This page lists 38 holidays that start with M, from “Mabon” to “Mario Day”. They include religious observances, national days, seasonal festivals, and a few fan-made celebrations. You can use the list to plan travel around local events, find ideas for cultural lessons, or learn how people mark special days around the world.
Holidays are days set aside to honor a person, belief, historical event, or change of season, often with shared customs. Some are very old, like “Midsummer,” which people have marked with bonfires and flowers for centuries. Others are modern, like “Mole Day,” which chemistry fans celebrate on 10/23.
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 alphabetically so you can quickly find the one you’re looking for or browse the full range.
Date: When the holiday takes place. Some fall on a fixed day, while others shift each year with a lunar calendar or weekday rule.
Country/Region: Where the holiday is observed. You can see whether it’s a national day, a local festival, or a celebration shared by many countries.
Traditions: The main customs, foods, and activities linked to the holiday, so you know what people usually do and what to expect if you join in.
Description: A short summary of what the holiday means, where it comes from, and why people celebrate it, giving you the context behind each entry.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mabon | Around September 21-23 | Neopagan communities worldwide | Harvest feasts, thanksgiving rituals, gathering apples and grain |
| Madaraka Day | June 1 | Kenya | Official ceremonies, speeches, parades, cultural performances |
| Magh Bihu | January 14-15 | Assam, India | Bonfires, community feasts, rice cakes, buffalo and egg fights |
| Maha Shivaratri | February or March (13th or 14th night of the waning moon) | India, Nepal | All-night vigils, fasting, offerings to Shiva, temple visits |
| Mahalaya | September or October (new moon before Durga Puja) | India, Bangladesh | Chanting of Chandi Path, tributes to ancestors, river offerings |
| Mahavir Jayanti | March or April | India (Jain communities) | Temple processions, ritual bathing of statues, charity, prayer |
| Makar Sankranti | January 14 or 15 | India, Nepal | Kite flying, sesame and jaggery sweets, holy river dips, bonfires |
| Makha Bucha | Full moon of the third lunar month (February or March) | Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar | Candlelit processions around temples, merit-making, listening to sermons |
| Malaysia Day | September 16 | Malaysia | Parades, flag displays, cultural events, fireworks |
| Malcolm X Day | May 19 | United States | Educational events, community gatherings, readings of his speeches |
| Mardi Gras | Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (February or March) | New Orleans (USA), Brazil, France, Italy, worldwide | Parades, masks, costumes, king cake, beads, street parties |
| Marine Day | Third Monday in July | Japan | Beach trips, boat festivals, fireworks, seaside gatherings |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January | United States | Community service, marches, speeches, school programs |
| Martinmas | November 11 | Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Central Europe | Lantern processions, roast goose, feasting, children’s songs |
| Maryland Day | March 25 | Maryland, United States | Historical reenactments, festivals, school programs |
| Mashramani | February 23 | Guyana | Costume parades, steel bands, calypso and soca music, floats |
| Mashujaa Day | October 20 | Kenya | Wreath laying, national ceremonies, tributes to heroes |
| Maslenitsa | Week before Great Lent (February or March) | Russia, Ukraine, Belarus | Eating blini pancakes, sleigh rides, burning a straw effigy, folk games |
| Matariki | Late June to mid-July (varies with the lunar calendar) | New Zealand | Remembering ancestors, communal feasts, kite flying, stargazing |
| Maundy Thursday | Thursday before Easter | Christian countries worldwide | Foot washing, Last Supper services, stripping the altar, Maundy money in the UK |
| Mawlid | 12th of Rabi’ al-awwal (Islamic calendar) | Muslim-majority countries worldwide | Recitations, poetry, processions, charity, feasts |
| May Day | May 1 | Europe, Americas, worldwide | Maypole dancing, flower garlands, spring festivals, labor marches |
| May the Fourth | May 4 | Worldwide (Star Wars fans) | Movie marathons, costumes, themed events, “May the Fourth be with you” greetings |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May | United States | Visiting cemeteries, placing flags and flowers, parades, barbecues |
| Mexican Independence Day | September 16 | Mexico | El Grito shout, fireworks, parades, traditional food like pozole |
