philosophy of China, which was extremely influential during the Han, Tang and Song dynasties.

It is thought that Confucius was born on September 28th 551 BCE in Zou (in modern Shandong).

Teacher’s Day has been observed on this date in Taiwan. In 2025, it was announced that it would be elevated to a public holiday to recognise the contributions of teachers and the teaching profession.

Taiwan has a comprehensive education system that consists of six years of compulsory elementary education, followed by three years of junior high school, and three years of senior high school. Higher education is also widely accessible, with a number of universities and colleges throughout the country.

Teachers in Taiwan play a crucial role in the education system and are highly respected by society. They are responsible for imparting knowledge and skills to students, as well as shaping their character and values. In recognition of their important role, the Taiwanese government has implemented a number of policies and initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining talented teachers. Additionally, there is a strong culture of teacher professionalism and ongoing training and development in the country.

Overall, education is highly valued in Taiwan, and teachers play a critical role in ensuring that students have the opportunities and skills they need to succeed in the future.

Turkmenistan is the southernmost state in Central Asia and the second largest.

Throughout its history, the region has been conquered by such notable figures as Cyrus the Great, Alexander the Great and Ghengis Khan. The Turkmen people first arrived in the area in about the 10th century, though there is some debate as to where they came from.

Turkmens first came under the gaze of the Russian Empire in the late 18th century, but resistance wasn’t finally broken until the Battle of Gök-Tepe (now Gökdepe) in 1881, after which the area of present-day Turkmenistan incorporated into Russian Turkestan.

After the Russian revolution, Turkmenistan formed part of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) in 1921, becoming a constituent republic of the USSR in 1925. 

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the Turkmen Communist Party supported the failed coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, but declared independence on October 27th 1991.

Since antiquity, the region of modern-day Yemen has been an important strategic and commercial location, effectively forming a long land bridge between North Africa and Asia.

When the Ottoman Empire collapsed in 1918, Imam Yahya Muhammad declared northern Yemen an independent sovereign state and proclaimed the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen in 1926. A King and an Imam, Yaha ruled Yemen until his death in 1948, when he was succeeded by Ahmad bin Yahya

On September 19th 1962 Ahmad died in his sleep. His son, Muhammad al-Badr was proclaimed Imam and King.

From its inception, the kingdom had proved unstable with various revolts and assassinations taking place and Al-Badr’s reign would prove very short-lived. 

Only a week after he ascended to the throne, army officers with the support of Egypt, staged a coup overthrowing the monarchy and deposing al-Badr on September 26th 1962. Abdullah as-Sallal, the commander of the royal guard, declared himself president of the Yemen Arab Republic. This event marked the start of the North Yemen Civil War which would last for the next six years.

Mozambique lies on the south-eastern coast of Africa. Europeans first visited Mozambique during the voyages of the Portuguese explorer, Vasco Da Gama at the end of the 15th century. By the middle of the next century, Portugal had established a strong presence in the region effectively controlling the area.

In the 1950s other nations on the African continent were moving towards independence as the grip of the European colonial powers loosened. Mozambique, an overseas territory of Portugal, under the leadership of the dictator António Salazar, was showing no signs of following suit.

In 1962 several anti-colonial groups combined to form the Front for the Mozambique Liberation (FRELIMO). On September 25th 1964, FRELIMO began an armed guerrilla campaign when they launched the first attack against Portuguese targets. This brought Mozambique into the Portuguese Colonial War which would rage until 1974 when a change of government in Portugal ended their interest in the African colonies.

The freedom from Portuguese rule looms large over the public holidays in Mozambique. Including Revolution Day, four of the country’s eight holidays commemorate events in the struggle for independence.

Trinidad and Tobago proclaimed its independence from Britain on August 31st 1962 with Queen Elizabeth II remaining as the head of state.

In 1976, Trinidad and Tobago decided to abolish the monarchy and become a republic within the Commonwealth. On August 1st 1976, the new constitution was promulgated, and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was proclaimed, with the last Governor-General, Sir Ellis Clarke, becoming the first President.

The 1st Republican Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago held its first session on September 24th 1976. It is this date that is marked by Republic Day.

In a move to limit the number of public holidays, Republic Day was not celebrated from 1999 to 2001.

