Enthronement Day Morocco and Independence Day Vanuatu, July 30, 2014

July 30, 2014

Enthronement Day Morocco (Aid Al Arch)

To celebrate and remember the day that His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine, was enthroned in 1999, the people of Morocco, a country in north west of Africa, sets aside this day. This happens to fall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan so eating and drinking during the day are not permitted. During the evening however people will get together and socialize as well as celebrate the King, even having fireworks for the event. One of the biggest days off during the year it is eagerly looked forward to.

Happy Enthronement Day Morocco!

Link:

http://inacitynearyou.net/2013/07/31/30th-july-kingdom-of-morocco-celebrates-throne-day/

Independence Day Vanuatu

An island nation in the South Pacific of less than 225,000 people, Vanuatu got it’s independence from France only in 1980. While the first Europeans landed on the island in the 1600s there have been people living there for at least 4,000 years ago. An interesting phenomenon happened do to American forces being stationed there during WWII, the famous cargo cult developed.

Happy Independence Day Vanuatu!

International Tiger Day and National Thai Language Day July 29, 2014

July 29, 2014

International Tiger Day

Created in 2010 during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit, this is a day to celebrate and raise awareness of tiger conservation around the world. With less than 3,200 tigers in the wild, it is good to keep this in mind and see if there is anyway to help.

National Thai Language Day

Day to remember and celebrate the rich cultural history of the the Thai language.

Holiday a Week Podcast, July 28, 2014

Happy Independence Day Peru and Happy Olavsoka the Faroe Islands! July 28, 2014

July 28, 2014

Fiestas Patrias Peru (Independence Day)

One of the most important holidays in Peru along with Christmas, is the day that General José de San Martín declared independence on July 28th 1821.  Celebrated by the entire country, flags are flown from almost all buildings including houses. as mandated by law during the entire month of July. As the head of state, the current President will give an address to the people outlining the state of the nation. This speech is given in the congressional bodies chambers at their invitation.

Happy Independence Day Peru!

Ólavsøka, the day when Løgting the parliament of the Faroe Islands opens it’s season. A small island nation between Iceland and Norway, it is self ruled country but still part of the Kingdom of Denmark.. The people of the Faroe Islands also take this time to hold both cultural and sporting events to celebrate their nation.  One of the country's biggest sports, rowing, holds their national competition at this time every year. Also featured during the festivals is the famous Faroese chain dancing, a medieval dance that has only survived on the island nation.

Happy Olavsoka the Faroe Islands!

Sleepyhead Day, 27 July Finland

You do not want to sleep late on July 27th in Finland, the last person to awake in the house get woken by either being thrown in the water (lake or sea) or having water thrown on them them to wake them up.

This goes back to the Middle Ages (the first recorded instance was 1652). It commemorates the time when the Saint of Ephesus was being persecuted by the Roman Emperor for practicing Christianity. He Went to the mountains to hide and while there fell asleep in a cave where he slept for 200 years. Waking up after so long he thought that only a day had passed and went into the town to buy food only to find that churches now stood in the town.

The city of Naantali even gets a celebrity to be thrown in every year and has a festival all day long for the event.

Happy Sleepyhead Day!