This page lists 62 holidays that start with S, running alphabetically from “Sadeh” to “Sámi National Day”. The list mixes religious feasts, national days, seasonal festivals, ancient celebrations, and a few lighthearted modern observances. You can use it to plan travel around local festivals, find ideas for school or cultural projects, or simply learn how people around the world mark special days.
Holidays are days set aside to celebrate, remember, or honor something important to a community. Some are very old: “Saturnalia” was a Roman winter festival where masters served their slaves at the feast, and its spirit of gift giving still echoes in modern celebrations.
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 scan for a specific festival or discover new ones you haven’t heard of.
Date: When the holiday takes place, including fixed dates, seasonal timing, and calendar-based dates, so you know when to expect or plan around it.
Country/Region: Where the holiday is mainly observed, from single cities to whole continents, which helps you see how each celebration connects to a place.
Traditions: The main customs, foods, and activities people take part in, so you can picture what the day looks like or join in yourself.
Description: A short summary of what the holiday means, where it comes from, and why people celebrate it, giving you the background in a few sentences.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sadeh | January 30 | Iran | Bonfires, gatherings, fire rituals |
| Sadie Hawkins Day | Mid-November (traditionally November 9) | United States | Women ask men to dances, themed dances |
| Saint Andrew’s Day | November 30 | Scotland | Ceilidhs, haggis dinners, flying the Saltire |
| Saint David’s Day | March 1 | Wales | Wearing daffodils or leeks, parades, Welsh cakes |
| Saint John’s Day | June 24 | Europe and Latin America | Bonfires, outdoor feasts, water rituals |
| Saint Joseph’s Day | March 19 | Italy, Spain, Catholic countries | Zeppole pastries, altars of food for the poor |
| Saint Knut’s Day | January 13 | Sweden, Finland | Taking down Christmas trees, children’s parties |
| Saint Lucia’s Day | December 13 | Sweden, Scandinavia | White gowns, candle crowns, saffron buns |
| Saint Martin’s Day | November 11 | Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria | Lantern processions, roast goose |
| Saint Nicholas Day | December 6 | Germany, Central and Eastern Europe | Children’s shoes filled with sweets and small gifts |
| Saint Patrick’s Day | March 17 | Ireland, worldwide | Wearing green, parades, shamrocks, Irish music |
| Saint Sava’s Day | January 27 | Serbia | School ceremonies, church services |
| Saint Stephen’s Day | December 26 | Ireland, Europe | Wren Boys processions, hunts, family visits |
| Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day | June 24 | Quebec, Canada | Bonfires, fireworks, concerts, blue-and-white flags |
| Samhain | October 31 to November 1 | Ireland, Celtic regions | Bonfires, costumes, honoring ancestors |
| Samiljeol | March 1 | South Korea | Flag displays, ceremonies, readings of the declaration |
| San Fermín | July 6 to 14 | Pamplona, Spain | Running of the bulls, white clothes with red scarves, parades |
| San Juan Night | June 23 | Spain, Latin America | Bonfires, jumping waves at midnight, fireworks |
| Sanja Matsuri | Third weekend of May | Tokyo, Japan | Portable shrine processions, music, street food |
| Sankt Hans Aften | June 23 | Denmark | Bonfires by the water, singing, burning a witch figure |
| Sant Jordi’s Day | April 23 | Catalonia, Spain | Exchanging roses and books |
| Santa Rosa de Lima Day | August 30 | Peru | Processions, church services, wishing wells |
| Sapporo Snow Festival | Early February | Hokkaido, Japan | Giant snow and ice sculptures, night illuminations |
| Saraswati Puja | January or February (Vasant Panchami) | India, Nepal, Bangladesh | Wearing yellow, worshipping books and instruments |
| Saturnalia | December 17 to 23 | Ancient Rome | Gift giving, feasting, role reversals |
| Sechseläuten | Third Monday in April | Zurich, Switzerland | Guild parades, burning the Böögg snowman |
