FlagAndMap Weblog » global citizen

2015 December: What’s On Worldwide

mapster — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 14:06:45 +0000

Another year is drawing to a close and people are looking forward to their year-end festivities. If you have foreign friends or loved ones you might like to head over to the FlagAndMap gift store where you’ll find gift ideas for people with international connections. Gifts include apparel, accessories, home and office items, and novelties, all of which feature designs with special meaning for people from other countries. We hope you enjoy browsing and will find something entertaining for the giver and recipient alike.

Dec 1: Great Union Day (Romania)
Dec 2: National Day (Laos, United Arab Emirates)
Dec 5: King’s Birthday (Thailand)
Dec 6: Independence Day (Finland)
Dec 12: Jamhuri Day (Kenya)
Dec 16: National Day (Bahrain, Kazakhstan)
Dec 17: National Day (Bhutan)
Dec 18: National Day (Qatar)
Dec 22: Winter Solstice
Dec 25: Christmas (Western Christianity)

2015 October: What’s On Worldwide

mapster — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 14:11:14 +0000

Muslims will celebrate a new year in the middle of October 2015 (the exact date depends on location). During the same month people in several countries will celebrate independence days. Croatians for example will celebrate on October 8th, so if you wish to send greetings to Croatian friends check out our greeting cards for Croatians. Below is a list of other significant events around the world during October.

Oct 1: Independence Day (Cyprus, Nigeria, Palau, Tuvalu); National Day (China)
Oct 2: Independence Day (Guinea-Conakry)
Oct 3: Independence Day (Iraq); Unity Day (Germany)
Oct 4: Independence Day (Lesotho)
Oct 8: Independence Day (Croatia)
Oct 9: Independence Day (Uganda)
Oct 10: Double Ten Day (Taiwan); Fiji Day; Independence Day (Cuba)
Oct 12: Independence Day (Equatorial Guinea); National Day (Spain)
Oct 13: Día de la Raza (Argentina); National Heritage Day (Turks and Caicos Is.)
Oct 14: New Year (Islamic calendar);
Oct 19: Constitution Day (Nuie)
Oct 23: Liberation Day (Libya)
Oct 24: Independence Day (Zambia)
Oct 26: National Day (Austria)
Oct 27: Independence Day (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Turkmenistan)
Oct 28: Independence Day (Czechia)
Oct 29: Republic Day (Turkey)

2015 August: What’s On Worldwide

mapster — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 14:08:39 +0000

August is just full of independence days when people around the world commemorate events that are significant to them and their nation. Benin and Switzerland get the ball rolling on the first of the month. If you have close friends from those countries then take a look around FlagAndMap’s Benin or Switzerland departments for fun gift ideas that reference their respective countries.

Aug 1: Independence Day (Benin); National Day (Switzerland)
Aug 3: Independence Day (Niger)
Aug 5: Independence Day (Burkina Faso)
Aug 6: Independence Day (Bolivia, Jamaica)
Aug 7: Independence Day (Cote d’Ivoire)
Aug 9: National Day (Singapore)
Aug 10: Independence Day (Ecuador)
Aug 11: Independence Day (Chad)
Aug 13: Independence Day (Centrafrique)
Aug 14: Independence Day (Pakistan)
Aug 15: Independence Day (Congo-Brazzaville, India); National Day (Liechtenstein); Liberation Day (South Korea)
Aug 16: Restoration Day (Dominican Republic)
Aug 17: Independence Day (Gabon, Indonesia)
Aug 19: Independence Day (Afghanistan)
Aug 20: St. Stephen’s Day (Hungary)
Aug 24: Independence Day (Ukraine)
Aug 25: Independence Day (Uruguay)
Aug 27: Independence Day (Moldova)
Aug 29: National Uprising Day (Slovakia)
Aug 31: Hari Merdeka (Malaysia); Independence Day (Kyrgyzstan, Trinidad and Tobago)

2015 June: What’s On Worldwide

mapster — Mon, 25 May 2015 11:29:04 +0000

June 12th would be a good time to connect with friends from the Philippines or Russia as that will be when they celebrate their nations’ independence days. You could even create a personalized FlagAndMap t-shirt so they will be suitably attired for the occasion. Several other national days also fall in June as noted below.

Jun 1: Independence Day (Samoa)
Jun 2: Republic Day (Italy)
Jun 5: Constitution Day (Denmark)
Jun 6: National Day (Sweden)
Jun 10: Portugal Day
Jun 12: Independence Day (Philippines); Russia Day
Jun 14: Liberation Day (Falkland Is.)
Jun 17: National Day (Iceland)
Jun 18: National Day (Seychelles)
Jun 21: Summer Solstice; Ullortuneq (Greenland)
Jun 23: National Day (Luxembourg)
Jun 25: Independence Day (Mozambique); Statehood Day (Slovenia)
Jun 26: Independence Day (Madagascar)
Jun 27: Independence Day (Djibouti)
Jun 30: Independence Day (Congo-Kinshasa)

2015 May: What’s On Worldwide

mapster — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:47:49 +0000

Join people around the world on May 1st for May Day / Labor Day celebrations. Check the list below to see when else your global friends might be partying in May. There’s still plenty of time to select a gift featuring an Eritrean design to surprise your Eritrean friends when they celebrate their independence day on May 24th.

