This page lists 41 holidays that start with L, from “Labor Day” to “Lāčplēsis Day”. The list covers national days, religious observances, harvest festivals, and ancient celebrations from around the world. You can use it to plan a trip around a festival, find ideas for a school project, or learn what people celebrate in other countries.
Holidays are special days set aside to honor a person, event, belief, or season, often with shared customs. Some are very old, such as “Lupercalia,” an ancient Roman festival that people held every February long before modern Valentine’s Day.
Below you’ll find the table with the holiday name, date, country or region, traditions, and description.
Holiday: The name of the celebration, so you can quickly find the one you’re looking for. Where two countries share a name, the country appears in brackets.
Date: When the holiday takes place. Some dates are fixed, while others follow the lunar or church calendar, so you can see when to expect them.
Country/Region: The places where people observe the holiday. This helps you see whether it is a national day, a local festival, or a worldwide tradition.
Traditions: The main customs, foods, and activities that people enjoy on the day. You can use these to picture how the holiday looks and feels.
Description: A short summary of what the holiday means and where it comes from. It gives you the background you need to understand why people celebrate it.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | First Monday of September | United States | Parades, barbecues, family picnics, end-of-summer sales |
| Labour Day (Canada) | First Monday of September | Canada | Parades, picnics, last summer trips, back-to-school preparations |
| Labor Thanksgiving Day | November 23 | Japan | Community events, handmade thank-you gifts, harvest-themed festivals |
| Lady Day | March 25 | United Kingdom, Ireland | Church services, quarterly rent and tax settlements |
| Lag BaOmer | 18th of Iyar (April or May) | Israel, Jewish communities worldwide | Bonfires, outdoor picnics, bow-and-arrow games, first haircuts for 3-year-old boys |
| Laetare Sunday | Fourth Sunday of Lent | Catholic and Anglican communities worldwide | Rose-colored vestments, lighter fasting rules, simnel cake in the UK |
| Lailat al-Miraj | 27th of Rajab | Muslim communities worldwide | Night prayers, Quran recitation, retelling the story of the journey |
| Lailat al-Qadr | Last ten nights of Ramadan, often the 27th | Muslim communities worldwide | All-night prayer, Quran reading, charity, seeking forgiveness |
| Lailat al-Bara’at | 15th of Sha’ban | Muslim communities worldwide, especially South Asia and Turkey | Night prayers, visiting graves, giving to the poor, fireworks in some regions |
| Lakshmi Puja | Third day of Diwali (October or November) | India, Nepal, Hindu communities worldwide | Oil lamps, rangoli, prayers to Lakshmi, cleaning and decorating the home |
| Lammas | August 1 | England, Scotland, Ireland, Christian and pagan communities | Baking bread from the first grain, church blessings, harvest fairs |
| Lantern Festival | 15th day of the first lunar month | China, Taiwan, Chinese communities worldwide | Lantern displays, riddles, tangyuan rice balls, lion and dragon dances |
| Laba Festival | 8th day of the 12th lunar month | China | Eating laba congee, pickling garlic in vinegar, Buddhist offerings |
| Lao National Day | December 2 | Laos | Parades, flags, fireworks, speeches in Vientiane |
| Lao New Year | April 13 to 15 | Laos | Water splashing, blessing Buddha statues, baci ceremonies, visiting elders |
| Las Fallas | March 15 to 19 | Valencia, Spain | Giant papier-mache sculptures, fireworks, street parties, burning the figures on the final night |
| Las Posadas | December 16 to 24 | Mexico, Latin America, Hispanic communities in the US | Candlelit processions, singing for lodging, pinatas, tamales, ponche |
| La Tomatina | Last Wednesday of August | Bunol, Spain | Tomato fight, street parties, water hoses to clean up |
| Lathmar Holi | Days before Holi (February or March) | Barsana and Nandgaon, Uttar Pradesh, India | Women hit men with sticks, songs, colored powder, folk dances |
| Lazarus Saturday | Day before Palm Sunday | Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic countries | Palm and willow crosses, special hymns, Lazarus bread in Greece and Russia |
| Lei Day | May 1 | Hawaii, United States | Flower lei making, lei contests, hula, music, crowning a Lei Queen |
| Leap Day | February 29 | Worldwide | Marriage proposals by women in Irish tradition, leap-year birthday parties |
| Leif Erikson Day | October 9 | United States, Iceland | Proclamations, Nordic heritage events, parades in Scandinavian-American communities |
| Lemuria | May 9, 11 and 13 | Ancient Rome | Barefoot midnight rituals, throwing black beans over the shoulder, offerings to the dead |
