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.
Boxing Day/Family Day
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Tuesday december 26, 2023
Secular holiday : The day after Christmas, the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is better known as Boxing Day. The term may come from the opening of church poor boxes that day; maybe from the earthenware boxes with which boy apprentices collected money at the doors of their masters' clients.
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
Parliamentary election
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Friday january 26, 2024
Special Events :
Commonwealth Day
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Monday march 11, 2024
Secular holiday : Celebrates the nation's British Commonwealth status
Good Friday
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Friday march 29, 2024
Catholic or protestant :
Holy Saturday
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Saturday march 30, 2024
Catholic : Paid holiday
Easter
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Sunday march 31, 2024
Catholic or protestant : Not a paid holiday
Easter Monday
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Monday april 1, 2024
Catholic or protestant : In the year 325, the Council of Nicée determined a date fo Easter. Full Moon would fall the 14th day of a moon month (1). Easter would be marked by the dominical letter(2)and the epactus(3). With the establishment of the equinox ne variatur on March 21, algorithms where elaborated to attribuate a date for Easter whatever the year.
Time between two consecutive new moons: 20 days 12 hours 44 minutes 2.8 - Gives a letter code for the year's calendar Age of the moon on January 1st, minus one unity, 0 being the new moon's age.
Memorial Day
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Tuesday april 23, 2024
Culture : Commemorates the bombing of Funafuti by Japan during World War II.
Gospel Day
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Monday may 13, 2024
Secular holiday : Marks the arrival of Christianity.
King's Birthday
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Saturday june 15, 2024
Secular holiday : King Charles III