This page lists 33 holidays that start with E, from “Earth Day” to “El Salvador del Mundo Festival”. The list includes national days, religious feasts, harvest festivals, and modern awareness days from around the world. You can use it to plan a trip, explain a celebration to students, pick a date for an event, or learn how other cultures mark special days.
Holidays are days set aside to celebrate, remember, or honor a person, an event, or a belief. Some are very old: “Esala Perahera” in Kandy, Sri Lanka, still fills the streets with torchlit processions and decorated elephants every year.
Below you’ll find the table with the holiday, date, country or region, traditions, and description for each entry.
Holiday: The name of each celebration, listed in alphabetical order. You can scan it quickly to find a specific holiday or discover ones you have never heard of.
Date: When the holiday takes place. Some have a fixed day, while others move each year, so you can see which ones to check before planning.
Country/Region: Where the holiday is observed. This shows whether it is a worldwide event or tied to one nation, and helps you find celebrations near you.
Traditions: The customs people follow, such as special foods, prayers, parades, or games. You can use it to picture how the day is celebrated or to join in.
Description: A short summary of what the holiday marks and why it matters. It gives you the background you need to understand its meaning and history.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth Day | April 22 | Worldwide | Tree planting, community clean-ups, environmental rallies and educational events |
| Earth Hour | Last Saturday of March | Worldwide | Switching off non-essential lights for one hour, often by candlelight |
| Easter | Sunday between March 22 and April 25 (varies) | Worldwide, especially Christian countries | Church services, egg decorating and hunts, festive family meals, Easter baskets |
| Easter Monday | Day after Easter Sunday | Europe, Australia, Canada, parts of Africa and Latin America | Egg rolling, family outings, water-splashing customs in parts of Central Europe |
| Eat What You Want Day | May 11 | United States | Indulging in favorite foods without guilt, treating yourself to dessert |
| Ecuadorian Independence Day (Primer Grito de Independencia) | August 10 | Ecuador | Parades, civic ceremonies, military displays and flag raising in Quito |
| Egyptian Revolution Day | July 23 | Egypt | Official speeches, flag displays, televised ceremonies and fireworks |
| Eid al-Adha | 10 Dhu al-Hijjah (varies, around June to July) | Muslim world, worldwide | Animal sacrifice, sharing meat with family and the poor, special prayers, new clothes |
| Eid al-Fitr | 1 Shawwal (varies) | Muslim world, worldwide | Special morning prayers, giving to charity, family feasts, sweets, new clothes, visiting relatives |
| Eid al-Ghadir | 18 Dhu al-Hijjah (varies) | Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India and other Shia communities | Prayers, sermons, charity, gatherings and festive meals |
| Eid Milad un Nabi | 12 Rabi al-awwal (varies) | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Turkey and other Muslim countries | Processions, recitation of poetry and Quran, charity, decorated streets and mosques |
| Ekadashi | 11th lunar day of each fortnight (twice a month) | India, Nepal and Hindu communities worldwide | Fasting, prayers to Vishnu, temple visits, night vigils |
| Elephant Festival | Day before Holi (March) | Jaipur, India | Decorated elephants parading, elephant polo, tug of war, folk music and dance |
| Election Day | Tuesday after the first Monday in November | United States | Voting, wearing “I Voted” stickers, watching results come in |
| Ember Days | Four times a year: after December 13, first Sunday of Lent, Pentecost and September 14 | Catholic and some Anglican communities | Fasting, abstinence and prayer, historically tied to the seasons |
| Emancipation Day | April 16 (Washington, D.C.); August 1 (Caribbean); other dates by country | United States, Caribbean nations, Canada, Bermuda | Parades, church services, family gatherings, historical reenactments |
| Emperor’s Birthday | February 23 | Japan | Imperial palace public greeting, flag displays, well-wishing crowds |
| Empire Day | May 24 | United Kingdom and British Empire (historical) | School assemblies, flag raising, patriotic songs and parades |
| Employee Appreciation Day | First Friday of March | United States, Canada | Thank-you notes, team lunches, small gifts and recognition awards |
| Enkutatash | September 11 (September 12 in leap years) | Ethiopia, Eritrea | Bouquets of yellow daisies, feasts of injera and wat, singing and dancing, new clothes |
| Entrudo | Carnival season, the days before Ash Wednesday | Portugal | Costumed parades, satirical figures, pranks and street parties |
| Epiphany | January 6 | Worldwide, especially Christian countries | King cake, blessing of homes and waters, Three Kings parades, gift giving in some countries |
| Equatorial Guinea Independence Day | October 12 | Equatorial Guinea | Parades, speeches, flag ceremonies and cultural performances |
| Eritrean Independence Day | May 24 | Eritrea | Parades, cultural festivals, music, flag displays and public gatherings |
| Erntedankfest | First Sunday of October (varies by region) | Germany, Austria, Switzerland | Church services, harvest crowns, decorated altars with produce, parades |
| Esala Perahera | July or August (Esala full moon), about ten days | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Torchlit processions, dancing, drummers, decorated elephants carrying a sacred relic casket |
| Estonian Independence Day | February 24 | Estonia | Presidential reception, military parade, flag raising, concerts |
| Estonian Restoration of Independence Day | August 20 | Estonia | Official ceremonies, wreath laying, public events |
| Estonian Victory Day | June 23 | Estonia | Flag raising, military parade, bonfires on the eve of Midsummer |
| Ethiopian Christmas (Genna) | January 7 | Ethiopia | Church services at dawn, white traditional clothing, a game called genna, festive meals |
| Evacuation Day | March 17 (Boston); November 25 (New York City) | United States | Parades, historical reenactments, flag raising |
| Exaltation of the Holy Cross | September 14 | Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and other Christian communities worldwide | Veneration of the cross, fasting in Orthodox churches, church services, blessing of basil in Greece |
| El Salvador del Mundo Festival | August 3 to 6 | San Salvador, El Salvador | Processions, religious services, parades, carnival and fireworks |
Descriptions
Earth Day
An annual observance, first held in 1970, that promotes environmental protection. Millions of people in more than 190 countries take part each year.
