John Muir Day-US21 AprilJohn Muir

John Muir was arguably the most influential ecologist of the 20th Century. Many consider him to be founder of theAmerican environmental movement. The State of California has celebrated his birthday as a public holiday since1989. Every April 21, schools throughout California are encouraged to organize activit ies and events thatcommemorate Muir's achievements, philosophy, and teachings.Although Muir was an immigrant from Scotland and didn't even set-foot in California until the age of 29, it is fitting thatCalifornia would choose to observe his birthday as a state holiday. After all, California was Muir's adopted homeland,and the inspiration for his most important life's-work: the preservation and protection of America's natural wilderness.Muir was an obstinate idealist, refusing to compromise on his commitment to serve as a protector of the environment -no matter how vociferous the opposition. But Muir did not advocate violence. Instead, he used his wit to influencepolicy and behavior. He developed a name for himself as a respected scientist and outdoorsman, inspiring otherAmericans to study ecology and visit the great outdoors. Although he detested writing, he published 12 books andover 300 articles.Muir's tireless advocacy for wilderness preservation eventually led to the birth of America's first real environmentalmovement. One of his culminating achievements was convincing the U.S. Congress to declare over 6,500 squarekilometers of California territory as federally-protected lands. In 1890, America's second, third, and fourth nationalparks were created, largely thanks to Muir's efforts: Sequoia, King's Canyon, and the world-famous Yosemite.Thirteen years later, Muir took President Theodore Roosevelt on a backcountry camping trip through Yosemite.Hoping to convince the federal government to step-up enforcement of the national park protections, he showed thePresident first-hand the shortcomings of that enforcement - as well as the awesome natural beauty of the park itself.The U.S. national park system has been called "America's Best Idea," and Muir deserves a great deal of credit for itsinception. Today, the network maintains 58 parks spanning 210,000 square-km of territory, and receives tens ofmillions of visitors every year.But Muir's greatest legacy was arguably his message. Intensely spiritual, Muir believed that nature is the ultimatemanifestation of God - and that to really know God, one has to experience the wilderness. Despite the increasingurbanization of a rapidly-industrializing United States, Muir's philosophy gradually infected the American psyche. Inshort, Muir helped inspire millions of Americans to visit the country's most spectacular natural treasures - not to extracttheir natural resources, but to tap the innate spiritual energy within themselves. In short, he convinced America thatthe real value in its natural beauty is not economic or material, but spiritual.Contributed by: Alberto Rodriguez.

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Anzac DayAutralia-New Zealand

24-AprilAnzac Day is a national day of remembrance inAus t r a l i a a n d N ew Z e a l a nd , a nd i scommemorated by both countries on 25 Aprilevery year to honour members of the Australianand New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) whofought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Itnow more broadly commemorates all those whodied and served in military operations for theircountries. Anzac Day is also observed in the CookIslands, Niue, and Tonga. It is no longer observedas a national holiday in Samoa.

HISTORYAnzac Day marks the anniversary of the first majormilitary action fought by Australian and NewZealand forces during the First World War. Theacronym ANZAC stands for Australian and NewZealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were knownas Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the mostimportant national occasions of both Australia andNew Zealand. This is a rare instance of twosovereign countries not only sharing the sameremembrance day, but making reference to bothcountries in its name.

CommemorationIn Australia and New Zealand, Anzac Daycommemora t ion f ea tur es s o lemn "DawnServices", a tradition started in Albany, WesternAustralia on 25 April 1923 and now held at warmemorials around both countries, accompanied bythoughts of those lost at war to the ceremonialsounds of The Last Post on the bugle. The fourthstanza of Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen(known as the "Ode of Remembrance") is oftenrecited.

AustraliaAnzac Day is a national public holiday and isconsidered one of the most spiritual and solemndays of the year in Australia. Marches by veteransfrom all past wars, as well as current servingmembers of the Australian Defence Force andReserves, with allied veterans as well as theAustralian Defence Force Cadets and AustralianAir League and supported by members of ScoutsAustralia, Guides Australia, and other uniformedservice groups, are held in cities and townsnationwide. The Anzac Day Parade from eachstate capital is televised live with commentary.These events are generally followed by socialgatherings of veterans, hosted either in a publichouse or in an RSL Club, often including atraditional Australian gambling game calledtwo-up, which was an extremely popular pastimewith ANZAC soldiers. The importance of thistradition is demonstrated by the fact that thoughmost Australian states have laws forbiddinggambling outside of designated licensed venues,on Anzac Day it is legal to play "two-up". Despitefederation being proclaimed in Australia in 1901,many argue the "national identity" of Australia waslargely forged during the violent conflict of WorldWar I, and the most iconic event in the war formost Australians was the landing at Gallipoli. Dr.Paul Skrebels of the University of South Australiahas noted that Anzac Day has continued to growin popularity; even the threat of a terrorist attack atthe Gallipoli site in 2004 did not deter some15,000 Australians from making the pilgrimage toTurkey to commemorate the fallen ANZAC troops.Although commemoration events are always heldon 25 April, most states and territories currentlyobserve a substitute public holiday on thefollowing Monday when Anzac Day falls on aSunday, or on the following Tuesday when it fallson Easter Monday such as in 2011. This followeda 2008 meeting of the Council for the AustralianFederation in which the states and territories madean in principle agreement to work towards makingthis a universal practice. However in 2009, theLegislative Council of Tasmania rejected a billamendment that would have enabled thesubstitute holiday in that state. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day

Liberation Day-Italy25 April

The public holiday of Liberat ion day is marked all around Italy inremembrance of the day in 1945. It recognizes the sacrifices made by thepartisans of the Italian Resistance movement during World War II who noto n l y f o u g h t t h e t r o o p s o f t h e F a s c i s t r e g i me u n d e rMussolini but the Nazisas well. I t is the day that the Allied troopsfinally managed to liberate Italy.

