Everyday Is A Holiday

Christmas and the big meals are over, yet the holiday season continues.

Hanukkah is in full swing, Kwanzaa just started, New Years is coming up, followed by Orthodox Christmas on January 7, and Chinese New Year on January 29. These are only holidays I am aware of.

If you look at the Earth Calendar, just about everyday is a special day somewhere in the world. Even January 8, when the USA marks the King's birthday. That's King Elvis.

But what the heck is Trivia Day and National Clean Off Your Desk Day, and Maintenance Day, and Rubber Eraser Day? These are all American special days.

Only in Canada and the US do we mark Groundhog Day. I guess it's because we have the kind of winter that makes us eager for spring. I mean, you don't find Finland and Norway celebrating Groundhog Day and they get plenty of snow too.

Sweden does celebrate Fat Tuesday. Somehow, I don't think of northern climes celebrating Mardi Gras. Australia does Clean Up while it Prays on the same day.

But did you know that on March 20, the whole world is celebrating World Frog Day?

May 1 is Labour Day in just about every country in the world except Canada and the US. I wonder why we've chosen to celebrate labour in September instead of with the rest of the world.

I guess the special occasions a country chooses to celebrate is an expression of that country's history, culture, climate and personality.

My favourite days? I like the Hero Days that many countries celebrate. And I like March 24 and September 25, The Man and The Boy's birthdays respectively. But I have to stick with the tried and true holidays. Despite the frenzy and the commericialism, I like Christmas. I like that everyone is off work and school at the same time, that we make a point of seeing friends and family and spending time together.