| Lent | Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (40 days) | Christian communities worldwide | Fasting, giving up a pleasure, prayer, almsgiving, Friday fish meals |
| Liberalia | March 17 | Ancient Rome | Wine offerings, sacrifices, young men receiving the adult toga, street processions |
| Liberation Day (Italy) | April 25 | Italy | Wreath-laying, parades, partisan songs like “Bella Ciao,” public concerts |
| Liberation Day (Netherlands) | May 5 | Netherlands | Music festivals, flags, concerts, remembrance events |
| Liberation Day (Guam) | July 21 | Guam | Parades, carnival, fireworks, remembrance ceremonies |
| Lincoln’s Birthday | February 12 | United States (observed in some states) | Wreath-laying at memorials, readings of the Gettysburg Address, school lessons |
| Lohri | January 13 | Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, India | Bonfires, bhangra and gidda dancing, popcorn, peanuts, sesame sweets |
| Loi Krathong | Full moon of the 12th lunar month (November) | Thailand | Floating decorated baskets with candles, lantern releases, beauty contests |
| Lord Mayor’s Show | Second Saturday of November | London, United Kingdom | Procession with floats, marching bands, military units, the Lord Mayor’s golden coach |
| Losar | February or March, depending on the lunar calendar | Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, Tibetan communities | Cleaning the home, prayer flags, masked dances, noodle soup, butter lamps |
| Losoong | Late December | Sikkim, India | Cham masked dances, archery contests, feasts, offerings at monasteries |
| Low Sunday | Sunday after Easter | Christian communities worldwide | Church services, baptismal remembrances |
| Lucia Day | December 13 | Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland | Girl in white gown with candle crown, saffron buns, Lucia processions, carols |
| Lundi Gras | Monday before Mardi Gras | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | Parades, king and queen arrival by river, live music |
| Lunar New Year | First new moon of the lunar calendar (January or February) | China, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, and other Asian countries | Red envelopes, family reunion dinners, fireworks, lion dances, spring cleaning |
| Lupercalia | February 13 to 15 | Ancient Rome | Sacrifice of goats and a dog, young men running through the streets, ritual whipping for fertility |
| Lāčplēsis Day | November 11 | Latvia | Torch-lit processions, candles at the Brothers’ Cemetery, military ceremonies |
Descriptions
Labor Day
A federal holiday honoring the contributions of American workers and the labor movement. It began in the 1880s and became a national holiday in 1894. It also marks the unofficial end of summer.
Labour Day (Canada)
Canada’s celebration of workers and the labour movement, observed on the same day as Labor Day in the US. It marks the unofficial end of summer and the start of the school year.
Labor Thanksgiving Day
A Japanese public holiday, called Kinro Kansha no Hi, that honors work and production and gives thanks for the harvest. It replaced an older harvest festival called Niinamesai after World War II.
Lady Day
Also called the Feast of the Annunciation, it marks the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. In England it was the legal New Year until 1752 and remained a quarter day for rents and contracts.
Lag BaOmer
A Jewish holiday during the counting of the Omer, marked by bonfires and outings. Thousands travel to Mount Meron in Israel to honor the sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Laetare Sunday
A mid-Lent pause when the strict mood of the season eases. Priests may wear rose rather than purple, and the day is known as Mothering Sunday in the UK.
Lailat al-Miraj
Also called Laylat al-Miraj, it commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascent to heaven. Muslims spend the night in prayer and reflection.
Lailat al-Qadr
Known as the Night of Power, it marks the night the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran says worship on this night is better than a thousand months.
Lailat al-Bara’at
Also known as Shab-e-Barat, the Night of Forgiveness is when many Muslims pray for forgiveness and ask for blessings for the year ahead.
Lakshmi Puja
The main night of Diwali, when Hindus worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune. Families light lamps and open their doors, hoping she will visit their homes.
Lammas
An old harvest festival marking the first wheat cutting. Its name comes from “loaf mass,” when loaves baked from the first grain were blessed at church.
Lantern Festival
The festival that closes the Lunar New Year celebrations. Streets glow with lanterns, and families eat sweet glutinous rice balls that symbolize reunion.
Laba Festival
A traditional Chinese holiday in winter that signals the approach of the New Year. People eat laba congee, a porridge of grains, beans and nuts, and make laba garlic.