Liberation Day CelebrationsIn all towns and cities around Italy, the streets will be crowded with Italianscelebrating and remembering those who gave their lives for the freedom ofothers. Marching bands, flags, political rallies, concerts are just some of theways in which the country shows its respect for its fallen heroes andheroines. Most things are closed, including restaurants, shops and publicservices unlike other public holidays. One song represents the date ofliberat ion 'Bella Ciao'. It is a folk song about a partisan who died forfreedom and who had asked to be buried in the mountains under theshade of a beautiful flower.

The Italian Resistance MovementFollowing Italy's armistice in September 1943, the I talian ResistanceMovement grew - it included factions within most parts of the country andabroad. Over 200,000 Italians registered as formal members with 55,000 ofthem women. The involvement of women was a voluntary one, unlike themen for whom there were many consequences if they did not sign up.However, this did not mean that the women were less at risk from danger.They took part in very dangerous manoeuvres often on the German borderas well as relaying messages and delivery everyday necessities such asfood and clothing. Sometimes they also delivered weapons and played akey role in helping arm the Movement. They risked their lives, alongsidethose of their men, in order to fulfill their responsibilities and fight for thefreedom of millions of Italians.Following the end of the war, the statistics show that their efforts were notwithout a price.---------Approximately 45,000 Italian partisans were killed---------Approximately 21,000 Italian partisans were wounded---------Some15, 000 Italian civilians were killed---------40,000 Italian soldiers died whilst incarcerated in concentrationcampsHowever, the contribution of women did not pass by without recognitionand resulted in them securing a seat in Italian politics, which continues tothis day. Liberation day is a day of remembrance as well as celebration andis recognised with all the glory and the respect that the Italian heroes andheroines of the Second World War deserve.Ref: http://www.suite101.com/contentliberation-day-italy-a228691

Sinai Liberation Day-Egypt25-April

Egypt's Eid Tahrir Sinai or Sinai Liberation Day isa public holiday in Egypt celebrated every 25th ofApr il year ly. The holiday commemorates thewithdrawal o f Is r aeli troops f rom Sinai asstipulated in the 1979 Israel- Egypt PeaceAccords. The holiday also commemorates the lifeof Anwar Sadat, the hero of the liberation of Sinai.

HISTORYSinai has been a battle ground for many incomingmilitary forces namely, the Ottoman, and Britishempires, and later the Israelis which invaded thearea twice in 1956 (Suez War) and 1967 (Six DayWar). Sinai also was the battlefront in the 1973October War between Egypt and Israel. Egyptinitially lost Sinai during the three wars it foughtagainst Israel. Egypt's President Anwar Sadat wasinstrumental in regaining Sinai when the twocountries signed the Israel and Egypt peace treatyin 1979. It was signed in Washington DC in the USon March 26, 1979. This made Egypt officiallyrecognize Israel as a country amidst criticisms andthreat of military attack from member countries ofthe Arab League some including countries inEu r o pe s uc h a s H un ga r y , B u l ga r i a ,Czechoslovakia, and Albania. Sadat made intensenegotiations to totally bring peace in the regionand stop Egypt-Israel infighting in Sinai. He wasawared Nobel Peace Prize together with IsraeliPrime Minister Menachem Begin in the signing ofCamp David Accords and the Israel-Egypt PeaceTreaty.TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES

Sinai's Liberation Day, although a national holiday,is only celebrated in Sinai. A national parade isor ganized ever y yea r dur ing the ho lidaycommemorating the pulling out of Israel's troopsfrom Sinai's soil. Government offices in Sinai areclosed including schools during the holiday.Ref:http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/egypt-eid-tahrir-sinai/

St. George's DayCanada-Spain-UK-23 April

Kindergarten Day-Germany21 April

This month Germans celebrate Kindergarten Day, in honor of Friedrich Froebel who was born on April 21, 1782 andwho started the first Kindergarten in Germany in 1837. The school was built upon a series of innovative principles thatused the innate curiosity and intrests of children to guide them to see what Froebel believed to be the harmonious,interconnectedness of all things -- through song and play (which was unheard of in earlier schools); daily lessons indrawing, design, and other artistic activities; and learning through active doing and close contacts with the naturalworld -- many of the kindergartens actually had real gardens attached to them that the children tended and in doing so,Froebel believed, cultivated their own inner lives. By the 1840s, Froebel was even issuing stock in his enterprise, theUniversal German Kindergarten, at around ten dollars a share. But the business never made him wealthy -- in fact,though the kindergarten idea spread throughout Germany in the mid-19th century, it was fiercely resisted by theautocratic Prussian state, which esentially outlawed it in 1851 because it was believed that Kindergartens promoteddemocratic ideas that were dangerous to the rigid status quo. Froebel would die a year later, in 1852 -- some say of abroken heart. As Norman Brosterman reports in his fascinating book, Inventing Kindergarten, by 1860, even thePrussian authorities relented and allowed this highly popular new form of schooling to continue. The first publicAmerican Kindergarten was opened in 1873 in St. Louis. By 1876, at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, therewas a model kindergarten for inspection on the grounds at Fairmont Park. One visitor, Mrs. Anna Wright, was so takenwith what she saw that she bought a set of what were called Froebel's gifts -- the blocks and balls, sticks andgeometric forms that all kindergartens were equipped with -- and took a course of instruction so that she could pass onwhat she had seen about Froebel's ideas of beautiful unity to her son, Frank Lloyd Wright. Cubism, the Bauhaus,Taliesin -- in fact, a good part of what we see and call "modern," as Brosterman points out -- is arguably attributable toFroebel and the visionary geometries of his children's garden.Ref: http://www.recess.ufl.edu/transcripts/2005/0425.shtml

