When is Canadian Labour Day?
Labour Day is a statutory national holiday celebrated throughout Canada on the first Monday in September.
The September date has remained unchanged, even though the government has been encouraged to adopt May 1st as Labour Day, the date celebrated by the majority of the rest of the world.
Moving the holiday, in addition to breaking with tradition, could have been viewed as aligning the Canadian labour movements with internationalist sympathies. Another major reason for keeping the current September date is that the United States celebrates its Labor Day on the same day.
History of Canadian Labour Day
The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to a printer's revolt in 1872 in Toronto when labourers tried to establish a maximum 54-hour workweek. At that time, any union activity was considered illegal and the organizers were jailed. Protest marches of over 10,000 formed in response. This eventually led to the Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald repealing the anti-union laws and arranging the release of the organizers as well.
The parades held in support of the Nine-Hour Movement and the printers' strike led to an annual celebration. The date was officially declared as a national holiday in Canada on July 23rd 1894 by the government of Prime Minister John Thompson.
How is Labour Day celebrated?
While some Labour Day parades and picnics are organized by unions, most Canadians simply regard Labour Day as the Monday of the last long weekend of summer. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school, which traditionally begin their new year the day after.
A traditional Labour Day event in Canada is the Labour Day Classic, a Canadian Football League event where rivals play on Labour Day weekend.
When is Uzbek Independence Day?
Independence Day is a public holiday in Uzbekistan, observed on 1st September.
Known locally as 'Mustaqillik Kuni', this is Uzbekistan's National Day and marks independence from the Soviet Union on 1 September 1991.
History of Uzbek Independence Day
Uzbekistan is a land-locked Central Asian nation that has a diverse and rich heritage due to its strategic position on the so-called Silk Road, an ancient trade route between Europe and China.
Did you know?
Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only double land-locked countries: every country that surrounds them is land-locked.
Following periods of control under the Persian, Mongol and Chinese empires, the Uzbeks arrived in the region and three city-states emerged in the sixteenth century. These were eventually incorporated into the Russian Empire.
Following the Russian Revolution, the area become part of the Soviet Union, with the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic being created on 27 October 1924.
In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. As a result Uzbekistan declared its state sovereignty in June 1991 and on 1 September 1991, the independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was declared after a special session of the Supreme Council of the Republic.
How is Uzbek Independence Day Celebrated?
This is the main national holiday in Uzbekistan. Across the country, the history and rich culture of the country is marked by displays of traditional folk music, dancing and local craft.
A large concert and show takes place in the National Park in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.
Did you know?
In Uzbek tradition, the most respected guest is seated the farthest from the entrance to the house.
Any feast on this holiday will no doubt include Plov, the national meal. A rice dish with mutton, rice, onions and grated carrots, legend holds it was invented by the cooks of Alexander the Great. Different regions of the country have their own variations on the dish, adding extra ingredients like pumpkins, peppers or dried tomatoes.
When is Brazilian Independence Day?
Independence Day is always celebrated on 7th September. In Portuguese, it is called 'Dia da Independência' and may also be known as 'Sete de Setembro' (7 September) or 'Dia da Pátria' (Nation Day).
History of Brazilian Independence Day
On 7 September 1822, a declaration of independence from Portugal was made by Pedro di Alcântara, the son of the Portuguese King.
Brazil had been a colony of Portugal since the 16th century. In 1807 France had invaded Portugal and the Portuguese royal family had escaped to Brazil. in 1815, Brazil was given equal kingdom status with Portugal. By 1820, the French had withdrawn from Portugal and the royal family
Alcântara, better known as Pedro I, became the first emperor of Brazil and ruled from 1823 until 1831.
Brazil became a republic in 1889 but kept 7th September as its Independence Day. Independence Day has been a federal holiday in Brazil since 1949.
On this day there are celebrations in the capital, Brasilia, with military parades, air shows, musical concerts and fireworks in the evening.
When is Macedonian Independence Day?
Independence day in Macedonia is celebrated on 8th September. If 8th September falls on a weekend, a different day is usually proclaimed to observe the holiday.
This holiday is Macedonia's National Day and is known in Macedonian as 'Den na nezavisnosta'. This holiday marks the date of the 1991 Referendum for Independence.
History of Macedonian Independence Day
In 1913, after the Balkan wars, 500 years of Ottoman control came to an end and the region traditionally known as Macedonia was partitioned between Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, with the area now known as the Republic of Macedonia being incorporated into Serbia.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Macedonia was occupied by Bulgaria before returning to Serbian control at the end of the war. The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was founded in 1918, which was renamed as Yugoslavia in 1929.
During the Second World War, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was occupied by Axis powers consisting of Bulgarian, German, Italian, and Albanian forces.
After the end of the war, there was reaction to the fascist occupation, resulting in an overwhelming victory for the communists in the elections of 1945. This led to the creation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1946, with Macedonia as a federal state within Yugoslavia.
Yugoslavia started to break apart in June 1991, when Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence. Macedonia avoided the conflicts that affected the other federal states, when on 8 September 1991 the Referendum for Independence in Macedonia that took place. Over 95.5% of the voters in the Referendum voted for Independence.
The results were announced on 18 September 1991 and on 25 September 1991, the independence of the Republic of Macedonia was declared with a new constitution adopted in November 1991.
The international recognition of Macedonia's Declaration of independence was slow as Greece objected to the use of the name Macedonia, which is the same as one of its own provinces.
This day has been a public holiday since 1991.
When is Mexican Independence Day?
