Holidays and Festivals - British Commonwealth to Burundi

Brazil	Encyclopedia of Days	Calendar to Czech Republic

British Commonwealth

Used in this book to indicate countries which have cultural origins in Great Britain, such as Canada, Australia, and former colonies.

Empire Day, May 24. Occurs on the date of Queen Victoria's birthday. It was originally called The Queen's Birthday and is also known as Victoria Day, but has come to celebrate the unity of the Empire rather than to commemorate the Queen.
August Bank Holiday, August 1. Canada also observes a day off on this day.
Queen's Birthday, June 4.
Prince of Wales' Birthday, November 14.
Commonwealth Day, date varies. A day celebrating a nation's commonwealth status.

British Virgin Islands

. A British Dependent Territory.

Prince of Wales's Birthday, November 14. Celebrates the birthday of Prince Charles (b.1948).
Sovereign's Birthday Observance, occurs in June.

Public holidays New Year's Day, Commonwealth Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Queen's Official Birthday, Territory Day (Jul 1), August Holiday (Mon, Tue, and Wed), Saint Ursula's Day, Prince of Wales' Birthday, Christmas.

Brunei

The anniversary of the 1959 constitution is celebrated on September 29.

National Day, February 23.
Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day, June 1.
Sultan's Birthday, July 15.

Public holidays New Year's Day, Isra Mera (Leilat al-Meiraj), Chinese New Year, National Day, Beginning of Ramadan, Memperingati Nuzul Al-Quran (Revelation of the Koran), Hari Raya Puasa (end of Ramadan), Royal Brunei Armed Forces Day, Hari Raya Haji (Feast of the Sacrifice), Hizrah (Islamic New Year), Sultan's Birthday, Hari Mouloud, Christmas.

Buddhism

The religion following the teachings of Buddha. There are a number of festivals which celebrate the birth, death, and enlightenment of Buddha which are variously known as Buddha Purnima (India), Vesak Day, Kambutsue, etc. Buddha's birthday is on April 8th, but observance may vary.

Vesak Day. A holiday celebrating the birth, death, and enlightenment of Buddha.
Varsa, begins around July and ends around September. The preferred time for Buddhist men to enter monkhood, usually on a temporary basis. The Buddhist Lent.
Makha Bucha Day. In Thailand, this is observed on the full moon of the first lunar month. It commemorates the time when 1,250 disciples gathered to hear Buddha's teachings. Also known as Buddhist All Saints' Day.

Bulgaria

The Republic of Bulgaria is located in eastern Europe.

Botev Day, May 20. Memorializes the death of poet Khristo Botev (d.1876), who was a hero in the revolutionary movement against the Turks. Observed with poetry festivals and concerts.
Babin Den, January 20. Also known as Grandmother's Day.
Education Day, May 24. A day to promote the nation's culture, education, and communications. Also known as Day of Slavonic Letters.
National Holiday, September 9-10. Commemorates the period in 1944 when Bulgaria switched sides from the Axis to the Allied side.
Liberation Day, March 3. Anniversary of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman empire in 1878, acheived through the Treaty of San Stefano.
Viticulturists' Day, February 14. A festival observing customs from the cult of Dionysus, god of wine and merriment.

Public holidays The national holidays are New Year's Day, National Day (Mar 3), Labor Day (May 1), Education Day, Christmas.

Burkina Faso

A country in Africa formerly known as Upper Volta.

Republic Day, December 11. The territory voted to become an autonomous state in 1958. No longer observed since the country becam Burkina Faso.
Youth Day, November 30.
National Day, August 4. On this day in 1984 the Republic of Upper Volta was renamed Burkina Faso.

Public holidays New Year's Day, Anniversary of 1966 Coup (Jan 3), Id al-Fitr, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Id al-Adha, National Day, Assumption, Mouloud, All Saints' Day, Christmas.

Burundi

The Republic of Burundi is in central Africa.

Independence Day, July 1. Anniversary of sovereignty in 1962.
Victory of Uprona Day, September 18, 1961. UPRONA is the Union pour le progrès national, which was formed in 1958 by Prince Louis Rwagasore.
Murder of the Hero Day, October 13. Prime minister Prince Louis Rwagasore's assassination is remembered.

Public holidays New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labor Day (May 1), Ascension Day, Independence Day, Assumption, Victory of Uprona Day, Murder of the Hero Day, All Saints' Day, Anniversary of the Revolution (Nov. 30), Christmas, and Umugamuro.

Holiday information does sometimes become outdated. If you find any errors, please send us corrections.

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