College students, many of whom seem hell bent on getting less “bang for their buck,” like to complain about federal holidays around this time of year. “Good Friday and Easter are major religious events and should be spent with family,” they argue, often seeking time away from school.
Unlike the United Kingdom, which recognizes Good Friday in all of its member countries and Easter Monday in all but Scotland, the United States federal government does not recognize the days related to Easter as public holidays. All German federal states recognize both holidays.
Twelve states in the U.S., including Florida, recognize Good Friday as a holiday. However, many do not close schools or universities. The financial market and stock market close on Good Friday, but the postal service and federally regulated banks remain open.
In reality, Good Friday and Easter Monday are two of many important holidays that go unrecognized by the federal government. The following is a list of religious and secular holidays deserving of some recognition in the United States.
Holi is the Hindu festival of colors. Many Americans will recognize Holi as a day where Hindus throw vividly colored powder at each other and light massive bonfires. The 16-day festival is actually a celebration of the salvation of Prahlada, who proved his devotion to the god Vishnu by sitting on the lap of a demon a burning pyre. The demon was burned, but Pahlada survived. Holi was celebrated on March 27 this year.
Many Americans see “Boxing Day (Canada)” on their calendars, but few know its purpose. The holiday is celebrated in countries formerly part of the British Commonwealth. It grew out of the Middle Ages tradition of servants receiving gifts from their superiors and employers on the day after Christmas. In England, many servants were given the day off to visit their families, and were given boxes containing gifts, bonuses and leftover food to share. Still, the origin of the word “boxing” as it pertains to the holiday is debated.
Few holidays can claim to be as interesting as Honen Matsuri, celebrated on March 15 in Komaki, Japan. In this fertility celebration, Shinto priests play musical instruments while participants consume all-you-can-drink sake and… carve a 620-pound wooden phallus to carry to a nearby shrine. The phallus is furiously spun around as it travels toward the shrine, and parade participants shower the crowd with tiny rice cakes. Souvenir-sized phalluses are also popular.
Hadaka Matsuris, or “naked festivals,” are held in dozens of places throughout Japan every year. Many take place in the summer, but some occur in the winter. Participants are not usually naked — instead wearing small, white loincloths.
People who live in various locations in Galicia, Spain gather together on the first Saturday, Sunday and Monday in July for Rapa das Bestas. Young horses are gathered into enclosures called curros where their manes are cut for the first time and they are branded. As with any good holiday, food and music is involved, ensuring a good time for participants and onlookers, but less so for the horses.
Perhaps the strangest holiday in the world takes place in Gloucestershire, England, where thousands of cheese-lovers gather to participate in the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake. A 7- to 9-pound round of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down a steep, grassy hill. As competitors race down to be the first person to pass the finish line, thereby “catching” the cheese, some reach 70 miles per hour. As expected, many are hurt. The winner is expected to climb the hill without a shirt and place the cheese back on its ceremonial pedestal.
