Festival & Holiday CALENDAR

Festivals & Holidays

Calendar

JUNE

MAY

FEBRUARY

JANUARY

MARCH

APRIL

DECEMBER

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

AUGUST

JULY

NOVEMBER

January

January

Greece

Poland

1st January (Saint Vasili’s Day)

6th January (The Day of The Three Kings)

Romania

6th January ( The Epiphany )

Turkey

Spain

Lithuania

6th January (Boboteaza)

30th January ( The 3 Holy Hierarchs Day)

February

February

Lithuania

Poland

20th February (the Fat Thursday)

25th February (Uzgavenes)

Greece

Romania

Spain

Turkey

March

March

Greece

Lithuania

2nd March ( Lent Monday)

4-6 March (St. Casimir's Fair)

Poland

Romania

Spain

Turkey

25th March (Mary’s Annunciation)

April

April

Greece

Poland

Turkey

19th April ( Easter Day)

13th April (Śmigus-Dyngus)

23 April (National Sovereignty and Children's Day)

Romania

Spain

23rd April( Saint Georgios ‘ Feast )

Lithuania

12th April (the Sunday of Flowers)

5th-11th April (the Holy Week)

19th April (Easter Day)

May

May

Greece

Lithuania

Romania

Poland

Spain

1st, 2nd, 3rd May (May holidays)

31st May-1st June (Romería de El Rocío)

Turkey

23rd May (Ramazan Feast )

19 May (Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day)

5th-6th May (Hidirellez)

21st May (Nevruz)

June

June

Greece

Romania

1st June ( The day of the Holy Spirit)

7th June (the Pentecost)

Lithuania

Poland

24thJune (Saint John's Night)

8th June (The Saint Patron's Day)

Spain

Turkey

July

July

Greece

Lithuania

Romania

Poland

Spain

Turkey

30th July (The Sacrifice Feast)

August

August

Greece

Poland

15th August (Mary’s Assumption)

15th August (The Assumption Day)

Romania

Turkey

15th August (The Assumption Day)

30 August (Victory Day )

Lithuania

Spain

September

September

Romania

Turkey

Poland

Lithuania

Spain

14th September (the Ascension of the Holy Cross)

Greece

October

October

Turkey

Romania

Greece

14th October (Saint Parashiva's Day)

26th October ( Saint Demetrios’ Day)

29th October (The Republic Day)

Lithuania

Poland

Spain

November

November

Lithuania

Poland

1st November (All Saints Day)

1st November (All Saint's Day)

Turkey

Spain

Romania

Greece

December

December

Greece

Poland

25th December ( Christmas Day)

6th (Saint Nicolas' Day)

Lithuania

24th December (Christmas Eve)

254th December (Christmas Eve)

Turkey

Spain

Romania

25th December ( Christmas)

1st January (Saint Vasili’s Day)

The children get their presents given by Saint Vasili (Santa Claus). Families go to church and during lunch they cut the Vasilopita (a cake with a coin hidden inside). Whoever finds the coin in his/her piece has good luck for the whole year.

6th January ( The Epiphany )

Waters are blessed. The priest throws a cross into the water of the sea, a lake or a river and young people jump in in order to find it. Whoever finds the cross first is blessed.

30th January ( The 3 Holy Hierarchs Day)

The 3 Holy Hierarchs (or Ecumenical Teachers) were Vasili the Great, Gregory the Theologian and Ioannis Chrysostom. They are the protectors of Schools , teachers and students.

2nd March ( Lent Monday)

It’s the end of the Carnival season (Apokries) and the beginning of fasting for Easter.

25th March (Mary’s Annunciation)

On that day Angel Gabriel announced to Virgin Mary that she will give birth to Jesus Christ.

