This guide lists 1,004 holidays from around the world. The selection includes national days, religious festivals, seasonal celebrations, and quirky modern observances.

Holidays are special days set aside to celebrate, remember, or honor a person, event, belief, or season. They usually come with shared customs such as feasts, parades, music, gifts, or quiet prayer. Some last a single day, while others stretch across weeks. They range from ancient harvest festivals to recent awareness days created by governments and communities. Holidays matter because they bring people together, pass traditions to new generations, and give everyday life a rhythm.

Interesting and little-known facts about Holidays:

• Nowruz, the Persian New Year, has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years and is observed in many countries today.
• Cambodia has around 28 public holidays each year, one of the highest totals in the world.
• Thailand’s Songkran festival marks the traditional new year with nationwide water fights.
• La Tomatina in Spain uses over 100 tons of tomatoes in a single hour-long food fight.
• UNESCO added Mexico’s Day of the Dead to its list of intangible cultural heritage in 2008.
• Lunar calendars move many holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr and Lunar New Year, to different dates each year.

Browse the alphabetical index below to find any holiday quickly. Each page lists the name, date, country/region, traditions, and a short Description for every holiday.