Recognizing the Festival/Holiday: Fasting is part of the celebration of this holiday. You should check before involving food as part of your visit. Also, keep in mind that Hindus neither eat meat nor drink alcoholic beverages. “God bless you with prosperity and happiness” or “I wish you happiness and prosperity” are appropriate greetings for all Hindu holidays. (m)

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 National Day : Senegal.  This day commemorates Senegal's gaining full independence from France in 1960.

Tomb Sweeping Day (Qing Ming) : China.

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 Booker T. Washington (1856–1915) : African American.  Educator. Organizer and first director of the Normal and Industrial Institute for Negroes at Tuskegee, Alabama (later Tuskegee Institute), Washington became the nation's foremost advocate of education for African Americans. His cautious and conciliatory approach to race relations was criticized by W. E. B. Du Bois and other leaders who urged more active efforts to achieve civil and political rights for Black Americans.

 Palm Sunday : Christian.  On the Sunday before Easter, Christians remember Jesus' last entry into Jerusalem, when his way was strewn with palms by those gathered to see him. Churches, therefore, are decorated with palm. In England and Russia, where palm is unobtainable, pussy willow is used instead. Palm Sunday begins Holy Week, the most important week of the Christian year. In Spain and Mexico many communities have penitential processions often lit by candles and people sometime flagellate themselves to reenact Jesus' suffering. Some communities perform traditional passion plays. The Lenten fast is strictest on Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Holy Week or Semana Santa in Spanish, is Mexico's biggest holiday period with many cities holding candlelight processions. (m)

 Founder's Day : Vietnam.  This holiday commemorates the founding of the Vietnamese nation by King Hung Vuong around 1000 B.C.E. (m)

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 Tartan Day : United States.  Tartan Day was established by an act of Congress in 1998 to recognize the role Scottish Americans played in the founding of the nation and to acknowledge the many contributions that have been made by people of Scottish ancestry. Some notable Americans of Scottish descent include John Witherspoon, who served in the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence, and was president of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University); Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first secretary of the treasury and leader of the Federalist Party; Andrew Carnegie, the great industrialist and philanthropist; Woodrow Wilson, the twenty-eighth president of the United States; and Sir Alexander Fleming, the bacteriologist who discovered penicillin. Tartan Day also commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, on April 6, 1320. (See entry for Robert Burns.)

 Chakri Day : Thailand.  This holiday commemorates the founding of the present dynasty by King Rama I (1782–1809).

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 François Dominique Toussaint-Louverture (c. 1743–1803) : Haitian.  Military and political leader. Born a slave on the island of Saint-Domingue, a French colony (later called Haiti), Toussaint-Louverture became the leader of his country's independence movement. As a guerrilla leader of insurgent slaves, Toussaint-Louverture sided with the French Republic in 1793 when other rebel leaders supported Spain's war against France. Appointed lieutenant governor of the colony, he succeeded in driving out the Spanish and the British. In 1801, defying Napoleon's orders, he freed the slaves on the island and established an independent government with himself at its head. After an invasion by French troops, he was removed from office, then arrested and imprisoned in Switzerland, where he died in captivity on this date in 1803.

 The Annunciation : Coptic Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian.  This holy date celebrates the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary of Galilee that she would become the mother of Jesus. This is the date according to the Julian calendar followed by Coptic Orthodox Christians and several Eastern Orthodox Christian denominations.

Mahavir Jayanti : Jain.

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 Ramón Emeterio Betances (1827–1898) : Puerto Rican.  Physician, writer, and revolutionary leader. Betances studied medicine in Paris and lived there most of his life, working from exile for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and the abolition of slavery while writing fiction, journalism, and translations from Latin. His "Ten Commandments of Free Men," issued on November 4, 1867, while he was living on the island of St. Thomas, sets forth the ideals of political and social justice to which he dedicated his life. (See entry for September 23.)

 Buddha's Birth (c. 563–483 B.C.E.) : Buddhist.  Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as Buddha, or "enlightened one," was an Indian prince who left his family at the age of 29 to seek the truth of life. After years of wandering, meditation, and self-denial, he attained the enlightenment he sought at a place now called Buddha Gaya or Bodh Gaya. The religion he founded spread throughout central and Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and Korea, and has also attracted followers in the West. It is celebrated on this day in the Mahãyãna Buddhist tradition based on the Japanese Buddhist calendar.

Recognizing the Festival/Holiday: “Happy Buddha’s Birthday” is a common greeting.

