Well, I woke up this morning, expecting to find a "Happy Thanksgiving" thread on AG. (sad I know LOL)
But then I remembered that Americans have it next month, November 11 I think? If I recall it's on the same day as our Remembrance Day.
So to all the Canadians out there, Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy your turkey either yesterday/tonight. I sure did
So that got me to thinking, what different international holiday differences out there are there? I know I could just Google this but I'd much rather hear it in discussion xD
List of Canada's/BC (my province)'s probable oddities:
Victoria Day: last Monday before May 24 (maybe not as strange to the other Commonwealth countries) BC Day: first Monday of August Thanksgiving: second Monday of October Remembrance Day: November 11 (on the Armistice of WWI, to commemorate the veterans, etc.) Boxing Day: December 26 Canada Day: July 1
The only thing I can think of that we swedes celebrate that I don't think Americans do, or at least not in the same way, is Midsummer. Our celebration usually consists of heavy drinking and dancing around a maypole, usually in that order too.
Also in the US there's this event called Mardi Gras where people wear beads and all sorts of necklaces. It even has their own parade. I think it's mostly celebrated in Louisiana and/or Texas. Not so much in other states.
I used to live in America and I celebrated Thanksgiving once. Good times, good times. We here in NZ don't have any rough equivalent. It's spring right now.. Nearest holiday is Labour Day next week.
When I was in the Philippines, we also celebrated the Day of the Dead. People were mobbing the cemeteries to pay their respects to the deceased. It barely felt like a graveyard.
Remembrance Day: November 11 (on the Armistice of WWI, to commemorate the veterans, etc.)
It's the same over here. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Although it's to commemorate all wars not just WW1.
Boxing Day: December 26
Isn't that just what you call the day after Christmas? Apart from there being football on, I can't really think of anything particularly special about this day.
I'd also like to add the 5th of November. It's a weird thing to celebrate when you think about it, but hey, I'm not going to pass up an opportunity to burn an effigy of the Pope, heehee..
Hmm. These are all the holidays we celebrate in UT.
1 January/31 December: New Year's Eve. Basically just a bunch of fireworks. 14 February: Valentine's Day! People send each other lovey dovey cards and chocolates and whatnot. 17 March: Saint Patrick's Day. Basically, it's an excuse for people to pinch each other. Just wear green. Lots of it. 1 April: April Fool's Day. Just another excuse for people to prank each other xP. Some Random Sunday in Spring: Easter Sunday. It's supposed to be about the resurrection of Christ, but atheists celebrate it too. Basically we dye eggs, hide said eggs, then little kids find said eggs. Also; we get candy. Last Monday In May: Memorial Day. This is sad, but we remember all the dead soldiers. We get the day off from school and lots of times there's a big military/police/firemen speech thing. But no parties. This is a sad holiday. 4 July: The Fourth of July! Basically the American version of Cinco de Mayo, we shoot a bunch of fireworks, possibly throw a barbecue, and wave around a bunch of American flags. 24 July: The twenty fourth of July! This is a Utah-only celebration, I know, it's to celebrate our becoming a state. Hardly anyone celebrates it though, and when we do, it's just that we shoot a bunch of fireworks leftover from the 4th. First Monday in September: Labor Day. Nobody really celebrates this, but we get the day off from school. 31 October: Halloween! We dress up as whatever(garbage cans, ghosts, zombies, french fries, Rick Astley) and go around saying trick or treat. Basically this holiday is a kid's wet dream; where kids get to wear whatever they want, get free candy, and stuff themselves on said candy. And of course there's also a lot of dances and stuff for the older kids, and lots of spooky stories told. Last Thursday in November: Thanksgiving. Basically it's to remember the Native Americans who helped the settlers of...dammit...The Mayflower! I remembered! Basically it's usually a big family reunion with a huge feast usually featuring pumpkin pie, turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and lots more. 25 December: Christmas! It's supposed to be a Christian holiday but everyone celebrates this. We put up lots of festive lights, caroling, etc. "Santa Claus" hides presents under the Christmas tree and in the stockings that people set up in their house on Christmas Eve, then on the 25th the kiddies open their presents. It's also a time when people give each other presents as well.
It's supposed to be about the resurrection of Christ, but atheists celebrate it too. Basically we dye eggs, hide said eggs, then little kids find said eggs. Also; we get candy.
never understood the whole rabbit thing. anyone knows a rabbit doesn't lay eggs.
Easter started as the festival of Ostara. She was the Goddess of Spring and fertility. Then Constantine wanted to bring on the CHRISTIANITY! Thus, the Pagan traditions became Easter and said it was the Resurrection. The female hormone oestrogen can even go back to this Goddess. The fertility aspect of Ostara is symbolized by the egg, which appears as a prominent icon in both Christian and Eastern Orthodox Easters. The rabbit also goes back to fertility. I'm sure there is a more in-depth explanation, but this is the best I've got.
The only thing I can think of that we swedes celebrate that I don't think Americans do, or at least not in the same way, is Midsummer. Our celebration usually consists of heavy drinking and dancing around a maypole, usually in that order too.
Isn't that just what you call the day after Christmas? Apart from there being football on, I can't really think of anything particularly special about this day.
When I was younger I used to believe that Boxing Day had something to do with pugilism. I had to actually look it up right now to find what the actual meaning is.. Something to do with Christmas boxes and the less fortunate.