| Seollal | January or February (Lunar New Year) | South Korea | Bowing to elders, hanbok clothing, rice cake soup |
| Semana Santa | Week before Easter | Spain, Latin America | Religious processions, penitents in robes, church services |
| Setsubun | February 3 | Japan | Throwing roasted beans, eating ehomaki rolls |
| Shab-e-Barat | 15th of Sha’ban (varies) | South Asia, Middle East | Night prayers, visiting graves, sweets, fireworks |
| Sham El Nessim | Monday after Coptic Easter | Egypt | Picnics, colored eggs, salted fish, green onions |
| Sharad Purnima | October (full moon of Ashvin) | India | Moonlight gatherings, kheer left under the moon, dancing |
| Shavuot | 6th to 7th of Sivan (May or June) | Israel, Jewish communities | Eating dairy foods, all-night Torah study, decorating with greenery |
| Shemini Atzeret | 22nd of Tishrei (September or October) | Israel, Jewish communities | Prayer for rain, Yizkor memorial prayers, festive meals |
| Shichi-Go-San | November 15 | Japan | Shrine visits, kimono, chitose-ame candy |
| Shogatsu | January 1 to 3 | Japan | Osechi food, first shrine visit, New Year cards |
| Showa Day | April 29 | Japan | Park outings, reflection on Showa-era history |
| Shrove Tuesday | Day before Ash Wednesday (February or March) | United Kingdom, Commonwealth | Eating pancakes, pancake races |
| Sigd | 29th of Cheshvan (November) | Ethiopian Jewish communities, Israel | Fasting, praying on hilltops, reading the Torah |
| Simchat Torah | 23rd of Tishrei (September or October) | Israel, Jewish communities | Dancing with Torah scrolls, starting the reading cycle again |
| Sinhala and Tamil New Year | April 13 to 14 | Sri Lanka | Boiling milk, herbal oil baths, traditional sweets |
| Sinterklaas | December 5 to 6 | Netherlands, Belgium | Gifts, poems, pepernoten cookies, Sinterklaas parade |
| Sinulog | Third Sunday of January | Cebu, Philippines | Dance parades, street parties, devotion to the Santo Niño |
| Siblings Day | April 10 | United States | Cards, family get-togethers, sharing memories |
| Sizdah Bedar | April 1 or 2 (13th of Farvardin) | Iran | Picnics outdoors, tying grass knots, sprouts thrown into water |
| Slava | Varies by family | Serbia | Family feast, blessed bread, a lit candle |
| Sneak a Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night | August 8 | United States | Leaving zucchini on neighbors’ porches |
| Songkran | April 13 to 15 | Thailand | Water fights, pouring water on Buddha statues, honoring elders |
| Soyal | December 21 | Hopi, Arizona | Prayer sticks, ceremonies in the kiva, kachina dances |
| Spring Bank Holiday | Last Monday in May | United Kingdom | Long weekends, fairs, outdoor events |
| Spring Festival | January or February (Lunar New Year) | China | Red envelopes, family reunion dinners, fireworks, lion dances |
| Sports Day | Second Monday of October | Japan | School athletics, community games |
| Squirrel Appreciation Day | January 21 | United States | Feeding squirrels, birdfeeder setups |
| Star Wars Day | May 4 | Worldwide | Movie marathons, costumes, “May the Fourth be with you” |
| Straw Bear Festival | Second weekend of January | Whittlesey, England | Morris dancing, a man dressed in straw, street parades |
| Sukkot | 15th of Tishrei (September or October) | Israel, Jewish communities | Building a sukkah, shaking the lulav and etrog |
| Summer Bank Holiday | Last Monday in August | England, Wales, Northern Ireland | Long weekends, carnivals, travel |
| Summer Solstice | June 20 or 21 | Worldwide | Bonfires, outdoor celebrations, sunrise gatherings |
| Super Bowl Sunday | First or second Sunday in February | United States | Watch parties, game-day snacks, halftime show |
| Sweetest Day | Third Saturday in October | United States | Giving candy, cards, and small gifts |
| Swiss National Day | August 1 | Switzerland | Bonfires, fireworks, lanterns, brunches on farms |
| Sámi National Day | February 6 | Sápmi (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia) | Flying the Sámi flag, traditional dress, joik singing |
Descriptions
Sadeh
An ancient Persian festival held 100 days before Nowruz. Celebrants light large bonfires to honor fire and light and to push back the cold of winter.
