List of International Holidays 2025

Top International Holidays to Travel in 2025

Planning an international getaway in 2025? Aligning your travel with global holidays can be a great way to experience cultural celebrations, vibrant festivals, and unique traditions around the world. Here are some of the top international holidays in 2025 that offer exceptional travel opportunities:

1. Chinese New Year – January 29 to February 4, 2025 (China, Southeast Asia)

Celebrate the Year of the Snake in China or Southeast Asian countries like Singapore and Malaysia. Streets come alive with parades, lanterns, fireworks, and delicious food. Ideal for culture lovers seeking an immersive experience.

Travel Tip: Book early as it's peak season in these countries.

2. Holi – March 13, 2025 (India & Nepal)

Known as the Festival of Colors, Holi is a vibrant and joyous celebration of spring. Cities like Mathura, Vrindavan, and Kathmandu turn into kaleidoscopic wonderlands.

Travel Tip: Combine this with a tour of the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur).

3. Easter Weekend – April 18 to April 21, 2025 (Worldwide)

Easter is widely celebrated across Europe, North America, and Latin America. Destinations like Rome, Seville, and Jerusalem are known for their religious processions and festive spirit.

Travel Tip: Great time for a spring break tour of Europe.

4. Ramadan & Eid al-Fitr – March 31 to April 29 (Ramadan), Eid likely on April 30, 2025 (Middle East, Southeast Asia)

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated with family gatherings and feasts. Experience the spirit of the festival in countries like UAE, Turkey, Indonesia, and Morocco.

Travel Tip: Respect local customs during Ramadan fasting hours.

5. Bastille Day – July 14, 2025 (France)

France’s National Day is perfect for a mid-summer European holiday. Witness fireworks over the Eiffel Tower, parades on the Champs-Élysées, and community events across the country.

Travel Tip: Consider booking a cruise on the River Seine for front-row views.

6. Oktoberfest – September 20 to October 5, 2025 (Germany)

Oktoberfest in Munich is the world’s largest beer festival, filled with traditional music, food, and German culture. It attracts millions of visitors globally.

Travel Tip: Accommodations get sold out fast — reserve 6 months ahead.

7. Diwali – October 21, 2025 (India, Nepal, Mauritius)

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most visually stunning festivals celebrated across India and by Indian communities worldwide. It’s a time of joy, light displays, and delicious sweets.

Travel Tip: Ideal time to explore cities like Jaipur or Varanasi decorated with lamps and fireworks.

8. Christmas – December 25, 2025 (Global)

Christmas is celebrated globally with its own regional charm — from snowy traditions in Europe to summer festivities in Australia. New York, Vienna, and Prague are some of the most picturesque destinations during the holidays.

Travel Tip: Visit local Christmas markets for authentic gifts and festive food.

Days Recognised by the United Nations

World Radio Day: This day is celebrated on 13 February every year. It recognises the power of radio as a mass medium that has the potential to reach the largest number of people irrespective of social, economic or educational background. Each year, the celebration is centred around different themes.

World Day of Social Justice: This day is observed on 20 February every year to ensure that social justice is upheld globally. Social justice includes removal of discriminatory laws or social practices, championing the cause of women or indigenous people, helping people in conflict areas, and promotion of fair employment policies, among others.

Zero Discrimination Day: 1 March each year is dedicated to promoting awareness around the need for laws and policies that ensure inclusion and equality. The day emphasizes the challenges of social stigma and discrimination faced by those who may differ from societal norms. This initiative is led by UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. 

International Day of Happiness: This day is celebrated on 20 March every year to reiterate the importance of staying happy in life and to recognise happiness as a key factor in human growth and development. This day was adopted by the UN General Assembly in July 2012.

World Poetry Day: This day is marked on 21 March by UNESCO to celebrate the ability of poetry to connect different kinds of individuals and the agility of poetry of being both an oral and written tradition.

International Family Day: The UN recognises 15 May as World Family Day to mark the importance of family as the fundamental unit of society and a key to sustainable development of a person, and to increase awareness about the problems faced by families.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: This day is marked by the UN on 17 May each year to create awareness about the pivotal role of internet and other communication technologies in society. It also aims to propagate safe digital use and developing and implementing common digital standards across the world.

