This public holiday celebrates the War of Greek Independence of 1821. The statement ‘freedom or death’ became the motto of this revolution. On this day, towns and villages throughout Greece hold a school flag parade, where school children march in traditional Greek outerwear and carry national flags. There is also an armed forces parade in the capital city, Athens.

This day honours and remembers those who suffered and lost their lives in the transatlantic slave trade. This event has been called the ‘worst violation of human rights in history’, where in over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were victims. First observed in 2008, each year has its own theme. For example, in 2015 the theme was ‘Women and Slavery’.

Founded by the UN in 1945, this day commemorates the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees who was kidnapped at gunpoint in 1985. The hundreds of men and women who lost their lives in the service of UN peacekeeping missions are remembered on this day. UN personnel should never be arrested or detained because of the work they do in carrying out the mandate and representatives call on all countries to ensure that the necessary privileges and immunities are fully respected.

Also known as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, this day celebrates the announcement by the angel of Gabriel to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth. This is a feast day recognising the birth of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. To celebrate, devotees recite a Hail Mary as a prayer to Saint Mary.

A national public holiday in Lesotho to mark the birth of Morena Moshoeshoe I, Lesotho’s first king, who helped establish the Basotho nation that has become the modern-day state of Lesotho. Because his exact birthdate is unknown, Moshoeshoe Day falls on the anniversary of his death in 1870.