Trinidad and Tobago holds its National Awards ceremony on Republic Day to honour citizens who have made a significant contribution to the country. From Independence in 1962 until 2017, the ceremony was held on Independence Day. According to President Carmona, the ceremony was moved to Republic Day as it “would bring greater awareness of the true meaning and importance of the holiday”.

The Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah is generally known as the New Year’s Day of the Jewish calendar, but has a fourfold meaning – It is the Jewish New Year, the Day of Judgement, the Day of Remembrance, and the Day of Shofar Blowing.

• It is the Day of Judgement – Jews across the world examine their past deeds and asks for forgiveness for their sins.
• It is the Day of Shofar Blowing – The Shofar (an ancient musical horn usually made of a ram’s horn) is blown in temples to herald the beginning of the 10 day period known as the High Holy Days. The sound of the horn is meant to awaken the hearers from their spiritual slumber, to make them aware of their actions and their repercussions
• It is the Day of Remembrance – As Jews remember the history of their people and pray for Israel.
• And of course, it is New Year’s Day – Celebrated with its holiday greeting cards, special prayers, and festive and eating sweet foods such as apples dipped in honey (to ensure sweetness in the New Year).

The traditions of Rosh Hashanah are simple as the only commandment specified for the holiday is the blowing of the shofar.

According to Judaism, Rosh Hashanah is traditionally the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve.

The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Repentance or the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim). This is a time for introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent (Teshuvah) before Yom Kippur. Jews are expected to reach out to friends, loved ones and community members and apologise to them for any wrongs they did to them during the year. And any apology must be sincere and meaningful.

Bulgaria had been part of the Ottoman Empire since 1396. In the late nineteenth century, a growing tide of nationalism had been spreading across Europe, which had been threatening the break up of the western parts of the Ottoman Empire.

In April 1876, uprisings in other parts of the Ottoman Empire spread to Bulgaria. The suppression of the revolts by the Ottomans was horrific and when the atrocities were made public to the West and Russia, international condemnation was widespread. In 1877, Russia formally declared war on the Ottoman Empire. The conflict eventually resulted in the creation of a Bulgarian principality within the Ottoman Empire, albeit with reduced land.

Following a war with Serbia, the principality extended its area in the region and on September 22nd 1908, in the Veliko Tarnovo, a manifesto, Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria declared Bulgaria’s independence from the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria reappeared on the map of Europe after five centuries of Ottoman rule.

In 1908, Bulgaria was still using the Julian calendar, so the declaration of independence was made on October 5th using that calendar.

Pchum Ben, also known as Ancestors’ Day or ‘Hungry Ghosts Festival’, is a 15-day Cambodian religious festival, which culminates in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar, marking the end of the Buddhist lent.

Phcum Ben starts on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Putrobut until the 15th day before the new moon. Each of the the first fourteen days of the festival is called a day of Kan Ban. The 15th and last day is called ‘Pchum Ben’ and is the start of a two day public holiday.

In Khmer, the language of Cambodia, Pchum means ‘to gather together’ and Ben means ‘a ball of food’. Pchum Ben, also called ‘Brochum Ben’ is the most important festival in the Khmer religious calendar. The day is a time for Cambodians to pay their respects to their ancestors of up to seven generations.

The Pchum Ben festival dates back to the Angkorian period when the people of the area followed animism (the belief that natural objects, natural phenomena, and the universe itself possess souls.). Eventually animism was replaced by Buddhism as the prominent religion in the region, however Buddhism and animism both emphasised respect for ancestors, so the ancient customs of Pchum Ben continued and flourished under the newer religion.

It is said that on the first day of Pchum Ben, the gates of hell are opened and the devil releases all the ghosts, some of who are ancestors of the people.

There are four different kinds of ghosts released: those who eat blood and pus, burning ghosts who are always hot, hungry ghosts and the Pakrakteaktopak Chivi, who can receive food through the monks.

The Haitian Revolution is regarded as the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere.  The rebellion against French authority began in 1791. Toussaint Louverture emerged as the leader of the revolt against the French. Napoleon sent troops to the colony to restore French authority and Louverture was captured in 1802 and died in a French jail in 1803.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a lieutenant to Louverture, then took the leadership of the revolution, defeating French troops at the Battle of Vertières on November 18th 1803. France then withdrew its remaining 7,000 troops from the island.