Global Day of Parents: Apart from the culturally celebrated Mother's Day and Father's Day, the international day of parents is marked by the UN to appreciate the role of parents in a child's life and to honour their love and sacrifices.

World Day Against Child Labour: Every year on June 12, the UN runs campaigns to raise awareness about the issue of child labour, specifically targeting children aged 14 or younger. Initiated by the International Labour Organization in 2002, this campaign seeks to eliminate child labour globally and urges governments and businesses to adopt and enforce stronger policies to combat it.

World Refugee Day: Lakhs of people each year are forced to leave their homes behind and become refugees in other states or countries because of political or communal conflicts and war-like situations. The UN has set aside 20 June to support the refugees, show solidarity with them, to coax countries to be more hospitable to refugees, and to try and eliminate situations where refugees get created. 

World Refugee Day: Lakhs of people each year are forced to leave their homes behind and become refugees in other states or countries because of political or communal conflicts and war-like situations. The UN has set aside 20 June to support the refugees, show solidarity with them, to coax countries to be more hospitable to refugees, and to try and eliminate situations where refugees get created.

International Widows' Day: Widows across the world face several hardships from single motherhood and psychological effects of losing a partner to social stigma. Around 10% of the nearly 258 million widows in the world are poor and almost all of them suffer greatly. The UN has kept aside 23 June to bring awareness to the plight of widows, bring them back to active social life, provide them all the support and opportunities needed, and to empower them.

International Day of Cooperatives: Co-operative societies are an alternative community development model that helps maintain equality and sustainability and empowers its members. The day to honour and encourage cooperative societies is held on the first Saturday of July under the aegis of the United Nations.

World Population Day: Increasing population is a grave problem when seen alongside depleting natural resources. The UN has declared 11 July as World Population Day to bring about awareness on population problems, reproductive health and rights, and work towards sustainable global development.

Nelson Mandela Day: Nelson Mandela set aside his life towards fighting apartheid and inequality. He became the first democratically chosen president of independent South Africa in May 1994. The UN proclaimed 18 July to be Nelson Mandela International Day to encourage everyone to make a difference in their community or region and spread the message of peace and harmony.

International Day of Friendship: Friends are the next most important relationships in a person's life after family. The UN recognises friendship as an important factor in bringing people together and bridging the various divides - from social to economic to political - existing in today's world. To honour this, 30 July has been named International Day of Friendship.

Note: This is different from the socially celebrated Friendship Day that falls in August.

International Youth Day: Youth - the age group of 10 to 24 - holds the most promise and can make the most difference in the future of our planet. Currently, the population of youths is over 1.8 billion, but not all of them receive education, healthcare, or equal opportunities. The UN recognises the potential of youths and aims to increase awareness about their problems through this day on 12 August each year.

World Humanitarian Day: Observed annually on August 19 with UN support, this day honors humanitarian workers and aid providers who assist people in crisis around the world. It recognizes the dedication and sacrifices of those who risk their lives to offer support in challenging environments. Additionally, the day raises awareness about the need for continued aid and support in conflict and disaster-affected regions. 

International Day against Nuclear Tests: The UN General Assembly declared 29 August as the global day against nuclear tests. This day is aimed at generating more awareness on the harm caused by nuclear weapon testing and related explosions. The UN also appeals to countries to stop testing nuclear weapons in order to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world.

International Day of Charity: Eradicating poverty is not just a governmental or individual effort - it calls for solidarity and compassion from all capable persons. The UN recognises 5 September as global charity day in order to spread the message of helping the underprivileged through charitable activities and philanthropy.

International Literacy Day: Literacy is a key factor in attaining sustainable development in the world. To this end, 8 September is earmarked by the UN to spread awareness on the importance and need for literacy for all, and to urge governments to ensure access to equal opportunities in learning and to quality education.

International Day of Democracy: This day is observed on 15 September to propagate the need for democracy and to emphasise on its importance in sustainability, freedom of speech, and human rights.

International Day of Peace: 21 September is recognised by the United Nations are World Peace Day. All nations are urged to cease all conflicts and enmity for the day and spread more awareness on the need for peace and harmony to support global prosperity and development.

World Maritime Day: This day is observed on 26 September every year under the aegis of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with support from the United Nations. It aims to promote sustainable shipping and maritime development and to honour the contributions and achievements of the maritime industry.

