Wales and the World Calendar

Holocaust Memorial Day is an international memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust, which resulted in the genocide of one third of the Jewish people, along with countless members of other minorities, by Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945.

Chinese New Year is the most important festival in Chinese culture. It celebrates the beginning of a new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is also referred to as the spring festival; marking the end of winter season. Chinese New Year has greatly influenced Lunar New Year celebrations of over 50 ethnic groups. It is celebrated in many Asian countries and regions with a large Chinese settlement.

Valentine’s Day is a day people express their love for each other all around the world. It is feast day of a Christian martyr named Valentine.

Nirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist holiday celebrated in Asia. In Bhutan, it is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the fourth month of the Bhutanese calendar. It celebrates the day when the Buddha is said to have achieved  complete Nirvana, upon the death of his physical body.

Saint David is the patron saint of Wales. His feast is celebrated by wearing daffodils and leeks, recognized symbols of Wales and Saint David, eating traditional Welsh food including cawl and Welsh rarebit, and women wearing traditional Welsh dress. A parade is held on this day in a number of Welsh towns.

Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrating Lord Shiva who is one of the principal deities of Hinduism.

Saint Patrick was a 5th-century Romano-British Christian missionary and Bishop in Ireland. The Feast of Saint Patrick is a spiritual and cultural national holiday in Ireland which involves public parades and festivals, céilithe and the wearing of green outfit or shamrocks.

Nowruz is the Iranian or Persian New Year celebrated by numerous cultures worldwide. It is based on the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar. With its origin in Zoroastrianism, it is alleged to mark the coming back of a spirit that had been cast underground during the winter months.

Holi is the Hindu festival of colours, love and spring. It is celebrated every year with a massive chaotic colour fight. Holi celebrations serve as a reminder of the triumph of good over evil.

Hola is a three-day long Sikh festival established by Guru Gobind Singh, for the Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills. It follows the Hindu festival of Holi by one day.