India (Tamil Nadu) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

School holidays : Https://tnschools.gov.in
International schools may follow a different calendar
Official calendar
Schooling is mandatory till age 14
Teaching languages: Tamil, English
Number of instructional days: 210
schools are open on Saturday
school uniforms required
Indian Institute of Technology Madras ranking: Shanghai (2023) #701-800

We carry confirmed dates till May 2025 -- please double-check mid-term holidays -- heat waves may affect the calendar - 2024 calendar can be viewed here (in Tamil) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YGZFN-slLvXcDuGYCd1TuuSkNhcp6I3L/view?pli=1

Some variations according to the school
Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
Make a Paypal donation of euros 50 to [email protected] to purchase the full calendar for 5 countries, including Tamil Nadu schools
Contact [email protected] to purchase a file containing confirmed calendars of 550 countries and regions.

School holidays :

Culture : Makar Sankranti: apart from a harvest festival is also regarded as the beginning of an auspicious phase in Indian culture, it is said as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. [Wikipedia]

Hinduism : The symbol is the movement from one place to another which leads to meeting someone or something. The sun leaves its present constellation to get into Sakranti .

Secular holiday : A celebrated Tamil poet who wrote the Thirukkural, a work on ethics in Tamil literature. [Wikipedia]

School holidays :

Hinduism : Also called Thai Pongal: a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils Unusually for South Indian Hindu festivals, Thai Pongal is timed by an astronomical event - the winter solstice. Pongal is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God Surya and marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana. [Wikipedia]

Secular holiday : It was the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress at midnight of December 31, 1929 - January 1, 1930, that the Tri-Colour Flag was unfurled by the nationalists and a pledge taken that every year on January 26, the Independence Day would be celebrated and that the people would unceasingly strive for the establishment of a Sovereign Democratic Republic of India. The professed pledge was successfully redeemed on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution of India framed by the Constituent Assembly of India came into force, although the Independence from the British rule was achieved on August 15, 1947. It is because of this that August 15 is celebrated as Independence Day, while January 26 as Republic Day.

Hinduism : Marks the end of a 10-day fasting period during which people go to the local temple and get themselves pierced with various needles attached to various object.

Banks only :

cards/flowers :

Secular holiday : The Hindu New Year, also known as Ugadi, is on the day following the new moon on or after the spring equinox.

Muslim, Sufi : Ends the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. There were 30 days of strict fasting from sunup to sundown in honor of the first revelation to the Prophet Mohammed. In India, except in Arunachal Pradesh.