Belgium : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Not a paid holiday

Catholic or protestant : Seven weeks after Easter Monday -Marking the day the Holy Spirit entered the disciples left behind and the beginning of their ministry.

School holidays :

cards/flowers : except in Antwert

Secular holiday :

School holidays :

Secular holiday : Applies to the Flemish-speaking civil servants Celebrates the Battle of the Golden Spurs (11 July 1302)

Culture : Lasts 5 days - www.gentsefeesten.be in Ghent 2022 edition confirmed

Secular holiday : Celebrates the 1831 separation from the Netherlands, as well as the formal establishment of the kingdom. Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg was crowned and supported the constitution drawn up by National Congress. Paid holiday when falling on Sunday (Labour law 4 Jan 1974)

Culture : Http://www.flowercarpet.be/ on Brussels Grand'Place 2022 edition confirmed

Catholic : Dogma defined by the Catholic Church on November 1, 1950, when Pope Pius XII declared that at the end of her life, Mary's body and soul were assumed into Heaven.

Sports events : Www.formula1.com in Spa-Francorchamps - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 2022 edition confirmed

School holidays :

cards/flowers : Jewish New Year NOT a public holiday

Secular holiday : Applies to the French-speaking community civil servants

Culture : Www.fiff.be in Namur 2022 edition confirmed

Sports events : Www.bruxelles.be 2022 edition confirmed

Culture : Http://www.filmfestival.be in Gent 2022 edition confirmed

Sports events : Https://www.atptour.com in Antwerp 2022 edition confirmed

School holidays :

Special Events : At 1:00 a.m. local times

Catholic : The day now honors all saints of the church, even those not known by name. The first All Saints' Day occurred on May 13, 609 (C.E.) when Pope Boniface IV accepted the Pantheon as a gift from the Emperor Phocas. Boniface dedicated it as the Church of Santa Maria Rotonda in honor of the Blessed Virgin and all martyrs. During Pope Gregory III's reign (731-741), the festival was expanded to include all saints and a chapel in St. Peter's church was dedicated accordingly. Pope Gregory IV officially designated the day in 837. (World Book Encyclopedia)

Secular holiday :

cards/flowers :

School holidays :

Secular holiday : Commemmorates the end of World War I on 11th November 1918. The armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning - the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Paid holiday when falling on Sunday (Labour law 4 Jan 1974)

Secular holiday : Dynasty Day German-speaking community celebration

cards/flowers : Commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt (2nd century BC) NOT a public holiday

cards/flowers : A festival for children related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts.

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Banks only :

Secular holiday : Boxing Day