Women Rock!
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Women's Conference. The International Women's Conference, which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, proposed the idea of an International Women's Day
History
International Women's Conference. The International Women's Conference, which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, proposed the idea of an International Women's Day
How It's Celebrated
Women Rock! 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 →2nd Day of Christmas
The people of the Netherlands do not just celebrate Christmas on December 25. Christmas celebrations here begin on December 5, the eve of the feast of St. Nicholas In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. The saint was a bishop in the fourth century. One story about him claims he inherited money from his wealthy parents and used his wealth to help the poor. One legend tells how he helped a needy family. The three young girls in the family were unable to get married because their parents were too poor to provide dowries. St. Nicholas heard of their misfortune and dropped a bag of gold down their chimney to pay for the girls’ dowries. St. Nicholas’ generosity is commemorated in the Netherlands today. He is known as Sinterklaas, and he is credited with giving presents to children on December 5. Sinterklaas lives in Spain, and he arrives in Amsterdam by boat on December 5. He rides a white horse in a parade through the streets. Children put carrots and hay for the horse in their shoes. They leave their shoes near a fireplace or on a windowsill. Sinterklaas leaves presents in their shoes. December 5 is also a night for parties to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. Children receive presents from Sinterklaas at these parties. Other activities at the parties include games and treasure hunts. Biscuits made with marzipan or cinnamon are served for refreshments. The Netherlands’ Christmas celebration continues through the month of December. Houses are decorated with evergreens. People put up trees in their homes decorated with candles, bells and ribbons. Trees are put up in the city squares and decorated. Streets are adorned with strings of lights shaped like stars or bells. Food stalls in the streets sell seasonal sweet treats such as oliebollen and appelflappen. Oliebollen are similar to donuts, and appelflappen are apple beignets. People can hear Christmas music played in the streets. Red and green decorations are used in department stores. Children receive most of their presents during the celebrations of St. Nicholas Day, so Christmas Day is usually spent enjoying the company of family and eating. Children might hang up stockings and receive a few more presents. Some people attend church on Christmas Eve or Christmas. Christmas Day may begin with a brunch of smoked salmon and fancy rolls. The last meal of the day is a dinner that may include pork, goose or game meats. Special dishes served for these meals include kerststol for brunch and gourmetten for dinner. Kerststol is a loaf with fruits. Gourmetten is made by placing a small grill on the table. People can grill small pieces of meat and vegetables. The day ends with people gathering around the fireplace to sing carols and tell stories. This day is known as First Christmas Day in the Netherlands. December 26 is Second Christmas Day. People dine on leftovers or go out to eat. They may attend concerts. If the weather permits, they might spend time in an outdoor activity such as ice skating.
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.
Easter Monday
Easter is regarded as the most important holy day by Christians, and in Réunion it is celebrated with a holiday on 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. Réunion, as an overseas department of France, celebrates mostly the same holidays as does mainland France, including Easter Monday. Also, the majority of the population is Christian and would want to observe Easter anyway. Réunion is a major destination for tourists, including during Easter Week, and the locals are quick to be festive this time of year too. Easter egg painting and egg hunts, midnight masses, large family feasts, and plenty of boisterous parties mark the season. Many take the opportunity around Eastertime to hike up to the rim of the island’s active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise. Others go mountain biking, visit the beach, go whale or dolphin watching, or see the abundant and diverse sea life at the Réunion Aquarium.
Easter Sunday
Easter is traditionally regarded as the most important of Christian holy days, and Easter in the Faroe Islands is celebrated with holidays on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. The date of Easter changes each year based on the centuries-old calculations that determine the Christian Ecclesiastical Calendar. This means that the date of Easter Sunday can be anytime between 22 March and 25 April. Faroe Islands, for the most part, shares its holiday calendar with Denmark, of which it is a part. Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday are all official public holidays, and people enjoy the four straight days off. But traditionally, Palm Sunday begins the celebrations for Holy Week, and some businesses may shut down from Thursday through Monday. Easter is intensely religious in Faroe Islands. People may even attend church on Easter Monday, which is an uncommon practice elsewhere in the world. Indeed, the Easter Week sees the faithful show up for almost a full week of services. The rest of the time is usually special time spent at home with family.