Earth Hour
A global campaign launched by WWF in 2007 that asks people to turn off their lights for an hour to raise awareness of climate change.
Easter
The Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, marking the end of Lent. It is also associated with eggs, spring and the Easter bunny.
Easter Monday
A public holiday in many countries that extends the Easter weekend. Traditions range from egg rolling on the White House lawn to playful water-throwing in Poland and Hungary.
Eat What You Want Day
A lighthearted food observance that encourages people to skip the diet for a day and enjoy whatever they like.
Ecuadorian Independence Day (Primer Grito de Independencia)
Commemorates the 1809 uprising in Quito, the first call for independence from Spanish rule in Ecuador. It is a national holiday.
Egyptian Revolution Day
Marks the 1952 revolution led by the Free Officers, which overthrew King Farouk and ended the monarchy. It is Egypt’s national day.
Eid al-Adha
The Festival of Sacrifice honors Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son. It coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and lasts several days.
Eid al-Fitr
Celebrates the end of Ramadan’s month of fasting. Families gather for large meals, exchange gifts and give charity known as zakat al-fitr.
Eid al-Ghadir
A Shia festival commemorating the Prophet Muhammad’s address at Ghadir Khumm, which Shia Muslims believe named Ali as his successor.
Eid Milad un Nabi
Also known as Mawlid, it marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Many communities hold public gatherings and distribute food to the needy.
Ekadashi
A sacred Hindu day dedicated to Vishnu that falls twice every lunar month. Devotees fast from grains and beans and spend time in prayer.
Elephant Festival
A colorful festival in Jaipur where elephants are painted and adorned with jewelry and fabrics, then march in a procession through the city.
Election Day
The day set aside for general elections in the US, held every four years for president and every two years for Congress. Some states treat it as a holiday.
Ember Days
Sets of three days of fasting and prayer at the start of each season in the traditional Christian calendar, observed on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Emancipation Day
Commemorates the end of slavery. In the Caribbean it marks the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 taking effect in 1834, while Washington, D.C. recalls 1862 emancipation.
Emperor’s Birthday
A national holiday celebrating the reigning emperor’s birthday. Since 2020 it marks Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, and the public is allowed into the Imperial Palace grounds to greet him.
Empire Day
Celebrated on Queen Victoria’s birthday from 1902 to honor the British Empire. It was later renamed Commonwealth Day and is now rarely observed.
Employee Appreciation Day
An observance in which employers thank their staff for their work, usually with meals, treats or public recognition.
Enkutatash
The Ethiopian New Year, celebrated at the end of the rainy season. Children hand out flowers and paintings, and families share traditional food.
Entrudo
The traditional Portuguese Carnival, with roots in rural festivals. Villages in the north are known for masked figures called caretos who run through the streets.
Epiphany
Celebrates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. In Spain and Latin America children receive gifts on this day, while in France a king cake is eaten.
Equatorial Guinea Independence Day
Marks independence from Spain in 1968. It is the country’s national day and a public holiday.
Eritrean Independence Day
Celebrates Eritrea’s formal independence from Ethiopia in 1993, following a long armed struggle. It is a national holiday across the country.
Erntedankfest
A harvest thanksgiving festival in German-speaking countries. Churches are decorated with fruit, vegetables and grain, and congregations give thanks for the year’s crops.
Esala Perahera
A grand Buddhist festival honoring the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. It is among the most famous pageants in Asia and draws huge crowds.
Estonian Independence Day
Marks the declaration of independence in 1918. Estonia observes this date as its national day with ceremonies and public events across the country.
Estonian Restoration of Independence Day
Commemorates the 1991 decision to restore Estonia’s independence as the Soviet Union weakened. It is a public memorial day.
Estonian Victory Day
Commemorates the Estonian victory over the Baltic German forces at the Battle of Vonnu in 1919. It falls right before the Midsummer festivities.
Ethiopian Christmas (Genna)
The Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas follows the Julian calendar. People attend long night services and wear a white cotton garment called a shamma.
Evacuation Day
Commemorates the departure of British troops during the American Revolution. Boston marks it with Saint Patrick’s Day, and New York celebrated the 1783 British withdrawal.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
A Christian feast commemorating the finding of the True Cross by Saint Helena. Orthodox believers keep a strict fast, and the cross is brought out for veneration.
El Salvador del Mundo Festival
A feast in honor of the Divine Savior of the World, the patron of El Salvador. Large crowds attend processions, parades and fairs in the capital.