Appendix E — Holiday Calendar
A reference to the major Western holidays (Chapter 28), roughly in calendar order, with what they are and which countries observe them. Dates vary by country and some shift yearly (marked "varies").
Tip
know which days are public holidays (days off, things closed) where you live, and which involve invitations/gifts.
The major holidays (calendar order)
| Holiday | When | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1 | Public holiday; parties on NYE (Dec 31), resolutions | All Western |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14 | Romance (couples); cards/flowers/gifts | All (commercial) |
| St. Patrick's Day | Mar 17 | Irish heritage; green, parades, pubs | Ireland, US, UK, Aus |
| Easter | spring (varies) | Christian (resurrection) + secular (eggs, Easter Bunny, chocolate); Good Friday/Easter Monday often holidays | All Western |
| Mother's Day | spring (varies by country) | Honoring mothers; cards, gifts, meals | All (dates differ!) |
| Father's Day | usually June (varies) | Honoring fathers | All (dates differ) |
| Canada Day | Jul 1 | Canada's national day | Canada |
| Independence Day | Jul 4 | US national day; fireworks, BBQs, flags | US |
| Thanksgiving (Canada) | 2nd Mon October | Gratitude, family, big meal | Canada |
| Halloween | Oct 31 | Costumes, candy, "trick-or-treat," parties | US (big), increasingly elsewhere |
| Bonfire/Guy Fawkes Night | Nov 5 | Fireworks, bonfires | UK |
| Thanksgiving (US) | 4th Thurs November | Gratitude, family, turkey; major travel | US |
| Christmas | Dec 25 | Christian (Jesus's birth) + huge secular (gifts, tree, Santa, family); offices close | All Western |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26 | Public holiday; shopping/sports | UK, Canada, Aus, NZ |
| New Year's Eve | Dec 31 | Countdown parties to midnight | All Western |
Country-specific notes
- US: Thanksgiving (Nov) and July 4th are big and uniquely American; also Memorial Day (late May), Labor Day (early Sep), MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Veterans Day, Super Bowl Sunday (unofficial).
- UK: "Bank Holidays" (public days off — several through the year); Boxing Day (Dec 26); Bonfire Night (Nov 5); Remembrance Day (Nov 11).
- Canada: Thanksgiving in October; Canada Day (Jul 1); Victoria Day (May); Boxing Day.
- Australia/NZ: Christmas is in summer (beach, BBQ!); Australia Day (Jan 26 — also contested re: Indigenous history); ANZAC Day (Apr 25); Waitangi Day (NZ, Feb 6); Boxing Day.
- Western Europe: more regional and religious holidays (saints' days, Carnival/Mardi Gras, Assumption, All Saints, regional festivals); generally more public holidays than the US; specific dates vary a lot by country.
Non-Christian holidays (increasingly recognized)
In diverse Western areas, other religious/cultural holidays are increasingly acknowledged (and welcomed to share — Chapter 28): Hanukkah and Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur (Jewish), Eid al-Fitr/Eid al-Adha (Muslim), Diwali (Hindu/Sikh/Jain), Lunar New Year (East Asian), and more. Many workplaces accommodate these (Chapter 31).
Practical reminders
- When invited to a holiday celebration: RSVP, bring something (wine/dessert), follow home-dinner etiquette (Chapter 9). It's often a warm gesture of inclusion.
- When NOT invited: don't take it personally — many holidays (esp. Christmas, Thanksgiving) are private family time.
- Gifts: Christmas is the big gift-giving occasion; learn office-exchange rules (Secret Santa limits). Thoughtful, not extravagant.
- Share your holidays — usually very welcome and connection-building.
- Plan against holiday loneliness if you're far from family (Chapter 28) — connect with community/international friends; accept invitations.
Check the exact dates and public-holiday list for your specific country each year (they shift and differ). This calendar is a general orientation, not an official list.