Language Services Direct Team
St David’s Day is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. It is not a public holiday, however is enthusiastically celebrated in Wales on the 1st of March, which is the saint’s traditional day of death. Traditional celebrations include wearing daffodils and cooking Welsh rarebit – try this recipe!
More popularly known as ‘Pancake Day’, Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent. This public holiday in England is typically celebrated with pancakes, traditionally made by mixing batter with eggs and slowly frying until crisp on each side.
Hinamatsuri or ‘the doll festival’ is a very important event in Japan, where families with daughters will display their beautifully decorated dolls in the home. This is to wish for their daughters to grow up healthy and have many future opportunities. In celebration of this holiday it would be appropriate to serve traditional Japanese sweet adzuki-bean soup.
Travelling to Japan For an Event This Year? Learn Professional Japanese Today.
International Women’s Day celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is held on the 8th of March every year to recognise the hard work of females all over the world, and signifies a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
Holi is a Hindu spring festival that marks the beginning of spring. Traditional celebrations include throwing coloured powders at friends and family, as well as enjoying deliciously sweet Indian treats. Holi is a fun and typical holiday, perfect for making your own Indian delicacies at home!
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated as a national holiday in Ireland on the 17th March, and is a celebration of all things Irish. Celebrations include parades, wearing green clothes and lots of festivity. Also known as ‘the luck o’ the Irish’, celebrating at a St Patrick’s Day party would be perfect for this occasion.
Though Father’s Day dates vary around the globe, on the 19th of March, it is customary for people in Spain and Italy to give gifts and cards to show appreciation to fathers. This date is used as it is also St Joseph’s day, a religious holiday for Christians.
The UK celebrates Mother’s Day on the 27th of March, where people will give flowers and gifts to their mums as a sign of appreciation. It is a day to celebrate motherhood, mother figures, and all that they have done for us. Mother’s day is celebrated on different dates around the world, but in the UK it sits on the last Sunday of March, which is the 27th in 2022.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslims all over the world. It is a time of fasting, self-sacrifice and spiritual introspection to practice self-discipline and empathy for those who are less fortunate than themselves. In 2022, Ramadan begins on the 2nd of April and ends on the 1st of May.
The Qingming Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that falls on the fifth of April, and it is also known as Tomb Sweeping Day. It is a time to remember those who have passed away, by honouring them with visits to their graves and leaving offerings. This celebration is observed by many Chinese-speaking countries.
Songkran is a three-day national holiday in Thailand, and it is one of the most important holidays to Thai people. It occurs around the 13th or 14th April each year, and marks the traditional New Year. During this holiday, many Buddhists will return to their home towns to pay respects at their family’s temples. The water festival also involves the spraying of water on others, which can be used to cool off in Thailand’s hot climate!
Good Friday is a Christian holiday that falls on the 15th of April every year. In the UK, it is a public bank holiday, and many people will go to church or visit ancestral graves before going out for lunch with family members, or spending the rest of the day relaxing with family.
Good Friday traditionally represents the day that Jesus was crucified, and is celebrated by Christians as being the day he died for their sins.
Easter Sunday is observed by Christians as the day Jesus rose again. This date varies depending on the lunar cycle as Easter is a moveable date. It is always celebrated on a Sunday after the Spring Equinox, and in 2022, it falls on 17th April.
Similar to Good Friday, Easter Sunday is a public bank holiday; during this time it is customary for children to share Easter eggs, chocolate and sweets with their family members while spending time together, or taking part in an Easter egg hunt!
Earth Day is a day of global celebration of the Earth, and it is observed all over the world. It is held on April 22nd every year, to raise awareness towards environmental issues, and for people to do their part in protecting our planet. Many charities organise events to take place during this time, including tree planting or beach clean-ups.
St George’s Day is mainly celebrated in the UK, but it is also a public holiday in other European countries such as Austria, Cyprus, Greece and Bulgaria. It falls on the 23rd of April every year. This day is commemorated to honour St George who was honoured by Christianity for being brave and courageous.
Traditionally held on the 1st Monday of every May, Mayday is an important day of celebration in Europe and America. Large festivals are held in different countries, to mark the beginning of the summer season, along with many cultural events that take place across the UK.
Other traditions include wearing flowers, dancing, Maypoles and maybe even a May-King or May Queen!
