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Celebrations, holidays - information
- 1. January NEW YEAR'S DAY NewYear's Day and New Year’s Eve, known in Poland as Sylwester marks the start of the carnival period, which features celebratory events like balls and parties. A fun tradition that has been popular for centuries is the kulig (sleigh rides). Many people in Poland celebrate New Year’s Day with dances, concerts, and meals featuring traditional Polish dishes including bigos (hunter’s stew). THE BEFANA (EPIPHANY) The Befana is an ugly old woman dressed in ragged apparels, she looks like a witch and, as a witch she flies around on a broom, sometimes with her cat, but, on the night between the 5° and the 6° of January, in Italy, Befana comes through the chimneys to leave sweets to the children. However, if they have been naughty, she leaves coal instead. On the evening of the 5° of January children hang socks somewhere in the house, the following morning they find them full of sweets .... or coal ! GREAT UNION Every year, on January 24, the Romans celebrated the Great Union. One of the most famous hore is the Hora Unirii (Hora of the Union), which became a Romanian patriotic song as a result of being the hymn when Wallachia and Moldavia united to form the Principality of Romania in 1859.
- 2. February FAT THURSDAY Fat Thursdayis a traditional Christian feast marking the last Thursday before Lent and is associated with the celebration of Carnival. On that day every person in Poland must eat at least one pączek – doughnut for good luck. ANDALUCIA´S DAY It´s a regional celebration. Children remember to important Andalusia people and traditions through poetry, music, painting and other cultural expressions. VALENTINE'S DAY People used to say that if the weather is nice on Valentine's Day we'll have nice weather the rest of the year. On that day the women didn't spin because they believed that the St. Valentine will protect them from any harm. In the northwest part of Croatia people used to bake pastry in the shape of the heart. Today children and young write each other Valentine’s cards, men give women flowers, chocolate or they go out together.
- 3. March MARTIE 1 On March1st, Romanians celebrate the coming of spring in their own unique way – through the symbolic martisor (or trinket, in an approximate English translation). This sample contains , there may be jewels, flowers, animals, luck symbols attached to the red-white lace. The red is said to represent the summer, and the heat, while the white represents the winter, and the cold. MOTHER’S DAY On March 8th we celebrate Mother’s day. The children’s works are given to their mothers. WOMEN'S DAY Children make cards for their mothers and men give women a red rose, but mostly colleagues not husbands. CARNIVAL (MARCH IN 2014) People dress up and go to the street. Many groups create funny songs about any topic you can imagine. Then they can take part in songs´ competitions, which are very popular. This name comes from the latin words ‘carnem levare’ which means ‘without meat’. This is because in the past it was forbidden to eat meat since forty days before Easter (Lent period). In fact this year we celebrate this festivity from the 4th to the 8th of March. On the last day people and children wear masks, play tricks and have a lot of parties.
- 4. April EASTER Christians celebrate Christ´scrucifixion. Women make red eggs and cake and go to church.Children waiting for bunny to bring them chocolate eggs. It’s a catholic feast. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It falls after the forty days of Lent and this year it’s in April the 20th. In Italy parents use to give children chocolate eggs with surprises inside. On that Sunday people use to hang olive brunches on their doors as a meaning of peace and salvation. Easter in Latvia is called Lieldienas. Today, both Christian and traditional holidays have merged to create the Latvian modern-day Easter celebrations. Colouring eggs is a part of Easter tradition. One of the older traditions associated with Lieldienas is building a swing and swinging on it as high as possible. Easter Monday, which falls after Easter Day (Wielkanoc), is a national holiday in Poland. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Smigus Dyngus is a tradition in which people use bucket pails or water guns to soak each other with water. Another event is the Emaus fair in Krakow, where people set up stalls of candy, toys and trinkets. EARTH'S DAY We celebrate the Earth’s Day in Croatia since 1990. In schools children make posters or learn more about ecology and saving the planet. There are many radio and TV-programmes about celebrating the Earth’s Day. Some institutions organize ecological acitivities like cleaning the forests or parks. NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND CHILDREN’S DAY Solemn ceremonies and children’s festivals take place throughout Turkey on National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, held on April 23 each year. Children take seats in the Turkish Parliament and symbolically govern the country for one day.