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 Chandler Hovey, Jr. (?–1998) : People with Disabilities.  Lawyer and sailor. A lawyer until his retirement from a New York investment banking firm, Hovey and his family had a long association with sailboat competition, particularly the America's Cup. This involvement continued even after Hovey began to suffer from multiple sclerosis in 1947. He used crutches during sailing trials competition, and in 1995 the Independence Cup, the national trophy for the disabled, was named in his honor. This is the date of his death.

 Paul Robeson (1898–1976) : African American.  Singer and actor. A bass-baritone, Robeson won international acclaim for concert performances of classical works, spirituals, and folk songs, and for stage performances, particularly in the title role of Shakespeare's Othello.

 Maundy Thursday : Christian. (m)

 Passover (first day of 8-day observance) : Jewish.  This holiday, which is observed for eight days, celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Moses, an Israelite born into slavery, raised in the Pharaoh's household, and later banished as a young man for defending his people, returned to Egypt and confronted the Pharaoh in the name of God, demanding freedom for his people. The Pharaoh capitulated only after God sent ten plagues, the last of which killed the first son of every Egyptian family, including that of the Pharaoh. The Israelites marked their doors to identify their homes for the angel of death, who passed over and spared them. Moses then led the Israelites through the desert for 40 years until they reached Palestine. The celebration of Passover, a spring festival commemorating freedom and new life, begins the previous evening with a Seder, a meal during which the story of Passover is read from the Haggadah. The menu includes a number of traditional foods such as matzoh, or unleavened bread, which recalls the unleavened bread eaten by the Israelites in the desert.

Recognizing the Festival/Holiday: For the eight days of Passover, Jews observing the holiday abstain from eating any foods containing leavening components, such as bread, cake, and donuts. As a substitute, Jews eat unleavened bread called matzoh. In addition, foods made special for Passover can be found at any Kosher bakery or delicatessen. Before arranging any event involving food, check to see if invitees are following a special Passover diet, particularly whether they are refraining from eating any bread or other baked goods. “Have a happy holiday” is an appropriate greeting. (m)

 Restoration of Independence : Republic of Georgia.  

 Martyrs' Day : Tunisia.  This day honors those who fought for freedom against French rule.

 Valor Day : Philippines.  This marks the anniversary of the forced march to a prison camp of 70,000 Americans and Filipinos captured on Bataan in 1942 by the Japanese. Only 54,000 prisoners survived the march; 7,000–10,000 died and the rest escaped into the jungle.

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 Good Friday : Christian.  This is the day Christians commemorate Jesus' crucifixion. (m)

 Passover (second day of observance) : Jewish. (m)

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 Jane Bolin (1908–2007) : African American.  Lawyer and judge. Jane Bolin was a pioneer for Black women in the legal field. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, Bolin graduated with honors from Wellesley College in 1928, one of only two Black students in her class. She went on to study law, and in 1931 was the first Black woman to graduate from Yale Law School. The following year Bolin became the first Black woman to join the New York Bar Association. In 1939, when she was only thirty-one years old, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia appointed her a judge of the Domestic Relations Court (later called the Family Court), making Bolin the nation’s first Black female judge. During her 40 years on the bench, Bolin worked to end segregation in publicly-funded child placement agencies and the practice of assigning probation officers to cases based on race and religion. An activist for children’s rights and education, Bolin served on numerous boards, including those of the Urban League of Greater New York and the Child Welfare League, and was the recipient of many honorary degrees.

 Holy Saturday : Christian. (m)

 Anniversary of the Battle of Rivas (Juan Santamaría Day) : Costa Rica.  This commemorates the decisive battle in 1856 when Costa Ricans were victorious against American confederate and mercenary, William Walker, who was attempting to annex Costa Rica and other Central American countries to the Southern Confederacy. The Costa Ricans chased Walker and his mercenaries back across the border into Nicaragua to the town of Rivas, where soldier Juan Santamaría volunteered to torch the wooden fort where Walker and his men were staying. Santamaría was mortally wounded and is now honored as Costa Rica’s national hero. This battle marked the beginning of the end for Walker, who abandoned Central America in 1857.

