Slow Art Day, which takes place on April 11 this year, has given rise to the “slow art” movement — an idea that encourages people to take a longer time to look at pieces of art. Are you wondering what this means? Imagine entering an art gallery and walking by dozens of artwork. How much time do you spend looking at one painting or sculpture? Research says the museumgoer spends an average of 30 seconds looking at a piece of art. Slow Art Day encourages people to look at art more patiently, and thus appreciate it more deeply. Art is supposed to be slowly assessed and cherished. This year, visit a museum on Slow Art Day and try to look at art from a different perspective.
National Day of Life, Peace and Justice
In El Salvador, National Day of Life, Peace and Justice, a special holiday dedicated to the pursuit of peace, takes place every March 26. It was a public holiday before then-president Salvador Sanchez Ceren requested its designation as a working celebration, with government offices, schools, and businesses remaining open for the day. The day’s not only about public life — every Salvadoran is encouraged to observe peace in their personal lives!
Old New Year’s Day
Old New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25 and this tradition is still honored by some countries. Even though the Gregorian calendar was established in 1582, several countries opted to reject it for hundreds of years. Instead, they adopted the “Annunciation Style date,” which considered the Annunciation Feast (March 25) to be New Year’s Day. Dionysius Exiguus introduced the ‘Anno Domini’ calendar and the celebration on the day began in several locations. Because Jesus was to be conceived on the Annunciation, nine months before Christmas Day, Dionysius chose March 25 as the new year.