Sadie Hawkins Day
Inspired by the Li’l Abner comic strip, this informal day flips the usual script so women do the inviting. Schools and clubs often host Sadie Hawkins dances.
Saint Andrew’s Day
Scotland’s national day honors its patron saint, Andrew. People hold dances, eat Scottish food, and fly the blue-and-white flag.
Saint David’s Day
The feast day of Wales’ patron saint is a national celebration. Children often dress in traditional Welsh costume, and towns hold parades and concerts.
Saint John’s Day
Marking the birth of John the Baptist, this day coincides with midsummer. Communities light bonfires and gather for music, food, and dancing.
Saint Joseph’s Day
A Catholic feast honoring Joseph, husband of Mary. In Italy it is also Father’s Day, and sweet fried pastries called zeppole are traditional.
Saint Knut’s Day
This day officially ends the Christmas season in Scandinavia. Families toss out their trees and finish off leftover sweets and treats.
Saint Lucia’s Day
A festival of light in the darkest part of winter. Girls in white robes with candle wreaths lead processions and sing, and everyone eats saffron buns.
Saint Martin’s Day
Also called Martinmas, this feast honors Saint Martin of Tours. Children carry paper lanterns through the streets, and families share a goose dinner.
Saint Nicholas Day
Honoring the generous bishop who inspired Santa Claus, this day has children leaving shoes out the night before. They wake to find candy, nuts, and small presents.
Saint Patrick’s Day
A celebration of Ireland’s patron saint and Irish culture. Cities around the world dye rivers green and hold large parades.
Saint Sava’s Day
Serbs honor their first archbishop and the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is also a celebration of education and schools.
Saint Stephen’s Day
Honoring the first Christian martyr, this day follows Christmas. In Ireland, groups called Wren Boys go door to door in costume with music.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
Quebec’s national holiday, known as the Fête nationale, celebrates Quebecois culture. It began as a Catholic feast for John the Baptist.
Samhain
An ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of harvest and the start of winter. It is widely seen as a forerunner of Halloween.
Samiljeol
Also called Independence Movement Day, it remembers the 1919 uprising against Japanese rule. People hang flags and attend memorial events.
San Fermín
Pamplona’s famous week-long festival honors Saint Fermín. Daily bull runs through the streets draw thousands of participants and spectators.
San Juan Night
Celebrated on the eve of Saint John’s Day, this midsummer night is marked by beach parties and bonfires. Many people burn old belongings for a fresh start.
Sanja Matsuri
One of Tokyo’s biggest festivals, held at Asakusa Shrine. Crowds carry heavy ornate shrines through the streets.
Sankt Hans Aften
Denmark’s midsummer celebration brings communities together at big evening bonfires. A straw witch is often burned and midsummer songs are sung.
Sant Jordi’s Day
Often called the Catalan Valentine’s Day, it honors Saint George. Men give women roses, and women give men books, and streets fill with stalls.
Santa Rosa de Lima Day
A national holiday honoring the patron saint of Peru and the Americas. Devotees gather in Lima to pray and leave written wishes at her shrine.
Sapporo Snow Festival
A week-long winter event that draws millions of visitors. Huge sculptures made of snow line the city’s main park.
Saraswati Puja
Devotees honor Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the arts. Students place books and pens before her image to seek blessings.
Saturnalia
A raucous Roman winter festival honoring the god Saturn. Social rules relaxed, and masters served their slaves at the feast.
Sechseläuten
Zurich’s spring festival has costumed guild members parading through town. The festival culminates with a snowman figure stuffed with fireworks being burned.
Seollal
Korea’s Lunar New Year is the most important traditional holiday. Families gather, honor ancestors, and eat tteokguk soup to gain a year of age.
Semana Santa
Holy Week is observed with solemn and elaborate processions. Brotherhoods carry ornate floats showing scenes of the Passion through the streets.
Setsubun
Marking the day before spring in the old calendar, Setsubun involves tossing beans to drive away evil spirits. People shout “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (demons out, luck in).
