This page lists 31 holidays that start with J, from “Jabberwocky Day” to “Jamai Shashthi”. The list mixes religious festivals, national independence days, midsummer celebrations, and a few playful observances. You can use it to plan a trip around a local festival, find ideas for a class project, or learn how people around the world mark special days.
Holidays are days set aside to honor a person, event, belief, or season, often with shared customs and time away from work. Some are very old, like Latvia’s “Jāņi,” a midsummer festival with bonfires and flower wreaths, while others, like “Juneteenth,” became official only recently.
Below you’ll find the table with the holiday name, date, country or region, traditions, and description for each entry.
Holiday: The name of each celebration, so you can quickly find a specific observance or discover new ones you may not have heard of.
Date: When the holiday takes place each year, including notes on movable dates tied to lunar calendars, so you can plan ahead.
Country/Region: The places where people mainly observe the holiday, which helps you see its cultural roots and find celebrations near you or on your travels.
Traditions: The customs, foods, and activities that mark the day, such as bonfires, parades, or fasting, so you know what to expect.
Description: A short summary of what the holiday commemorates, its history, and why people celebrate it today.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jabberwocky Day | January 25 | United States, United Kingdom | Reading Lewis Carroll’s poem aloud, nonsense-word games |
| Jamaica Emancipation Day | August 1 | Jamaica | Church services, street parties, cultural performances |
| Jamaica Independence Day | August 6 | Jamaica | Parades, concerts, Grand Gala, flag displays |
| Jamat-ul-Vida | Last Friday of Ramadan | Pakistan, India, Middle East, South Asia | Special congregational prayers, charity, sermons |
| Jamhuri Day | December 12 | Kenya | Official ceremonies, parades, speeches, family feasts |
| Jamshedi Navroz | March 21 (date varies) | India, Iran, Parsi communities | Prayers at fire temples, new clothes, festive feasts, house cleaning |
| Jāņi | June 23–24 | Latvia | Flower and oak-leaf wreaths, bonfires, cheese and beer, singing |
| Janai Purnima | July–August (full moon of Shravan) | Nepal, India | Changing the sacred thread, tying yellow threads on wrists, holy baths |
| Janmashtami | August–September (date varies) | India, Nepal, Hindu communities worldwide | Midnight prayers, fasting, dahi handi pot-breaking, devotional songs |
| Jazz Day | April 30 | Worldwide (UNESCO) | Concerts, jam sessions, music education events |
| Jeongwol Daeboreum | First full moon of the lunar year (January–February) | South Korea, North Korea | Moon-viewing, bonfires, nut-cracking, five-grain rice, burning moon houses |
| Jerusalem Day | 28 Iyar (May–June) | Israel | Parades, flag dances, prayers at the Western Wall |
| Jhulan Yatra | July–August (Shravan month) | India (Odisha, West Bengal, Vrindavan) | Decorated swings for Radha and Krishna, devotional songs |
| Jidai Matsuri | October 22 | Japan (Kyoto) | Costume procession through Kyoto representing Japanese history |
| Jigsaw Puzzle Day | January 29 | United States, worldwide | Completing puzzles, puzzle swaps, family challenges |
| Jizo Bon | August 23–24 | Japan | Lantern lighting, dressing Jizo statues, temple visits, festivals |
| Johnny Appleseed Day | March 11 (also September 26 in some places) | United States | Planting apple trees, apple dishes, storytelling |
| Jonsok | June 23–24 | Norway | Bonfires, music, midsummer gatherings |
| Jordan Independence Day | May 25 | Jordan | Fireworks, military parades, flag displays, concerts |
| Jagannath Rath Yatra | June–July (Ashadha) | India (Puri, Odisha), ISKCON communities worldwide | Pulling giant chariots, chanting, processions |
| Jallikattu | January (during Pongal) | India (Tamil Nadu) | Bull-taming events, village gatherings, cattle worship |
| Jelly Bean Day | April 22 | United States | Sharing jelly beans, candy tastings |
| Jeûne genevois | Thursday after the first Sunday of September | Geneva, Switzerland | Day off, traditional plum tart, reflection |
| Jitiya | September–October (Ashwin month) | India (Bihar, Jharkhand), Nepal | Daylong fasting by mothers, prayers for children’s wellbeing |
| Juhannus | Weekend between June 19 and 25 | Finland | Bonfires by lakes, saunas, cottage trips, birch branches |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | United States | Cookouts, parades, readings, family gatherings, red foods and drinks |
| Junkanoo | December 26 and January 1 | The Bahamas | Costumed street parades, goombay drums, cowbells, brass instruments |
| Jāņi Eve | June 23 | Latvia | Wreath-making, herbal gathering, folk songs, all-night festivities |
| Jaaniõhtu | June 23 | Estonia | Bonfires, wreaths, singing, dancing |
| Jaanipäev | June 24 | Estonia | Public holiday, family feasts, countryside gatherings |
| Jamai Shashthi | May–June (Jyeshtha month) | India (West Bengal), Bangladesh | Feasts for sons-in-law, gifts, special sweets |
Descriptions
Jabberwocky Day
A literary observance for Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem “Jabberwocky” from Through the Looking-Glass. Fans recite the poem and invent playful words.
