January 1
Multi-Country-New Year’s Day
That is, January 1 of the Gregorian calendar is the “New Year” commonly called by most countries in the world.
United Kingdom: The day before New Year’s Day, every household must have wine in the bottle and meat in the cupboard.
Belgium: On the morning of New Year’s Day, the first thing in the countryside is to pay a New Year greeting to the animals.
Germany: During the New Year’s Day, every household must place a fir tree and a horizontal tree. The leaves are full of silk flowers, which means that the flowers are like brocades and the world is full of spring.
France: The New Year is celebrated with wine. People start to drink and drink from New Year’s Eve until January 3rd.
Italy: Every family picks up old things, breaks some shattered things in the house, smashes them to pieces, and throws old pots, bottles and cans out of the door, indicating that they will get rid of bad luck and troubles. This is their traditional way of leaving the old year and celebrating the New Year. .
Switzerland: The Swiss have the habit of exercising on New Year’s Day. They use fitness to welcome the new year.
Greece: On New Year’s Day, every family makes a big cake with a silver coin inside. Whoever eats the cake with silver coins becomes the luckiest person in the New Year. Everyone congratulates him.
Spain: The bell starts to ring at twelve o’clock, and everyone will fight to eat grapes. If 12 can be eaten by the bell, it means that every month of the New Year will be all right.
January 6
Christianity-Epiphany
An important festival for Catholicism and Christianity to commemorate and celebrate the first appearance of Jesus to the Gentiles (referring to the Three Magi of the East) after he was born as a human being.
January 7
Orthodox Church-Christmas
Countries with Orthodox Church as the mainstream faith include: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Macedonia, Georgia, Montenegro.
January 10
Japan-Adult Day
The Japanese government announced that starting in 2000, the Monday of the second week of January will be the Adult Day. The holiday is for young people who have entered their 20s this year. It is one of the most important traditional festivals in Japan.
In March 2018, the Cabinet Meeting of the Japanese Government passed an amendment to the Civil Law, reducing the legal age of majority from 20 to 18.
Activities: On this day, they usually wear traditional costumes to pay respects to the shrine, thank the gods and ancestors for their blessings, and ask for continued “care.”
January 17
United States-Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On January 20, 1986, people across the country were celebrating the first official Martin Luther King Day, the only federal holiday to commemorate African Americans. The third week of January every year by the U.S. government will be Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Day.
Activities: On Martin Luther King Day, also known as MLK Day, students on holiday will be organized by the school to participate in charity activities outside the school. For example, go to provide food for the poor, go to a black elementary school to clean up, etc.
January 26
Australia-National Day
On January 18, 1788, 11 boats of the “First Fleet” led by Arthur Phillip arrived and anchored in Port Jackson, Sydney. These ships carried 780 deported prisoners, and about 1,200 people from the navy and their families.
Eight days later, on January 26, they formally established the first British colony in Port Jackson, Australia, and Philip became the first governor. Since then, January 26 has become the anniversary of the founding of Australia, and it has been called “Australia National Day”.
Activities: On this day, all major cities in Australia will hold various large-scale celebrations. One of them is the naturalization ceremony: the collective oath of thousands of new citizens of the Australian Commonwealth.
India-Republic Day
India has three national holidays. January 26 is called “Republic Day” to commemorate the establishment of the Republic of India on January 26, 1950 when the Constitution took effect. August 15 is called “Independence Day” to commemorate India’s independence from the British colonists on August 15, 1947. October 2 is also one of India’s National Days, which commemorates the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of India.
Activities: Republican Day activities mainly include two parts: military parade and float parade. The former showcases India’s military strength, and the latter showcases India’s diversity as a unified country.
Edited by Shijiazhuang Wangjie
Post time: Jan-04-2022