World Book Day
World Book Day is a celebration! It’s a celebration of authors, illustrators, books and (most importantly) it’s a celebration of reading. In fact, it’s the biggest celebration of its kind, designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in over 100 countries all over the world.
Zero Discrimination Day
Organizations like the United Nations (UN) actively promote the day with various activities to celebrate everyone’s right to live a full life with dignity regardless of age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin color, height, weight, profession, education, and beliefs.
Independence Movement Day (South Korea)
Korea was once an annex of Japan. Independence Movement Day, or the March 1st Movement, commemorates the day in 1919 when Koreans first publicly displayed their resistance to the Japanese who occupied Korea. Today, Koreans commemorate this day by reading the independence declaration at the Tapgol Park in Seoul.
Mobile World Congress
The GSMA Mobile World Congress is the place where mobile leaders to gather, collaborate and conduct business. The annual event provides the planet’s best venue for mobile industry networking, new business opportunities and deal-making. Mobile World Congress includes a world-class conference featuring visionary keynotes and thought-provoking panel discussions; an exhibition with more than 2,000 companies displaying the cutting-edge products and technologies that define the future of mobile; the world’s best opportunity for mobile industry networking; and the annual Global Mobile Awards ceremony, which recognises the most innovative mobile solutions and initiatives from around the world.
228 Memorial Day (Taiwan)
The February 28 Incident was an anti-government uprising in Taiwan. Taking its name from the date of the incident, it began on February 27, 1947, and was violently suppressed by the KMT-led Republic of China government, which killed thousands of civilians beginning on February 28. The massacre marked the beginning of the Kuomintang's White Terror period in Taiwan, in which thousands more inhabitants vanished, died, or were imprisoned. This incident is one of the most important events in Taiwan's modern history, and is a critical impetus for the Taiwanese independence movement.
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, or "Oscars", is an annual American awards ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements in the United States film industry as assessed by the Academy's voting membership. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, officially called the Academy Award of Merit, which has become commonly known by its nickname "Oscar." The awards, first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, are overseen by AMPAS.
EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary (Philippines)
People Power Anniversary is a nationwide observance and school holiday in the Philippines each year. This event holds a special place in the hearts of many Filipinos as they remember a revolution that restored democracy in the Philippines in 1986.Many people celebrate People Power Anniversary by wearing yellow, which was the official color of the LABAN party, the rival political group that challenged the government back in 1986. Much of the festivities and activities occur in the city of Manila, particularly Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), a major public road where people flock to visit. Activities include programs such as church masses and concerts.
NBA All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star Game is a basketball exhibition game hosted annually by the National Basketball Association (NBA), matching the league's star players from the Eastern Conference against their counterparts from the Western Conference. Each conference team consists of 12 players, making it 24 in total. It is the featured event of NBA All-Star Weekend. NBA All-Star Weekend is a three-day event which goes from Friday to Sunday. The All-Star game was first staged at the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951.
Total Defence Day (Singapore)
Total Defence Day marks the surrender of the British to the Japanese in 1942, precursoring 3 years and 6 months of Japanese Occupation. The commemoration seeks to remind people of the sufferings endured by our fore fathers during the Japanese Occupation. It is also an occasion to refamiliarise our people with the modern defence strategy of "Total Defence" that Singapore has adopted to ensure our continued survival and security. Schools frequently organize activities, such as quizzes or fire drills, for students to remind them on the importance of Total Defence, to remind students that Singapore is defensible and is worth defending, and only Singaporeans would have the will to defend Singapore. Each year, the "Important Message" signal of the Public Warning System is sounded to commemorate the day.
Valentine's day
Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a celebration observed on February 14 each year. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, although it is not a public holiday in most of them.
Standard Chartered Hong Kong & Taiwan Marathon
The Hong Kong Marathon, sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, is an annual marathon race held in February or March in Hong Kong. In addition to the full marathon, a 10 km run and a half marathon are also held. Around 70,000 runners take part each year across all events. In 2016, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Grammy Awards
The 59th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony will be held on February 12, 2017. The CBS network will broadcast the show live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The ceremony will recognize the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, which runs from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016. The nominations were announced on December 6, 2016. James Corden will host the ceremony for the first time. The "pre-telecast" ceremony (officially named The Premiere Ceremony) will be held on the sameday prior to the main ceremony.