Vappu is a huge public carnival that happens annually around May 1st. It is dedicated to the Finnish culture and traditions, and mainly involves students and other young people, who attend huge gatherings in different parts of the country. There are also many concerts and parties held to celebrate this time, and festivities such as wearing colourful clothes or ribbons on your clothing are customary!
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Star Wars Day is a humourous tradition, celebrated to mark the events of the Star Wars movie saga. On this day, fans are encouraged to celebrate by watching their favourite movies again or try dressing up as one of the characters! For many people worldwide, it is also customary to wish each other “may the 4th be with you!”, the joke behind the day itself.
Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico, held to commemorate the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla, 1862. On this day every year, Mexicans honour their country’s military by organising parades or festivals with food stalls selling traditional Mexican dishes.
Vesak, also known as Buddha day, is an important Buddhist holiday that marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. The date changes every year depending on the lunar cycle, but it is always celebrated in the beginning of May.
Buddha Day celebrations often include meditation and prayer, as well as many cultural activities such as dancing, art workshops and processions.
As previously mentioned, Mother’s Day is celebrated on a variety of different days, depending on which country you are in. This special day still involves spending time with your mother or thanking her for all she has done throughout the years, but this day is celebrated on the 8th of May this year in the USA.
On the 16th of May in 2022, a total lunar eclipse will be visible from North and South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. It will last for over 3 hours and be visible at different times in the different regions, depending on which part of this region you live in.
Moon cycles can be interesting to follow and watch, as there are often cool things such as lunar eclipses that can happen when certain conditions align!
The purpose of Pride Month is to acknowledge the struggles that the LGBT+ community has had to face in order to achieve equal rights, and also celebrate diversity and difference. This has been celebrated for over 50 years now, with the first ever pride parade taking place in 1970.
Now, Pride Month is held in June every year, and there are many different events taking place across the world, many of which include parades or parties.
The Dragon Boat festival is one of the oldest traditional Chinese festivals and has a history of over 2000 years. The festival traditionally evolved from the practice of revering the river dragon, and involves a variety of ceremonies and activities.
It takes place in June every year, with celebrations including dragon boat races, where they paddle and race their boats and hold handmade dragons above them!
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Juneteenth marks the celebration of black freedom in America. The tradition began as a time to rejoice and mark the end of slavery, but has since evolved into a day that highlights African American culture and achievements.
The holiday is usually celebrated on June 19th every year, and is usually marked by several community events, street celebrations, picnics and family gatherings.
As previously mentioned, Father’s Day is celebrated on numerous dates, depending on which country you are in. This special day still involves spending time with your father or thanking him for all he has done throughout the years, but this day is celebrated on the 19th of June this year in many countries worldwide, including the UK and the USA!
Organised by the United Nations, World Refugee Day is an annual event held on 20th June every year which gives the opportunity to raise awareness of the situations faced by refugees all around the world. Welcoming refugees can play a big role in helping them make a home for themselves in their new country, making this an important cultural event for your calendar this year.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. It is celebrated with many different traditions and rituals, including spiritual practices, parties and even fire festivals.
Canada Day is marks the anniversary of the enactment of the Constitution Act, 1867. This act united three colonies into one single country – Canada – within the British Empire. This day has significant meaning to Canadians, as it is celebrated with parades, festivals and family events all across the country!
International Joke Day is held on the first day of every July, and encourages people to share jokes with one another as a way of bringing people together. This can be done through social media, by sharing this article with your friends today, or simply using it as an excuse to send someone you know a silly WhatsApp message!
Independence Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the Fourth of July every year. This day celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and it’s important for Americans as it symbolises their independence from Great Britain.
This day always involves fireworks, parades and family events, and should definitely be marked on your calendar this year!
Eid is an Islamic religious holiday, marking the end of the month of Ramadan. Celebrations for Eid include prayer, gift giving and family time, and both Eid al Adha and Eid al Fitr are public holidays in many countries including Egypt, Somalia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The Naadam Festival in Mongolia is a significant event that takes place on the 11th of July every year. It usually includes three games: archery, horse riding and Mongolian wrestling. Mongolians consider these sports to be very important as they celebrate the history of the country’s nomadic lifestyle and culture. The Naadam Festival is accompanied by lots of music, food, drink and dancing!