| Michaelmas | September 29 | England, Germany, Ireland, other parts of Europe | Eating goose, blackberry traditions, fairs, quarter-day rent payments |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | 15th day of the eighth lunar month (September or October) | China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore | Mooncakes, lanterns, family reunions, moon gazing |
| Midsummer | Around June 21-24 (Friday between June 19 and 25 in Sweden) | Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Baltic countries | Maypole dancing, flower crowns, bonfires, herring and strawberries |
| Moomba | Second weekend of March | Melbourne, Australia | Parades, water sports, live music, fireworks |
| Monkey Buffet Festival | Last Sunday of November | Lopburi, Thailand | Tables of fruit and vegetables for wild macaques, monkey costumes, tourist crowds |
| Mole Day | October 23 | Worldwide (chemistry community) | Science projects, puns, themed parties, classroom activities |
| Moshoeshoe’s Day | March 11 | Lesotho | Memorial services, traditional dress, speeches, cultural events |
| Mother’s Day | Second Sunday in May in the U.S. (varies by country) | United States, Canada, Australia, many other countries | Cards, flowers, brunch, gifts, time with mothers |
| Mothering Sunday | Fourth Sunday of Lent | United Kingdom, Ireland | Church services, posies of flowers, simnel cake, gifts for mothers |
| Mountain Day | August 11 | Japan | Hiking, mountain outings, family trips |
| Martyrs’ Day | June 3 | Uganda | Pilgrimage to Namugongo, Mass, processions, prayer |
| Merdeka Day | August 31 | Malaysia | Parades, flag raising, fireworks, patriotic songs |
| Mario Day | March 10 | Worldwide (gaming fans) | Playing Mario games, themed posts, sales and tributes |
Descriptions
Mabon
Mabon marks the autumn equinox in the Wiccan and Neopagan calendar. It is a harvest thanksgiving, a time to give thanks for the year’s crops and to balance light and dark as the days shorten.
Madaraka Day
Madaraka Day celebrates the day in 1963 when Kenya gained internal self-rule from Britain. “Madaraka” means “power” or “authority” in Swahili. It is a public holiday with national events and speeches.
Magh Bihu
Magh Bihu is Assam’s harvest festival, marking the end of the harvest season. People build bonfires, share large communal meals and enjoy sweets made from rice and coconut.
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri, the “Great Night of Shiva,” honors the Hindu god Shiva. Devotees fast, stay awake through the night chanting, and bathe shrines with milk, water and honey.
Mahalaya
Mahalaya marks the start of Devi Paksha and the countdown to Durga Puja. Bengali families honor their ancestors, and many listen to the traditional dawn recitation that welcomes the goddess Durga.
Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of Jainism. Followers gather at temples, take part in processions and give to charity, reflecting his teachings of non-violence.
Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti marks the sun’s move into Capricorn and the end of winter’s shortest days. It is celebrated under different names across India, with kites in the sky and sweets made from sesame and jaggery.
Makha Bucha
Makha Bucha commemorates a gathering of 1,250 disciples who came to hear the Buddha without prior arrangement. Buddhists visit temples, give alms and walk three times around the main hall holding candles, flowers and incense.
Malaysia Day
Malaysia Day marks the 1963 formation of Malaysia, when Malaya joined Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore. It is a public holiday with ceremonies and events celebrating national unity.
Malcolm X Day
Malcolm X Day honors the birthday of the civil rights leader and human rights activist. It is not a federal holiday but is recognized in some cities and communities with talks, programs and tributes.
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday,” is the last day of feasting before the Christian fast of Lent. It is famous for colorful parades, music and indulgent food, especially in New Orleans.
Marine Day
Marine Day, also called Umi no Hi, is a Japanese public holiday giving thanks for the ocean’s blessings and its importance to the country. Many people head to beaches and enjoy the start of summer.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
This federal holiday honors the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and his work for racial equality through nonviolence. Many Americans mark it with volunteer service and educational events.
Martinmas
Martinmas honors Saint Martin of Tours, a Roman soldier who shared his cloak with a beggar. Children carry lanterns in parades, and families traditionally eat roast goose to mark the end of the harvest.
Maryland Day
Maryland Day commemorates the 1634 landing of English settlers at St. Clement’s Island, which began the colony of Maryland. The state marks it with festivals and historical events.
