FlagAndMap Weblog

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)

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.

This year on November 3 the start of the Hindu festival of Diwali coincides with a solar eclipse. It’s appropriate perhaps that this ‘festival of lights’ will begin with the concealing and revealing of our brightest light. Regrettably most Hindus will not see this as the eclipse will occur mainly over the Atlantic and West Africa. Meanwhile Islamic communities welcome in a new year and several other countries celebrate national days in November, as listed below.

Nov 1: State Day in Antigua and Barbuda
Nov 3: Independence Day in Micronesia and Dominica; Separation Day in Panama
Nov 4: New Year in the Islamic calendar; National Day in Tonga
Nov 9: Independence Day in Cambodia
Nov 11: Independence Day in Angola and Poland
Nov 15: Independence Day in Palestine
Nov 18: Independence Day in Latvia and Morocco; 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; St. Andrew’s Day in Scotland

Several countries have interesting names for their national days but one of our favorites is that of Taiwan – Double Ten Day – which occurs (surprise!) on October 10. Get ready for festivities in October with Croatians, Germans, Nigerians, Ugandans and many more on the dates listed below.

Oct 1: Independence Day in Cyprus, Nigeria, Palau and Tuvalu; National Day in China
Oct 2: Independence Day in Guinea-Conakry
Oct 3: Independence Day in Iraq; Unity Day in Germany
Oct 4: Independence Day in Lesotho
Oct 8: Independence Day in Croatia
Oct 9: Independence Day in Uganda
Oct 10: Double Ten Day in Taiwan; Fiji Day in Fiji; Independence Day in Cuba
Oct 12: Independence Day in Equatorial Guinea; National Day in Spain
Oct 15: Eid al-Adha celebrated by Islamic communities
Oct 19: Constitution Day in Nuie
Oct 23: Liberation Day in Libya
Oct 24: Independence Day in Zambia
Oct 26: National Day in Austria
Oct 27: Independence Day in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Turkmenistan
Oct 28: Independence Day in Czechia
Oct 29: Republic Day in Turkey

By September, as year end in the western calendar approaches, a new year is about to be celebrated in Jewish communities (from September 4). Perhaps the end of summer is indeed a good opportunity to start afresh and renew those global connections that may have been neglected all year. Contacts from countries listed below may well appreciate a timely greeting on their national day.

Sep 1: Constitution Day in Slovakia; Independence Day in Uzbekistan
Sep 2: Independence Day in Vietnam
Sep 4: Rosh Hashana celebrated by Jewish communities
Sep 6: Independence Day in Swaziland
Sep 7: Independence Day in Brazil
Sep 8: Independence Day in Macedonia; Our Lady of Meritxell Day in Andorra
Sep 9: Independence Day in North Korea and Tajikistan
Sep 15: Independence Day in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua
Sep 16: Grito de Dolores (Independence Day) in Mexico; Independence Day in Papua New Guinea
Sep 18: National Day in Chile
Sep 19: Independence Day in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Sep 21: Independence Day in Armenia, Belize and Malta
Sep 22: Independence Day in Bulgaria and Mali
Sep 23: National Day in Saudi Arabia
Sep 24: Independence Day in Guinea-Bissau
Sep 30: Independence Day in Botswana

August has numerous national holidays around the world (see below) but is also designated a ‘holiday month’ in many European countries. If you’re lucky enough to be lounging in the sun this August share the warmth with any expat friends who might be celebrating on one of the dates listed below.

Aug 1: Independence Day in Benin; National Day in Switzerland
Aug 3: Independence Day in Niger
Aug 5: Independence Day in Burkina Faso
Aug 6: Independence Day in Bolivia and Jamaica
Aug 7: Independence Day in Cote d’Ivoire
Aug 8: Eid al-Fitr celebrated by Islamic communities
Aug 9: National Day in Singapore
Aug 10: Independence Day in Ecuador
Aug 11: Independence Day in Chad
Aug 13: Independence Day in Centrafrique
Aug 14: Independence Day in Pakistan
Aug 15: Independence Day in Congo-Brazzaville and India; Liberation Day in South Korea; National Day in Liechtenstein
Aug 16: Restoration Day in the Dominican Republic
Aug 17: Independence Day in Gabon and Indonesia
Aug 19: Independence Day in Afghanistan
Aug 20: St. Stephen’s Day in Hungary
Aug 24: Independence Day in Ukraine
Aug 25: Independence Day in Uruguay
Aug 27: Independence Day in Moldova
Aug 29: National Uprising Day in Slovakia
Aug 30: Constitution Day in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Aug 31: Hari Merdeka in Malaysia; Independence Day in Kyrgyzstan and Trinidad and Tobago

Much of North America that is. Canada Day is on July 1 while the USA celebrates its independence on July 4 and even the Bahamas have their independence day on Jul 10. So if you know people in or from North America, July would be a good month to party with them. Additionally, as listed below, several other nations enjoy special occasions in July – timely opportunities to keep in touch with friends from those countries with a FlagAndMap postcard.

Jul 1: Canada Day in Canada; Independence Day in Burundi and Rwanda; National Day in the British Virgin Islands
Jul 3: Independence Day in Belarus
Jul 4: Independence Day in the United States
Jul 5: Independence Day in Algeria, Cape Verde and Venezuela
Jul 6: Independence Day in the Comoros and Malawi
Jul 7: Independence Day in the Solomon Islands
Jul 9: Ramadan observed by Islamic communities; Independence Day in Argentina
Jul 10: Independence Day in the Bahamas
Jul 11: Naadam Holiday begins in Mongolia
Jul 12: Independence Day in Kiribati and Sao Tome and Principe
Jul 14: Bastille Day in France
Jul 20: Independence Day in Colombia
Jul 21: Independence Day in Belgium; Liberation Day in Guam
Jul 23: Revolution Day in Egypt
Jul 25: Constitution Day in Puerto Rico
Jul 26: Independence Day in Liberia
Jul 28: Independence Day in Peru
Jul 30: Independence Day in Vanuatu

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

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

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.