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🌍 observance

World AIDS Vaccine Day

Monday, May 18, 2026

— days to go

World AIDS Day on December 1 is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic, mourning those lost, and supporting people living with HIV while calling for continued research, prevention, and equitable treatment access.

History

First observed in 1988, it is one of the oldest global health awareness days. Remarkable progress has been made with antiretroviral therapy, but millions still lack access, and stigma remains a major barrier to testing and treatment.

How It's Celebrated

Get tested if at risk, support organizations providing care and prevention (especially in high-burden areas), fight stigma by using accurate language and sharing stories, advocate for funding and access to PrEP and treatment, and remember those lost to the epidemic.

Other Years

2021 Tue
18 May
2022 Wed
18 May
2023 Thu
18 May
2024 Sat
18 May
2025 Sun
18 May
2027 Tue
18 May
2028 Thu
18 May
2029 Fri
18 May

Countries

🇺🇸 US

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📅 holiday Dec 25

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.

NC IN ZA +132
📅 holiday Dec 25

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Saint Stephen’s Day (the day after Christmas) are all significant days in Finland. Many Finns will take off 24 December through 1 January to spend time with family. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. The biggest day of the season in Finland, is not Christmas Day but Christmas Eve. By early afternoon on Christmas Eve, most shops and other businesses will shut down, and public transport will even be hard to find. Sometime during the evening, the Biblical Christmas Story, from Luke’s Gospel, will likely be read. The youngest child who knows how to read normally is assigned the role. After dinner, “Joulupukki,” the Finnish version of Old Saint Nick, arrives and gives presents. The name “Joulupukki” is literally rendered “Christmas Goat.” This is because a goat used to frighten people and demand they hand over their presents in earlier Finnish Christmas tradition, but then Joulupukki had a change of heart and started giving out presents instead. He never lost his original name, however. On Christmas Day, most people just relax at home and recover from the previous night’s business. Others, however, get up early, attend Christmas morning church services, and rest at home later. On 26 December, Saint Stephen’s Day, people visit relatives, maybe even some who live far away or whom they have not seen for some time. It is also common to go ice skating or skiing on Saint Stephen’s Day.

FI MY CZ +9
📅 holiday Dec 25

Christmas Holiday

Christmas in Samoa 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. Samoa is a predominantly Christian nation and one of the few in the world that calls itself a Christian Nation in its own constitution. Unsurprisingly, then, Christmas Day is a major holiday in this South Pacific island country. Attending church on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve is traditional in Samoa. There are a wide range of denominations present, including Congregationalist, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Charismatic, and others. But all of them celebrate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus, who came into the world to save sinners. At church, at home, or on the street, you will likely be told to have a “fiafia” Christmas, the Samoan word for “merry”. You may see some people dancing for Christmas too. Traditional dances like the “siva” and “sasa” are a part of the “fa’asamoa”, meaning the Samoan way of life. Christmas is deemed the perfect time to combine Christianity with a Samoan traditional culture that is over 3,000 years old.

WS GB AU +35
📅 holiday Dec 25

Family Day

Family Day is a public holiday in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. It is observed on 26 December, the day after Christmas and a day that coincides with Boxing Day in many countries around the world. In 2026, Family Day falls on Saturday 26 December. The holiday will be on Sunday 26 December in 2027. The purpose of Family Day is to spend extra time with one’s own family. This holiday emphasises the importance of family life for individuals and for society as a whole. Thus, most people in Vanuatu get a day off work and out of school, and many businesses and government offices shut down. Some people celebrate Family day in a very low-key way, just relaxing at home with family and friends and “recovering” from the hectic Christmas season. Others may go to church, go shopping, head to the beach to swim, go out to eat, or go on a short day trip. The people of Vanuatu traditionally put a high value on family and centre much of their lives around it. They also honour elders and parents and consider children a precious gift from God. Family Day is a time when they express the family-centred nature of their culture and faith by spending time together.

VU CA US +4