Queen's Birthday-United Kingdom21 April

Queen's Official BirthdayThe Queen's Official Birthday, also known as "the Queen's Birthday" is the day on which the birthday of the monarch ofthe United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Realms is officially celebrated rather than the actual day of the currentmonarch's birthday. The exact date of the celebration varies from country to country, and only marks the real birthdayof the sovereign by coincidence (the current monarch, Elizabeth II, was born on 21 April 1926). Most CommonwealthRealms release a Birthday Honours List at this time.It has been celebrated in the United Kingdom with the Queen's Birthday Parade (which includes Trooping the colourceremonies) since 1748. In the UK there is no public holiday for it and King Edward VII (1901-10) moved it to the 1st,2nd, or (rarely) 3rd Saturday in June in the hope of better weather. It might be said that the Monarch's official birthdayis only this date as the Monarch declared it, and others have kept it, whereas the celebration of the Queen's birthdayelsewhere is the name of a public holiday, sometimes renamed. It has been celebrated as an official public holiday,sharing sometimes with the celebration of other things, in several Commonwealth countries, usually Commonwealthrealms, although it is also celebrated in Fiji, now a republic.Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Official_Birthday

San Jacinto Day (Texas)-US21 April

San Jacinto Day (Texas)Remember the Alamo? Remember Goliad? Well, every April 21, the State of Texas does. For these were the rallyingcries that inspired a band of Texan rebels lead by Sam Houston to defeat two Mexican Army regiments at San Jacinto- the final and decisive battle in the Texas Revolution.San Jacinto Day is an official holiday in Texas. It commemorates Texas' independence from Mexico and is marked bya reenactment of the battle itself, which took place on 21 April 1836.Most accounts agree that the Texas Revolution began in 1835, when Mexican President Antonio López de Santa Annaattempted to dissolve Mexico's democratic government and assert autocratic authority over the nation. Thousands ofTexan colonists responded by declaring independence and forming a new republican government. In 1836, SantaAnna led an invasion north to crush the insurrection.Mexican forces scored important early successes. The Mexicans defeated and slaughtered Texan rebels at theAlamo, in present-day San Antonio. They then defeated, captured, and murdered the unarmed survivors of anothergroup of Texan rebels at Goliad. About 350 unarmed Texan prisoners-of-war were executed in what later becameknown as the "Goliad Massacre."In the wake of these defeats, Sam Houston led a band of 900 remaining Texan soldiers on an apparent retreat. Hesuccessfully goaded Santa Anna - commanding 1,400 soldiers - to pursue. About three weeks after Goliad, Houstonstopped to camp on a grassy field near a flooded marsh along the San Jacinto River. Santa Anna camped his soldiersabout 1,000 yards away, in the swampy marshland. On April 21, while the Mexican soldiers rested in preparation for afinal assault, Houston pre-empted them with an attack of his own. Santa Anna had failed to post sentinels, andHouston's forces caught the Mexicans completely by surprise. The batt le was over in only 18 minutes.Shouting "Remember the Alamo!" and "Remember Goliad!" as they raided the Mexican camp, the inspired Texansdecimated Santa Anna's forces, killing about 700 and wounding another 208. The Texans also took 730 Mexicanprisoners, while suffering less than 40 casualties of their own. Santa Anna escaped during the melee, but waspromptly captured the next day.The Battle of San Jacinto effectively ended Mexico's control over Texas, paving the way for the independence andsovereignty of the "Lone Star State." Although the battle didn't result in Mexico officially recognizing Texanindependence, it directly led to U.S. annexation of Texas. Texas annexation, in turn, sparked the Mexican-AmericanWar and the resulting westward territorial expansion of the United States. So, if Sam Houston's forces had failed towin this crucial battle, world history could have taken a vastly different turn!Contributed by: Alberto Rodriguez

Earth Day-US22 AprilEarth Day

Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. EarthDay was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970.While this first Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization launched by Denis Hayes, who was theoriginal national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Earth Day isnow coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and is celebrated in more than 175 countries every year.Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues. In 2009,the United Nations designated April 22 International Mother Earth Day.Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day#Earth_Day_Canada

Oklahoma Day-US22 AprilBackground

The area, which is now the state of Oklahoma, has been inhabited since the end of the last ice age. There werepermanent communities, such as at the Spiro-mounds from around AD 850. European explorers first visited the areaduring the 16th century. Following the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the Indian Intercourse Act of 1834, thousandsof Native Americans were removed from their ancestral lands and transported to Oklahoma, even though the area wasalready occupied by the Osage and Quapaw peoples.In the middle of the 19th century, ranchers in Texas and Kansas found it difficult to meet the demands for food fromthe large cities. This lead to pressure to make more land available for farming and, in 1887, the Dawes Act removedcontrol of much of the land in Oklahoma from Native Americans. This land was opened to European settlers from April22, 1889. The anniversary of this date has become known as Oklahoma Day.Ref: http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/oklahoma-day

National Sovereignty-Turkey23 April

Every year on April 23, Turkey commemorates the opening of the country's National Assembly in 1920 when Turkeywas in war and campaigning for its national independence and the abolition of the Treaty of Sèvres, an agreementbetween the Allied countries after the end of World War I partitioning the then Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey).This day is a special day dedicated to the children and to remind every Turkish citizen that the children are the future ofthe Turkish Republic.

HISTORYDuring his death, Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and its first president (October 29, 1923), part of hispossessions were willed to his sister, and adopted children. Some parts were also dedicated to support the educationof the children of ?smet ?nönü. Ataturk believes that the children are the hopes of the next generation and that theable citizens of today should protect and secure their future by giving them the right education and imbue them withTurkish values.In 1922, Ataturk said:"The most important thing is to teach our children and youths to maintain Turkish liberty and their own will and strugglew i t h t h e e n e m i e s w h o a t t a c k o u r n a t i o n a l t r a d i t i o n s "April 23, 1920 is the date when Ataturk established the Grand National Assembly amidst the infighting against UK,France, and Italy's military forces to form the Republic of Turkey. The celebration was initially dedicated for theobservance of this event but later added Children's Day upon the recommendation of the Institution of Children'sProtection of Turkey.