19th April ( Easter Day)

It’s the most important religious celebration in Greece. It peaks in the Holy Week when services are held in all churches. On Good Friday the flowered tombs of Christ (Epitaphios) make the tour of all cities, towns and islands. On Good Saturday at midnight pilgrims go to church to get the Holy Light through their candles and celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

23rd April( Saint Georgios ‘ Feast )

Saint Georgios is the protector Saint of Hortiatis

1st June ( The day of the Holy Spirit)

The Holy Spirit was presented to the Apostles 40 days after Easter. That day is a holiday for Schools.

15th August (Mary’s Assumption)

Virgin Mary went to Heaven . It is one of the biggest religious celebrations.

26th October ( Saint Demetrios’ Day)

Agios Dimitrios is the protector Saint of Thessaloniki.

25th December ( Christmas Day)

On this day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. In the past people in Greece used to decorate wooden boats honouring the nautical tradition of the country. On Christmas Eve children sing the Carols (Kalanda) from door to door.

25th February (Uzgavenes)

Uzgavenes, Lithuania’s Carnival celebrations, take place in late February. People make and eat pancakes, play different games, burn a representation of winter - a figure of „Morė“.

4-6 March (St. Casimir's Fair)

St. Casimir’s Day honors the saint patron of Lithuania. Each year in the first days of March, the Old Town of Vilnius becomes a place where people sell handmade and traditional goods.

19th April (Easter Day)

Margučiai

Verbos

Easter in Lithuania is celebrated according to the Roman Catholic tradition. On the Palm Sunday, the last Sunday before Easter, begins the Holy Week. Easter palms (verbos) and Lithuanian Easter eggs (margučiai) are strong elements of Easter and symbolize the return of spring.

24thJune ( St.John's Day and night)

St. John’s Day is about Lithuania’s pagan past. It is celebrated on June 23-24. On this night, people set bonfires, jump over fires, search for the mystical fern flower, make wreaths and float them on water.

1st November (All Saints Day)

On the 1st of November people honor the souls of family members that have passed away as well as remembering the Saints of the Catholic Church. On this day people visit cemeteries, decorate graves with flowers, light candles, and pray.

24th December (Christmas Eve)

Christmas Eve (Kūčios), is a family holiday. Families often eat 12 dishes to symbolize the 12 months of the year and the 12 Apostles. Lithuanian tradition: Kūčiukai (crunchy biscuits)

25th December (Christmas)

Lithuanian Christmas traditions include public Christmas trees, family gatherings, the giving of gifts, Christmas markets, visits from Santa Claus, and special meals.

8th May (Saint Stanislaus' Day)

Lithuanian Christmas traditions include public Christmas trees, family gatherings, the giving of gifts, Christmas markets, visits from Santa Claus, and special meals.

6th January (The Day of the Tree Kings)

In Polish Catholic Church on January 6, twelve days after Christmas, the Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated, traditionally also known as the Day of the Three Kings (The Tree Magi or Wisemen), who came to the newborn Jesus with gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold. On that day many places organise parades with the Tree Kings leading people to the scenes of nativity.

20th February (The Fat Thursday)

In Polish Catholic Church the Lent starts on Ash Wednesday when priests put ash on people’s heads. Fat Thursday is always celebrated six days earlier as the last big feast before the long period of fasting. On that day Polish people eat loads of doughnuts. They are fried and heavy but also delicious.

13th April (The Dousing Day)

Dousing Day (in Polish Śmigus-Dyngus ) is the day of very joyful celebration of spring coming along with Easter. Traditionally, boys throw water over girls and spank them with willow twigs on Easter Monday. Also girls do the same to boys. There are some other rituals, too but the most important part is getting really wet which should bring you good luck and health.

8th June (Our School's Patron's Day)

The patron of the Primary School in Szarów is Saint Jadwiga, the Queen of Poland, well known for her good heart and generosity. She was the first female ruler of Poland and she became the queen at the age of almost 11. She died very young (only 25) but she set an important example for all the students of the school in Szarów. Her day is celebrated on June, 8th.