May 1: May Day / Labor Day; Constitution Day (Marshall Islands)
May 3: Vesak (Buddha Day)
May 15: Independence Day (Paraguay)
May 17: Constitution Day (Norway)
May 20: Independence Day (East Timor)
May 21: Independence Day (Montenegro)
May 22: Unity Day (Yemen)
May 24: Independence Day (Eritrea)
May 25: Independence Day (Jordan)
May 26: Independence Day (Georgia), (Guyana)
May 28: Derg Downfall Day (Ethiopia); Republic Day (Azerbaijan)
May 29: Republic Day (Nepal)

2015 April: What’s On Worldwide

mapster — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:30:33 +0000

In case you missed the recent solar eclipse and you happen to be in the Pacific Rim you’ll have a chance to see a total lunar eclipse on April 4th. Five days later you can show some unity with Georgian friends as they celebrate their National Unity Day. Find something from the FladAndMap Georgian line to bring them good cheer. Several other national celebrations also occur in April as can be seen from the list below.

Apr 1: April Fools’ Day; Islamic Republic Day (Iran)
Apr 3: Passover begins
Apr 4: Total Lunar Eclipse; Independence Day (Senegal)
Apr 5: Easter Sunday (Western Christianity)
Apr 9: National Unity Day (Georgia)
Apr 12: Easter Sunday (Eastern Christianity)
Apr 17: Flag Day (American Samoa); Evacuation Day (Syria)
Apr 18: Independence Day (Zimbabwe)
Apr 23: St. George’s Day (England); Independence Day (Israel)
Apr 26: Union Day (Tanzania)
Apr 27: Freedom Day (South Africa); Independence Day (Togo); Koningsdag (Netherlands); Republic Day (Sierra Leone)

2015 February: What’s On Worldwide

mapster — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 03:03:02 +0000

We trust the new year is treating you well so far. FlagAndMap plans to offer designs on a range of exciting new products in 2015, beginning with a new line of ring binders designed to give your office a slightly patriotic feel. In many parts of the world Mardi Gras will be celebrated in the coming month, on February 17, the same day that Kosovars celebrate their independence day. Other notable international dates in February are listed below – find a suitable FlagAndMap gift to help you celebrate using the national links. You can also plan further ahead by viewing the full list of 2015 world events.

Feb 4: National Day (Sri Lanka)
Feb 6: Waitangi Day (New Zealand)
Feb 7: Independence Day (Grenada)
Feb 11: Foundation Day (Japan)
Feb 14: Valentine’s Day
Feb 15: National Day (Serbia)
Feb 16: State Restoration Day (Lithuania)
Feb 17: Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras; Independence Day (Kosovo)
Feb 18: Independence Day (The Gambia)
Feb 19: New Year (Chinese calendar); Losar (Tibet)
Feb 22: Independence Day (Saint Lucia)
Feb 23: National Day (Brunei)
Feb 24: Independence Day (Estonia)
Feb 25: National Day (Kuwait)
Feb 27: Independence Day (Dominican Republic)

Statistics for a Fact Based World View

mapster — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 11:40:38 +0000

Gapminder.org is a website that presents statistics on global economic development in a way that is entertaining and interesting. Their first challenge was to tap into those statistics, which are typically held by organizations such as the United Nations but are not generally presented in a way that captures the imagination. They then developed the Trendalyzer software, which presents that data in time lapse fashion and graphically illustrates key changes over time. Watch some of their videos and you may well come across some recent trends in global development that will surprise you.

2014 International Events and Holidays

mapster — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 06:59:05 +0000

This morning people in the Americas were able to observe a total lunar eclipse, weather permitting. People who reside around the Pacific Rim will have a similar opportunity on October 8. For a list of other noteworthy 2014 international events, including national holidays and religious festivals, check out our list of world events for 2014.

Wrap up the year with a gift

mapster — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:00:42 +0000

The year end is a great time for giving gifts. FlagAndMap products with global designs based on national flags and maps make ideal gifts for friends or colleagues around the world. Listed below are some specific national celebrations that occur in December prior to the end of the year when everyone welcomes a token of appreciation.

Dec 1: Great Union Day in Romania
Dec 2: National Day in Laos and the United Arab Emirates
Dec 5: The King’s Birthday in Thailand
Dec 6: Independence Day in Finland
Dec 12: Jamhuri Day in Kenya
Dec 16: Independence Day in Kazakhstan; National Day in Bahrain
Dec 17: National (Coronation) Day in Bhutan
Dec 18: National Day in Qatar
Dec 21: Independence Day in Nepal
Dec 25: Christmas celebrated by Western Christian communities