World Tourism Day: Tourism is now a large contributor to global GDP and job growth. 27 September is celebrated as global tourism day to reiterate the importance of this sector and to propagate sustainable, responsible, and inclusive tourism.

International Day of Older Persons: By 2050, over 20% of the world's population is projected to be aged 60 or more. Because of this, the UN wants more focus on the needs and care of older persons/senior citizens. 1 October has been identified as the day to increase awareness about the importance of older people, their contributions to society, and the care they need from the younger generation.

International Day of Non-Violence: This day is celebrated on 2 October, the same day as Gandhi Jayanti, to propagate the message of non-violence, tolerance and understanding, and to urge more countries to lay down arms.

World Post Day: Postal services play an important part in communication, interaction, and socio-economic growth across the world, especially in rural areas. This day is observed on 9 October, which is when the Universal Postal Union was set up in 1874 in Bern, Switzerland.

International Day for Disaster Reduction: This day is observed on 13 October and was first observed in 1989. It aims to increase awareness on the importance of controlling risks to natural and man-made disasters and recognises the efforts of individuals and communities in bringing down exposure to disasters.

International Day of Rural Women: The sustainability of rural communities often depends on their women, whether it is through frugality, cooperatives and cottage industries, or informal labour. This day is held on 15 October to urge societies and countries to recognise the role of rural women and improve their living conditions.

United Nations Day: The United Nations was set up on 24 October 1945. This day aims to propagate the messages of the UN and make countries more aware of the organisation and its role in the world. This day is marked by many member countries as a public holiday as well.

World Development Information Day: This day is observed on 24 October every year and calls for more information, awareness, and global cooperation for problems related to growth and development in different countries of the world.

World Day for Audiovisual Heritage: 27 October is earmarked to create awareness about the importance of audio-visual documentation in preserving history, heritage, and culture, and the need to protect these records from being lost or destroyed. Audio-visual modes include radio and TV recordings, movies, shows, and recordings of public performances.

World Science Day for Peace and Development: This day, 10 November, is held to encourage conversations about science and developments in the field and emphasise the significance of science in the progress of humanity.

International Day for Tolerance: As a companion day to the International Days of Peace and Non-violence, this day hopes to encourage co-operation, understanding, and harmony among different communities, cultures, and countries. This day is observed on 16 November.

Universal Children's Day: Though Children's Day is celebrated in India on 14 November, globally the day for children is 20 November. It aims to improve the living conditions for children and create awareness on the need for them to have a physically and psychologically healthy environment to grow up in.

World Philosophy Day: This day is held on 21 November each year to pledge commitment to philosophy as an important branch of study, to encourage philosophical analysis of human issues, to emphasise on the role of this subject in society, and to increase access to studying philosophy.

World Television Day: Acknowledging the importance of television as a modern communication, dissemination, and public influence tool, 21 November has been declared by the UN as World TV Day. UN has its own television channel as well.

International Civil Aviation Day: 7 December is recognised as world civil aviation day to educate people about the significance of this industry/profession, to help more countries add civil aviation to their transport portfolio, and to encourage more efforts into making civil aviation safe, accessible, and affordable.

International Anti-Corruption Day: This day is observed on 9 December to educate the people about corruption and bribery as a crime and a socio-economic peril. The UN encourages countries to actively tackle corruption and to create measures to prevent and punish it.

Human Rights Day: This day aims to propagate the message of equality, dignity, and freedom for all humans in the world. It aims to cut down human rights violations, encourage more people to report such cases, and increase cooperation and harmony among people. It is celebrated on 10 December.

UN Language Days

The United Nations celebrates language days for all its six official languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, and Chinese. They are observed to promote multilingualism and the equal use of each language in the UN.

• International Mother Language Day: This is observed on 21 February every year, to promote multilingualism and celebrate diversity of languages and cultures. The observance of this day was proclaimed in November 1999 by the General Conference of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
• French Language Day: This day is observed on 20 March. This day was chosen because on the same date in 1970, the Agency for Cultural and Technical Co-operation (ACCT) - which later became the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) - was established.
• Chinese Language Day: This day is observed on 20 April. It roughly coincides with the celebration of Guyu that pays tribute to Cangjie, an ancient historian who is believed to be the inventor of Chinese characters.
• English Language Day: This day is observed on 23 April, which is believed to be the date of birth as well as death of William Shakespeare.
• Spanish Language Day: This is observed on 23 April, which is the death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the writer of the classic Don Quixote.
• Russian Language Day: This day is observed on 6 June, which is the birth anniversary of poet A.S. Pushkin.
• Arabic Language Day: This day is observed on 18 December, because in 1973 on the same day, Arabic was approved by the UN General Assembly as one of its official languages.

