This page lists 30 holidays that start with V, from “Vaikuntha Ekadashi” to “Vodun Day”. They include religious festivals, national days, harvest and spring celebrations, and remembrance days from across the world. You can use the list to plan travel around local events, find ideas for school or cultural projects, or learn how different countries mark important moments.
Holidays are days set aside by a community or nation to celebrate, remember, or honor something important. Some are very old, such as “Vesak,” which Buddhists have observed for centuries to mark the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.
Below you’ll find the table with each holiday, its date, where it is celebrated, its main traditions, and a short description.
Holiday: The name of the celebration, so you can quickly find the one you are looking for or spot unfamiliar holidays worth exploring.
Date: When the holiday takes place, including notes for dates that change each year with lunar calendars or follow a rule such as a specific weekday.
Country/Region: The places where the holiday is observed, which helps you see whether it is global, national, or limited to one local area.
Traditions: The customs, foods, and activities people enjoy on the day, so you know what to expect if you take part or visit.
Description: A short summary of what the holiday means, where it comes from, and why people celebrate it, giving you useful background at a glance.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaikuntha Ekadashi | December or January (11th day of the lunar fortnight in Margashirsha/Pausha) | India | Fasting, night vigil, prayers, and passing through the “gate of Vaikuntha” at Vishnu temples |
| Vaisakhi | April 13 or 14 | India (especially Punjab), Sikh diaspora | Parades, Nagar Kirtan processions, gurdwara visits, bhangra dancing, fairs |
| Valborg (Walpurgis Night) | April 30 | Sweden, Finland, Germany | Large bonfires, spring songs, student gatherings |
| Valentine’s Day | February 14 | Worldwide | Exchanging cards, flowers, chocolates, and romantic dinners |
| Vappu | April 30 to May 1 | Finland | Student caps, sparkling wine, picnics, street parties, sima (mead) and tippaleipä pastries |
| Varalakshmi Vratam | August (Friday before the Shravana full moon) | South India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) | Worship of Goddess Lakshmi, decorated kalasha pots, sweets, women’s group prayers |
| Vasant Panchami | January or February (5th day of Magha) | India, Nepal, Bangladesh | Yellow clothes, worship of Saraswati, kite flying, first writing lessons for children |
| Vata Savitri | May or June (new moon or full moon of Jyeshtha) | India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, North India) | Fasting, tying threads around banyan trees, prayers for husbands’ long lives |
| Velikden | Date of Orthodox Easter (April or May) | Bulgaria | Dyed red eggs, egg cracking contests, festive bread (kozunak), church services |
| Vendimia Festival | Early March | Mendoza, Argentina | Parades, folk music, wine blessing, crowning of the Harvest Queen |
| Venezuelan Independence Day | July 5 | Venezuela | Military parades, flags, speeches, family gatherings |
| Vernal Equinox Day | March 20 or 21 | Japan | Visiting family graves, cleaning tombs, offering ohagi rice cakes, spending time in nature |
| Vesak | May (full moon of the month of Vesakha) | Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Nepal | Temple visits, lantern displays, releasing birds, acts of charity, vegetarian meals |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | United States | Parades, ceremonies at memorials, flag displays, moments of silence |
| Victoria Day | Monday before May 25 | Canada | Fireworks, long-weekend camping, parades, gardening |
| Victory Day (Bangladesh) | December 16 | Bangladesh | Parades, flag raising, wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial, cultural programs |
| Victory Day (Russia) | May 9 | Russia and several former Soviet states | Military parades, wreath laying, the Immortal Regiment march, fireworks |
| Vidovdan | June 28 | Serbia | Church services, memorial ceremonies, commemoration of the 1389 Battle of Kosovo |
| Vietnamese Women’s Day | October 20 | Vietnam | Giving flowers and gifts to women, family meals, special sales |
| Vijayadashami (Dussehra) | September or October (10th day after Navratri begins) | India, Nepal | Burning effigies of Ravana, Ramlila plays, Durga idol immersion, processions |
| Vijay Diwas | December 16 | India | Tributes at war memorials, wreath laying, military ceremonies |
| Vinayaka Chaturthi | August or September (4th day of Bhadrapada) | India (especially Maharashtra) | Installing Ganesha idols, modak sweets, processions, idol immersion in water |
| Vishu | April 14 or 15 | Kerala, India | Vishukkani arrangement viewed at dawn, fireworks, festive meal (sadya), gifts called Vishukkaineetam |
| Vishwakarma Puja | September 17 (or the last day of Bhadra) | India, Nepal, Bangladesh | Worship of tools and machines, factory ceremonies, kite flying, community meals |
| Visitation of Mary | May 31 | Catholic and Anglican communities worldwide | Church services, Marian prayers, processions |
| Vlaggetjesdag | Mid-June (Saturday after the first herring catch) | Netherlands (Scheveningen, Katwijk, Vlaardingen) | Decorated fishing boats, herring tastings, auction of the first barrel, folk costumes |
| V-E Day | May 8 | United Kingdom, France, Europe | Parades, street parties, church bells, moments of remembrance |
| V-J Day | August 15 (UK) or September 2 (US) | United Kingdom, United States | Remembrance ceremonies, parades, wreath laying |
| Vanuatu Independence Day | July 30 | Vanuatu | Parades, traditional dances, sports, feasts |
| Vodun Day | January 10 | Benin | Ceremonial dances, drumming, animal offerings, processions in Ouidah |
Descriptions
Vaikuntha Ekadashi
A Hindu festival dedicated to Vishnu, believed to open the gates of his heavenly abode. Devotees fast and visit temples such as Tirumala and Srirangam.