Makha Bucha Day (Thailand)
On the third lunar month, Buddhists meditate on the fundamental teachings of Buddha, mainly: to do good, to refrain from doing evil, and to cleanse the mind. Macha Bucha was believed to have begun nine months after Buddha himself achieved his enlightenment, when over a thousand of his disciples spontaneously gathered to see him. ‘Makha’ refers to the name of the third lunar month, and ‘bucha’ refers to veneration.
National Foundation Day (Japan)
Every year during the 11th of February, Japan observes the anniversary of their National Foundation Day. It is in this day that they honor Japan’s founder and first emperor Jimmu, a successor of the Sun Goddess.It was believed that the National Foundation Day of Japan was based on the New Year festivity in which the calendar’s date relies on the moon phase and the solar year. The Japanese believes that Emperor Jimmu’s power and authority to become ruler of the empire was designated on the first day of the month. This significant moment of appointing Jimmu as emperor was declared by the people as a holiday and was named Kigen-setsu or the Empire Day.
2017 Mardi Gras Parade (Feb 11-28) (Australia)
Today, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s most famous and well-loved events, bringing thousands of visitors to Sydney to join in the celebrations. It captures the imagination of Australia’s LGBTQI and mainstream communities, taking over the city for weeks on end, culminating in the world-famous Parade: a colourful and dazzling night of pride, celebration and self-expression.
Chinese Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month, and traditionally ends the Chinese New Year period. In 2016 it falls on February 22. There is no public holiday for this festival. As China is a vast country with a long history and diverse cultures, Lantern Festival customs and activities vary regionally, including lighting and enjoying (floating, fixed, held, and flying) lanterns, appreciating the bright full moon, setting off fireworks, guessing riddles written on lanterns, eating tangyuan, lion dances, dragon dances, and walking on stilts. The most important and prevalent customs are enjoying lanterns, guessing lantern riddles, eating tangyuan, and lion dances. A few Asian countries also celebrate this special day, such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Chingay Parade (Singapore)
The Chingay Parade the largest street performance and float parade in Asia, held during the Chinese New Year festivities. It brings together pepole and performances from across the spectrum of Singaporean culture; celebrated by Chinese, Malays, Indians and Eurasians alike. With all its noise and gaiety, the parade was mooted over four decades ago as a way to compensate for the ban that had been placed on firecrackers, a customary New year practice to drive away evil spirits.
Berlin International Film Festival (Feb 9-19)
The Berlin International Film Festival (German: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978. With around 300,000 tickets sold and 500,000 admissions it is considered the largest publicly attended film festival worldwide based on actual attendance rates. Up to 400 films are shown in several sections, representing a comprehensive array of the cinematic world.
Thaipusam (Malaysia)
Thaipusam is a key Hindu ceremony that is held each year during the full moon in the tenth month of the Hindu calendar – Thai – falling from mid-January to mid-February in the Gregorian calendar. It is marked in Malaysia by a public holiday. Thaipusam is celebrated by the Hindu people of South India and the mainly Tamil-speaking Hindu communities throughout Malaysia. Thaipusam is dedicated as a thanksgiving to Lord Subramaniam (also known as Murugan) for answered prayers, and is also a day of penance.
Waitangi Day (New Zealand)
Waitangi Day commemorates the first signing of New Zealand’s founding document – the Treaty at Waitangi in 1840. It is a public holiday in New Zealand on February 6 each year.Māori cultural performances, speeches from Māori and Pakeha (European) dignitaries, and a naval salute are all part of the official Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi, New Zealand. Waitangi Day is also a time when people publicly debate on issues such as national identity and multiculturalism. Various activities and events are held at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It’s a day that bubbles with ceremonies, music, sports and fun. Waitangi Day itself has always involved performances and parades from the Royal New Zealand Navy and local cultural groups.