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 Easter : Christian.  This is the holiest day for Christians. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after he was crucified and died in Jerusalem. It is Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, often referred to as the "passion," followed by his resurrection that is central to Christian faith. Easter culminates the penitential period that starts with Ash Wednesday. Palm Sunday, which marks the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, occurs one week before Easter. Easter is a joyous holiday, since it marks for Christians the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecy of the coming of the Messiah. In addition to its religious significance, Easter is also celebrated as a spring holiday with themes of rebirth, gathering together with family and friends, and sharing special foods. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate this holiday. (m)

 Palm Sunday : Coptic Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian.  Palm Sunday is observed on this day according to the Julian calendar followed by Coptic Orthodox Christians and Eastern Orthodox Christians. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Palm Sunday is often called the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem and is the beginning of Holy Week. On Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday, believers prepare palm fronds by knotting them into crosses in preparation for the procession on Sunday. (m)

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 Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) : Irish.  Playwright and novelist. The winner of the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature, Beckett is best known for his novels and plays in which characters are confronted with mysterious situations in bizarre, timeless settings.

 New Year : Cambodia, Laos.  This is one of the most important holidays. In the morning food is brought to Buddhist temples, and in the evening more secular celebrations with food and music are held. The holiday continues through April 15.

 Easter Monday (observed as a public holiday in many countries) : Christian.  The days from Good Friday through the Monday after Easter are public holidays in many countries. Governmental services and banks are closed, and most people have time off from work. Countries for which this is the case include England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Canada, Australia, Austria, France, and Germany. When making plans, please check to see whether or not this holiday is observed. (m)

Vaisakhi (New Year) : Hindu.

This celebrates the beginning of the solar new year 1931 of the Saka era, which dates from the ascendancy of Emperor Salivahana in A.D. 78. On this day, Hindus ritually bathe in the Ganges River to purify themselves.

Recognizing the Festival/Holiday: “Happy New Year,” “God bless you with prosperity and happiness,” or “I wish you happiness and prosperity” are appropriate greetings. (m)

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April 14, Tuesday 

 Pan American Day : Latin America.  Pan American Day has been observed each year since 1931 on April 14 by the twenty-one American republics. The holiday honors the bonds of friendship between the United States and the nations of Latin America.

Vaisakhi : Sikh.

Vaisakhi commemorates Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s founding of Khalsa, the ritual of bringing all those who become Sikhs into a community of equals. Vaisakhi is observed on this date based on the Nanakshahi calendar. (See discussion under “Days of Religious Observance” and entry for Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday.)

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April 15, Wednesday 

 A[sa] Philip Randolph (1889–1982) : African American.  Labor leader and civil rights activist. Randolph organized the first major union of African American workers, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, in 1925 and became its first president. Throughout his long life he was a leader in the movement to improve job opportunities and working conditions for African Americans. He was one of the chief organizers of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

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April 16, Thursday 

 Ike Pappas (born Icarus Nestor Pappas) (1933–2008) : Greek American.  News correspondent. Born to Greek immigrant parents in Queens, New York, Ike Pappas became a CBS News correspondent who traveled to more than 40 countries during his career. But he is perhaps best remembered for his live coverage of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 when he was a radio reporter for WNEW in New York. Pappas was covering Oswald’s prison transfer when Jack Ruby brushed past him to shoot and kill Oswald. Pappas’ historic live broadcast captured the entire event. In 1964 he began his 23-year career at CBS News as a radio writer, becoming a network correspondent in 1967 assigned to cover such beats as the Pentagon, the CIA, and labor. Pappas covered many of the events that occurred during that tumultuous time in U.S. history, including the Vietnam War and anti-war demonstrations, the civil rights movement including the Selma civil rights march, the 1967 Six Day War in Israel, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, the launch of Apollo 11 in 1969, the Kent State shootings in 1970, and coups in Greece, Bolivia, and Chile. After being laid off by CBS in 1987, Pappas formed his own video production company known as “Ike Inc.” and wrote and produced television documentaries for PBS.

 Holy Thursday : Coptic Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian. (m)

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April 17, Friday 

 Holy Friday : Coptic Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian.  Also known as Great Friday, this is the day Coptic Orthodox Christians and Eastern Orthodox Christians commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion. (m)

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April 18, Saturday 

 Holy Saturday : Coptic Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian. (m)

 Independence Day : Zimbabwe.  Zimbabwe, formerly called Rhodesia, gained independence from Great Britain on this day in 1980.

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April 19, Sunday 

 Glenn Seaborg (1912–1999) : Scandinavian American.  Scientist and governmental advisor. Although a chemist by training, Dr. Seaborg did much of his work in nuclear physics, leading the research that created nine artificial elements, including plutonium. In 1951, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for these achievements. Dr. Seaborg became the director of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and remained emeritus director after he retired. He was a scientific advisor to a number of presidents, serving as chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission for 10 years. He also served as chancellor of the University of California.

