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

cards/flowers : As the story goes, in 1564, France was one of the first nations to make January 1 officially New Year's Day, instead of the last week of March which was previously observed. In 1582, the Pope followed suit. Those who went on celebrating April 1st were mocked. As the zodiacal sign was the fish, The French placed dead fish on the backs of one another. Traditions vary from country to country.

Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.

Culture : To honour and remember the Battle of Vimy Ridge which took place during the First World War at Vimy Ridge, France, in 1917. Wikipedia

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cards/flowers : Deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt. The Seder service on the first two evenings recounts the story of the Exodus

cards/flowers : The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Quran; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, a number of other days. Allah desires for you ease; He desires not hardship for you; and that you should complete the period, and that you should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that perhaps you may be thankful [Wikipedia]

Culture : The National Day of Mourning commemorates workers who have been injured, killed or suffer illness as a result of occupational accidents and hazards

cards/flowers : National Day of Honor for troops who contributed to Afghanistan mission

cards/flowers : Mother’s day has evolved in many countries in different ways. This is because mother’s day has different origins in different countries and therefore occurs on different days in the year. One school of thought claims that this day emerged from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of gods, and Rhea, the wife of Cronus, was held on March 15 to March 18 around Asia Minor. They insist that this custom spread around the world. Mothering Sunday is the celebration of motherhood in the United Kingdom. It is also known as Mid-lent Sunday, Rose Sunday and Laetare Sunday. It originally comes from the Victorian practice of allowing servants to return home to visit their mothers on this day. In the United States, Julia Ward Howe (May 27, 1819 - October 17, 1910) was a prominent American abolitionist, social activist, and poet. Howe’s Battle Hymn of the Republic was first published in the Atlantic Monthly in 1862 and quickly became one of the most popular songs for the Union during the American Civil War. After the war she focused her activities on the causes of Pacifism and women’s suffrage. In 1870 she was the first to proclaim Mother’s Day, with her Mother’s Day Proclamation. U.S. President Woodrow Wilson approved Mother’s Day in 1914

Secular holiday : In tribute to Queen Victoria's birth in 1819 - In Quebec : Patriots' Day, commemorates the 1837-1838 rebellion against British monarchy only in Alberta - British Columbia - Labrador - Manitoba - Northwest Territories - Nunavut - Ontario - Quebec - Saskatchewan - Yukon

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Secular holiday : Anniversary of the union of the Canadian provinces under one government, which took place in 1867 under the British North America Act Not a paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Anniversary of the union of the Canadian provinces under one government, which took place in 1867 under the British North America Act Not a paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Civic/state holiday - Civic holiday in Ontario, Saskatchewan and the North West Territories. - Natal Day in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. - New Brunswick Day in New Brunswick. British Colombia Day in British Colombia. - Heritage Day in Alberta. NOT a holiday in Quebec, Yukon.

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Secular holiday :

cards/flowers : To honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer.

cards/flowers : Jewish New Year

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