This public holiday is the national day of Mexico and is celebrated on September 16th.
Also known as 'Día de la Independencia' or 'Grito de Dolores', it marks the anniversary of the Mexican War of Independence against Spain on September 16th 1810.
History of Mexican Independence Day
Specifically, it commemorates a proclamation by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16th 1810, in the village of Dolores, near Guanajuato.
Hidalgo's proclamation called for an end to Spanish rule in Mexico, encouraging rebellion and insurrection against the Spanish.
The Spanish Empire had been broken by Napoleon's invasion of Spain, and imperial rule had been replaced by "juntas" in both Spain and the American colonies, while King Fernando VII was being held hostage by Napoleon.
The Proclamation of Dolores Hidalgo ordered that the church bell be rung to gather his congregation, then called for insurrection and ended by calling out, Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! Viva Fernando VII! Abajo el mal gobierno! [Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe! Long live Fernando VII! Down with the bad government!].
There are various accounts of what Hidalgo was reputed to have actually said. While the proclamation has gained national status, in reality, it is unlikely that Hidalgo disowned the King as he is supposedly said to have done.
Following his speech, Father Hidalgo raised an army and attempted to overthrow the Junta government, but he was eventually defeated. As his struggle against the establishment continued, he began to demand the full independence of all the Spanish American colonies, and the exile or arrest of all Spaniards within Mexico.
It was only after a ten year long War of Independence that Mexico's independence was finally acknowledged by the Spanish viceroy on September 27th 1821.
How is Mexican Independence Day celebrated?
Since the 1870's, re-enacting the proclamation has become a tradition. Every year, The Mexican President rings Hidalgo's bell (now kept at the National Palace in Mexico City) and repeats Hidalgo's words at 11:00pm on September 15th. On September 16th, a military parade takes place in Mexico City.
In 1825, the Republic of Mexico officially declared September 16th as its national Independence Day.
Note: Cinco de Mayo is often confused as being Mexican Independence Day when in fact Cinco de Mayo commemorates a Battle with France in 1862.
When is Maltese Independence Day?
This holiday is always celebrated on 21 September. In Malta, it is called 'Jum 1-Indipendenza'.
The day marks the day in 1964 when Malta gained independence from Britain.
History of Maltese Independence Day
Malta's position in the Mediterranean sea has made the islands a strategically important location since classical times, with the islands passing from one ruler to another through the ages.
In 1800, the British had assisted Malta in removing the occupying French forces and the Maltese people had asked to become a sovereign nation in the British Empire. This was ratified in the treaty of Paris in 1815.
As a result of Malta's heroic stand against the Italian and German forces in World War II, the British King George VI vowed that self-government would be restored at the end of the war if the Maltese people wanted it, leading to self-government being granted in 1947.
The movement for independence gained pace after self-rule was granted and after a few false starts, including a close referendum that would have made Malta part of the United Kingdom, independence was finally granted on 21 September 1964.
Ten years later, Malta became a republic.
How is Maltese Independence Day celebrated?
Malta's Independence Day is celebrated with parades and festivities across the country. This holiday is one of five national days in Malta.
When is Bulgarian Independence Day?
This holiday is always celebrated on 22 September. Known locally as 'Ден на независимостта', it marks Bulgaria's independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908.
History of Bulgarian Independence Day
Bulgaria had been part of the Ottoman Empire since 1396. In the late nineteenth century, a growing tide of nationalism had been spreading across Europe, which had been threatening the break up of the western parts of the Ottoman Empire.
In April 1876, uprisings in other parts of the Ottoman Empire spread to Bulgaria. The suppression of the revolts by the Ottomans was horrific and when the atrocities were made public to the West and Russia, international condemnation was widespread. In 1877, Russia formally declared war on the Ottoman Empire. The conflict eventually resulted in the creation of a Bulgarian principality within the Ottoman Empire, albeit with reduced land.
Following a war with Serbia, the principality extended its area in the region and on 22 September 1908, Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria declared Bulgaria’s independence from the Ottoman Empire.
In 1908, Bulgaria was still using the Julian calendar, so the declaration of independence was made on 5 October using that calendar.
In 1944, Bulgaria became part of the Soviet Union, and only became an independent republic in 1991. It wasn't until 1998, when the the Bulgarian Independence Day was reinstated by the Bulgarian Parliament.
Queen's Birthday in Western Australia
Please note that Some regional areas in Western Australia hold the Queen's Birthday public holiday on an alternative date, usually to coincide with a significant date or event for that area. The regions and dates are listed on the Government of Western Australia website.
When is Queen's Birthday in Australia?
The Queen's Birthday holiday is a moveable feast celebrating the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II who is not only Queen of Great Britain but also Queen of Australia, New Zealand and 13 of the 50 other countries in the commonwealth.
The holiday traditionally marks the start of the Australian ski season.
On this day, businesses will generally be closed. Shops may open but observe restricted trading hours. Transport may operate on a Saturday or reduced timetable.
In Queensland, this holiday is observed on the first Monday in October since 2016.
In Western Australia, the Queen's Birthday holiday is celebrated in either late September or early October. The date is decided by the state governor.
The Queen's actual birthday is neither in June nor October but in April. The official birthday is in June to increase the chance of good weather for the celebrations in the UK, not to help the Australian Ski industry. It is not a public holiday in the UK.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of the House of Windsor was born on April 21st, 1926.
In 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and was known thereafter as Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Elizabeth II continues to reign as Queen of Australia after a referendum in 1999 which resulted in the retention of Australia's constitutional monarchy.