11th June (Corpus Christi)

Corpus Christi is a Christian feast day which honors the Body (corpus) of Christ. On that day people in Poland go with long processions to four altars to celebrate the Real Presence of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the elements of Eucharist. The celebration includes carrying the symbols, spreading colourful flowers and wearing traditional outfits.

15th August (The assumption Day)

The Roman Catholic Church in Poland teaches that Virgin Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory". This day is a major holiday both in religious and national form because on that day people in Poland also celebrate a decisive Polish battle in 1920 during the Polish–Soviet War. This victory was very important on the way to Poland’s independence and it is the Day of Polish Army Forces.

1st November (All Saints' Day)

All Saints Day is a major religious holiday when everyone visits the graves of their family members and friends. It is a tradition to leave the flowers and light the candles but also to have some time to remember and pray for those who passed away. This day is also the occasion for family meetings.

6th December (Saint Nicolas' Day)

Saint Nicholas, who was the bishop of Mira in Lycia, lived at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries. He was famous for miracles and helping the poor and needy. Today he comes by his sleigh to Polish children at night on December, 6th. Traditionally, he looks like a bishop and brings gifts and sweets to all the good ones.

24th December (Christmas Eve)

Christmas Eve is a central celebration of Christmas in Poland. When the first light appears in the sky, the family comes together to pray and share the Holy Wafer. It is also the occasion for exchanging Christmas wishes. Then, they all sit together at the table and traditionally eat 12 dishes, including the carp and beetroot soup with ravioli stuffed with mushrooms. Finally, they take part in Midnight Mass called Shepherds’ Mass (Pasterka).

21st May (Nevruz)

Nevruz, an ancient festival observed from Turkey to Asian countries, was celebrated Thursday across the country to welcome spring. Bonfires and the revival of old Turkic traditions are a staple of nationwide celebrations.

5th-6th May (Hidirellez The Spring Celebration)

Hidirellez is an annual festival, held to herald the new spring and brings good fortune to those who celebrate. The history of Hidirellez stretches back many thousands of years in the area and is a candidate for UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Many of the traditions of Hidirellez are unique to specific areas. Many smaller towns and villages celebrate Hidirellez in early May. Typically held on the 5-6 May, fire leaping, dancing and singing to traditional folk music are the best activities at Hidirellez.

30th July (The Sacrifice Feast - Kurban Bayramı)

The Sacrifice Feast is one of the oldest Islamic holidays in Turkey. Festival of Sacrifice is an official four-day religious festival, which has the traditions include sacrificing an animal in a special ritual, visiting relatives and helping the poor. The feast is one of the oldest Islamic holidays in Turkey. It commemorates the story about Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) who showed obedience to God by agreeing to sacrifice his son. God then sent him a ram to be sacrificed instead. The Sacrifice Feast comes about 70 days after the Ramadan Feast. According to old belief it is unlucky to get married or start a new business in the period between these two holidays.

23rd May (Ramazan Feast )

In Turkey, Eid is known as Ramazan Feast or Ramadan Bayrami and is usually a three day holiday. The first day of Eid al-Fitr is called the Candy Festival (Seker Bayrami) as the tradition is to give children sweets or money wrapped in handkerchiefs. Muslims celebrate Ramadan by fasting, not eating or drinking any food or water from dawn to dusk for 30 days. At the end of Ramadan they celebrate the the feast for 3 days. Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar, which consists of a 12-month year of approximately 354 days, so each lunar month moves 11 days each year. In 2021 it was celebrated on13rd of May. So, in 2022 it will be celebrated on 02nd of May 11th.

29th October (The Republic Day )

Republic Day of Turkey is anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic, Turkey's public holiday marking the proclamation of the republic on October 29, 1923. Many people in Turkey celebrate Republic Day on October 29 by attending performances and participating in traditional processions with flags and musical bands. The Turkish Republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk proclaimed Republic Day as Turkey's most important holiday. In the evening of October 29, many cities have traditional processions with flags and musical bands to commemorate Republic Day in Turkey. Many people go to local stadiums on October 29 to watch performances dedicated to Republic Day in Turkey. The processions usually end with fireworks, which begin after dark.

