Public holidays are one of the most common ways people around the world commemorate their history, beliefs, or shared values. Public holidays are usually to honor important historical dates or the religious traditions of specific countries. But occasionally the reasons behind them can be quite surprising for non-citizens! From Diwali and Chinese New Year to Christmas and Eid al-Fitr, many holidays are celebrated worldwide as part of national, cultural, or religious tradition.
Which countries celebrate a coming-of-age day? Is January 1st a day off throughout the entire globe? Which nationality is lucky enough to have the highest number of days off annually? Let’s look at 5 interesting things about public holidays worldwide!
Holidays celebrated around the world vary greatly, but many share common themes like unity, remembrance, or seasonal change. When you take a look at the world calendar of public holidays, you can find common patterns for most of the countries. Popular holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter, and New Year’s Eve are widely celebrated in many countries—even if they aren’t official public holidays.
Public holidays are often set to celebrate the most significant dates for each country. The calendar is full of Constitution Days, Independence and National Hero Days, as well as days to commemorate labor, honor the birth of Jesus Christ, mark the victory of good over evil, or enjoy a festival of lights like Diwali.
From spring festivals to memorial observances, each holiday marks a unique moment of reflection, joy, or unity. The calendar also includes festivals celebrated in various traditions: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and more. You’ll find fireworks, parades, feast days, traditional festivities, and exchanging of gifts, depending on the culture and occasion. Some are widely celebrated holidays, while others remain localized to a specific community or faith.
We went through the calendar and put the most interesting facts about holidays celebrated worldwide together. Ever wondered if New Year is celebrated on the same day across the globe? Wonder no more, and enjoy! :)
When you take a look at the list of public holidays in the world, Asian countries are in the lead, with Cambodia being the true king of them all! Cambodians enjoy 28 public days off annually. This includes traditional celebrations like the Water Festival, which is celebrated on the first full moon following the rainy season.
Sri Lanka takes second place with 25 days off, followed by both India and Kazakhstan with 21 days of public holidays. In India, for example, religious holidays such as Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, and Holi are celebrated by millions and reflect the diversity of the country’s spiritual life.
And how do things look on other continents? Europe’s podium is taken by Turkey (16 days), followed closely by Lithuania and Sweden (15 days). Out of the two Americas, Colombia (18), Argentina (15), and Chile (14) occupy the leading positions. Holidays in the U.S., like Thanksgiving—a national holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada—also rank among the favorite holidays for many.
Christmas is one of the most popular public holidays. Even non-Christian countries celebrate it, but not all of them. What is important is that Christmas is set on December 25th most often, being a day off in most cases. But there are also Orthodox, Armenian and Coptic Christmases, celebrated on the 6th (Armenian) and 7th of January. Still, 30 countries do not have Christmas marked on their calendars at all, with Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam among them.
Christmas is a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, and one of the most widely recognized religious holidays globally. Even non-Christian countries celebrate it in some form, but not all. What is significant is that Christmas is set on December 25th most often, being a day off in many places.
But there are also Orthodox, Armenian, and Coptic Christmases, celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere on the 6th (Armenian) and 7th of January. Still, 30 countries do not have Christmas marked on their calendars at all, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are some of the most celebrated holidays worldwide. January 1st is the most popular public holiday on Earth, with 90% of the globe enjoying a day off on that day. That does not mean that the remaining 10% do not celebrate the new year. Some follow the lunar calendar, marking the spring festival or Chinese New Year instead.
What is interesting is that there are five countries where January 1st is a public holiday, but not because it's New Year’s Day. Cubans celebrate the Triumph of the Revolution, Czechs the Restoration Day of the Independent Czech State, Haitians, and Sudanese their Independence Day, Slovakians the Day of the Establishment of the Slovak Republic. Nonetheless, people all around the world find a reason to celebrate the start of a new year, no matter the calendar followed.
Public holidays are not always to celebrate serious, historical events or religious traditions. Some countries decided to offer their citizens free time just to have fun! Several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean celebrate the Carnival festival, with Monday and Tuesday off right before Ash Wednesday.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines celebrate in July, and Grenada in August. This festivity often includes parades, music, dancing, and vibrant costumes—a true celebration of culture and joy. These festivals are celebrated with intense enthusiasm, showing how public holidays can also be about playfulness and community.
When it comes to the most unusual Public Holidays, Japan definitely takes the lead! The country celebrates Coming-of-age Day, Mountain Day and Respect for the Aged Day, just to name a few! Japan is not the only one. Bangladesh celebrates Language Martyrs' Day, Pakistan Kashmir Day, Qatar National Sports Day, North Korea Tree Planting Day and Cambodia Water Festival Ceremony Holiday. All those holidays are public holidays, with days off to celebrate!
When it comes to the most unusual holidays celebrated around the world, Japan certainly takes the lead! The country celebrates Coming-of-age Day, Mountain Day, and Respect for the Aged Day, just to name a few. These holidays are considered some favorite holidays for Japanese citizens.
Japan is not the only one. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead is a widely celebrated holiday marking the remembrance of ancestors. Bangladesh celebrates Language Martyrs’ Day, Pakistan Kashmir Day, Qatar National Sports Day, North Korea Tree Planting Day, and Cambodia Water Festival Ceremony Holiday. In the Islamic tradition, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of fasting known as Ramadan, and is one of the most important Islamic holidays globally.
All those holidays are public holidays, with days off to celebrate in their own meaningful ways.
If you are an HR Manager working with an international, remote team, there’s a lot to learn and remember. That is why we recommend taking a look at the global calendar mentioned above and planning your employees’ leaves in advance, marking them in the leave management system that you use.
And what do you think about the number of public holidays in your country? Is it too high, just fine, or you would like to add some more - like Nutella Day, for example? :)
New Year’s Day is celebrated in over 90% of countries. It’s often considered the most popular day of the year.
No, but it's a new year celebration in most places. Some countries follow different calendars.
Diwali is a religious holiday and a festival of lights. It marks the victory of good over evil.
The Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar. It’s a religious holiday and a spring festival.
The Day of the Dead is widely celebrated in Mexico. It honors ancestors with colorful traditions and family gatherings.
Examples include Christmas, Eid al-Fitr, Diwali, and Easter. These religious holidays vary by culture and region.
Popular holidays in the U.S. include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day. These are widely recognized as favorite holidays.
No, some do not recognize it as a public holiday. However, Christmas remains a major religious holiday globally.
It’s a time to reflect and celebrate the new year. Many people enjoy fireworks and parties.
For some, it's New Year’s Day or Christmas. Others might say Diwali or their own national holiday is their favorite day of the year.
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Unlimited holidays are getting louder and louder. Is it a fashionable benefit or an improvement that affects employees' productivity? We decided to discuss this with people who work in organizations offering this type of leave.
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