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIESDuring the holiday, some of the most important activities during the holiday include replacing some members of theGrand National Assembly in Ankara and symbolically rule the country for a day. This symbolical bequeathal ofresponsibilities to children is a reminder of the important role of children in shaping the values of the future generationsof the republic. Some governmental organizations, such as the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, invitechildren representative from other countries to showcase artistic performances unique from their country of origin.These children are held in care in foster homes or host families all throughout Turkey. In all major cities and townsacross Turkey, children participate in folk dancing, parading in national costumes, while waving Turkey's national flag.Government officials usually take this time to sign laws and executive orders that concerns children's welfare in termsof promoting their legal rights and education.Ref: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/turkey-national-sovereignty-childrens-day/

St George's DaySt George's Day is celebrated by the several nat ions, kingdoms,countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. Mostcountries which observe St George's Day celebrate it on 23 April, thetraditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in 303 AD. This day isMay 6 for Eastern Orthodox Old Calendarists, who use the Julian calendar.

In Catholic and Protestant countriesEnglandSt George's Day was a major feast and national holiday in England on apar with Christmas from the early 15th century. However, this tradition hadwaned by the end of the 18th century after the union of England andScotland. In recent years the popularity of St George's Day appears to beincreasing gradually. BBC Radio 3 had a full programme of St George'sDay events in 2006, and Andrew Rosindell, Conservative MP for Romford,has been putting the argument forward in the House of Commons tomake St George's Day a public holiday. A traditional custom at this timewas to wear a red rose in one's lapel, though with changes in fashion thisis no longer common. Another custom is to fly or adorn the St George'sCross flag in some way: pubs in part icular can be seen on 23 Aprilfestooned with garlands of St George's crosses. However, the modernassociation of the St George's Cross with sports such as football, cricketand rugby, along with far-right political parties such as the BNP meansthat this tradition is rare outside this context. It is customary for the hymn"Jerusalem" to be sung in cathedrals, churches and chapels on StGeorge's Day, or on the Sunday closest to it. There is a growing reactionto the recent indifference to St George's Day. Organizations such asEnglish Heritage, and the Royal Society of Saint George (a non-politicalEnglish national society founded in 1894) have been encouragingcelebrations. There have also been calls to replace St George as patronsaint of England, on the grounds that he was an obscure figure who hadno direct connection with the country. However there is no obviousconsensus as to whom to replace him with, though names suggestedinclude Edmund the Martyr, Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, or Saint Alban, withthe latter having topped a BBC Radio 4 poll on the subject. In early 2009Mayor of London Boris Johnson spearheaded a campaign to encouragethe celebration of St George's Day.SpainSaint George is associated with several areas of Spain. He is the patronsaint of the former Crown of Aragon, since King Peter I of Aragon won theBattle of Alcoraz with his patronage. The saint is also patron of severalcities. In most cases, the reason for those cities' relation with the Saint astheir holy Patron is linked to historic events which happened during the"Reconquista."CanadaSt. George's Day is celebrated on April 23. St. George's Day is not anofficial national holiday in Canada. It is, however, a provincial holiday inNewfoundland, where it is usually observed on the Monday nearest April 23.Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_George's_Day

Castilla y Leon Day-Spain23 April

Castile and León Day (Spanish: Día de Castilla y León) is a holidaycelebrated on April 23 in the autonomous community of Castile and León,a subdivision of Spain. The date is the anniversary of the Battle of Villalar,in which Castilian rebels were dealt a crushing defeat by the forces of KingCharles I in the Revolt of the Comuneros on April 23, 1521. Commemoration of the Battle of Villalar was closely associated with liberalpolit ics in Spain from the la te 18th century unt il the 1970s, asconservatives generally sympathized with the royal government. With thedemise of General Franco's government, the day has broadened to amore general celebration of Castilian nationalism rather than only liberalpolitics. The government of Castile and León established August 23 as anofficial holiday in 1986, and festivals have since been held yearly atVillalar. April 23 is the same day as St. George's Day, with there beingsome crossover between the two holidays.

OriginsThe birth of the Battle of Villalar as a rallying symbol for Spanish liberalsdates back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. León del Arroyal, anillustrious economist and protoliberal, stated that Villalar was "the lastbreath of Castilian freedom" in the latter half of the 18th century. TheCastilian comuneros received their first major recognition during theTrienio Liberal, the three years of liberal government from 1820-1823.Resistance fighter Juan Martín Díez organized an expedition to Villalar tosearch for the remains of Padilla, Bravo, and Maldonado, the executedleaders of the revolt. These events took its climax with a festival andcelebration of the comuneros in the plaza of the Villalar on April 23, 1821.Members of left-leaning secret societies often referenced the revolt in theirnames, such as "Los comuneros" or "Sons of Padilla." They alsoemployed the purple banner, the flag flown by the comuneros rebels.While dormant for a time after the Bourbon Restoration to the Spanishthrone, occasional recognition of Villalar and the comuneros came fromsome of the short-lived liberal governments of the period. For instance,President Francisco Pi y Margall of the First Spanish Republic stated that"Castile was among the first nations of Spain who lost their freedoms inVillalar under the first king of the House of Austria." In the early years ofthe 20th century there were other attempts to celebrate at Villalar. Amongthem was a proposal by José María Zorita Díez, a liberal deputy forValladolid, who made a special request for funds to commemorate thebattle of Villalar. There were also various requests and preparations tocelebrate the fourth centenary of the Battle in 1923; the city council ofPalencia proposed in early 1923 that "on next April 23, all therepresentatives of Castile go to the fields of Villalar and swear upon theCastilian Holy Grail, at the scene of the Fall ... On the same day and at thesame time all the cities of Castile dedicate a minute of silence to the heroesof Villalar." Little came of these attempts to celebrate April 23, however.

