Holidays that Americans don't (or won't) celebrate
Boxing Day (UK/Commonwealth)
Celebrated on December 26th each year, Boxing Day is predominately recognized in Great Britain and some Commonwealth countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Today, it's associated with shopping and sporting events.
Boxing day started because the day after Christmas was when the servants were given gifts and food from their masters, and were allowed to visit their families. Today, in addition to shopping, people will enjoy sporting events like horseracing and enjoy a drink at a local pub.
May Day (UK)
May Day is celebrated on May 1 in the UK. It represents spring in full bloom with a day of festivals and dancing.
Dia de los Muertos (Mexico)
Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico on November 1. The event celebrates the lives of family members who have passed away.
Guy Fawkes Night (UK)
Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated on November 5 in the UK. It's known as a bonfire or fireworks night.
Family Day (Canada)
Family Day is observed on February 17 in New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia.
Holi (India)
Holi celebrates spring, love, and new life. While some families have religious ceremonies, many simply enjoy it and have fun. It is known as the festival of colors. Holi 2025 will be celebrated on March 14.
Puck Fair (Ireland)
Known as one of Ireland's oldest festivals, the Puck Fair has been celebrated for over 400 years. The first day of the Puck Fair is called Gathering Day. It takes place annually from 10 to 12 of August in Killiorglin, County Kerry.
Festival du Voyageur (Canada)
This ten-day festival takes place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It's held every February and is known as Western Canada's largest winter festival.
Toonik Tyme (Canada)
In April, this cultural fair celebrates the Tuniit who preceded the Inuit as residents in the Eastern part of Canada's Arctic regions.
Holidays some refuse to celebrate
In the following slides, you'll find several well-known holidays. For these four holidays, many people choose not to celebrate them for cultural, historical, or other reasons.
Christmas (USA)
Some Native people do not celebrate Christmas and instead use the opportunity to acknowledge the winter solstice. Others in the Northern Plains use this time to honor their relatives with a memorial horse ride called the Dakota 38 + 2.
Thanksgiving (USA)
Critics say that Thanksgiving celebrates colonialism, genocide, and the oppression of both Native Americans and Black Americans. Given this dark history, some choose not to celebrate the occasion.
Columbus Day (USA)
Columbus was known to have enslaved and murdered indigenous tribes and today his actions are seen as acts of colonialism and exploitation.
Veterans' Day (USA)
Others abstain from the holiday due to their disapproval of the actions of the US military, particularly abroad.
Sources: (National Geographic) (Business Insider) (El Pais) (Face2FAce Africa) (Smithsonian Magazine) (Britannica) (BBC)