Mashramani
Mashramani celebrates Guyana becoming a republic in 1970. The name comes from an Indigenous word meaning “celebration after cooperative work,” and the holiday is marked by vibrant costume parades and music.
Mashujaa Day
Mashujaa Day, meaning “Heroes’ Day” in Swahili, honors all Kenyans who contributed to the country’s struggle for independence and its development. It replaced Kenyatta Day in 2010.
Maslenitsa
Maslenitsa, or “Butter Week,” is an Eastern Slavic festival that bids farewell to winter. People eat round pancakes that symbolize the sun and finish the week by burning a straw figure.
Matariki
Matariki is the Māori New Year, marked by the rising of the Pleiades star cluster in midwinter. Since 2022 it has been a public holiday, a time to remember those who have died and plan for the year ahead.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples. Churches hold special services, and many include the washing of feet to recall Jesus’s act of humility.
Mawlid
Mawlid marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims celebrate with prayers, sermons and songs praising him, and by giving food to the poor, though some Muslim communities do not observe it.
May Day
May Day has two traditions. It is an ancient spring festival celebrated with flowers and maypole dances, and in many countries it is also International Workers’ Day, marked by parades and rallies for workers’ rights.
May the Fourth
May the Fourth is an unofficial fan holiday for the Star Wars franchise. It plays on the film series’ catchphrase “May the Force be with you,” and fans celebrate with screenings, costumes and themed treats.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day honors U.S. military members who died in service. Communities hold parades and decorate graves with flags, and the holiday also marks the unofficial start of summer.
Mexican Independence Day
Mexican Independence Day marks the start of the independence movement in 1810, when priest Miguel Hidalgo issued the call known as El Grito. Celebrations feature fireworks, music and festive food across the country.
Michaelmas
Michaelmas is the Christian feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. It once marked the end of the harvest and a quarter day for settling rents, and it is linked to eating goose and the lore that blackberries are unlucky after this date.
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the harvest and the year’s brightest full moon. Families gather to eat mooncakes, light lanterns and admire the moon together, making it a holiday about reunion.
Midsummer
Midsummer celebrates the summer solstice, when daylight lasts longest. Nordic countries mark it with flower-decked maypoles, outdoor feasts, dancing and, in some places, bonfires.
Moomba
Moomba is Melbourne’s annual community festival, held over the Labour Day long weekend. It features a parade, performances and water events on the Yarra River, and is one of Australia’s oldest festivals.
Monkey Buffet Festival
The Monkey Buffet Festival is a quirky Thai event in which locals lay out a huge spread of fruit and sweets for the town’s macaques. It began as a way to thank the monkeys for drawing visitors to Lopburi.
Mole Day
Mole Day is an unofficial celebration among chemists and students. It honors the mole, a unit equal to about 6.02 x 10^23 particles, and is held from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. on 10/23.
Moshoeshoe’s Day
Moshoeshoe’s Day honors King Moshoeshoe I, the founder of the Basotho nation, who united scattered clans in the early 1800s. It is a public holiday featuring ceremonies and cultural celebrations.
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day honors mothers and mother figures for their love and care. Dates differ around the world, but the day is commonly marked with cards, flowers and family meals.
Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday began as a day when people visited their “mother church,” and it later became a time to honor mothers. It is now the UK’s equivalent of Mother’s Day, with cards, flowers and simnel cake.
Mountain Day
Mountain Day, or Yama no Hi, is a Japanese public holiday created in 2016 to encourage appreciation of the country’s mountains. Many people mark it with hikes and trips into nature.
Martyrs’ Day
Uganda Martyrs’ Day remembers 45 Christian converts who were executed in the late 1800s for refusing to renounce their faith. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel to the Namugongo shrine each year.
Merdeka Day
Merdeka Day celebrates Malaya’s independence from Britain in 1957. “Merdeka” means “independence” in Malay, and the holiday is marked with a national parade in Kuala Lumpur and displays of the national flag.
Mario Day
Mario Day is a fan-created holiday celebrated on March 10, because “MAR10” looks like “Mario” when written as a date. Nintendo and fans mark it with games, merchandise and social media tributes.