The Earth Calendar

Paraguay - Heroes' Day

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:32:58 +0000

National Defense Day

Switzerland - Chalanda Marz

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:29:15 +0000

Is the Swiss celebration to welcome spring

The Engadin school children drive away winter with bells and songs. Children go from door to door singing and receive sweets in return.

Early morning, young boys with big bells (you may know them as the typical swiss souvenier bells) as the cows wear them on the alps, are strolling through the villages of the Engadin (the upper Inn valley, Canton of Graubunden) and ring the bells whilst elder boys try to keep the group of youngsters together, using whips. A noisy spectacle which is to drive out the winter.

North Korea - Anti-Japanese Uprising Day

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:24:06 +0000

Anniversary of the March 1 Civil Uprising was in 1919 against the Japanese imperialists' colonial rule, for national independence and liberation.

Bulgaria - Baba Marta

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:21:13 +0000

Baba Marta (Grandmother March)
March 1st is probably the most intrinsic holiday because it is unique to Bulgaria.
The custom of wearing martenitsas (red-and-white threads worn as a decoration)
is only popular in Bulgaria and it is perhaps the most positive one in all our folklore.
The traditions related to March 1st as well as the martenitsas themselves are
associated with optimism and anticipation of warmer weather, fertility and well-being.
This tradition is based upon the founding of Bulgaria in 681 AD and there are different
folk-legends about the origin of this celecrated day.

In the morning of 1st of March people set fire in the yards of their
houses, with lots of smoke. Then everybody jumps over the fire three
times, facing the rising sun, in order to be purified from evil forces and
guarded against diseases. The lady of the house takes out red clothes
and fabrics and puts them on the branches of the trees in front of the
house and on the fence. Only then she decorates the children and the
animals with the martenitzas made from woolen or cotton thread.

On the first of March and the days following all people give to each other
strips or small woolen dolls called Pigo and Penda, also known as
Martenitzi. They are so named because they bring the name of March,
or in Bulgarian, Mart. According to tradition, Mart is an angry old lady who
rapidly changes her mood from bad to good and back again. She is
Grandmother March, in Bulgarian"Baba Marta."

South Korea - Independence Movement Day

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:11:15 +0000

March 1, 1919, marked the beginning of the Korean Independence Movement On this day, independence fighters announced Korea's declaration of independence from Japanese colonialism. In response, Japanese police and military forces killed and injured thousands of unarmed protestors.

Switzerland - Instauration de la Republique

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:07:41 +0000

I would be grateful for further information about this day.

Bosnia-Herzegovina - National Independence Day

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 06:04:23 +0000

The elected government of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1992; referendum for independence was completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992.

Marshall Islands - Memorial Day & Nuclear Victim's Remembrance Day

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 05:56:53 +0000

Several of the islands - the Bikini atoll in particular - served as US nuclear testing sites for atomic bombs through the 1960s, and many of their inhabitants have suffered from radiation poisoning, while their home islands remain too contaminated to be resettled.

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Micronesia - Yap Day

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 04:24:37 +0000

Yap Day is one of Micronesia�s most colorful traditional events. Every year around the March 1 weekend, villages from all over the island gather to dance, show traditional customs, compete in sports and display local agriculture and crafts.

The highlight of the Yap Day events, which normally run three days, are the daily dances. Dance is Yap�s most highly developed art form. Sitting dances, kneeling dances, standing dances and stick dances are all performed. Men and women dress in colorful traditional costumes and crowds all gather to see how each village performs. Dancers start at an early age. Several generations are always represented.

International Women of Color Day

arantha @ BusyThumbs — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 02:58:39 +0000

To honor women of color worldwide, those who achieve in education and employment, and also those who work with their hands, raise children alone, overcome disabilities and other barriers, established 15 years ago by the National Institute for Women of Color (NIWC),.