Official recognitionBy the early 70s, much of the reputation of the comuneros had beenrehabilitated after generally positive portrayals by historians such as JoséAntonio Maravall, Juan Ignacio Gutiérrez Nieto, and Joseph Pérez. In1976, a gathering of about 400 people met at Villalar. While they weredispersed by the Guardia Civil, the meeting the next year was far larger,with almost 20,000 attendees to celebrate the Battle and organizepro-Castilian groups. The meetings continued on an unofficial basis until1986, when the government of the recently recognized autonomouscommunity of Castile and León granted its official stamp of approval.

Modern observanceThe acts normally begin on the evening of April 22, with performances bymusical groups and a zone of free camping for the night. On the morningof April 23, the main ceremonies take place alongside the monolitherected in tribute to the comuneros. Each political party makes a floraloffering to the monolith and gaves a speech. Throughout the day, politicalactivities and speeches alternate with dances, music concerts, sports,exhibitions, street theatre, and other Castil ian-themed recreationalactivities. The entity responsible for organizing the celebration in moderntimes is the "Villalar Foundation of Castile and León."Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castile_and_Le%C3%B3n_Day

Easter Day-Italy24 AprilEaster in Italy

One of the major festivals of Christians; Easter is celebrated with muchgusto and grandeur throughout the world. The day commemorates theresurrection of Jesus, after His crucifixion on Good Friday. Considered tobe very holy and auspicious, Easter also celebrates the beginning of thespring season after the end of the Lent period. For Italians, Easter is thesecond most significant religious holiday after Christmas. The festival hasthe same importance for Italians as Thanksgiving Day has for Americans.While an Easter bunny is not common in Italy, you can find other traditionsthat keep the I talians busy with Easter celebrations. Dominated byChristian faith, Italy celebrates Easter with great fanfare and vigor. Knownas 'Pasqua' in Italian, everyone revels in the festive spirit of Easter, byindulging in fun games and concerts. The proverb 'Natale con i t uoi,Pasqua con chi vuoi' meaning 'Christmas with your relatives, Easter withwhomever you want', perfectly suits the festive spirit of Easter in Italy.Celebrations in Italy chiefly include church services, parades and fireworks.The festivity begins with Carnival activities, which form a preface to theseason of Lent that signifies grief and misery. Venice, Ivrea and Sicily arethe greatest hotspots, where Easter celebrations are held with splendorand magnificence. The most significant Easter ritual of Italy is the purchaseof Easter eggs when the church bells ring. Every family celebrates theevent by making 'Frittata', a dish similar to an omelet. Rome, also knownas headquarters of Christianity, holds a procession on this day, precededby the Pope. In this holy ritual, the Pope explains the 'Passion of Christ' onthe day of Good Friday. In Florence, a performance is held, where the'scoppio del carro' ('explosion of the cart') is enacted. In this act, a fancifulcart, led by white oxen, is driven to the Easter Mass where firecrackers anddove-shaped rockets are set off. Another prominent Easter ritual in Italy isthe Barano d'Ischia, the customary dance and merino and the popularhorse race. Delicacies and mouth-watering dishes are not too far behindwhen its Easter celebration time in the country. The festival also marks aluxurious and extravagant feast, wherein all the traditional delicacies areprepared. Agnellino, or the roasted baby lamb, forms the most importantdish on the occasion. Another must-have in Italy during Easter are eggs,that are found in soups, such as Brodetto Pasquale (a broth-based Eastersoup thickened with eggs) and various kinds of breads, such as Pannetoneand Colomba (dove shaped).Ref: http://easter.fundootimes.com/easter-across-the-world/italy.html

Liberty Day-Portugal-25 AprilLiberty Day is celebrated in Portugal to remember the famous Carnation Revolution that took place on April 25, 1974.Often referred to simply as 25 de Abril, the day is a remembrance of the oppression that led to the revolution and is arenewal of the country's democratic values and ideals of liberty, equality, justice, solidarity, and fraternity.

HISTORY

National Flag Day-Swaziland-25 AprilSwaziland, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, dedicates April 25th as a celebrat ion on the date whenSwaziland's Flag was raised and Brit ish Flag was brought down after it obtained independence from GreatBritain in 1968. This holiday is known as National Flag Day.

HISTORYAt the dawn of the 20th century and at the start of Anglo Boer War, Swaziland became a British protectorate althoughBritish rule in the country already started in the early 19th century. Great Britain already signed an agreementrecognizing the independence of the country in 1881. It did not materialize though because of a conflict of land andmineral rights use with that of the Transvaals' (South African Republic, Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, or ZAR). It isimportant to note that the country was placed under ZAR's administration in the late 20th century and ended only whenthe Anglo Boer war started. The start of Swaziland's quest to independence started in 1960s when Britain officiallyannounced the creation of Swaziland constitution which laid the foundation for its eventual independence. From there,the legislative Council and the Executive Council were formed as stated in the initial declaration despite of theopposition from Swazi National Council. The Legislative Council of Swaziland was established on September 9, 1964.Numerous ratifications and changes in the original constitution followed including the provision to the creation of theHouse of Assembly and Senate. Official declaration to Swaziland's independence was made on September 6, 1968.Elections followed a year after.

TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIESSome of the popular activities in National Flag Day include the hoisting of flags in major cities and towns in Swazilandinc lud ing Lobamba and Mbabane. Organized parade and speeches made by loca l governmentofficials abound during the celebration. Since this is a public holiday, government offices are closed.Ref: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/swaziland-flag-day/

Day of ResistanceSlovenia27 April

The Day of Uprising or Resistance Day (Slovenia, dan uporaproti okupatorju) is a holiday in Slovenia to commemoratethe establishment of Slovenia's Liberation Front to fight theoccupying forces of nearby European countries such as theGermany, Italy, and Hungary. The holiday is celebrated onthe 27th of April every year. It is formerly known as LiberationFront Day and a considered a work-free day.

