Q: Ullortuneq is Greenland’s National Day and it occurs on June 21 but what does the name mean?
find the answer on our Trivia Page – there’s no prize; it’s just a bit of fun; something to stimulate your geographic imagination.
Simply when you are south of the equator – in that case the June solstice is actually the winter solstice. Nevertheless, in either hemisphere the mid-year solstice will occur at 05:04 UTC on June 21 this year and is a worldwide event that you can celebrate with friends regardless of nationality. For more nationally specific opportunities in June to strengthen your global connections see our list of key world events listed below.
Jun 1: Independence Day in Samoa
Jun 2: Republic Day in Italy
Jun 5: Constitution Day in Denmark
Jun 6: National Day in Sweden
Jun 10: Portugal Day in Portugal
Jun 12: Independence Day in the Philippines; Russia Day in the Russian Federation
Jun 14: Liberation Day in the Falkland Islands
Jun 17: National Day in Iceland
Jun 18: National Day in the Seychelles
Jun 21: Ullortuneq in Greenland
Jun 23: National Day in Luxembourg
Jun 25: Independence Day in Mozambique; Statehood Day in Slovenia
Jun 26: Independence Day in Madagascar
Jun 27: Independence Day in Djibouti
Jun 30: Independence Day in Congo-Kinshasa
Sadly my favorite entry in this year’s big euro-community song contest failed to make it past the semifinal stage. I enjoy the friendly cross border enthusiasm of this event and just occasionally there’s a musical gem worth further investigation. This year Bulgaria’s entry, Samo Shampioni performed by Elitsa Todorova and Stoyan Yankulov, caught my attention. These guys have quality musical pedigree and some further digging around turned up other interesting tracks by Todorova and Yankoulov on emusic.com.
Q: The name of which South American country is a description, in the local Guarani language, of the river that runs through it?
find the answer on our Trivia Page – there’s no prize; it’s just a bit of fun; something to stimulate your geographic imagination.
The beginning to a month of worldwide events and festivities that is. Orthodox Christians will observe Easter on May 5 while Buddhists will celebrate Vesak Day (Buddha Day) on May 24. Those with a more secular focus might be awaiting the annular solar eclipse that will occur on May 10. There are of course the usual crop of national days, which serve as a good opportunity to renew ties with international friends. Below is our list of key world events for May.
May 1: International Labor Day observed in many nations; Constitution Day in the Marshall Islands
May 5: Easter observed by most Orthodox Christian communities
May 15: Independence Day in Paraguay
May 17: Constitution Day in Norway
May 20: Independence Day in East Timor
May 21: Independence Day in Montenegro
May 22: Unity Day in Yemen
May 24: Vesak Day celebrated by Buddhist communities; Independence Day in Eritrea
May 25: Independence Day in Jordan
May 26: First Republic Day in Georgia
May 27: Independence Day in Guyana
May 28: Derg Downfall Day in Ethiopia; Republic Day in Azerbaijan
Q: Africa’s highest point at 5895m and lowest point at -697m (on a lake-bed) both lie within which country?
find the answer on our Trivia Page – there’s no prize; it’s just a bit of fun; something to stimulate your geographic imagination.
If you have friends from England, the Netherlands, South Africa or Tanzania, to name a few, then April would be a very good time to send them greetings, since each of those countries has something to celebrate during that month. Of course April kicks off with April Fools’ Day but you won’t look so foolish if you wish someone from England a happy St George’s Day on April 23. Send a FlagAndMap greeting card with the appropriate national design and you’ll look even smarter. Below is a list of national days in April.
Apr 1: Islamic Republic Day in Iran
Apr 4: Independence Day in Senegal
Apr 15: Independence Day in Israel
Apr 17: Flag Day in American Samoa; Evacuation Day in Syria
Apr 18: Independence Day in Zimbabwe
Apr 23: St. George’s Day in England
Apr 26: Union Day in Tanzania
Apr 27: Freedom Day in South Africa; Independence Day in Togo; Republic Day in Sierra Leone
Apr 30: Queensday in the Netherlands
It’s been another busy start to the year for FlagAndMap with a relocation to another corner of the globe. Our creativity has been put on hold and updates have become infrequent, for which we apologize. We hope you found something to celebrate during the first quarter of 2013. We just missed being in Australia for Australia Day (January 26) but were here for the Grand Prix some weeks later. February 10 saw the Chinese welcome in a new year and of course St Patrick’s Day was celebrated in many places on March 17. We failed to publish our monthly reminder of upcoming events during the first quarter but if you wish to review them please take a look at our current list of 2013 world events.
On December 12th Kenyans celebrate Jamhuri Day, meaning Republic Day, which also commemorates independence from the United Kingdom in 1963. It is Kenya’s most important holiday on which many cultural festivals are held. Celebrate with Kenyans and be dressed for the part with one of our Kenya Flag and Map T-Shirts.
Other notable national days in December are listed below.
Dec 1: National Day in Centrafrique and Union Day in Romania
Dec 2: National Day in the United Arab Emirates and Laos
Dec 5: King’s Birthday in Thailand
Dec 6: Independence Day in Finland
Dec 12: Jamhuri Day in Kenya
Dec 13: Republic Day in Malta and Independence Day in Saint Lucia
Dec 16: Independence Day in Bahrain
Dec 17: National Day in Bhutan
Dec 18: Republic Day in Niger and National Day in Qatar
Dec 20: National Day in Guyane
Among the national days in November, Cambodians celebrate their Independence Day on November 9th, commemorating independence from France in 1953. In the intervening years involvement in the Vietnam War and the Khmer Rouge regime have provided little to celebrate but today the country enjoys a measure of stability as a multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy. Be ready to celebrate with Cambodians on the 9th sporting your own customized version of one of our Cambodia Flag and Map T-Shirts.
Other notable national days in November are listed below.
Nov 1: National Day in Algeria and Independence Day in Antigua and Barbuda
Nov 3: Independence Day in Micronesia and Dominica and Separation Day in Panama
Nov 9: Independence Day in Cambodia
Nov 11: Independence Day in Angola and Poland
Nov 18: Independence Day in Latvia and National Day in Oman
Nov 19: National Day in Monaco
Nov 22: Independence Day in Lebanon
Nov 25: Independence Day in Suriname
Nov 28: Independence Day in Mauritania and Albania
Nov 30: Independence Day in Barbados and St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland