Yom Kippur
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Monday september 25, 2023
cards/flowers :
Daylight Saving Time
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Sunday october 29, 2023
Special Events : At 1:00 a.m. local times
Christmas Day
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Monday december 25, 2023
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 Years Day on Christmas Day.
School holidays
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Monday january 1, 2024
School holidays : calendars gazetted by the respective Departments of Education
Each province carries its own specific set of holidays, please scroll on the concerned province
Average class size: more than 25
all study programs are aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
PISA ranking (average 493): 493
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
number of instructional hours per year in lower secondary education: 700 hours
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Usually no school on Saturday
No uniform required
Autonomous University of Madrid ranking: Times Higher Education #351-400/QS ranking #187/Shanghai #201-300
New Year's Day
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Monday january 1, 2024
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
Epiphany
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Saturday january 6, 2024
Catholic : The term comes from ancient Greek and means appearance . Cele ated on the 6th January, this feast corresponds to the presentation of Child Jesus to the Magi. This is the day of Jesus' first miracle, the Wedding in Cana , and the day of his own baptism Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday
Reporter's Day
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Wednesday january 24, 2024
Special Events :
Valentine's Day
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Wednesday february 14, 2024
cards/flowers : Introduced by Pope Gelasus in 498, perhaps in response to a local Roman tradition of lovers writing their names on an urn in February
Fathers' Day
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Tuesday march 19, 2024
cards/flowers :
Arbor Day
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Tuesday march 26, 2024
Culture :
Maundy Thursday
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Thursday march 28, 2024
Catholic or protestant : Maundy Thursday: Commemorates the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist (Lord's Supper).
Good Friday
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Friday march 29, 2024
Catholic or protestant : The First Council of Nicaea (a gathering of bishops in the early days of Christianity) wanted to find a day to commemorate the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. This commemoration had to be linked to Jewish holiday traditions, since the last supper of Christ was believed to be a Jewish Passover meal. But the Jewish calendar is based on lunar and solar cycles, so the Easter celebration had to follow the same calendar.
Daylight Saving Time
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Sunday march 31, 2024
Special Events : At 1:00 am local times