Mozambican Heroes Day
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Founded. The Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) is founded to fight for the independence of Mozambique from Portuguese colonial rule
History
FRELIMO Founded. The Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) is founded to fight for the independence of Mozambique from Portuguese colonial rule
How It's Celebrated
Mozambican Heroes Day is observed by recognizing the importance of the day, learning about its background and significance, and sharing awareness with others through conversation and social media. Many people take time to reflect on the meaning of the observance and participate in relevant activities or community events.
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View all →All Souls' Day
All Souls’ Day is a national holiday in Bolivia and a relatively major one at that. It is considered important as a time to remember the dead and to pray for them. In 2026, All Souls’ Day falls on Monday 2 November. The holiday will be on Tuesday 2 November in 2027. It is tradition for families set up elaborate tables or whole rooms loaded down with delicious foods and sweets for the departed to enjoy should they return for the night. It is thought that these visiting spirits send rain and an abundant harvest to farmers in return for the gifts they receive. A shrine is often set up in honour of specific departed relatives, and there is a big feast for all in attendance. A spiced-up pork dish called “mondongo” is the main culinary attraction, but rice, corn, potatoes, and other dishes and sides are present as well. Some also wash it all down with some locally made “chicha”, a kind of fermented corn beverage”. It is virtually required to drink chicha and eat mondongo if you attend such a party. Drinks are passed around the “family circle”, and people sometimes get rather tipsy. They then wait for a “sign” that the departed loved one has visited them. The next day, there is a more formal celebration, perhaps at a local church, but this one is a laid-back “family affair”.
Ching Ming Festival
Ching Ming Festival is one of China’s largest events based off of the lunar calendar. Ching Ming officially starts 104 days after the winter solstice. The festival usually begins on April 4th or 5th, but activities may start as early as 10 days prior. In English, Ching Ming is often referred to as Tomb Sweeping Day or Pure Brightness because of the holiday’s events. The primary role of the Ching Ming Festival is to pay respect to ancestors. While many Chinese holidays are oriented around ancestor worship, Ching Ming is the largest. Filial piety is a central aspect of traditional Chinese culture, so it should come as no surprise that this is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the Middle Kingdom. Nearly every ethnic group in China celebrates Ching Ming in one way or another. Ching Ming is also a celebration of spring because of the incoming planting season in most of China. According to Chinese stories and folklore, the Ching Ming Festival got its start sometime between 700 and 500 BCE. Legend states that a man named Jie Zitui, a loyal servant of a Chinese lord, helped his lord survive through exile. In order to prevent his lord from starving to death, Jie cut meat from his own leg and fed it to his lord. Surviving this ordeal, the lord returned to power 19 years later. By this time, the lord had forgotten about Jie’s service. Sometime later, the lord remembered Jie and felt regretful about forgetting. The lord intended to reward Jie, but by the time he found him, Jie had passed away. To honor the life and death of Jie, the lord established Ching Ming as a holiday to commemorate the dead. During the Ching Ming Festival, there are various customs and traditions that people take part in. One of the most enjoyed festival activities is kite flying. During the day, people fly kites of various colors to celebrate spring. People also celebrate the holiday with kites in the evening, but small lanterns are attached. When hundreds of kites are in the air, the Chinese sky looks like it is filled with many stars. The kites are symbolic of good fortune, but according to legend, they are also said to be able to cure and prevent diseases. In accordance with the Ching Ming Festival’s tradition of ancestor worship, an activity known as tomb sweeping is an important part of the festival day or the 10 days leading up to it. The purpose of this activity is to clean and beautify the graves or urns of ancestors. Weeds will removed from grave plots and fresh dirt will be brought to the surface. In many cases, people will also offer their ancestors their favorite food and wine as tribute. Incense and flowers may also be brought as a show of respect. There are many varieties of flowers that can be used during this holiday, but peach blossom and chrysanthemum flowers are among the most popular. In cities, the process of honoring the dead is not as elaborate due to the practice of cremation in place of traditional burials. In all cases, good prayers are said for ancestors and deceased relatives. After paying respects to ancestors, many Chinese take part in a spring outing, or taqing (踏青), to enjoy the warm weather and company of friends. The first spring outing occurred during the Tang Dynasty and it has become a time of celebration ever since. In order to get exercise and experience nature, many Chinese people will go on a trip to a city center or natural area. Popular activities include seeing gardens, walking through parks with family members, hiking through natural areas, and participating in sports. The spring outing is meant to promote happiness and good health habits after commemorating ancestors. As with most great festivals, Ching Ming offers a wide selection of special cuisine to celebrate happiness. One of the favorite dishes of Ching Ming is sazi (撒子). Sazi is fried wheat or rice flour that has been bound with eggs, onion, sesame, or other ingredients. The exact recipe for sazi depends on region and the chef. This is a salty or savory food that is enjoyed throughout China. Snails that have been seasoned with onion and salt are also a favorite dish during the Ching Ming Festival. To specifically celebrate the spring outing and warm months, Chinese people also enjoy qingtuan (青团), or green dumplings. These dumplings resemble green apples and are made of rice powder, green vegetable juice, and sweetened bean paste. Qingtuan have a sweet taste and are green. Some Chinese chefs also create their own unique variations of this dish.
Christmas Day
Christmas in New Caledonia is celebrated with a public holiday every 25 December, as it is in a majority of countries around the world. This Christian festivity commemorates the birth of Jesus, and is part of a 22-28 day season in the Christian calendar known as Advent. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. Christmas Day and the Christmas season are a busy time of year in New Caledonia. This is one of the main tourist seasons on the island with many from Australia, New Zealand, and France coming here while the kids are out of school. About half in New Caledonia are Catholic and often go to mass all night on the day before Christmas. They seek to welcome Christmas morning while joyfully remembering the day that Christ was born. Many Protestants and Evangelicals in New Caledonia go to church on Christmas Day or the Sunday nearest to Christmas to celebrate the birth of the Saviour. The capital city of Noumea is lit up like a Christmas tree for the holidays each year. The city centre is the brightest spot, including Coconut Palm Square, the capital complex, and the Noumea Museum. Both palm trees and buildings are decked out with multi-coloured lights for the occasion.
Good Friday
Easter is regarded as the most important of holy days by Christians, and in Tonga it is celebrated with two holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday. The date of the holiday changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar, such that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Easter is a festive, but somewhat low-key time of year in Tonga. People are off work and out of school for a while, and they are glad to catch up with family and friends. The large majority of the population in Tonga follows Christianity, though there is a very diverse mix of denominations. Many will attend a special church service and program for Palm Sunday, Good Friday, late on Holy Saturday, or early on Easter Sunday. Most people use Easter Monday as a time to relax and prepare to get back into their ordinary routine next day. It isn’t surprising that Tonga’s sunny, sandy beaches and crystal-blue waters are crowded on Easter Weekend. But less obvious activities many engage in include picnics and sports.