- 5. May LABOUR DAY Many peoplein Poland enjoy May 1 by being outdoors, as it marks a time when the weather becomes warmer in the spring. It is part of a holiday season known as Majówka, which includes Poland’s Constitution Day, celebrated on May 3. There are occasional marches to promote workers’ rights in some major cities. THE DAY OF THE FLAG This holiday was declared official in February 2004 by the Polish Sejm. It awakens patriotism for their country in the soul of the Polish people and there are many concerts and shows on that day in Poland. CONSTITUTION DAY Constitution Day is part of a holiday season known as Majówka, which also includes the May 1/Labor Day holiday. It is celebrated with military parades, spring concerts and family picnics. Many people also gather at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Grób Nieznanego Żołnierza) at the Piłsudski Square in Warsaw. The monument is dedicated to unknown soldiers who gave their lives for Poland. FAIR (11TH-18TH OF MAY 2014) Everybody dresses in flamenco clothes, and sings and dances traditional folk music. During these days take place horses and carriages exhibitions. RESTORATION OF INDEPENDENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA On this day in 1990, the parliament passed a resolution that was the starting point on the path of restoring the country’s independence. This is an official public holiday.
- 6. June CHILDREN'S DAY International Children'sDay is celebrated on 1st June each year. Usually this is marked by poems spoken by children, children's TV programs, parties, various actions involving or where or dedicated to children. ANTI-FASCIST STRUGGLE DAY We celebrate that day on the 22nd of June. It is a holiday and the people don’t go to school or work that day. It is a memory of the 22nd of June 1941 when in the forest near Brezovica the first Partisan squad was established which was the first anti hitler organization in Europe these days. NATIONAL DAY The National Day in Croatia is a holiday which we celebrate on the 25th of June. On that day 1991 the Croatian National Parliament proclaimed the Croatian independence. It is a national holiday. JUNE 23, 24LĪGO AND JĀŅI It is the shortest night of the year must be spent by staying awake all night by the glow of the bonfire. The time is spent singing songs and enjoying. Women and girls wear a crown of flowers on their heads on Jāņi, while men wear a crown of oak leaves. Rooms and doors are decorated with birch boughs, shed and barn doors are decorated with rowan branches.
- 7. July/August VICTORY AND HOMELANDTHANKSGIVING DAY We celebrate the Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day on the 5th of August every year as a memory of the victory in our Homeland war. On that day 1995 the Croatian army liberated the occupied city Knin in the operation called Storm. THE ASSUMPTION OF VIRGIN MARY The Assumption of Virgin Mary into Heaven is celebrated on 15 August. There are processions and celebrations in many sanctuaries of Mary. Celebrating Mary is one of the most important parts in liturgical year. This is a national holiday. POLISH ARMY DAY On 15 August, Poland marks Polish Army Day, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1920 Battle of Warsaw (also known as the “Miracle on the Vistula”). To celebrate the day, garrison churches hold masses on behalf of soldiers, who fell in the fields of glory, and readings of the roll of the dead take place in cemeteries. The Change of Guards takes place before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, attended by the Polish State authorities. SAINT ROCH´ S DAY Saint Roch is the patron saint of our parish. Our church was named after him. St. Roch is the patron saint of people who suffer from leprosy, plague, cholera (and other contagious diseases), invalids, surgeons and animals (especially dogs). St. Roch´s Day is celebrated on 16 August.