Bastille Day is a French holiday which celebrates the storming of the Bastille, a famous prison in France. It was on this day in 1789 that prisoners were freed from the prison and it signalled the start of The French Revolution, marking an important event in their history. Bastille Day is often marked by fireworks, parades, dancing and singing in the streets!
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival of brotherly love, which encourages the tying of Rakhi, a thread worn around the wrist or neck by Hindus as a symbol of love.
Women will often tie this thread onto their brothers’ wrist as an act of protection and to signify the brother-sister bond. This festival is celebrated all across India and in Hindu communities worldwide.
Obon is a three day Buddhist festival that takes place every year. It honors the spirits of ancestors and it is believed that during this time, the souls of those who have died will visit their living relatives for a short time.
It is an important part of Japanese culture and is celebrated with Bon Odori, or Bon Festival dance. This dance is often performed in public squares around the world, with participants wearing colourful kimono and dancing to traditional Japanese music.
Obon is accompanied by many street stalls selling delicious festival food, so be sure to try some on this year’s Obon!
Krishna Janmashtami is a celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most important deities in Hinduism. It is celebrated with processions and gatherings in temples across the country, often involving singing and dancing.
La Tomatina is a large tomato-throwing festival in Spain. It’s held on the last Wednesday of August every year, and participants throw tomatoes at one another in the streets before cleaning up later in the day with refreshing water.
This festival is highly popular with tourists, so why not go and join in yourself this year? Our Spanish Language Course can help you prepare for your trip!
Labor Day is celebrated in the USA and Canada, marking the end of summer and the start of a new school year. Labor Day is observed on the first Monday of September every year, and celebrates the American labor movement and the contributions and achievements of American workers.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a three day festival which is held in East and South East Asia. It takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar and celebrates the mid-autumn full moon and harvest, accompanied by family gatherings and delicious food!
The International Day of Peace is a United Nations observance and has been celebrated since 1982. It marks the opening for the annual debate of the General Assembly on disarmament and international security, as well as recognising and strengthening the ideals of peace within individuals, communities and societies across the globe.
Rosh Hashana is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days and marks the new year on the Hebrew calendar. This festival has many traditions including special foods, blowing shofar or ram’s horn and special services in synagogues.
If you want to find out more about other cultures, why not undertake a Cross-Cultural Training Course?
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been celebrating World Maritime Day since 1948. The day is used to celebrate and promote the safe, secure and efficient use of our oceans and seas for trade and transport as how we rely on them today.
World Space Week is celebrated every October since 1999, and takes place between the 4th and 10th of the month. It’s a time to reflect on the benefits of space-based technologies for humankind, but also to look at our direct connection with space exploration through events like concerts, lectures and exhibitions.
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for the Jewish people, and is a time for reflection on past actions. For 25 hours from sundown on the 9th of October, Jewish people fast and spend time in synagogue reflecting. This religious holy day lasts until sundown the following day. If you have any questions about this closer to the time, feel free to ask a Jewish colleague or friend!
World Mental Health Day is a World Health Organisation (WHO) international day, held on 10 October each year. It aims to encourage open discussion of mental health issues and remove the stigma associated with mental illness, whilst also encouraging people to consider how physical health conditions have an impact on our mental wellbeing.
This day also marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place across the world between 10-16 October. If you want to find out more about mental health at work, why not consider some form of business mental health training initiative?
Diwali is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains throughout the world. It signifies the triumph of good over evil, light over dark and knowledge over ignorance. As the Festival of Lights, celebrations often include lighting small oil lamps on the floor in front of statues of deities, dancing, eating and sharing gifts with friends and family.
Sharad Navratri is one of the biggest and most important festivals celebrated in India. It’s also known as Navaratri or ‘nine nights’, beginning near the autumn equinox and culminating nine days later in Dussehra, commemorating the Hindu Goddess Durga defeating demon Mahishasura.
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Halloween is a festival celebrated on October 31st each year to mark the eve of traditional Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day, also known as All Saints’ Day. The name ‘Halloween’ comes from “All Hallows’ Eve” which means the evening before All Hallows’ Day.
Halloween is celebrated by millions of people across the world every year, but is particularly popular in North America and Europe, where it’s celebrated by most children and many adults.