23rd April (National Sovereignty and Children's Day)

23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day is one of the public holidays in Turkey. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, made April 23 as a gift to all the world’s children because of their importance in our future. Today, the International 23 April Children’s Festival organized by TRT in Turkey provides a unique opportunity for cultural and scientific collaboration of children in the world.

19 May (Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day)

The Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day in Turkey features state ceremonies and sports events throughout the country on May 19 each year. Young Turkish athletes carry the Turkish flag from a Black Sea port to the country’s capital to commemorate Turkey’s War of Independence. Various sports events take place on May 19 throughout Turkey. Many people celebrate this day by watching athletes perform at their local stadiums or by participating in sports events that are open to the public, such as half-marathons.

30 August (Victory Day)

This festival is a national festival of Turkey, is celebrated on August 30 each year. Turkish people celebrate this day with honour and pride. Victory Day is celebrated across Turkey. It is a celebration of the Turkish military and the Turkish Republic. The main celebration is held at Atatürk's Mausoleum in Ankara.

6th January (Boboteaza)

Boboteaza is celebrated on January 6 and marks the moment of the Baptism of the Lord in the waters of the Jordan River. Our Savior was baptized by Saint John the Baptist. On the occasion of this celebration, the great sanctification of the water is made and all the believers present at the Holy Liturgy participate. In some areas of the country people go to a running water and the priest throws a cross in the water, and the brave young people swim in the cold waters to recover it. The one who recovers the Cross will be lucky all year!

12th April (The Sunday of Flowers)

The God's Entrance into Jerusalem is celebrated on the Sunday before the God's Resurrection. This day is also called the Sunday of Flowers. On this day, the green willow branches are sanctified and shared with all the Christians participating in the Holy Mass.

7th June (Pentecost)

The Eastertide, the Pentecost (in Hebrew) or the Descent of the Holy Spirit is the time that reminds Christians of the coming of the Holy Spirit over the Holy Apostles. It is celebrated (celebrated) 50 days after the Resurrection of the God and marks the moment when the Christian Church was founded. In Romania, on this day is a procession: the Christians, having the priest in front of them, go to an orchard, to a garden, and there, on a green space, pray to God for good harvest, for good times, another sanctification of water is made.

14th September (the Ascension of the Holy Cross)

The Ascension of the Holy Cross - a holiday that is always held on September 14 and dates from the reign of Emperor Constantine the Great. Supported by his mother, Empress Elena, a very faithful woman, Emperor Constantine made many decisions in favour of Christians.

15th August (the Assumption of the Virgin Mary)

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15 is a very important holiday for Christians. In her honor, for 14 days until the day of her remembrance, in the evening, a special service is held whereby Christians show their love for the one who gave birth to the Son of God. On the occasion of this celebration there are great processions to the monasteries that have the Mother of God as a saint patron. Romania, because of the many churches and monasteries built in honour of the Virgin Mary, has been called the "Garden of the Virgin Mary"!

5th-11th April (the Holy Week)

Holy Week in El Puerto de Santa María is the commemoration of the Passion, death and Resurrection of Christ. Throughout those days, ten brotherhoods of penance and one brotherhood of glory make their way through the streets. In addition to religious aspects, it is a phenomenon of a sociocultural, economic and tourist nature of great importance for the town, together with the Fine Wine Fair.

31st May-1st June (Romería de El Rocío)

The El Rocío pilgrimage - popularly called El Rocío - is a manifestation of Andalusian Catholic popular religiosity in honor of the Virgen del Rocío. The pilgrimage is celebrated on the weekend of Pentecost Monday. The Virgin is found in the hermitage of El Rocío, which is in the Almonte village of the same name, in the province of Huelva. The Almonte brotherhood is in charge of organizing the worship and pilgrimage of the Virgen del Rocío.