Shab-e-Barat
A night of forgiveness observed by many Muslims. Believers pray through the night and ask for blessings for the coming year.
Sham El Nessim
One of Egypt’s oldest festivals, dating back to ancient times. Families head outdoors to parks and the Nile to welcome spring.
Sharad Purnima
A harvest full moon festival said to be the brightest of the year. Sweet milk rice is left out in the moonlight and eaten the next morning.
Shavuot
Celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and the wheat harvest. Cheesecake and blintzes are classic foods of the holiday.
Shemini Atzeret
A Jewish holiday that follows Sukkot. Special prayers for rain are said in anticipation of the winter season.
Shichi-Go-San
A festival for children aged three, five, and seven. Families dress their kids in traditional clothes and thank the gods for their healthy growth.
Shogatsu
Japan’s New Year is the country’s most important holiday. Families clean their homes, eat special foods, and visit shrines or temples.
Showa Day
A national holiday honoring the birthday of Emperor Showa. It kicks off Golden Week, a stretch of holidays in early May.
Shrove Tuesday
The last day before Lent, when households traditionally used up rich foods like eggs and butter. Pancakes are the classic way to do it.
Sigd
A holiday celebrated by Ethiopian Jews marking the renewal of the covenant. Communities gather to pray and then break the fast together.
Simchat Torah
Marks the completion of the annual Torah reading and the start of a new cycle. Synagogues fill with singing, dancing, and sweets for children.
Sinhala and Tamil New Year
Sri Lanka’s traditional new year follows the sun’s move into Aries. Families light hearths at auspicious times and share treats like kiribath.
Sinterklaas
The Dutch Saint Nicholas celebration arrives with a bishop figure by steamboat from Spain. Children leave shoes out for sweets, and families exchange gifts with funny poems.
Sinulog
A huge festival honoring the Santo Niño, or Holy Child. Dancers in bright costumes perform a swaying step that mimics a river’s current.
Siblings Day
An informal day to celebrate brothers and sisters. People post old photos and spend time with their siblings.
Sizdah Bedar
The thirteenth day of the Persian new year is spent outdoors, because staying home is considered unlucky. Families picnic in parks.
Slava
Serbian Orthodox families honor their patron saint with an annual feast. Guests are welcomed with special bread and wheat dish.
Sneak a Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Night
A lighthearted observance during the peak of zucchini season. Gardeners with extra squash secretly leave some on doorsteps.
Songkran
Thailand’s traditional new year is celebrated with the world’s biggest water fight. Water is also gently poured over elders’ hands as a sign of respect.
Soyal
A winter solstice ceremony of the Hopi people. It marks the sun’s turn and the return of the kachina spirits.
Spring Bank Holiday
A UK public holiday at the end of May. Many people travel or enjoy local festivals and cheese rolling in some places.
Spring Festival
China’s Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday of the year. Hundreds of millions travel home to be with family.
Sports Day
A national holiday that promotes sports and an active lifestyle. It was first held to mark the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Squirrel Appreciation Day
An informal observance created to celebrate squirrels. Wildlife fans put out nuts and seeds to help them through winter.
Star Wars Day
A fan holiday built on a pun of the franchise’s famous line. Fans watch the films and share memes online.
Straw Bear Festival
A winter folk festival where a person covered in a straw suit parades through town. The straw bear is burned on Sunday.
Sukkot
A week-long harvest festival remembering the Israelites’ time in the desert. Families eat meals in small, temporary huts.
Summer Bank Holiday
A UK public holiday marking the end of summer. The Notting Hill Carnival in London takes place on this weekend.
Summer Solstice
The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. People mark it at places like Stonehenge or with midsummer festivals.
Super Bowl Sunday
The day of the NFL’s championship game is treated almost like a national holiday. It is one of the biggest food-consumption days in America.
Sweetest Day
A regional holiday popular in the Midwest and Northeast. People give treats to friends, family, and loved ones.
Swiss National Day
Switzerland’s national holiday commemorates the founding pact of 1291. Villages light bonfires on the hills, and many families go to farm brunches.
Sámi National Day
A celebration of the Indigenous Sámi people. Communities hold gatherings with music, reindeer racing, and cultural events.