Nature-Related International Holidays 2025

World Wetlands Day: This day is celebrated on 2 February each year to promote awareness about the importance of wetlands in preventing or reversing climate change. It was on this day in 1971 that the Convention on Wetlands (or the Ramsar Convention) was adopted in Ramsar, Iran.

World Wildlife Day: This day is observed on 3 March every year to increase awareness about the importance of wildlife and its conservation. It is an attempt by the United Nations to prevent the loss of biodiversity and create sustainable development globally.

International Day of Forests: 21 March is observed to make people aware of the need for all kinds of forests, their conservation, and their importance in achieving sustainable development globally.

World Water Day: This day is observed under the aegis of the UN on 22 March every year. It seeks to make people more aware about the necessity of water in sustaining life. It also aims to ensure that more people in world get safe drinking water and sanitation.

World Meteorological Day: 23 March is dedicated to recognising the role of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to the wellbeing of society. It marks the beginning of the Convention that led to the setting up of the World Meteorological Organization on the same date in 1950.

Earth Hour: Earth Hour is a global environmental campaign where lights are switched off for an hour towards the end of March every year. Though the lights-out is a symbolic gesture, the movement aims to encourage people to do more for our planet.

Earth Day: The UN recognises that it is not possible to sustain life without ensuring the welfare of our planet. So, 22 April every year is observed as the International Mother Earth Day to bring awareness about the need for co-existence between man and nature and to make people more aware of what needs to be done to protect Earth.

World Migratory Bird Day: This day is observed on the second Saturdays in May and October to raise awareness on the significance of migratory birds in nature and the need for conservation of them and their habitats.

International Day for Biological Diversity: The UN adopted 22 May to recognise the importance of biodiversity and the need for conservation of indigenous flora and fauna. It was initially observed on 29 December, but considering that it was Christmas and New Year time, it was moved to May to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention of Biological Diversity in 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

World Environment Day: Every year, 5 June is celebrated as global environment day to encourage discussions on how to stop destroying the environment, conserve and nurture it, and create sustainable life on the planet. This event was recognised by the United Nations in 1974.

World Oceans Day: Oceans are very important in maintaining balance of life on Earth. This day is observed on 8 June to propagate the significance of these water bodies, educate people on how human activities affect the oceans, and to aim to revive and sustain them.

World Habitat Day: Habitats include cities, towns, villages - any region/place where human life thrives. The first Monday of October is earmarked by the UN to promote awareness on the conservation and protection of habitats and to emphasise on everyone's right to shelter.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: Another day endorsed by the UN, this is observed on 16 September. The Ozone Layer is very important in protecting the Earth against the detrimental rays of the Sun. This layer is affected by several substances, and over the last 32 years, concerted efforts towards reducing the use of ozone-diminishing substances have resulted in the mending of the ozone layer. The World Ozone Day aims to spread awareness about continued efforts to protect the layer and protect our planet.

September Equinox: An equinox is when the centre of the Sun and the centre of the Earth (equator) are directly facing each other. The September Equinox, also known as Southward Equinox, is when the Sun is moving southward passing the celestial equator. This usually occurs between 21 and 24 September. It signals the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

World Soil Day: Soil is one of the most important elements contributing to ecological balance and human existence on Earth. This day is held on 5 December to remind us of its significance and to take measures to protect fertility and retention of soil on the planet.

International Mountain Day: Mountains are not just a vacation spot, but an important geographical and ecological feature. 11 December is earmarked as the day to celebrate the role of mountains and hills in sustaining nature and climate on the planet.

December Solstice: A solstice occurs when the Sun is at its farthest from the celestial equator. The December Solstice occurs between 20 and 22 December each year. It is known as Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and is the shortest day there, while in the Southern Hemisphere it is known as Summer Solstice and is the longest day.