On January 1st 1804, in the city of Gonaïves, Dessalines officially declared the former colony’s independence as a free republic, renaming it “Haiti” after its indigenous name. He also freed all slaves making Haiti the first country in the Americas to permanently abolish slavery. Though it wasn’t all good news for the former slaves, who either had to continue to work on the plantations or join his army.

It was also in 1804 that Dessalines showed the extent of his bloodthirst, massacring all the French people on the island, resulting in the deaths of up to 5,000 people.

Dessalines became the first Emperor of Haiti in October 1804. He was made Emperor for life in 1805, which proved accurate but short-lived as he was assassinated by his political rivals in October 1806.

Despite his impressive achievements in driving his country to independence, if you were to travel back to Haiti in the 19th century, you might be surprised to find that Dessalines was a far from popular figure and that his reputation was that of a tyrant. It was only in the 20th century, that his legacy as an icon of nationalism and a founding father was developed. His rehabilitation was complete by 1903, when the national anthem of Haiti, “La Dessalinienne”, was named in his honour. (The lyrics don’t mention Dessalines.)

Jean-Jacques Duclos Dessalines was born on September 20th 1758, reportedly in Cornier. His enslaved father had adopted the surname from his owner Henri Duclos.

This holiday was first observed in 2016 on the first anniversary of the promulgation of the new Constitution.

Nepal is governed according to the Constitution which came into effect on September 20th 2015, replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007.

This was the first full-fledged constitution to be drafted by democratically elected representatives after the South Asian country became a federal democratic republic in 2008 following the overthrow of the 240-year monarchy. The process to enact a new Constitution has been a drawn-out one, with several efforts to produce a new Constitution drafted since 2008.

The 2015 Constitution restructured Nepal into a federal republic, dividing the nation into seven provinces, some of which are still named by their temporary numbers.

It also completed the transition of Nepal from constitutional monarchy to republicanism and from a unitary system to federalism.

In 2019, at the Army parade ground, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the day should create a feeling of celebration among all Nepalis.

“We Nepalis were starving for this day for the past seven decades. The day when we were liberated from suppression is also an independence day and a day to celebrate our achievements,” Oli said.

As a new holiday with no historical traditions, the government has been pushing this as a holiday with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration having to issue notifications urging all district coordination committees and local levels to celebrate the upcoming Constitution Day with “pomp and grandeur”.

On September 18th 1810, Chile broke from Spanish rule, declaring their independence. The Spanish had ruled Chile since the middle of the 16th Century. The movement to independence had been driven by other South American countries revolting against colonial rule, the French and Spanish warring in Europe and the appointment of an unpopular Governor in 1808.

While Chileans celebrate their independence on September 18th, their declaration in 1810 was the start of a long struggle and the Chilean war of Independence lasted for eight years before Chile could officially proclaim independence on February 12th 1818. Indeed, it wasn’t until 1826 when the last Spanish troops holding out on a remote island finally surrendered to Chilean forces.

At 7,500 feet, (2,286 metres) above sea level, Chile’s Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth.

With Independence Day being immediately followed by another public holiday (Day of the Glories of the Chilean Army), the whole week around these two days tends to be a period of celebration. Many schools and some companies will declare a week-long holiday.

The events around the struggle for Independence are remembered with the ‘Fiestas Patrias’ (national parties). These fiestas include parades (often including ‘huasos’, the traditional Chilean cowboys), dancing, partying, traditional Chilean food, and displays of national pride.

In the 1950s, while other European countries were starting to retreat from their colonies in Africa, Portugal under the leadership of the dictator António Salazar, was doubling down on its territories, planning industrialisation to extract as much wealth as possible.

This colonial approach enraged many young Africans, such as António Agostinho Neto, a doctor who had been involved in (and imprisoned for) political activities against the Salazar regime.

After two years of detention in Cape Verde and Portugal, Neto escaped to Morocco where he joined the Angolan liberation movement. In 1962 he became president of the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA).

As president of the MPLA, he was a figurehead for the protracted and violent struggle to break free from Portuguese colonial rule.