HISTORYLjubljana, the capital of Slovenia, saw the birth of LiberationFront of the Slovenian People or the Anti-Imperialist Front onApril 26, 1941 that was created to free the Slovenians fromforeign occupation. This massive movement is driven by thesome of the most notable Slovenians writers and literarycritics during the protest such as Ferdo Kozakand and JosipVidmar; the Communist Party of Slovenia, the dissident orbreakaway group of Slovene Sokols, and some ChristianSocialists. A quick civil war broke out in Spring of 1942between the Liberation Front of the Slovenian People andthe Slovene Home Guard which are anti-communist militia inthe province of Ljubljana sponsored by the Axis powers. Theformer took over some portions of territories in Slovenia andcontributed, to a large extend, the fall of Nazi Germany, andpartly, the fascist Italy. The Liberation Front of the SlovenianPeople was renamed Socialist Alliance of the WorkingPeople of Slovenia at the wake of the Second World War.TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIES

During the holiday, events such as public speeches fromsurviving Slovenian guerillas and political groups gather atthe Monument of Freedom, created by Jakob Savinek(1922-1961) to commemorate this momentous event whichliberated the country from foreign rule during World War II.Ref:http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/slovenia-uprising-day/

National Day of MourningCanada-28 April

The National Day of Mourning is observed inCanada on 28 April. It commemorates workerswho have been killed, injured or suffered illnessdue to workplace related hazards and incidents.Workers ' Memorial Day was s tar ted by theCanadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in1984, and the Canadian Labour Congress officiallydeclared it an annual day of remembrance in 1985on April 28. In December 1990, this day became anational observance with the pass ing of theWorkers Mourning Day Act, so that on April 28,1991, it was officially the National Day of Mourningfor persons killed or injured in the workplace;making April 28, an official Workers' MourningDay. Since its inception, the observance hasspread to over 80 countries around the world, butis known is most other countries as the Workers'Memorial Day. The date 28 April was pickedbecause on that day in 1914, the WorkersCompensation Act received its third reading. In2001 the International Labour Organization firstobserved World Day for Safety and Health atWork on this day. Typically the Canadian flag onParliament Hill is flown at half-mast, and workersand employees observe this day in various waysincluding lighting candles, donning ribbons andblack armbands, and observing moments ofsi lence. The purpose of Day of Mourning istwofold- to remember and honour those lives lostor injured and to renew the commitment toimproving health and safety in the workplace - toprevent further deaths, injuries and diseases fromwork.Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Mourning_(Canadian_observance)

Koninginnedag-Netherlands30 April

Koninginnedag or Queen's Day is a nationalholiday in the Nether lands, the Nether landsAntilles, and Aruba on 30 April or on 29 April if the30th is a Sunday. Queen's Day celebrates thebirthday of the Queen of the Netherlands and issupposed to be a day of national unity and"togetherness" (Dutch: saamhorigheid). Thetradition started on 31 August 1885, on thebirthday of Princess Wilhelmina, later QueenWilhelmina. Since 1949, after the accession ofQueen Juliana, Queen's Day is Queen Juliana'sbirthday on 30 April. Although Queen Beatrix'sbirthday is on 31 January, she officially celebratesher birthday on 30 April. Queen's Day is known forits "freemarket" (Dutch: vrijmarkt) all over thecountry, where everybody is allowed to sell thingsin the streets. Other activities during Queen's Dayare c hi ldr en's games , i ndividual mus ic alperformances, and music concerts. The nightbefore Queen's Day is celebrated too in mostcities, and this is called Queen's Night (Dutch:Koninginnenacht). The largest celebration ofQueen's Day is in Amsterdam, Queen's NightinThe Hague and Queen's Dance (Dutch:Koninginnedans) in Rotterdam. Dur ing thecelebrations as reference to the colours of theHouse of Orange-Nassau, people dress in thecolour orange, which is sometimes called "orangecraze" (Dutch: oranjegekte).

HistoryThe present-day celebration of Queen's Day wasoriginally intended by the Liberal Union to be a dayof national unity in the Netherlands. It started withthe celebration of the bir thday of Pr incessWilhelmina on 31 August 1885. From 1885 to1890 the celebration was therefore calledPr inses sedag or Pr incess ' Day, unti l theCoronation of W ilhelmina in 1890. Since 31Augus t 1891 , the c elebra tion was c alledKoninginnedag or Queen's Day. The day was notonly the birthday of the Queen, but also the lastday of the summer vacation, which made thecelebrations popular with children. Unlike hersuccessors, Queen W ilhelmina almost neverattended festivities on Queen's Day. In September1948 Queen Juliana ascended to the Dutch throneand from 1949 onwards Queen's Day was on herbirthday on 30 April. When 30 April is a Sunday,Queen's Day is celebrated on 29 April. On thisday, Queen Juliana received a flower tribute atSoestdijk Palace, where she lived. The Queen andher family would stand on a dais and a long line ofcitizens would walk past, congratulating her andpresenting her gifts and flowers. The parade wasbroadcast on national television from the 1950s.When more and more people received a day offfrom their work, Queen's Day became a nationalholiday of togetherness (Dutch: samenhorigheid).When Queen Beatr ix succeeded her motherQueen Juliana on 30 April 1980, she decided tokeep the holiday on 30 April as a tribute to hermother. Furthermore for practical reasons, theweather on her own birthday in the winter on 31January tends to prohibit the traditional outdoorfestivities, while 30 Apr il normally has betterweather. In contrast to her mother, Juliana, Beatrixdecided to go into the country to meet the people,rather than receiving people at her residence.Since her ascension to the throne, Queen Beatrixand her family visit one, two, or sometimes threeplaces on Queen's day, where she is shownregional versions of traditional Dutch dances anddemonstrations of old crafts. In 2001, the Queen'sDay visits of the Royal Family were canceled asthere was worry about maintaining the quarantinemeasures to control an ongoing outbreak offoot-and-mouth disease. Queen Beatrix has visitedthe following cities over the years on Queen's Day:Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koninginnedag

May Day EveFinland-Germany-Sweden

30-AprilWalpurgis Night (Walpurgisnacht) is a traditional springfestival on 30 April or 1 May in large parts of Central andNorthern Europe. Its celebration is associated with dancingand with bonfires.