Lao National Day
Marks the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975, ending the monarchy. Official ceremonies and celebrations take place across the country.
Lao New Year
Called Pi Mai Lao, this is the biggest holiday in Laos. People douse each other with water for good luck, wash Buddha images and honor elders. Luang Prabang hosts the best-known festivities.
Las Fallas
A fiery festival honoring Saint Joseph in which neighborhoods build huge satirical statues, then burn them on the last night. It is recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
Las Posadas
A nine-night celebration reenacting Mary and Joseph’s search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Neighbors go door to door singing, then gather for food, pinatas and parties.
La Tomatina
A giant tomato fight in which thousands of people throw ripe tomatoes at each other for about an hour. It began in 1945 and now draws visitors from around the world.
Lathmar Holi
A playful local version of Holi in which women chase and tap men with bamboo sticks while the men try to shield themselves. It recalls Krishna’s visit to Radha’s village.
Lazarus Saturday
Commemorates Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Orthodox Christians mark it with special services as Holy Week approaches.
Lei Day
A Hawaiian celebration of island culture and the lei, a garland of flowers. It started in 1927 and is now a statewide tradition with competitions and performances.
Leap Day
An extra day added every four years to keep the calendar aligned with the Earth’s orbit. Some Irish and British traditions say women may propose marriage on this day.
Leif Erikson Day
Honors the Norse explorer who is thought to have reached North America around the year 1000. The US president proclaims it each year, and Nordic communities hold events.
Lemuria
An ancient Roman festival to appease restless spirits of the dead. The head of the household would walk barefoot at night, tossing black beans while reciting a charm to drive ghosts away.
Lent
A 40-day season of reflection and repentance that leads up to Easter. Many Christians give something up or take on a good habit as a spiritual discipline.
Liberalia
An ancient Roman festival honoring Liber, god of wine and fertility. It was also when boys who came of age traded their childhood garments for the adult toga.
Liberation Day (Italy)
Commemorates the end of Nazi occupation and Fascist rule in Italy in 1945. It is a national holiday marked with ceremonies, marches and music.
Liberation Day (Netherlands)
Celebrates the end of German occupation in 1945. Festivals take place around the country, and it is an official day off every five years.
Liberation Day (Guam)
Commemorates the 1944 recapture of Guam from Japanese forces in World War II. The island celebrates with one of its largest parades and a carnival.
Lincoln’s Birthday
Honors Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US president, who was born in 1809. It is a state holiday in several states and is often folded into Presidents’ Day observances.
Lohri
A winter harvest festival celebrated around a large bonfire. Families toss sweets and popcorn into the flames, sing folk songs and dance. It is especially joyful for newlyweds and new babies.
Loi Krathong
A festival of lights in which people set small floating baskets on rivers and lakes to thank the water spirits. Lanterns fill the sky in Chiang Mai during the related Yi Peng festival.
Lord Mayor’s Show
A parade through the City of London to mark the new Lord Mayor taking office. It has run for more than 800 years, and the Lord Mayor travels from the Guildhall to the Royal Courts of Justice.
Losar
The Tibetan New Year, one of the most important Buddhist festivals. Celebrations last about two weeks with prayers, family feasts and monastery rituals to ward off bad luck.
Losoong
The Sikkimese New Year, celebrated by the Bhutia community at the end of the harvest season. Archery tournaments and monastery dances are central to the festivities.
Low Sunday
The first Sunday after Easter, so named because it is a “low” day compared with the high feast of Easter. It is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday in the Catholic Church.
Lucia Day
A festival of light honoring Saint Lucy during the darkest time of year. A girl leads a procession wearing a white dress and a wreath of candles while singing carols, and people eat saffron buns.
Lundi Gras
The day before Mardi Gras, celebrated with parades, concerts and the ceremonial arrival of Rex, king of carnival, by riverboat. Locals use it to warm up for the big day.
Lunar New Year
The most important holiday in many East and Southeast Asian cultures, marking a new year on the lunar calendar. Families gather, honor ancestors and exchange gifts for good luck.
Lupercalia
An ancient Roman festival tied to fertility and purification. Priests called Luperci sacrificed animals and ran through the streets, lightly striking onlookers, especially women, with strips of hide.
Lāčplēsis Day
Honors Latvian soldiers who fought for independence in 1919. It is named for the legendary bear-slayer hero Lāčplēsis, and people light candles along the Daugava river and at memorials.