When the People’s Republic of Angola gained independence from Portugal in November 1975, he became the country’s first president serving until his death on September 10th 1979.

His obituary in the Times of London called him “a man of outstanding intellectual abilities who took advantage of the opportunities offered by the colonial authorities to emerge as their principal opponent.”

Specifically, it commemorates a proclamation by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16th 1810, in the village of Dolores, near Guanajuato.

Hidalgo’s proclamation called for an end to Spanish rule in Mexico, encouraging rebellion and insurrection against the Spanish.

The Spanish Empire had been broken by Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, and imperial rule had been replaced by “juntas” in both Spain and the American colonies, while King Fernando VII was being held hostage by Napoleon.

Hidalgo ordered that the church bell be rung to gather his congregation, then called for insurrection and ended by calling out, Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! Viva Fernando VII! Abajo el mal gobierno! [Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe! Long live Fernando VII! Down with the bad government!].

There are various accounts of what Hidalgo was reputed to have actually said. While the proclamation has gained national status, in reality, it is unlikely that Hidalgo disowned the King as he is supposedly said to have done.

Following his speech, Father Hidalgo raised an army and attempted to overthrow the Junta government, but he was eventually defeated. As his struggle against the establishment continued, he began to demand the full independence of all the Spanish American colonies, and the exile or arrest of all Spaniards within Mexico.

It was only after a ten year long War of Independence that Mexico’s independence was finally acknowledged by the Spanish viceroy on September 27th 1821.

The secret to longevity in Japan is likely the healthy Japanese diet, which is low in foods containing heart-damaging trans fats and sodium and high in fresh vegetables and fatty fish such as salmon, fresh tuna, mackerel, sardines, and herring that are a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

In addition, Japanese people have the lowest obesity rate in the developed world — 3%–versus 11% for the French and 32% for Americans, according to the International Obesity Task Force. This is not a genetic trait, say dietary experts, because when Japanese people adopt a Western-style diet heavy in red meat, fast foods, and fried foods, they put on weight quickly.

Still, studies show that the average Japanese adult eats about 25% fewer calories per day than the average American, which could partly explain their lengthy lifespan.

Nowadays the idea that a private individual from another country could turn up and effectively conquer your country seems highly unlikely, but this is what happened in Nicaragua in 1856.

William Walker was an American who organised private military expeditions into Latin America. He wanted to establish English-speaking colonies under his control. Walker and his followers were known as “filibusters”.

The term “filibuster” is Spanish and was used to describe the Pirates who raided the coast of South America in the 18th and 19th centuries. You can see how it fitted what Walker was doing. Its modern use in English means delaying a political process in order to stop it.

Taking advantage of a civil war in Nicaragua, Walker and a modest force of 38 troops, conquered the key city of Granada and took control of the country in April 1956. His rule was even recognised as legitimate by the then U.S. President, Franklin Pierce.

The Battle of San Jacinto took place on the September 14th 1856 in Hacienda San Jacinto, Managua, Nicaragua between 160 soldiers of the Legitimist Septemtrion Army led by Colonel José Dolores Estrada versus 300 of Walker’s filibusters.  The filibusters were defeated by Colone Estrada after four hours of combat.

While the victory did not defeat Walker, it was the first significant victory for the legitimists and would prove to be the beginning of the end of the reign of the usurper.

A coalition of Central American armies finally ousted Walker from power in May 1857. He was arrested and repatriated to the U.S.

April 11th is a national holiday in Costa Rica that commemorates Walker’s defeat at the decisive Battle of Rivas, and the key role played by the national hero, Juan Santamaría.

One thing to say about Walker is that he was persistent. In 1860, he returned once again to Central America to take control of the region. He was captured and executed by the government of Honduras.

Mr. Dahl is known for writing a number of popular children’s books, which include “Matilda,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The BFG,” and “James and the Giant Peach.” His books have been translated into 58 different languages and have sold well over 200 million copies worldwide.

Roald Dahl was born on September 13, 1916, in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales, to Harald Dahl and Sofie Magdalene Dahl. He attended Llandaff Cathedral School, and at the age of eight years old, he was severely caned by the headmaster after putting a dead mouse in a jar of gobstoppers at a local candy store. After that event, he transferred to St Peter’s boarding school. Later on, he would transfer to a private school known for its academic excellence, Repton. He graduated from Repton in 1932 and took a job with the Shell Oil Company, located in Tanzania, Africa, and stayed there until 1939.

