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Thursday, October 22, 2026
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Library at a glance
259 briefs · 43 iconic · 5 categories · 54 countries
Library by month
259 briefs across the calendar - click a month to filter
Showing 27 briefs in Feb.
Clear filtersFederal holiday(4)
Emperor’s Birthday in Japan (Tennō Tanjōbi) - February 23, the public holiday marking the reigning Emperor’s birthday
Japan’s Emperor’s Birthday (天皇誕生日, Tennō Tanjōbi) on February 23 is a national public holiday marking the birthday of the reigning Emperor, currently Emperor Naruhito (b. 1960). The date is set to the birthday of each Emperor and was moved from December 23 to February 23 when Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019.
Family Day - third Monday of February in most Canadian provinces, a regional statutory holiday for time with family
Family Day is a Canadian statutory holiday observed on the third Monday of February in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia, and on related dates in other provinces. Honours family time, has no fixed federal status under Canada Holidays Act, and serves as the Canadian equivalent of American Presidents Day.
Presidents Day - third Monday of February, federal holiday, and the Washington-Lincoln origins
Presidents Day on the third Monday of February is a US federal holiday honoring all US presidents, especially Washington and Lincoln. Originally Washingtons Birthday (1879); renamed colloquially to Presidents Day. One of 11 federal holidays under 5 U.S.C. 6103.
Treaty of Waitangi Day - the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of New Zealand
Treaty of Waitangi Day is the national day of New Zealand, observed on February 6, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 between the British Crown and Māori chiefs. The treaty established British sovereignty over New Zealand and is considered the founding document of the country.
Civic memorial(2)
Lincoln Birthday - February 12, a US state holiday honouring Abraham Lincoln, observed in a handful of states
Lincoln Birthday on February 12 is a US state holiday honouring Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the 16th US President. Observed in Connecticut, Illinois (where Lincoln lived for many years), Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, and a handful of other states, but not a federal public holiday. Frequently conflated with Presidents Day.
St Brigid’s Day - the Irish public holiday added in 2023 and fixed to a Monday
St Brigid’s Day is an Irish public holiday on the first Monday in February, added by statute in 2023. If 1 February is a Friday the holiday moves to Friday 1 February instead, so it always adjoins a weekend.
Cultural celebration(9)
Le Tet - the Vietnamese lunar new year, when the first person to cross into the new year decides the fortune of the house
Le Tet, Tet Nguyen Da, is the Vietnamese lunar new year, observed over five days with a peach tree, banh chung rice cakes, and a first-footing rule that makes who steps through the door first matter.
Lunar New Year - how the date moves, what it celebrates, and how it differs from country to country
Lunar New Year (Chunjie / Seollal / Tet) is the most widely observed non-fixed secular holiday in the world. The exact date moves each year on the Gregorian calendar; in 2026 it falls on February 17.
Seollal - the Korean lunar new year, three days of ancestral rites, tteokguk and returning to your ancestral hometown
Seollal is the Korean lunar new year, observed over three days in late January or February. It centres on ancestral rites, eating tteokguk, and the custom of returning to one's ancestral hometown - ibyeong - for the new year.
Tsagaan Sar - the Mongolian lunar new year, where the first morning of the year is greeted with a pinch of salt
Tsagaan Sar is the Mongolian lunar new year, marking the first day of the first month of the traditional Mongolian calendar. The celebration runs across the whole lunar month and centres on the Sun Moon and Khadag gifts given to elders.
Valentines Day - February 14, the Saint Valentine legend, and how the US observes it
Valentines Day on February 14 is a US cultural holiday associated with romantic love, card exchange, and gift giving. Not a federal holiday. Originated as the feast of Saint Valentine in the early Christian calendar; transformed into a romantic holiday in the late Middle Ages.
Losar - the Tibetan and Bhutanese New Year that follows the Chinese one by a month
Losar is the Tibetan New Year, celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, usually in February or March. In Bhutan it is a national public holiday marked by Bara Lachi dancing and the raising of a new prayer flag.
Mardi Gras - Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the Carnival season before Lent
Mardi Gras (literally "Fat Tuesday" in French) is the pre-Lenten Carnival on the day before Ash Wednesday, observed worldwide with parades, masquerade balls, and rich traditional foods. The New Orleans tradition is the most famous in the US; Carnival is observed worldwide on the local Fat Tuesday.
