This page lists 18 holidays that start with U, from “Ugadi” to “Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.” They include New Year festivals, national independence days, religious observances, fire and kite celebrations, and a few lighthearted events. You can use the list to plan travel around local festivals, find ideas for school or classroom lessons, or learn how different countries mark important moments.
Holidays are special days set aside to celebrate, remember, or honor a person, event, or belief. Many of them are very old. For example, “Up Helly Aa” in Shetland keeps alive the Norse heritage of the islands, with hundreds of costumed marchers and a burning Viking longship.
Below you’ll find the table with the holiday name, date, country or region, traditions, and description for each entry.
Holiday: The official or common name of each celebration, so you can quickly spot the one you want and search for more details.
Date: When the holiday takes place each year, including fixed dates, weekdays, and lunar calendar timing, which helps you plan ahead.
Country/Region: The place where the holiday is mainly observed, so you know whether it is local, national, or celebrated around the world.
Traditions: The customs, foods, activities, and rituals people practice on the day, giving you a clear picture of how it is celebrated.
Description: A short summary of what the holiday means, where it comes from, and why people observe it today.
Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Country/Region | Traditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ugadi | March or April (first day of the Hindu lunar calendar year) | India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka) | Eating ugadi pachadi, decorating doorways with mango leaves, buying new clothes, reading the new year’s almanac |
| Uttarayan | January 14 | India (Gujarat) | Kite flying, flying competitions, eating undhiyu and chikki |
| Up Helly Aa | Last Tuesday of January | Scotland (Shetland Islands) | Torchlit procession, costumed Viking “guizers,” burning a replica longship, late-night parties |
| Ullr Fest | Mid-January (usually the second weekend) | United States (Breckenridge, Colorado) | Torchlit ski parade, bonfire, costumed events, shot-ski toasts |
| Union Day | February 12 (Myanmar); April 26 (Tanzania) | Myanmar; Tanzania | Parades, flag raising, cultural performances, public speeches |
| Ukraine Constitution Day | June 28 | Ukraine | Official ceremonies, concerts, flag displays, family gatherings |
| Ukraine Independence Day | August 24 | Ukraine | Flag raising, concerts, parades, wearing vyshyvanka embroidered shirts, fireworks |
| Uganda Independence Day | October 9 | Uganda | Military and cultural parades, speeches, flag ceremonies, music and dance |
| Uganda Martyrs Day | June 3 | Uganda | Pilgrimage to Namugongo, Mass, prayers, large processions |
| Uposatha | Four times per lunar month (new, full, and quarter moons) | Buddhist countries (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia) | Visiting temples, taking extra precepts, meditation, offering food to monks, listening to Dharma talks |
| Ullambana | 15th day of the seventh lunar month (usually August or September) | China, Vietnam, Japan, and other Mahayana Buddhist regions | Offerings to monks, chanting, food for ancestors, releasing lanterns |
| United Nations Day | October 24 | Worldwide | School events, public lectures, flag displays, UN building illuminations |
| Unity Day (Russia) | November 4 | Russia | Wreath laying, concerts, marches, public gatherings |
| Unity Day (United States) | Wednesday in October (during National Bullying Prevention Month) | United States | Wearing orange, school activities, anti-bullying pledges |
| Universal Children’s Day | November 20 | Worldwide | School programs, children’s rights events, charity activities, UN landmarks lit up in blue |
| Uzbekistan Independence Day | September 1 | Uzbekistan | Concerts, fireworks, street festivals, official speeches |
| Uncle Sam Day | September 13 | United States (Troy, New York) | Parade, historical talks, flag displays, community events |
| Ugly Christmas Sweater Day | Third Friday of December | United States, United Kingdom, Canada | Wearing garish holiday sweaters, office contests, charity fundraisers |
Descriptions
Ugadi
Ugadi is the New Year festival of the Telugu and Kannada peoples. Families clean their homes, share a dish blending six tastes to symbolize life’s mixed experiences, and celebrate with feasts.
Uttarayan
Uttarayan marks the sun’s northward journey and is Gujarat’s famous kite festival. Rooftops fill with people flying colorful kites, and the sky is crowded from sunrise to sunset.
Up Helly Aa
Up Helly Aa is a fire festival in Lerwick celebrating Shetland’s Norse heritage. Hundreds of men in Viking costume march with torches and set fire to a galley, followed by a night of performances and dancing.
Ullr Fest
Ullr Fest honors Ullr, the Norse god of snow and winter, with a ski-town party in Breckenridge. Locals and visitors ask for plentiful snow through parades, bonfires, and a lot of winter fun.
Union Day
Union Day is a national holiday in two countries. Myanmar marks the 1947 Panglong Agreement, while Tanzania celebrates the 1964 merger of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
Ukraine Constitution Day
This holiday marks the adoption of Ukraine’s post-Soviet constitution in 1996. It is a public holiday with official events and public celebrations.
Ukraine Independence Day
Ukraine Independence Day commemorates the 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. Ukrainians celebrate with national flags, traditional dress, music, and remembrance of those who defended the country.
Uganda Independence Day
Uganda Independence Day celebrates the country’s independence from British rule on October 9, 1962. The day features official ceremonies, patriotic events, and community gatherings.
Uganda Martyrs Day
Uganda Martyrs Day honors Christian converts executed in the 1880s under King Mwanga II. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel to the Namugongo shrine each year, some walking for days.
Uposatha
Uposatha is a regular Buddhist observance day. Lay followers take on additional ethical precepts, and monastics recite their monastic code, making it a day of reflection and merit-making.
Ullambana
Ullambana is a Mahayana Buddhist festival devoted to relieving the suffering of ancestors. Families make offerings to monks and to the departed, and the observance is closely related to the Ghost Festival.
United Nations Day
United Nations Day marks the day in 1945 when the UN Charter came into force. It encourages awareness of the organization’s work on peace, development, and human rights.
Unity Day (Russia)
Russia’s Day of National Unity commemorates the 1612 expulsion of Polish-Lithuanian forces from Moscow. It was established as a public holiday in 2005 to replace the Soviet-era November 7 celebration.
Unity Day (United States)
Unity Day is an anti-bullying awareness event in the US. Students and teachers wear orange to show support for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Universal Children’s Day
Universal Children’s Day promotes the welfare and rights of children around the world. November 20 also marks the dates the UN adopted its Declaration and Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Uzbekistan Independence Day
This holiday celebrates Uzbekistan’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Cities hold large public events, concerts, and fireworks displays.
Uncle Sam Day
Uncle Sam Day honors Samuel Wilson, a Troy meat packer widely believed to have inspired the Uncle Sam national symbol. Congress recognized him in 1961, and Troy celebrates with local events.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Day
Ugly Christmas Sweater Day encourages people to wear the loudest, gaudiest holiday knitwear they can find. Offices, schools, and parties hold contests, and many events raise money for charity.