How we think, feel, what we find funny, objectionable – everything is a result of our culture. And cultural holidays can be a great way to express something personal or to connect with the whole community. Since we live in a multicultural world, National Today has a long list of 38 cultural holidays.
| Date | Holiday | Category | Tags | Region |
|---|
| Burns Night | Cultural | Cultural, Historical | U.K. |
| Mardi Gras | Cultural | Activities, Festivities, Food, Fun, Historical | U.S. |
| Ides of March | Cultural | Historical | World |
| St. Patrick's Day | Cultural | Ethnic, Festivities, Historical, Liquor | World |
| French Language Day | Cultural | Educational, Ethnic | World |
| Qingming Festival | Cultural | Chinese food | China |
| Tiradentes Day | Cultural | Cultural, Historical | World |
| Cinco de Mayo | Cultural | Cultural Holidays, Historical, Mexican | Mexico |
| Western Australia Day | Cultural, International | Cultural, Historical | Australia |
| Queensland Day | Cultural | Civic, Cultural, Historical | Australia |
| Russian Language Day | Cultural | Ethnic, Russian | World |
| King Kamehameha Day | Cultural | American, Cultural, Festivities, Historical | U.S. |
| First Day of NAIDOC Week | Cultural | Australian, Cultural, Ethnic, Festivities, Indigenous Culture | Australia |
| Heritage Day in Alberta | Cultural, International | Canadian, Family, Historical | Canada |
| Pakistan Independence Day | Cultural | Cultural, Historical | World |
| Indian Independence Day | Cultural | Civic, Cultural, Festivities, Hindu, Historical | World |
| Discovery Day | Cultural | Canadian, Historical | Canada |
| Gold Cup Parade | Cultural | Family, Summer | Canada |
| Notting Hill Carnival | Cultural | Historical | U.K. |
| West Indian Day Parade | Cultural | Cultural, Festivities, Fun | U.S. |
| European Heritage Days | Cultural, International | German, Historical | World |
| Mexican Independence Day | Cultural | Mexican | Mexico |
| German World Children's Day | Cultural, Family, International | Children, Family | World |
| Johnny Appleseed Day | Cultural | Cultural, Historical, Pop Culture | U.S. |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | Cultural | Chinese | China |
| National Edge Day | Cultural | Cultural, Lifestyle, Pop Culture, Weird National | U.S. |
| Bonfire Night | Cultural | British | U.K. |
| National Hug a Musician Day | Cultural | Friendship, Music | Other |
| Saint Andrew's Day | Cultural | Catholic, Christian, Festivities, Historical | U.K. |
| Arabic Language Day | Cultural | Educational, Ethnic | World |
| Hogmanay | Cultural | Cultural, Festivities | U.K. |
| New Year's Eve | Cultural | Fun, Historical | World |
| Black History Month | Cultural | Activities, Educational, Historical | U.S. |
| Scottish-American Heritage Month | Cultural | Activities, Cultural | U.S. |
| National Mediterranean Diet Month | Cultural, Food & Beverage, Health | Cultural, Health, Healthy Food, Lifestyle | U.S. |
| National Salsa Month | Cultural, Food & Beverage | Cultural, Food, Spicy Food | U.S. |
| Hispanic Heritage Month | Cause, Cultural | Cultural | Mexico, U.S. |
| Oktoberfest | Cultural | Cultural, Festivities, Food, German, Liquor | World |
| Polish American Heritage Month | Cultural | Cultural, Historical | U.S. |
Where did cultural holidays come from?
From your culture and from ours! We’re grateful to live in a society that is a melting pot of many cultures. And our ability to create relationships, share, and care is what builds a community. Celebrating a heritage, a language, or a tradition is more than a mere celebration. It is also a way to create a place for our past in the future.
On March 20, the world celebrates French Language Day. An important celebration because the French language has enriched English. This celebration also supports linguistic diversity. There is a no of other holidays that celebrate diversity and pay respect to the way immigrants have shaped history. One of them is Polish American Heritage Month that is celebrated in October. Other cultural holidays are all about fun! Like the Gold Cup Parade -- Atlantic Canada’s largest annual parade that’s a whole lot of fun both for tourists and the people of Prince Edward Island.
Culture is how we reveal ourselves to others. And when we celebrate our culture, or someone else’s we make human connections and happy memories.
Submit your favorite cultural holiday
We’d love to add to our growing list of cultural holidays. And that is where we need your help. Tell us about a cultural holiday we don’t know. Is it popular on social media? Can you tell us something interesting about it? Just click on our holiday submission page to get started.