Health-Related International Holidays 2025

World Leprosy Day: The last Sunday of January is marked by WHO, targeting the elimination of disabilities among children due to leprosy. The focus is on avoiding transmission and early detection of the disease.

World Cancer Day: This day devoted to spreading awareness on cancer is marked on 4 February every year. The initiative was launched in 2000 by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

Self-Injury Awareness Day: Also known as Self-Harm Awareness Day, this day is marked on 1 March. It is devoted to spreading awareness about self-harm and reaching out to people who have either injured themselves or are likely to because of loneliness or depressive tendencies, among other reasons.

World Kidney Day: 12 March every year is set aside to raise awareness about the importance of kidneys and what factors affect them, preventive actions to protect the kidneys, and care required for patients with kidney diseases.

World Down Syndrome Day: Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, and the United Nations has marked 21 March to spread awareness about the condition and inclusive education for the afflicted.

World Tuberculosis Day: The WHO has set aside 24 March each year to increase awareness about tuberculosis and to try and eradicate this disease from the Earth. This was the same date in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch discovered the TB bacteria.

World Autism Awareness Day: People with autism and related disorders tend to be socially challenged and obsessive about certain behaviours or patterns. The United Nations earmarked 2 April to promote inclusivity, access to assistive technologies, and eliminate barriers for autistic persons to integrate in society.

World Health Day: This day is led by the World Health Organization on 7 April to spread awareness about the need for healthcare and coverage for everyone. WHO believes that no person should ever have to choose between healthcare and other daily essentials.

World Malaria Day: This day is observed by the WHO every year on 25 April to scale up the fight against malaria, which claimed around 4,35,000 people in 2017. It aims to make more people aware of the cause, symptoms, early detection, cure, and preventive actions required to keep malaria at bay.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Another UN-backed occasion, this day is observed on 28 April to make people more aware of occupational safety and workplace hazards - both physical and psychological, and to bring about laws and policies that support a healthy working environment.

World Ovarian Cancer Day: The cancer of the ovaries, which has one of the lowest survival rates among female carcinomas, claims around 1,84,000 lives every year (as of 2017). This day was started by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition on 8 May to spread awareness about ovarian cancer and the importance of diagnosing and treating it at the earliest.

International Nurses Day: 12 May is the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. This day is observed by the International Council of Nurses to mark the importance of nurses in healthcare, and for better working conditions for nurses across the world.

World Autoimmune Arthritis Day: This day is observed on 20 May to spread awareness about how to care for and live with diseases caused by autoimmunity and lead to joint pain and inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes.

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula: Many women suffer from obstetric fistula, a hole between the birth canal and the bladder/rectum, which occurs during lengthy labour in natural childbirth. It causes both physical and psychological trauma, in addition to social stigma. 23 May is recognised by the UN to spread awareness about prevention and cure of this disorder.

World No Tobacco Day: The WHO encourages shunning of tobacco consumption in all forms. This day is observed on 31 May every year to increase awareness of the harm caused by tobacco and passive smoking, and to encourage more countries to be more stringent on the production and sale of tobacco products.

World Blood Donor Day: Blood donation helps save millions of lives across the world every day, and those who donate blood are among the most invisible of all kinds of donors. This day is observed by the WHO on 14 June to honour and thank the voluntary donors, to encourage more people to donate blood, and to increase awareness about access to safe blood in a timely manner.

International Day of Yoga: The UN recognises the universal appeal of yoga as an ancient practice of physical and mental well-being. To honour this meditative exercise and to encourage more people to practise yoga, 21 June is observed as World Yoga Day.

International Overdose Awareness Day: This day is observed on 31 August every year to raise awareness on the effects of drug overdose, to try and prevent overdosing instances, and to decrease the humiliation related to drug deaths. The day was first observed in Melbourne in 2001.

World Rabies Day: This day is observed on 28 September, which is the death anniversary of Louis Pasteur who developed the first rabies vaccine. It aims to make people aware of the disease and its prevention.

World Heart Day: Over 31% of deaths in the world occur due to heart-related diseases. This day is observed on 29 September to create more awareness about cardiovascular diseases and their prevention and cure.

World Cerebral Palsy Day: Cerebral Palsy are movement disorders occurring in childhood or congenitally, that leave a child with motor coordination, muscular, nervous and//or sensory problems. The cerebral palsy day on 6 October aims to promote the rights of persons afflicted with cerebral palsy and to ensure that they get equal opportunities.

