August 15 Holidays

India Independence Day marks August 15, 1947, when India gained independence from Britain at the stroke of midnight — the moment Jawaharlal Nehru delivered his “Tryst with Destiny” speech and the Indian flag was raised for the first time over the Red Fort in Delhi. Assumption of Mary is the Catholic and Orthodox feast of the Virgin Mary’s bodily ascension into heaven — a dogma defined by Pope Pius XII in 1950, observed as a public holiday in more than 30 countries across Catholic and Orthodox-majority regions. World Honey Bee Day is observed on the third Saturday of August to celebrate the honeybee and raise awareness for the colony collapse disorder that has reduced managed bee populations by more than 30 percent since 2006. International Homeless Animals Day is observed on the third Saturday of August to raise awareness for the hundreds of millions of homeless animals worldwide and to promote spay and neuter programs. A midnight speech, a bodily ascension, a bee colony, and an animal shelter.