NameThe current festival is, in most countries that celebrate it,named after Saint Walburga (ca. 710-777/9). As Walburgawas canonized on 1 May (ca. 870), she became associatedwith May Day, especially in the Finnish and Swedishcalendars. The eve of May day, traditionally celebrated withdancing, came to be known as Walpurgisnacht ("Walpurga'snight"). The German term is recorded in the 17th century,e.g. by Johannes Praetorius (1668), as S. Walpurgis Nacht orS. Walpurgis Abend. In earlier references, 1 May is moretypically referred to as Jacobi Philippi (after James the Lessand Philip, the apostles whose feast day falls on 1 May), e.g.in the Calendarium Perpetuum by Johannes Coler (1603, p.89). The 17th century German tradition of a meeting ofsorcerers and witches on May Day is influenced by thedescriptions of Witches' Sabbaths in 15th and 16th centuryliterature.

FinlandIn Finland, Walpurgis day (Vappu) is, along with New Year'sEve and Juhannus, the biggest carnival-style festival held inthe streets of Finland's towns and cities. The celebration,which begins on the evening of 30 April and continues to 1May, typically centres on copious consumption of sparklingwine and other alcoholic beverages. Student traditions,particularly those of the engineering students, are one of themain characteristics of Vappu. Since the end of the 19thcentury, t his t rad it ional upper-c lass feast has beenappropriated by university students. Many graduates fromlukio, and thus traditionally assumed as university students oralumni, wear a cap. Most people think the caps of theengineering students are dist inguished by pom-pomshanging from them; however, nurses and some othervocational school graduates also have caps with pom-poms.One tradition is to drink sima, a home-made mead, alongwith freshly cooked doughnuts. In the capital Helsinki and itssurrounding region, fixtures include the capping (on 30 Aprilat 6 pm) of the Havis Amanda, a nude female statue inHelsinki, and the biannually alternating publications of ribaldmatter called Äpy and Julkku, by engineering students ofAalto University School of Science and Technology. Both aresophomoric; but while Julkku is a standard magazine, Äpy isalways a gimmick. Classic forms have included an Äpyprinted on toilet paper and a bedsheet. Often, the magazinehas been stuffed inside standard industrial packages, suchas sardine cans and milk cartons. For most universitystudents, Vappu starts a week before the day of celebration.The festivit ies also include a picnic on 1 May, which issometimes prepared in a lavish manner, particularly inUllanlinnanmäki-and Kaisaniemi for the Swedish-speakingpopulation-in Helsinki city. The Finnish tradition is also ashadowing of the Socialist May Day parade. Expanding fromthe parties of the left, the whole of the Finnish political scenehas adopted Vappu as the day to go out on stumps andagitate. This does not only include political activists: otherinstitutions, such as the church, have followed suit, marchingand making speeches. In Sweden, it is only the left-wingparties that use 1 May for political activities, while othersobserve the traditional festivities. Left-wing activists who wereactive in the 1970s still party on May Day. They arrangecarnivals, and radio stations play left ist songs from the1970s. Traditionally, 1 May is celebrated by a picnic in a park(Kaivopuisto or Kaisaniemi in the case of Helsinki). For most,the picnic is enjoyed with friends on a blanket with good foodand sparkling wine. Some people, however , arrangeextremely lavish picnics with pavilions, white tablecloths,silver candelabras, classical music and extravagant food. Thepicnic usually starts early in the morning, where some of theprevious night's party-goers continue their celebrationsundaunted by lack of sleep. Some student organisationsreserve areas where they traditionally camp every year.Student caps, mead, streamers and balloons have their rolein the picnic, as well as in the celebrat ion as a whole.Vappu/Valborg and Midsummer are Finland's two mainholidays in the summer half of the year, on a par withChristmas Eve and New Year's Eve in the winter half.

GermanyIn Germany, Walpurgisnacht, the night from 30 April to 1May, is the night when witches are reputed to hold a largecelebration on the Brocken and await the arrival of spring.Walpurgis Night (in German folklore) the night of 30 April(May Day's eve), when witches meet on the Brockenmountain and hold revels with their gods..." Brocken is thehighest of the Harz Mountains of north central Germany. It isnoted for the phenomenon of the Brocken spectreand forwitches' revels which reputedly took place there on Walpurgisnight. The Brocken Spectre is a magnified shadow of anobserver, typically surrounded by rainbow-like bands, thrownonto a bank of cloud in high mountain areas when the sun islow. The phenomenon was first reported on the Brocken.Oxford Phrase & Fable. A scene in Goethe's Faust Part Oneis called "Walpurgisnacht", and one in Faust Part Two iscalled "Classical Walpurgisnacht". The last chapter of bookfive in Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain is also called"Walpurgisnacht". In Edward Albee's 1962 play 'Who's Afraidof Virginia Woolf?', Act Two is entitled "Walpurgisnacht". Insome parts of northern coastal regions of Germany, thecustom of lighting huge fires is still kept alive to celebrate thecoming of May, while most parts of Germany have a derivedChristianized custom around Easter called "Easter fires". Inrural parts of southern Germany, it is part of popular youthculture to play pranks such as tampering with neighbours'gardens, hiding possessions, or spraying graffiti on privateproperty. These pranks occasionally result in serious damageto property or bodily injury. In Berlin, traditional leftist MayDay riots usually start at Walpurgis Night in the Mauerpark inPrenzlauer Berg. There is a similar t radit ion in theSchanzenviertel district of Hamburg, though in both cases,the situation has significantly calmed down in the past fewyears.