The Islamic calendar is about 12 days shorter than the Western calendar, so the date of this holiday moves forward in the Western calendar each year. Please see the table on this page for details of the dates.

This holiday marks the traditional Islamic birth rites that take place seven days after birth.

Islam arrived in West Africa in about the 11th century and about 95% of the population of Mali is Muslim.

The tradition of the Prophet’s Baptism is unique to Mali. No other country observes this day as a holiday and given that the Prophet Muhammad was born into a tribe who were probably not Jewish or Christian, it is unlikely that he was baptized in a manner we would recognise.

However, the seventh day of a child’s life is an important one for Muslims, and a number of key birth rites take place on this day:

The baby’s head is shaved. This is to show that the child is the servant of Allah. A tradition amongst some Muslims is to weigh the hair and give the equivalent weight in silver to charity.

Muslim baby boys are circumcised when they are seven days old although it can take place any time before puberty.

It is also tradition to choose a name for the baby on the seventh day.

The aqeeqah is also traditionally carried out on the seventh day. This is a celebration which involves the slaughter of sheep. Sheep are sacrificed and the meat is distributed to relatives and neighbours and also given to the poor.

The Ethiopian calendar is a solar calendar based on the Egyptian and Julian calendars and was brought to Ethiopia by missionaries. The year consists of 12 months of 30 days and a thirteenth month of five or six timekeeping days.

Pagume, the 13th month in the Ethiopian calendar, comes from the Greek word epagomene, which means ‘days forgotten when a year is calculated’. This month has five days or six days in a leap year. According to the Ethiopian calendar, a year has 365 days, six hours, two minutes and 24 seconds. Once every four years, the six hours add up to 24 hours and become the sixth day in a leap year. Once in 600 years, the two minutes and 24 seconds add up to a full day and form a seventh day.

Based on the Julian calendar basis, the Ethiopian calendar is currently seven years and eight months behind the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world.

Enkutatash means the ‘gift of jewels’. It is said to refer to the Queen of Sheba returning from her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem in 980 BC. On the Queen’s arrival back in Ethiopia, her chiefs welcomed her by filling her treasury with jewels (‘enku’). It may also refer to the countryside, as this time of year coincides with the end of the rainy season meaning the landscape is covered with Adey Abeba, whose bright yellow flowers appear almost in celebration of the impending harvest.

Celebrations for the Ethiopian New Year usually last for a week and are focused on family events. The holiday starts on New Year’s Eve, when each household light wooden torches called “chibo” in Amharic language, that symbolise the coming of the new season of sunshine after the end of the rainy season that has prevailed since June.

From the sixteenth century, the Spanish had been making attempts to control the region of the Yucatan coast which includes modern-day Belize. They never settled due to the lack of natural resources and the hostile Indian tribes.

The first Europeans who put down roots were British sailors; either shipwrecked or in some cases having ‘Pirate’ on their CV. 

Pirates would use the numerous cays (a low bank or reef of coral, rock, or sand) in the area as a places to lay in wait to attack passing Spanish ships. These pirates were known as ‘filibusters’, a word that is used in modern English for those who delay a political process.

Known as Baymen, these Europeans settled in the Belize City area in the 1650s after realising they could make a living by cutting and exporting logwood back to Europe.

The importance of the timber industry to the country is shown on the flag of Belize, whose seal features a woodcutter’s starter pack – three axes, a saw and a mahogany tree.

In the mid-eighteenth century, the Spanish made several attempts to take control of the region. The conflict continued despite several treaties being signed by the Spanish and the British which were supposed to safeguard the rights of the Baymen.

On September 10th 1798, the Spanish made an assault on the settlement with 32 ships and over 2,000 troops. They engaged with the Baymen at St. George’s Caye and despite the overwhelming Spanish numbers, the Baymen won a decisive victory, that ended Spanish interest in the region.

In 1862, Britain formally declared the settlement a British Crown Colony, subordinate to Jamaica, and named it British Honduras.