Here in the US anyway, most of our national holidays are based on old traditions that aren’t as relevent as they used to be. So if we were restarting the tradition of holidays from scratch, what days/events do you think should be celebrated? Ground rules: A maximum of twelve holidays a year, up to six of which can be “major” holidays (eqivalent of Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.) and the remainder “minor” holidays (equivalent of Columbus day or Valentine’s day). Here are my picks:
Midwinter Ice Festival (major)*
High Holy Day (of whatever religion is predominant in your country: major)
National Day (founding/ independence/ dictator’s birthday: major)
Autumn/ Harvest/ Hunting Season Day (major)
Local Day (reserve holiday for purely local traditions: major)
End of School Term (major
Start of School Term (minor)
Spring Day (minor)
Midsummer Day (minor)
Government Day (Tax day, corporate fiscal year start, etc.: minor)
Military Day (memorial for fallen dead, commemoration of most significant war fought: minor)
Sentimental Day (a sort of amalgamation of Mother’s/Father’s/Valentine’s/ etc. day: minor)
*Ok, so I’m from Minnesota
I think there’s too much space between the 4th of July and Halloween. There’s not enough consumerism going on or money being spent. We need to stay in debt all year around.
Minor (Halfway between each of the above):
Midwinter, Midspring, Midsummer (not to be confused with summer solstice which is sometimes erroneously called “midsummer”) and Midautumn.
You get a holiday approximately every 6 weeks or so.
Nice correlation with Christmas, Easter/Passover. Rough correlation to US holidays Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day and Thanksgiving.
That fits with something I’ve been thinking about for four years now. I really, seriously think you guys should make September 11th a holiday. Call it Remembrance Day or something. It was an event big enough to remember this way, and it would help create and strengthen a sense of history as something ongoing and relevant rather than something that’s of the past.
I also think someone should have added the story of the Holocaust to the Tanach, for pretty much the same reasons. It was certainly a more important event than many of those given much room in the writings.
I agree. September 11 could not only be remembrance day, but something to honor people like firefighters, EMTs, and others who sacrifice their safety for others. It fits with the 911, which is the number you call to summon these brave folks.
I like MLS’s idea, but that’s only 8. We need a few more days off of work/school dontchaknow.
I’m not sure why I disagree with September 11th being a holiday, but I do. A rememberance day wouldn’t be a bad idea, but not just for that one day in particular. Perhaps a Veteran’s Day of sorts, for non-Veterans. Just a day to remember. And spend cash at the mall.
Well, if you need exactly 12, then that’s one per month.
January 22 – now Presidents’ Day, that’s still good.
February 15 – there’s our Mid-Winter holiday.
March 22 – Vernal Equinox
April 30 – Mid-Spring
May 30 – Memorial Day
June 22 – Summer Solstice
August 1 – Midsummer’s day
September 22 – Autumnal Equinox (Maybe we move this one to 9/11 and rename it Rescuers’ Day in honor of firefighters.)
October 30 – Midautumn Day. All elections must be held on this day, and everybody gets the day off (except essential workers and poll workers, who get November 1 off instead).
November – Thanksgiving
December 22 – Winter Solstice – The biggest celebration of the year. While we’re at it, logically this should be the start of the new year, too, but that involves making a whole new calendar. January 1 holiday really doesn’t count as a separate holiday because it’s still part of the incredibly important days-growing-longer thing.
Rather than dedicate it to one person or ideal, I think it preferential to have a day to represent all contributors to social equality and progress. From inventors to activists.
Call it, I don’t know, Know Your History and Respect Your Elders Day, or something
You know none of this will ever work. People really like their holidays named after specific people and events, even if they forget that Memorial Day started out honoring the American Civil War dead, Veterans’ Day used to be Armistice Day, celebrating the end of WWI, and so on.