 Feast of Divine Mercy : Roman Catholic. (m)

 Easter : Coptic Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian.  Easter is celebrated on this day according to the Julian calendar followed by Coptic Orthodox Christians and Eastern Orthodox Christians. In the Orthodox church, the celebration of Easter begins just before midnight on Holy Saturday with the lighting of candles during Easter midnight mass. (m)

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April 20, Monday 

 Easter Monday : Coptic Orthodox Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian. (m)

 José de Diego's Birthday : Puerto Rico.  This public holiday honors José de Diego (1866–1918), eloquent orator, accomplished poet, attorney, and patriot who wrote and spoke in support of the independence of his homeland. He served as Secretary of Justice in the short-lived government of 1897, after Spain had granted autonomy to the island and before the United States reimposed its governance. He later became first president of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives. As a prominent political figure, he opposed the Jones Act establishing Puerto Rico as a commonwealth of the United States. (See entry for Granting of citizenship to Puerto Ricans.) (m)

 Sham el Nessim (Spring Festival) : Egypt. (m)

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April 21, Tuesday 

Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom Hashoah) : Jewish.

This day has been designated by Israel's Knesset, or Parliament, as a memorial to the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis in their program of mass extermination of all Jews in Germany and the countries under German occupation. This program, building on long-standing anti-Semitism, began with arrests and imprisonment of Jews in the early 1930s and extended in the 1940s to forcing Jews into slave labor camps and extermination in death camps such as Treblinka, Sobibor, and Auschwitz. (m)

 Festival of Ridvan : Baha'i.  On the first, ninth, and twelfth day of the Baha'i month of Ridvan (April 21, 29, and May 2), Baha'is commemorate the declaration of Baha'u'llah in 1863 of his mission as the last messenger of God to the world. Although Baha'is observe all twelve days, these three days are ones on which they refrain from work. The word "Ridvan" means paradise, and refers to the garden in Baghdad where Baha'u'llah proclaimed his mission as the prophet of God. (See discussion under Holidays and Work Schedules.)

 Tiradentes Day : Brazil.  This commemorates the execution on this day in 1792 of Jose da Silva Xavier, a leader of the revolt against Portugal.

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April 22, Wednesday 

 Earth Day : International.  

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April 23, Thursday 

 Gathering of Nations Powwow (4/23–25) : American Indian.  This three-day event, held annually at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, is the largest powwow in North America. More than five hundred tribes from Canada and the United States come every year to participate in this celebration of American Indian culture, which features drum groups and ceremonial singing, chanting, and dancing in traditional dress. There are exhibitions of American Indian artifacts and authentic Indian crafts for sale. The Gathering of Nations organization seeks to promote the traditions and culture of the American Indian people in the most positive manner possible and to dispel stereotypes created about the Indian people. The powwow provides educators with an opportunity to develop instructional materials on Indian history and culture for elementary and secondary schools. (m)

 St. George's Day : England.  This day, considered England’s national day, honors England’s patron saint. Saint George was a Roman soldier who protested against the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, for which he was executed as a Christian martyr on this day in A.D. 303. The popularity of Saint George in England stems from the time of the early Crusades when it is said the Normans saw him in a vision and were victorious. Saint George’s emblem, a red cross on a white background, became the flag of England and part of the British flag. The celebration of St. George’s Day was once a major feast day in England, but by the end of the eighteenth century the tradition had waned. In recent years, however, the popularity of St. George’s Day has been increasing.

Recognizing the Festival/Holiday: The English wear a red rose, the national flower, in their lapels on St. George’s Day. Another custom is to fly the St. George’s Cross flag or decorate with garlands of St. George’s crosses. Local events include parades, memorial services, and knights in armor on white chargers.

 Sovereignty Day : Turkey.  Known as National Sovereignty and Children’s Day, this celebrates the day in 1920 that Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, met in Ankara with his provisional government, the Grand National Assembly, and began establishing the institutions of a new secular state independent of the old Ottoman Empire and entrusting its future sovereignty and independence into the hands of its children.

 First Day of Summer : Iceland.  Iceland is the only country in the world that celebrates the first day of summer as a national holiday. According to the old Icelandic almanac, the year was divided into two seasons: winter and summer. Summer began in April, heralding the reappearance of the sun and marking the beginning of the growing season. After the long, dark winter, the first day of summer was a day of celebration throughout Iceland. The people of Iceland still celebrate this first day of “summer” by the giving of summer gifts, or sumargjafir. Festivities include parades, sporting events, and other entertainment. (m)

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 Genocide Memorial Day : Armenia.  This day, also known as Armenian Martyrs Day, commemorates the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1915–1916. Most Armenians living in the United States are the children or grandchildren of survivors of the genocide. This day has been chosen to commemorate this tragic event since on this day in 1915, many of Armenia's leading politicians, writers, and professionals in Constantinople were deported and/or killed.

