Canada (Alberta) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Secular holiday : The first formal celebration was held by an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who attempted to establish a settlement on Baffin Island, after failing to discover a northern passage to the Orient in 1576. The Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock held their Thanksgiving in 1621 as a three-day thank you celebration to the leaders of the Wampanoag Indian tribe and their families for teaching them the survival skills they needed to make it in the New World. Canada established the second Monday in October as a national holiday, a day of general thanksgiving, in 1957.

School holidays :

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.

Secular holiday :

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Edmonton schools
calendar issued by the Ministry of Education = www.epsb.ca
PISA ranking (average 493): 528 (among the 10 best WW)
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
number of instructional hours per year in lower secondary education: Grade 1 to Grade 9: 950 hours - Grades 10 to 12: 1,000 hours
schools close on Saturday
school uniforms mostly required
2022 PISA ranking: #8 with a 506 score
University of Alberta ranking: Times Higher Education #107/QS ranking #90/Shanghai #101

We carry confirmed dates till July 2025- some variations in some cities

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