Bloomsday - June 16

James Joyce

On June 16th in Dublin is set aside to celebrate James Joyce and his novel Ulysses.  The day is filled with people recreating the route the path taken by the main character Leopold Bloom on the same day as the novel takes place.  There are also costume contests, Joyce look alike contests and even marathon readings of the novel.  The events are sponsored by the James Joyce Center in Dublin.

While certainly the city of Dublin can claim the largest of the celebrations it is not alone.  The Rosenback Museum and Library, which manuscript of the novel also has a series of readings and a special exhibition of material of Joyce's.  Also there is a celebration in Szombathely, Hungary the birth place of Bloom's father in Ulysses.

Links:
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomsday

Other: http://www.jamesjoyce.ie/
http://www.rosenbach.org/programs/bloomsday.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bloomsday.html

Dia dos Namorados - June 12th

While a large part of the world celebrates Valentine's Day, there are some places where the day set aside for love is different.  In Brazil the day is known as Dia dos Namorados which means "Day of the Enamored".  In additions to many of the things one would expect for Valentines Day such as chocolates and flowers there are also parades and carnivals.  Women without someone are also known to preform certain rituals that are meant to add in them finding a boyfriend or husband.  The day following Dia dos Namorados is Saint Anthony's Day the saint of marriages which is where it is believed this celebration comes from.

Links:
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day#Central_and_South_America

Other: http://traveler.fivestaralliance.com/index.php/2009/05/19/brazil-is-for-lovers-celebrating-dia-dos-namorados/

Kamehameha Day - June 11th

Kamehameha Day, June 11th, is the only public holiday in the United States that is in recognition of a monarch.  This holiday is in commemoration of King Kamehameha the Great, known for being the first ruler to unit Hawai'i under one kingdom.  Kamehameha Day was first recognized when his great grandson Kamehameha the V sent out a royal decree in 1871.  It also was one of the first holidays to be recognized by the state when it join the union in 1959.

Some of the events people participate in to mark this day are floral parades, carnivals and hula contests, to name a few.  The most important of the actual ceremonies is the draping festivals that happen to the four statues of Kamehameha.  Three of these statues are on the islands ofHawai'i and the fourth stand at the United States capital building.  All four statues are draped with fresh leis created on the islands.  The statue at eh U.S. capital is also accompanied by a hula dance and attained by officials from the government.


Links:
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamehameha_Day

Other: http://www.alohavalley.com/lifestyle-culture/to-commemorate-kamehameha-day.html
http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/events/king-kamehameha-day.htm
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/kamehameha-day

Portugal Day - June 10th

Luís de Camões

Celebrated through out the world in Portuguese populations, June 10th stands as Portugal Day.  This day marks the death of one of Portugal's greatest writers, Luís de Camões.  Camões wrote the epic poem which tells of the great Portuguese culture and society.  Normally someone like this would be honored on their birthday but no one is sure when Camões' was born so his death was chosen.  He was not just a writer though, he lived a life of adventure, losing an eye while in a fight and even, legend has it, taking the poem itself on an adventure.  It is said that when his ship wrecked off the coast of present Vietnam he saved it by swimming to shore with one arm and keeping the other out of the water.

Links:
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal_Day

Other: http://portugalday.com/

World Ocean Day - June 8th

Photo by Justin Watt

June 8th, 2009 marks the first United Nations sponsored World Ocean Day.  In 1992 the government of Canada suggested that there be a day dedicated to the world ocean in 1992 at the earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.  Finally in 2008 the U.N. passed resolution resolution 63/111.

Today is a day to not only remember and recognize the importants of the worlds oceans as it applies to things like shipping of cargo and how sailors put their lives on the line with the many dangers that face them, weather and pirates, but also it's influence on the environment. There are so many reasons to celebrate what the oceans do for us; helps to feed us, regulates our climate and even provides us with most of the air we breath.

While I could go on and on about how we could celebrate and why the oceans are important, this has already been done much better than I am able to do at The Ocean Project and I would suggest going and taking a look.

Links:
http://www.un.org/depts/los/reference_files/worldoceansday.htm
http://theoceanproject.org/wod/index.php