Holidays for the week of 21st July 2014
Hello and welcome to Holiday a Week, your weekly preview of the Holidays, festivals, celebrations and remembrances from around the world. I’m Jeffrey Johnson This podcast is for week starting on Monday July 21st, 2014 July 21st is Racial Harmony Day in Singapore A day to commemorate the 1964 racial riots, when students will reflect on and celebrate the rich racial diversity of Singapore. The day has been celebrated since 1998, with students dressing in traditional clothing and playing traditional games. Also on July 21st - Belgian National Day The swearing in of the King of Belgium happened on July 21, 1831, which marked the formation of the Kingdom of Belgium. Having just recently attained its independence, a constitutional convention was established that draft their first constitution. The soon to be King, Leopold of Saxe-Cobourg, swore allegiance to the constitution making him the first King. This marked the end of the Belgian Revolution. Since then Belgium has come to be associated with a place to hold the head of international headquarters, such as the European Union and NATO. During the National Day there is a review of the military and police by the King, currently King Philippe who ascended to the throne on last years National Day when his father resigned. There are also booths around the capital, Brussels, of the different agencies of the government to let the public know what they do and answer questions. And like many Nation Days there are fireworks to conclude the celebration in the evening. July 23 - Renaissance Day in Oman Qaboos bin Said al Said became the Sultan of Oman on July 23, 1970, now known as Renaissance Day, taking over from his father. He ushered in a much more progressive government helping to bring the population to a much higher standard of living. He has also helped to maintain good relations with both the West and Iran, often mediating between the two powers. Happy Renaissance Day Oman! Also on July 23 - Revolution Day in Egypt The largest of the civil holiday in Egypt, it celebrates the anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution in 1952. Marked by concerts and military parades. Happy Revolution Day Egypt! July 24 - Pioneer Day, Utah United States Celebrating the day when Brigham Young entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, this is a day celebrated by not only those of the Mormon faith but all those who live in the area to commemorate the pioneers who lead the way to the west and settled in the area. Celebrated in similar fashion as Independance Day for the United States, there are parades, fireworks, rodeos and other festivities. It is the second most heavily trafficked day in the area, with the 4th of July just a head of it. Happy Pioneer Day! 25 July - Ebernoe Horn Fair In the small town Ebernoe Sussex, England is a tradition 100s of years old though it had gone into a dormant period and restarted in the mid 1800s. A cricket match is played and a town fair is held, complete with cake, tea and beer stalls plus bouncy castles and a hot air balloon. Towards the end of the match the batter with the highest score (though I am not even sure what that means, cricket confuses me) gets a set of horns from the sheep that has been roasting all day and will be served at the fair. You can find a full write up about the day from someone who actually attended last years festival by going to the show notes http://www.talesfromahappyhouse.com/2013/07/ebernoe-horn-fair.html Happy Ebernoe Horn Festival! Independence Day Maldives July 26th A small island nation south of India, that has the distinction of the lowest average elevation at 1.5 meters and lowest highest elevation of any country at only 2.4 meters, celebrates their Independence Day on July 26th from Great Britain in 1965. They have had self rule for most of their existence until 1887, with only two other times colonial powers contro