SwedenIn Sweden, Walpurgis Night (Swedish: Valborgsmässoaftonor simply Valborg) has more or less become a de facto halfholiday. The forms of celebration in Sweden vary in differentparts of the country and between different cities. Sir JamesGeorge Frazer in The Golden Bough writes, "The first of Mayis a great popular festival in the more midland and southernparts of Sweden. On the eve of the festival, huge bonfires,which should be lighted by striking two flints together, blazeon all the hills and knolls." One of the main tradit ions inSweden is to light large bonfires, a custom that is most firmlyestablished in Svealand and may have begun in Upplandduring the 18th century: "At Walpurgis (Valborg), farmanimals were let out to graze, and ever since the early 18thcentury bonfires (majbrasor, kasar) have been lit to scareaway predators." In Southern Sweden, an older tradition, nolonger pract ised, was for the younger people to collectgreenery and branches from the woods at twilight, thesewere used to adorn the houses of the village. The expectedreward for this task was to be paid in eggs. Singing traditionalsongs of spring is widespread throughout the country. Thesongs are mostly from the 19th century and were spread bystudents' spring festivities. The strongest and most traditionalspring festivities are also found in the old university cities,such as Uppsala and Lund, where undergraduates ,graduates and alumni gather at events that last most of theday from early morning to late night on 30 April, or sista april("The Last Day Of April") as it is called in Sweden. Moremodern Valborg celebrations, particularly among Uppsalastudents, oftentimes consist of enjoying a breakfast includingchampagne and strawberries. During the day, people gatherin parks, drink considerable amounts of alcoholic beverages,barbecue and generally enjoy the weather, if it happens to befavourable. In Uppsala, since the mid-1970s, students alsogo raft ing on Fyrisån through the centre of town withhome-made, in fact quite easily wreckable, and oftenhumorously decorated rafts. Several nations also hold"Champagne Races", where students go to drink and spraychampagne or somewhat more modestly priced sparklingwine on each other. The walls and floors of the old nationbuildings are covered in plast ic for this occasion, as thechampagne is poured around recklessly and sometimesspilled enough to wade in. Spraying champagne is, however,a fairly recent addition to the Champagne Race. The namederives from the students running down the downhill slopefrom the Carolina Rediviva library, toward the StudentNations, to drink champagne. In Linkoping, the students andpublic gather at the courtyard of Linkoping Castle. Springsongs are sung by the Linkoping University Male Voice Choir,and speeches are made by representatives of the studentsand the university teachers. In Gothenburg, the carnivalparade, The Cortège, which has been held since 1909 by thestudents at Chalmers University of Technology, is animportant part of the celebrat ion. It is seen by around250,000 people each year. In Landskrona, people gather atthe Citadel to play beer-baseball, a game in which one drinksbeer and plays baseball at the same time.Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night#Finland

Beginning in 1926, the Portuguese people were ruled under a military dictatorship. Several liberties were taken away by the government, and no political parties were accepted in the country. In 1974, amovement led by military captains undertook a revolution that ended with the surrender of Marcelo Caetano's government. Led by a group of captains including General Antonio Spínola and General CostaGomes, the revolution had its pretext in a movement started by military officials. They were not in agreement with a new law about their promotions, and they had a deep desire to end the war that Portugalhad with its African colonies. The coup of Caetano's government was successful due to the lack of motivation of the military forces to continue under such a government, one that kept on sending itsmilitary to territories in Africa. The wars in Africa had been raging for 13 years, and few saw a resolution to the disputes. The Captains Movement took to organizing itself, hiding from the opposinggovernment forces inside military organizations. The main events of the Carnation Revolution took place in the military headquarters of Carmo in Lisbon, where the revolutionaries managed to complete avictorious coup without shooting a single bullet. Thanks to the timely occupation of public communication centers and the mobilization of underground resistance groups available at the time, the rebelswere able to mobilize the people to support them in the streets on that same day. Its triumph allowed political parties to take back the republic power, marking the Portuguese Second Republic. TheCarnation Revolution also led to quick and sometimes messy negotiations to release the Portuguese colonies around the world as well as the demobilization of Portuguese armies in those territories.TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND ACTIVITIESOn this day, it is common to wear carnations on the lapel. Carnations became the symbol of the revolution when during the day of the revolution, a daily flower vendor decided to give carnations awayrather than sell them as a way to show support for the revolution. While marching through the streets, the military put the carnations in their guns barrels as a symbol of their peaceful intentions towards thepeople. The celebrations start early in the dawn from the Carmo Headquarters, where the Republic's president and prime minister meet to officially start the celebrations. In the Parliament a solemn sessionis held on this day with interventions from all the political parties and their representatives, followed by a speech from the Parliament's president, and finally the Republic's president takes the stand todeliver his speech. Ref: http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/portugal-liberty-day/

Freedom DaySouth Africa-27 AprilFreedom Day (South Africa)

Freedom Day is a South African public holiday celebrated onApril 27. It celebrates freedom and commemorates the firstpost-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994. Theelections were the first non-racial national elections whereeveryone of vot ing age of over 18 from any race groupincluding non-citizens were allowed to vote, no voters rollwas used. Previously, under the apar theid reg ime,non-whites had only limited rights to vote. Some groups andsocial movements celebrate a version of Freedom Day calledUn Freedom Day in which they mourn the unfreedom stillexperienced by the poor. Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_Day_(South_Afric)

ZARB-E-JAMHOOR\LAHORE\PAKISTAN, 17 APRIL 2011 TO 30 APRIL 2011, Edition: 15-16, Editor in Chief: Noor Ali, Mob: +92-341-7000111, Email: editor@zarbejamhoor.com