Saint Nicholas
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Wednesday december 6, 2023
cards/flowers : A festival for children related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts.
Constitution Day
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Wednesday december 6, 2023
Secular holiday : Commemorates the 1978 referendum when the Spanish people voted to approve the constitution.
Immaculate Conception
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Friday december 8, 2023
Catholic : Dogma that Mary was from the first moment of conception, totally free from the stain of original sin. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Christmas Day
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Monday december 25, 2023
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 Years Day on Christmas Day.
New Year's Day
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Monday january 1, 2024
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
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Monday january 1, 2024
School holidays : calendars gazetted by the respective Departments of Education
Each province carries its own specific set of holidays, please scroll on the concerned province
Average class size: more than 25
all study programs are aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
PISA ranking (average 493): 493
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
number of instructional hours per year in lower secondary education: 700 hours
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required
Autonomous University of Madrid ranking: Times Higher Education #351-400/QS ranking #187/Shanghai #201-300
Epiphany
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Saturday january 6, 2024
Catholic : The term comes from ancient Greek and means appearance . Cele ated on the 6th January, this feast corresponds to the presentation of Child Jesus to the Magi. This is the day of Jesus' first miracle, the Wedding in Cana , and the day of his own baptism Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Reporter's Day
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Wednesday january 24, 2024
Special Events :
Valentine's Day
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Wednesday february 14, 2024
cards/flowers : Introduced by Pope Gelasus in 498, perhaps in response to a local Roman tradition of lovers writing their names on an urn in February
Fathers' Day
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Tuesday march 19, 2024
cards/flowers :
Arbor Day
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Tuesday march 26, 2024
Culture :
Maundy Thursday
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Thursday march 28, 2024
Catholic or protestant : Maundy Thursday: Commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist (Lord's Supper).
Good Friday
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Friday march 29, 2024
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.
Daylight Saving Time
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Sunday march 31, 2024
Special Events : At 1:00 am local times
April Fools Day
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Monday april 1, 2024
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.
End of Ramadan (may be changed to the nearest day)
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Wednesday april 10, 2024
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]
Passover
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Monday april 29, 2024
cards/flowers : Deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt. The Seder service on the first two evenings recounts the story of the Exodus
Labor Day/May Day
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Wednesday may 1, 2024
Secular holiday : Chicago, Saturday May 1st, 1886: 350,000 workers go on strike to call for an 8-hour working day. Industries are paralyzed nationwide. On Monday, as demonstrations go on, the police open fire. On Tuesday, Chicago is again on strike. Following a bomb launched against them, the police shoot again. 12 dead, of which 7 policemen. 8 anarchists will be condemned and executed. In 1889, the Socialist International Movement met in Paris and declared this day international workers' day . The Soviets will follow suit, just as the Nazis. In France, under the Vichy regime (1940-1944), the celebration is renamed Labour Day .
Mothers' Day
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Sunday may 5, 2024
cards/flowers : Mothers day has evolved in many countries in different ways. This is because mothers 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. Howes 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 womens suffrage. In 1870 she was the first to proclaim Mothers Day, with her Mothers Day Proclamation.
European elections
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Thursday june 6, 2024
Special Events :
Eid-ul-Adha - Feast of the Sacrifice (may be changed to the nearest day)
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Monday june 17, 2024
cards/flowers :