World Sight Day: The second Thursday of October every year is set aside to increase awareness about eye care, blindness, and vision impairment. This day is observed under the aegis of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

World Mental Health Day: Mental health is as important, even more important sometimes, than physical health. 10 October is designated by the WHO to spread awareness about mental health problems, remove the stigma surrounding these issues, and get more support for people living with mental health problems.

World Food Day: This day is held on 16 October to commemorate the establishment, in 1945, of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It aims to make food available and accessible to all and to spread the word about sustainable and healthy eating.

World Stroke Day: Over 17 million people around the world are hit with a stroke and almost one-third of them have a chance of dying because of it. This day is held on 29 October every year to create awareness of the cause, symptoms, cure, and preventive measures of stroke, and the care required by stroke patients.

World Pneumonia Day: Pneumonia is one of the biggest killers of children under 5 years old. This day is promoted by WHO to increase awareness about pneumonia, its causes, cure, and prevention. It is observed on 12 November.

World Diabetes Day: This day is observed on 14 November under the aegis of the International Diabetes Federation. It aims to create awareness about the disease and its preventive measures and urge people to recognise its symptoms and seek cure early.

World Prematurity Day: Premature birth leads to various complications and even death in children. The WHO aims to make people more aware of the impact of premature birthing on the mother and the child. It is held on 17 November each year.

World Toilet Day: Sanitation is very important to maintain a good quality of life. It is an important point in the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to end open defecation by 2030. This day is observed on 19 November to urge countries and communities to improve sanitation measures, make sure that every individual has access to clean and safe toilets.

World AIDS Day: This day is observed on 1 December to disseminate more information and awareness about HIV and AIDS. It aims to eradicate the stigma HIV/AIDS sufferers face, to educate people about prevention of the disease, and urge research and drug development against the virus.

Cultural International Holidays 2025

World Religion Day: This day is observed on the third Sunday of January every year and was initiated by the Baha'i followers. The idea is to promote awareness on inter-religious harmony and understanding and to celebrate the need for a common religion.

Friday the 13th: This is not a universally recognised celebration but is actually a superstition that any 13th date that falls on a Friday is unlucky or ominous. This belief goes back to the Last Supper, where the table had 13 people and Judas, the 13th, betrayed Jesus, which led to his crucifixion the next day.

Valentine's Day: This day is celebrated on 14 February across the world in honour of romance and love. It is supposed to have originated from the legend of St. Valentine, who was in favour of couples in love.

International Women's Day: This day is celebrated on 8 March to create awareness about equal rights for women, to mark their achievements, and encourage communication about problems faced by them.

International Day of Nowruz: Nowruz, also known as Navroze, is the spring festival that is celebrated on 21 March by the Parsi community/Zoroastrian people across the world. The United Nations recognises this day because it is celebrated by member countries such as Afghanistan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, and India.

April Fool's Day: This day is celebrated on the 1st of April every year. It is also known as All Fools' Day. People generally observe this by playing pranks or jokes on each other.

International Day for Monuments: This day is marked every 18 April under the aegis of the International Council on Monument and Sites (ICOMOS) and is backed by the UNESCO. The commemoration intends to promote awareness on the diversity, relevance, and need for preservation of cultural heritage.

World Book and Copyright Day: This day is observed under the aegis of UNESCO on 23 April - a historical day when several monumental writers such as William Shakespeare, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, and Miguel Cervantes died. The purpose is to celebrate readers and writers, to encourage more people to read, and to recognise the scope of books as a tool for knowledge, leisure, character-building, among others.

International Jazz Day: Jazz is recognised by UNESCO as a movement of peace and harmony. This day is observed on 30 April to make more people aware of the power of jazz and promote this musical style globally.

Mother's Day: Mothers are the most important factor in child growth and development, and this day honours the significance of mothers and motherhood in life. It is celebrated on different days in different countries - the 4th Sunday in Lent in the UK, 2nd Sunday of May in a majority of countries including India and the US, and 21 March in several Islamic countries.

Vesak Day: This holiday is the same as Buddha Purnima and is celebrated in India, Tibet, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and other south-east Asian countries that follow Buddhism.