Jamaica Emancipation Day
Marks the 1834 start of the end of slavery in the British Caribbean. Jamaicans celebrate with music, food, and community events.
Jamaica Independence Day
Celebrates Jamaica’s independence from Britain in 1962. The day features national honors, cultural shows, and plenty of reggae.
Jamat-ul-Vida
A day of farewell to Ramadan observed on its final Friday. Muslims gather in large numbers at mosques for prayers and reflection.
Jamhuri Day
Marks Kenya becoming a republic in 1964, one year after independence. Celebrations include national events and community gatherings.
Jamshedi Navroz
The Parsi New Year, named after the legendary Persian king Jamshed. Families visit fire temples and share traditional dishes.
Jāņi
Latvia’s midsummer festival, celebrated at the summer solstice. People gather in the countryside to sing, jump over fires, and stay up all night.
Janai Purnima
A Hindu festival when the sacred thread is renewed and priests tie protective threads on wrists. In Nepal it coincides with Raksha Bandhan.
Janmashtami
Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Temples are decorated and devotees fast until midnight, the traditional moment of his birth.
Jazz Day
International Jazz Day is a UNESCO-recognized event promoting jazz as a force for peace and unity. Cities around the world hold concerts and workshops.
Jeongwol Daeboreum
A traditional Korean festival marking the first full moon of the lunar new year. People wish for good health and a plentiful harvest.
Jerusalem Day
Commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. Marches, songs, and special prayers mark the occasion.
Jhulan Yatra
A festival honoring Radha and Krishna, who are placed on beautifully decorated swings. It runs for several days during the monsoon season.
Jidai Matsuri
The “Festival of the Ages” features a parade of thousands in period costumes, covering about a thousand years of Japanese history from the Heian era to the Meiji era.
Jigsaw Puzzle Day
An informal observance for jigsaw puzzle fans. People set aside time to finish a favorite puzzle or try a new one.
Jizo Bon
A Japanese festival honoring Jizo, the guardian of children and travelers. Neighborhood stone statues are washed and decorated, and kids enjoy games and treats.
Johnny Appleseed Day
Honors John Chapman, the American pioneer who planted apple orchards across the Midwest in the early 1800s. Schools and orchards mark the day with apple activities.
Jonsok
Norway’s Saint John’s Eve and midsummer celebration. People light large bonfires near the coast and lakes to welcome the longest days of the year.
Jordan Independence Day
Marks Jordan’s independence from British mandate rule in 1946. The day features national ceremonies, decorations, and public celebrations.
Jagannath Rath Yatra
A huge Hindu festival in which massive wooden chariots carrying Lord Jagannath and his siblings are pulled through the streets of Puri by thousands of devotees.
Jallikattu
A traditional bull-taming event held during the Pongal harvest festival in Tamil Nadu. It is both a cultural tradition and a source of ongoing debate over animal welfare.
Jelly Bean Day
A sweet food observance for the popular candy, often linked with Easter baskets. Fans swap flavors and try unusual varieties.
Jeûne genevois
A public holiday in Geneva with Protestant roots, originally a day of fasting and prayer. Today it is mostly a day of rest, often marked by a plum tart.
Jitiya
Also known as Jivitputrika, this festival has mothers fasting without water for their children’s long life and health. It lasts three days.
Juhannus
Finland’s midsummer festival, when much of the country heads to summer cottages. Bonfires, saunas, and long light-filled evenings are central to the celebration.
Juneteenth
Commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their freedom. It became a U.S. federal holiday in 2021.
Junkanoo
A vibrant street parade and festival in the Bahamas with elaborate handmade costumes and rhythmic music. It traces its roots to West African traditions and the era of slavery.
Jāņi Eve
The first night of Latvia’s midsummer celebrations, centered on gathering flowers and herbs, weaving wreaths, and singing Ligo songs.
Jaaniõhtu
Estonia’s Midsummer Eve celebration, when families light large bonfires and spend the night outdoors. It is a national public holiday.
Jaanipäev
Saint John’s Day in Estonia, the day after the midsummer bonfire night. It is a public holiday that is mostly spent relaxing outdoors.
Jamai Shashthi
A Bengali tradition where mothers-in-law invite their sons-in-law for a lavish meal and give them gifts. It is celebrated during the summer month of Jyeshtha.