National Pizza Day - February 9, US informal observance
National Pizza Day on February 9 is an informal US observance celebrating pizza. Not a public holiday. Observed with pizza-chain promotions and social media activity.
Imbolc - the Gaelic beginning of spring, the festival of Brigid, and the returning light
Imbolc is the Gaelic beginning of spring, observed on February 1-2 in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The festival marks the midpoint of winter and the first signs of spring, and is associated with the Celtic goddess Brigid and her role as patron of poetry, healing, and smithcraft.
Religious observance(9)
Eid al-Fitr - the Islamic Festival of Breaking the Fast on 1 Shawwal, and how it is observed worldwide
Eid al-Fitr is the Islamic Festival of Breaking the Fast on 1 Shawwal (the 10th month of the Hijri calendar), marking the end of the month of Ramadan. A 1-3 day public holiday in most Muslim-majority countries, observed with communal prayer, charity (Zakat al-Fitr), family gatherings, and special foods. Dates move each year because the Islamic calendar is lunar.
Galungan - the Balinese day of dharma's return, and the 210-day pawukon cycle
Galungan is the Balinese Hindu festival marking the return of dharma after Bhatara Guru's descent into the underworld. It always falls on a Wednesday and recurs on a 210-day pawukon cycle, so Bali sees it roughly twice a Gregorian year.
Holi - the Hindu festival of colors, lunar date, and how India observes it
Holi is the Hindu festival of colors, observed on the full moon (Purnima) of the Hindu month of Phalguna. Celebrates the arrival of spring, the legend of Holika and Prahlad, and the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Date moves between late February and late March.
Makha Bucha - the full-moon day of the first lunar month, kept across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka
Makha Bucha is the full-moon day of the first lunar month, celebrated by Theravada Buddhists across Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It commemorates the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 arahants before the Buddha.
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr - the Islamic month of fasting and the celebration that follows
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, observed by approximately 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide with daily fasting from dawn to sunset. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan on 1 Shawwal. Dates move each year because the Hijri calendar is lunar.
Ash Wednesday - Lent begins, ashes of penitence, and the 40-day fast
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity, observed 46 days before Easter Sunday (40 fasting days, excluding Sundays). The day is marked by the imposition of ashes on the forehead, fasting and abstinence, and the beginning of the Lenten penitential season. Observed by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and other Western Christian denominations.
Maha Shivaratri - the great night of Shiva, observed by Hindus in February-March
Maha Shivaratri is the Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of Lord Shiva. Falls on the 13th night and 14th day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Phalguna (Feb-March). One of the major Hindu festivals, observed with night-long vigils, fasting, and pilgrimage.
Setsubun - the Japanese bean-throwing festival that drives demons out before the new spring arrives
Setsubun is a Japanese festival on the day before the start of spring in the traditional calendar. Roasted soybeans are thrown out of the door or at a demon figure while chanting "demons out, luck in," then eaten for health.
Purim - the Jewish festival of lots, the Book of Esther, and the survival of the Jewish people
Purim is a Jewish festival celebrated on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, commemorating the saving of the Jewish people from Haman's plot to destroy them, as recounted in the Book of Esther. The festival is marked by the public reading of the Megillah (the Scroll of Esther), the giving of food gifts to friends, charity to the poor, and a festive meal.
International observance(3)
World Cancer Day - February 4, the Union for International Cancer Control awareness day
World Cancer Day on February 4 is the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) global awareness day. Established at the 2000 World Cancer Summit in Paris, observed in 120+ countries. Not a public holiday.
International Day of Women and Girls in Science - February 11, UN observance since 2015
International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 is a UN observance established in 2015 to promote gender equality in STEM. UNESCO and UN Women lead programming. Each year the day highlights a theme - 2024 focused on women in AI. Not a public holiday.
World Radio Day - February 13, the UNESCO observance of radio broadcasting
World Radio Day on February 13 is the UNESCO observance of radio as a medium. Established by UNESCO in 2011 and proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2012, it commemorates the 1946 founding of United Nations Radio. The day highlights radio's role in informing communities and providing access to information in emergencies.