Category Celebration All Around the World

The Month of September

September is the ninth month of the year. The Roman name September comes from septem, the Latin word for “seven”.

After the Romans switched September from the seventh to the ninth month, several Roman leaders tried to rename September. But they had no success.

Summer ends and autumn begins on September 22 or 23 in the northern half of the world. September is the time when many crops in the north are harvested. In the southern half of the world, winter is ending, and spring is just beginning.

The month of September was named during a time when the calendar year began with March, which is why the name does not correspond with the placement in the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

September is a time when many students return to school after the summer holiday in the Northern Hemisphere. September starts on the same day of the week as December every year. It does not end on the same day of the week as any other month in the year.

Homage to Cuauhtémoc

Dancers in feathered headdresses trimmed with beads and mirrors whirl and shake. The dancers move faster and faster until they suddenly stop. There is then a moment of silence.

The dance is part of a celebration held every year on August 21 in Mexico City to honour Cuauhtémoc, the last Aztec Indian ruler of Mexico. The Aztecs were an American Indian people who were fierce warriors and ruled a mighty empire in Mexico during the 1400’s and early 1500’s. The Spaniards conquered the empire in 1521 and destroyed it.

Many people in Mexico today are related to the Aztecs. These people and other Mexicans honour Cuauhtémoc with a festival because of his bravery in defending the Aztecs. The festival includes readings of the story of his life and his fight against the Spanish and wonderful dances by large groups. Cuauhtémoc lived from about 1495 to 1525.

Star Festival

Once upon a time, two stars – Vega and Altair – fell in love. After Vega and Altair married, they neglected their duties. This made Vega’s father – the king of the heavens – angry. He sent Altair to live far away in a place known as the Heavenly River. He said the two could see each other only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh moon.

When this day came, poor Vega could not cross the Heavenly River. A flock of magpies took pity on her. They spread their wings to make a bridge, and Vega ran across the bridge to reach Altair.

According to this tale, Vega and Altair continue to meet this way. But if it rains on this day, the magpies cannot make a bridge. Then Vega and Altair must wait another year.

The Japanese people love this story. They call the seventh day of the seventh moon the Star Festival.

People in the city of Sendai, Japan, celebrate this festival from August 6 to 8. They decorate streets and bamboo branches with colourful paper blossoms and figures. These figures are offerings to Vega and Altair and are meant to bring good luck.

 

Indonesian Independence Day

Independence Day is a national holiday in Indonesia commemorating the anniversary of the Indonesia’s Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945. It was made a national holiday by then-President Sukarno in 1953.

Ceremonies and festive events are held throughout the country to celebrate this national day, including flag hoisting, local games and neighborhood competitions, patriotic and cultural parades. Discounts are offered by participating shopping centres or businesses.

On this day, all Indonesian national televisions broadcast the National Independence Day Ceremony live from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. Televisions also often air Indonesian patriotic songs, nationalistic-themed films, advertisements, and talkshows.

In the city of Jakarta, Indonesia, flags fly everywhere on Independence Day, even on betjaks. A betjak is a kind of taxi for one or two passengers. It looks like a bicycle with three wheels. The driver pedals from the rear.

As the drivers pedal through the busy streets, clanging their bells as they go, the red and white flag of Indonesia flaps in the breeze in celebration of the country’s independence.

Indonesia gained its independence from the Netherlands on August 17, 1945.

Picture Credit : Google

The Month of August

August is the eighth month of the year. After Julius Caesar was killed, Augustus, his great-nephew, became emperor of Rome. The Romans named August in his honour.

In parts of the Northern Hemisphere, August is summertime. It is likely to be one of the hottest months there. In the Southern Hemisphere, the arrival of August means that winter will soon be over.

August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendar and is 31 days long. It is considered the busiest time for tourism because it falls in the main school summer holiday period. It is the seasonal equivalent of February in the opposite hemisphere.

August does not start on the same day of the week as any other month in the year in common years, but ends on the same day of the week as November every year. During leap years, August starts on the same day as February and still ends on same day as November.

Simon Bolivar’s Birthday

Simon Bolivar Day is a national holiday in Venezuela and is always celebrated on July 24th. It commemorates the birthday of Simon Bolivar, a Venezuelan who played a key role in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Colombia becoming independent from Spain.

Simon Bolivar is one of the greatest heroes of South America. He was born in Venezuela in 1783 and became a general for a South American army. Bolivar fought for the freedom of the Spanish colonies in South America.

In 1819, Bolivar became the first president of a union of South American countries. Finally, in 1824, Bolivar crushed the Spanish army. He had won independence for what are now Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.

Those six countries honour Simon Bolivar on his birthday, July 24.

The country of Bolivia was named after Bolivar, and a silver coin used today in Venezuela is called the Bolivar.

Picture Credit : Google