What Is a Public Holiday? A Simple Explanation
What is a public holiday? At its simplest, it is a day designated by a government on which most public institutions close and many workers get…
Public Holiday vs Bank Holiday vs Observance: What’s the Difference?
Public holiday vs bank holiday — are they the same thing? And where does an “observance” fit in? These terms get thrown around interchangeably, but they…
Is Today a Holiday? How to Check in Any Country
Is today a holiday? It is one of the most-searched questions on the internet every single morning — usually asked while staring at a closed bank…
Christmas Day: Why It’s a Public Holiday Around the World
Christmas Day is the most widely observed public holiday on Earth. In 2026 it falls on Friday, 25 December, and in well over a hundred countries…
New Year’s Day: How the World Celebrates January 1
New Year’s Day — 1 January — is arguably the most universal public holiday on the planet. In 2026 it falls on a Thursday, and from…
Eid al-Fitr 2026: Dates and Public Holiday Status
Eid al-Fitr 2026 is expected around 20–22 March, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. It is one of the most widely observed public…
Eid al-Adha 2026: Dates and Public Holiday Status
Eid al-Adha 2026 is expected around 26–29 May, beginning with the Day of Arafat. Known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” it is the second of Islam’s…
Diwali 2026: Where It’s a Public Holiday
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November. The Festival of Lights is one of the world’s great celebrations — and in several countries, an official public…
Holi 2026: Public Holiday Status in India and Beyond
Holi 2026 falls on Wednesday, 4 March. The festival of colours is one of India’s most joyful public holidays — a gazetted day off nationwide —…
Good Friday and Easter Monday 2026 Explained
Good Friday and Easter Monday 2026 fall on 3 April and 6 April, bookending an Easter weekend observed as public holidays across much of Europe, the…