- 8. September THE FIRST DAYOF SCHOOL The first day of school in Poland always starts on September 1, or the first Monday following if September 1 is a Saturday or Sunday. On that day children don’t have lessons. Everybody gathers at school for a special assembly. Children wear full dress on that day. SEPTEMBER 29 MIĶELIIS It is a traditional Latvian festival.The ending of summer and the turning of the sun towards winter. By the celebration of Miķeļi all crops must be stored and the gardens harvested, as after Miķeļi the gates are open for winter. Among the traditional activities are 'Jumis chasing and welcoming' (Jumisis the spirit of the dead),and on the ritual menu is bread,rooster,porkor mutton. BOY'S DAY Boy's Day (Dzieo Chłopaka) on September 30 - on this day girls are giving presents to boys
- 9. October INDEPENDENCE DAY The IndependenceDay is a holiday in Croatia, so the 8th of October is a non working day. On that day 1991 the Croatian National Parliament decided to terminate the link between Croatia and SFR Yugoslavia. DAYS OF BREAD Days of bread are days of thanksgiving for all fruits of the earth. It is celebrated in October every year in kindergartens, elementary schools, high schools, children´s homes and all the other educational institutions. By praying, giving blessings to breads that are specially baked for this day, we thank God for all the fruits, joys, success and gifts that were given to us during the year. THE SACRIFICE FEAST The Sacrifice Feast in Turkey is a four-day religious festival. The Sacrifice Feast traditions in Turkey include sacrificing an animal in a special ritual, visiting relatives and helping the poor. TEACHERS’ DAY Teachers’ Day is a special special day observed in many countries to honor teachers and appreciate their contributions for the countries’ education. Teachers in Poland receive flowers and sweets from pupils. School play and activities can be also scheduled by student body. REPUBLIC DAY 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 Atatürk proclaimed Republic Day as Turkey’s most important holiday.
- 10. November ALL SAINTS' DAY AllSaints Day is also a holiday in Croatia, a non working day people use to visit the graves of their loved ones. On Croatian graveyards there are thousands of lights and floral arrangements. It makes a beautiful sight and the graveyards are full of people even few days before and few days after the holiday. The most people visit the graves more than once, and the best atmosphere is in the evenings because of the lights. INDEPENDENCE DAY Poland’s National Independence Day marks the anniversary of the country’s independence in 1918. It is celebrated as a nationwide holiday on November 11 each year. ST.MARTIN’S DAY On this day, the people of Poznao buy and eat considerable amounts of "Rogale" locally produced croissants, made especially for this occasion from half-French paste with white-poppy seeds, crushed almonds or walnuts and dainties, so-called "Rogal świętomarcioski". Poznanians celebrate with a feast, specially organised by the city. There are different concerts, a St. Martin's parade and a fireworks show. PROCLAMATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA In 1918, national representatives convened in what is now the National Theatre and proclaimed the independence of the Latvian state. This is an official public holiday. VUKOVAR MEMORIAL DAY This is the day when we remember all the people who died in the Homeland War. It is the date when we commemorate the fall of Vukovar, a town in the east of Croatia that has become the symbol of Croatian freedom.
- 11. December SAINT LUCIA Santa Lucia,is a Christian saint who underwent her martyrdom when she was very young. A legend says that, while she was in heaven, she missed very much the company of her family and of the children, so Saint Peter gave her permission to go back on Earth once a year to make children happy. On the night between the 13° and the 14° of December, with the help of a donkey, she flies to bring presents to the children. This tradition is typical of the northern regions of Italy. CHRISTMAS EVE Special dinners consisting of traditional Polish dishes are prepared and eaten on Christmas Eve. Dishes include beetroot soup (barszcz), dumplings stuffed with mushrooms (uszka), a cabbage dish, as well as cakes, fruit, and pastries. It is not unusual for some hosts to prepare for an extra seat for an unexpected guest. It is also customary to break and give the Christmas wafer (oplatek), which is made of flour and water, to guests. Many people attend a special church mass at midnight between December 24 and 25. CHRISTMAS This is the most important feast in Italy. It falls on the 25th of December and it celebrates Jesus Christ’s birth. The Crib is the most ancient symbol of Christmas in Italy. In each house families do their own cribs during Christmas Eve and they leave it until the 6th of January when the Three Wise Men arrive to give presents to Jesus. Of course the Christmas tree is also very popular in Italy. We celebrate Christmas building nativities scenes, decorating Christmas trees, singing Christmas carols.The meaning for Christmas is to recognize Christ’s birth. We celebrate Christmas , decorating Christmas trees, singing Christmas carols. Everyone is waiting for Santa Claus with gifts. ST. STEPHEN'S DAY The day after Christmas is a holiday in Croatia, because the Saint Steven was the first catholic martyr. On that day people go to visit their families and friends and all Stevens celebrate that day by baking cakes and having guests.