Vaisakhi
A spring harvest festival and the day Sikhs mark the founding of the Khalsa in 1699. It is also the traditional solar new year in parts of South Asia.
Valborg (Walpurgis Night)
An evening celebration welcoming spring, with huge bonfires lit across Sweden. In Germany it carries older folk traditions tied to witches and spring customs.
Valentine’s Day
A day for celebrating love and affection, named after Saint Valentine. Couples, friends, and family members exchange small gifts and messages.
Vappu
Finland’s spring and May Day festival, celebrated by workers and especially students. Crowds gather in parks, and graduates wear their white caps.
Varalakshmi Vratam
A Hindu observance in which married women pray to Goddess Lakshmi for the wealth and well-being of their families.
Vasant Panchami
A festival marking the arrival of spring and honoring Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. People wear yellow and place books and instruments before her image.
Vata Savitri
A Hindu observance for married women, based on the story of Savitri who won her husband Satyavan back from Yama. Women worship a banyan tree.
Velikden
The Bulgarian name for Easter, the main religious holiday of the year. Families dye eggs, bake kozunak, and attend midnight church services.
Vendimia Festival
Argentina’s national grape harvest festival, held in the wine capital of Mendoza. It ends with a large open-air show and the choosing of the festival queen.
Venezuelan Independence Day
Marks the 1811 declaration of independence from Spain, one of the first in Latin America. Ceremonies are held in Caracas and across the country.
Vernal Equinox Day
A Japanese national holiday set on the spring equinox, when day and night are about equal. It is a time to honor ancestors and appreciate nature.
Vesak
The most important Buddhist festival, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. Temples are decorated with lanterns and flowers.
Veterans Day
A US federal holiday honoring military veterans. It falls on the anniversary of the end of World War I fighting in 1918.
Victoria Day
A Canadian holiday celebrating the birthday of Queen Victoria and, today, the reigning sovereign. It is widely seen as the unofficial start of summer.
Victory Day (Bangladesh)
Commemorates the 1971 surrender of Pakistani forces, ending the Liberation War and leading to Bangladesh’s independence.
Victory Day (Russia)
Marks the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Veterans are honored with ceremonies, and a large parade is held on Red Square.
Vidovdan
A Serbian holiday and Orthodox feast day remembering Saint Vitus and the Battle of Kosovo. It holds deep national and historical meaning.
Vietnamese Women’s Day
A day honoring Vietnamese women and their contributions to family and society. Men often give flowers and small presents to mothers, wives, and colleagues.
Vijayadashami (Dussehra)
A Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil, marking Rama’s victory over Ravana and Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura.
Vijay Diwas
Marks India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Armed forces honor soldiers who gave their lives.
Vinayaka Chaturthi
Also called Ganesh Chaturthi, this Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha. Large public displays and processions take place over about ten days.
Vishu
The Malayalam new year festival. People begin the day by viewing an auspicious display of rice, fruit, flowers, and gold, believing it brings prosperity.
Vishwakarma Puja
A day honoring Vishwakarma, the divine architect. Workers, craftspeople, and engineers clean and worship their tools and equipment.
Visitation of Mary
A Christian feast commemorating Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth while both were expecting. It is celebrated with Mass and prayers.
Vlaggetjesdag
A Dutch festival celebrating the arrival of the first new herring of the season. Harbors fill with flagged boats and visitors sampling fresh fish.
V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day marks the formal acceptance of Germany’s surrender in 1945, ending World War II in Europe.
V-J Day
Victory over Japan Day marks Japan’s surrender in 1945, ending World War II. The date varies depending on whether the announcement or the signing is observed.
Vanuatu Independence Day
Celebrates Vanuatu gaining independence from joint British and French rule in 1980. Festivities include dancing and community meals across the islands.
Vodun Day
A national holiday in Benin honoring Vodun, the traditional religion of the region. Ouidah hosts the biggest gatherings of worshippers and visitors.