Lots of people attend Halloween parties wearing costumes, which are usually based on traditional scary figures such as ghosts or witches. Trick-or-treating is another very common tradition during Halloween time for young children – they knock on neighbours’ doors and receive small treats for free.
The holiday is celebrated in Mexico and across the world to remember friends, family members and all those people who have passed on. This is a time of reflection on their lives and deaths, but it’s also an opportunity to remind ourselves that death isn’t something to be feared – everyone will experience it one day.
In a beautiful festival, the living honour the dead by creating altars or ofrendas, which consist of candles and flowers.
Guy Fawkes Night is also known as Bonfire Night and is a night of explosive celebrations held on 5th November, in celebration of the anniversary of the discovery and foiling of a plot to kill King James I.
In the UK, this is one of the most popular holidays, as well as being a night of huge bonfires and fabulous fireworks displays.
A week after the end of Buddhist Lent, Thailand celebrates Yi Peng Lantern Festival. It’s one of the biggest festivals in Thailand, when thousands gather to send floating lanterns into the sky. These are made from banana leaves and other plant matter, which are carried up by propane-generated flames before being released into the night sky.
Remembrance Day is a national holiday in the UK and other countries which were formerly part of the British Empire. It commemorates members of the armed forces who have lost their lives in war and also honours civilians who died during times of conflict.
This commemorative day is usually signified by the wearing of poppies and the observation of two minutes silence. A special service is held at The Cenotaph monument in London, where the Queen lays a wreath to those who died.
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated on the 24th Thursday of November in the USA (and sometimes some other countries too). It’s a time to be with family, friends and loved ones; eat lots of amazing foods; give thanks for everything you have; and enjoy watching parades around Thanksgiving Day.
St Andrew’s Day is celebrated on 30th November in Scotland, but also by Scots around the world, to mark the historical figure of St Andrew. The religious observance of St Andrews Day takes place on the feast day of Saint Andrew — 30th of November.
St Nicholas Day is a holiday celebrated on December 6th each year. The day commemorates Saint Nicholas – a Greek saint who was the inspiration for Santa Claus, Father Christmas and Kris Kringle – all famous names of festive figures in Western society!
A very popular Christmas celebration in Mexico, Las Posadas takes place from 16th to 24th December. The origins of the festival have been traced back to a play performed by Spanish conquistadores and missionaries that tells the story of Mary and Joseph searching for a place to give birth to Jesus – an alternative celebration of the Christmas story.
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight day festival that commemorates and honours the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple in the 2nd century BC. The menorah, a special type of candle holder with nine branches to symbolise each day of the festival, is lit during celebrations.
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year and usually occurs on either December 21st (most common) or 22nd (less common). It signals the end of winter and has been celebrated as a holiday for thousands of years.
Different cultures celebrate this event in different ways – some see it as a time to reflect and appreciate the good things we have, others see it as a more mystical or spiritual celebration.
The day that marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Despite being a Christian celebration, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many non-Christians around the world as a secular holiday focused on family, friends and exchanging gifts.
Boxing Day is an annual holiday held on 26th December each year. The name Boxing Day dates back to 19th Century, when it was common practice for employers to give their servants a gift known as a “Christmas box” on this day, and thus the day became associated with receiving gifts!
New Year’s Eve is celebrated around the world as a time to mark the end of one year and welcome in a new one. People often gather with friends, loved ones or workmates for celebrations including fireworks, dinner parties, special drinks and/or dancing. It’s also common for people to make resolutions for things they want to achieve or change during the next year.
Of course, we had to throw in some sports events honourable mentions for our 2022 cultural calendar. Here are a few to remember:
For any business owners or other modern professionals, here are some of the global business events worth considering for your calendar this year:
If you’re travelling internationally for any global events or business conferences this year, are your language skills up to scratch? While a few people will speak English in most major cities, it’s usually wise to have knowledge of the local language or dialect, especially if you are travelling for business purposes.
Our expert language training services ensure that you are prepared for all the challenges that come with international events, business or meetings. If you need any help planning language training for global events, getting to grips with different cultures or even if you just need a quick cultural briefing before embarking on an international business trip, then check out our language courses today.
We have extensive resources available covering all major languages spoken around the world – so no matter where your next business trip takes you, you’ll have all the skills you need to be fully prepared.
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