Father's Day: This cultural occasion is celebrated on different dates in different parts of the world. It is commonly celebrated on the third Sunday in June. It is held to complement Mother's Day and honours the role fathers play in a person's life as well as single fathers.

World Chocolate Day: Chocolate is not just a sweet, but is a stress-reliever, is rich in antioxidants, and helps control blood pressure and cholesterol, among other benefits. Chocolates and their advantages are celebrated generally on 7 July every year, though the US has a National Chocolate Day on 28 October, and Ghana (the second-largest cocoa producer) marks the day on 14 February.

Friendship Day: All cultures recognise the significance of friendships in a person's holistic development. So apart from the UN's International Day of Friendship, several countries celebrate friendship day on other days as well. In India, UAE, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, it falls on the first Sunday of August; in Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, it is observed on 20 July; while in the US, it is marked on 15 February.

World Teachers' Day: This day is observed on 5 October globally, under the aegis of UNESCO. The purpose of marking this day is to address the education, working conditions, rights, and responsibilities of teachers. Teachers' Day in India is celebrated on 5 September to commemorate Dr. S. Radhakrishnan's birth anniversary.

Thanksgiving: This harvest festival is mainly celebrated in the United States, a few Caribbean islands, Canada, and Liberia. It is celebrated in Canada on the 2nd Monday of October, and in the US on the 4th Thursday of November. In the US, the festivities are also traced back to 1621 when the pilgrims and Native Americans feasted together at Plymouth after a good harvest.

Halloween/All Hallows' Eve: Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is celebrated on 31 October, the eve of All Saints Day (November 1). It is marked with dressing up in scary costumes to keep the ghosts away, carving scary faces into pumpkins and lighting candles in them, trick-or-treating by children, and family/community gatherings.

International Men's Day: 19 November is celebrated as world men's day. It aims to create awareness about health issues specific to men, to highlight positive role models, and to encourage communication about their problems.

Days Celebrated Primarily in the United States

Engineer's Week: This is observed during the week of George Washington's birth anniversary, which falls on 22 February. It is meant to recognise and appreciate the contribution of engineers to society, to promote awareness on the need for engineers, and to encourage more students to take up engineering.

Doctor's Day: This day is observed on 30 March every year in the US to recognise the contribution of physicians and medical doctors to society. It was on 30 March 1842 that Dr. Crawford Long first used sulfuric ether to remove a neck tumour from a patient.

Other Interesting International Days

International Customs Day: This day is celebrated on 26 January every year by customs organisations across the world, under the aegis of the World Customs Organization (WCO). Each year, the organisation picks a different theme to focus on.

Pi Day: Pi (?) in mathematics is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter and it is equal to 3.14159, or 3.14 for ease of calculation. This day is marked by mathematics enthusiasts on 14 March (3/14 in US date format), and in many places you might get discounts and offers on pies and pizzas.

International Day of Human Space Flight: This day is celebrated on 12 April every year to commemorate the first flight in space manned by a human. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, a milestone that expanded the scope of space exploration.

World Intellectual Property Day: Intellectual property refers to any kind of copyrights, patents, or trademarks that are created by an individual, a group of individuals, or a company. The World Intellectual Property Association (WIPO) marks 26 April each year to propagate the significance of intellectual property in innovation.

World Press Freedom Day: Press, or media, is a powerful tool in a democracy. It was on 3 May 1992 that the Declaration of Windhoek on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press was signed, and this day is recognised by the UN as per recommendation by UNESCO, to celebrate freedom of press across the world.

African Liberation Day: The Organisation of African Unity (now known as the African Union) was founded on 25 May 1963. It symbolises Africa's movement for decolonisation and to obtain freedom from foreign conquest and exploitation.

International Programmers' Day: This day is mostly observed in Russia on the 256th day of the year, which usually falls on 13 September in regular years and 12 September in leap years. The number 256 is significant for programmers because it is equal to one byte of data, or the maximum number of values, including zero, in a byte.

World Vegetarian Day: This day is observed on 1 October to raise awareness of the benefits of vegetarianism and to promote the vegetarian lifestyle. It was started by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977.

World Vegan Day: Veganism is a food culture that avoids all kinds of animal products, including milk and milk products. It is observed on 1 November to spread information about veganism and to bring the vegan community together. It was first held in 1994 by Louise Wallis, the then Chair of The Vegan Society in the UK.

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