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 Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996) : African American.  Singer. Ella Fitzgerald, who was to win more Grammy Awards than any other jazz musician, began as a singer with Chick Webb and his band. She later sang with Dizzy Gillespie and became known for her improvisations and "scat" singing, playing with words and musical notes. She demonstrated expert taste in material. Her recorded songbooks of music by the Gershwins, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, and others remain definitive. Lyricists loved to have her record their works; her razor sharpness guaranteed that every word would be meaningful. Composers loved her dedication to melody, and jazz musicians loved her improvisation. Along with Billie Holiday, she is generally considered to be one of the greatest female jazz singers of her generation.

 Anzac Day : Australia, New Zealand.  This is Australia's most important national occasion of commemoration, marking the anniversary of the first major military action by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) during World War I. Religious services are held at dawn across the nation. Later in the day, former servicemen and women meet and join in special marches, rekindling memories of their experiences. Commemorative ceremonies are held at war memorials around the country, including observing one or two minutes of silence. (See entry for Remembrance Day (Armistice Day).)

 Liberation Day : Italy.  This commemorates the day in 1945 that Italy was liberated from German occupation during World War II.

 Liberation Day : Portugal.  This commemorates the bloodless revolution in 1974 that overthrew the dictatorial regime of Antonío Salazar and the reestablishment of democracy.

 Sinai Liberation Day : Egypt.  On this day in 1982, Israel completed its withdrawal of troops from the Sinai peninsula, which it had occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War, in accordance with the terms of the 1979 peace treaty drawn up between Egypt and Israel following the Camp David Accords.

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 Coretta Scott King (1927–2006) : African American.  Civil rights activist. The wife of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King became, after her husband’s assassination, an international symbol of the 1960s civil rights revolution. To carry on his legacy, she began mobilizing support for a nationally recognized center in Atlanta to honor Dr. King’s memory by providing a research center for scholars studying his work and the civil rights era. The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia, situated in the Freedom Hall complex encircling Dr. King’s tomb, educates people all over the world about Dr. King’s life and work, and his philosophy and methods of nonviolent conflict reconciliation and social change. Coretta Scott King also devoted her efforts to creating a national holiday in her husband’s memory, which was achieved, despite much opposition, in 1983 when Congress designated the third Monday in January as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. During the 1980s, King reaffirmed her longstanding opposition to the apartheid system in South Africa by participating in a series of sit-in protests in Washington that prompted nationwide demonstrations against South African racial policies. In 1986, she traveled to South Africa and met with African National Congress leader Winnie Mandela, while Mandela’s husband Nelson Mandela was still a political prisoner. Upon her return, she met with President Reagan to urge him to approve sanctions against South Africa. In 2005 Antioch College, King’s alma mater, established the Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom in honor of her contributions to the advancement of civil rights and social justice.

 Freedom Day : South Africa.  This commemorates the day in 1994 when for the first time all South Africans had the right to vote.

 Independence Day : Sierra Leone.  This day commemorates Sierra Leone's gaining independence from Great Britain in 1961.

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Soldiers Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron) : Israel.

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 Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899–1974) : African American.  Composer, pianist, and jazz orchestra leader. A prolific composer and arranger and brilliant leader whose orchestra included some of the finest jazz soloists of his time, Ellington was one of the preeminent figures in jazz from the 1920s until his death. His compositions include such classic songs as "Mood Indigo" and "Satin Doll," and concert works on jazz themes—some of them with religious texts.

 Golden Week (April 29–May 5) : Japan.  This is a holiday period that incorporates Showa Day on April 29, Constitution Day on May 3, Greenery Day on May 4, and Children’s Day on May 5. This is a period when children have vacation from school and many workers have time off. Since Constitution Day falls on a Sunday this year, the holiday will be observed on Wednesday, May 6.

Independence Day (Yom Ha'atzma'ut) : Israel.

Showa Day (Showa No Hi) : Japan.

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 Queen's Day : Netherlands.  Queen’s Day celebrates the birthday of former Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who acceded to the throne in 1948. Celebrations begin the evening before and continue the next day with parades, music, and street entertainment. Everyone wears orange, the color of the royal house.

 Feast of Valborg : Sweden.  On this evening, also called Walpurgis Night, bonfires are lit accompanied by singing and other festivities to mark the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

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