Year: 2015

2015 Bank Holidays in Hong Kong is an attempt to highlight the public holidays of the country that are designated by the Government for the year 2015 in keeping with the festivals, history, culture and traditions of the land.

An interesting feature of the 2015 Bank Holidays in Hong Kong is the fact that Qing Ming Festival and Easter Monday in collaboration would fetch the country five consecutive holidays. This is because of the fact that Qing Ming Festival in 2015 is a Sunday, and the following day is Easter Monday which is again a holiday, and as such an additional general holiday would be added making the following Tuesday a non working day too.

Here is a list 2015 Bank Holidays in Hong Kong with a brief idea about the background and commemoration of each:

New Years Day – Hong Kong too joins in the celebrations with the rest of the world to usher in the New Year with élan. People throng the waterfront region of the Hong Kong islands mostly to celebrate the setting in of a brand new year, the Victoria Harbor being one of the most favorite spots to mark a spectacular countdown. Party atmosphere reigns supreme. There is also an eight minute display of light and sound show up in the sky above the iconic Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Chinese New Year – Chinese New Year celebrations in Hong Kong are as unique as they are adored. This is the biggest festival of the year with celebrations spanning for around fifteen days. This is celebrated amidst traditional observances and in close company of family and friends. Neighborhoods are decorated with lanterns and lights. People flock to the temple to pray and eat symbolic food which they believe would bring them good luck and prosperity. From fireworks to festive flower markets, from Night Parades to betting on Horse Races, people leave no leaf unturned to enjoy the season to the hilt.

Good Friday –This is a day when the Christians mourn the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Qing Ming Festival – When literally translated, this day means clean and bright. This is the day the people in Hong Kong pay tribute to their ancestors by sweeping and cleaning their graves. It is also the custom to burn paper replicas of objects they may need in their afterlife as offering.

Easter Monday – This day commemorates the day after Easter which is the day when the Christendom celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Labor Day – This is the day when Hong Kong, like many other countries across the globe, acknowledges the contribution of the working class people and their struggle to establish their rights.

The Buddha’s Birthday – The Birthday of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Hong Kong. It is a unique festival with deep spiritual connotations. According to the local belief, Lord Buddha was bathed by nine dragons by spraying water on him when he was born. To mark that people visit temples and spray water over statues of Buddha with bowls full of water. This is believed to cleanse ones soul. Grand ceremonies are organized in the temples and in the monasteries, one of the notable ones being at the Po Lin Monastery located on the Lantau Island. It is also a custom to eat green bitter cookies before bathing the Buddha to establish the fact that one ha to go through hardships to enjoy any pleasure.

Dragon Boat Festival – This festival which is also known by the name of Tuen Ng Festival has its origin about 2000 years ago. This day commemorates the story from the pages of folklore with state that the Chinese National Hero Qu Yuan, who was also a poet of repute, sacrificed his life in the Mi Lo River as a protest against corruption in the then rulers. It is also believed that people rushed in boats in an attempt to save him, and also beat drums and threw rice dumplings in the river to scare away fish in case they tried to get to this corpse. Even today people eat glutinous rice dumplings that are known as zongzi, either swim in a nearby water body or at least dip their hands, and beat drums. In many places boat racing competitions are organized.

Special Administration Region (SAR) Day – This is the day that commemorates the foundation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which happened in the year 1997 as Hong Kong got transferred from the rules of United Kingdom to the reigns of China. This is a day when many political parades and rallies are organized. Also on this day an official extravaganza of fireworks mesmerizes people.

Late mid autumn festival – This is the day when the people of Hong Kong commemorate two things – Reunion with family and bounty of harvest. In Chinese culture, the shape round is considered very auspicious as it is believed to represent union and material satisfaction. Some people consider this to be the most significant festival of the year. Traditions include worshipping the Moon with offerings of flavored wine and spherical fruits like grapes, pomegranates etc, and of course the Moon Cake. Moon cake are spherical cakes made and consumed specially for the occasion and are believed to bring in good luck. Hong Kong has always created a fusion of tradition and modernity in all its celebrations. Fire Dragon dancing can be seen on this day. Beautiful lantern displays can be seen in many neighborhoods. A carnival is held at the Victoria Park with loads of amusements.

National Day – This is the day that marks the foundation of the People's Republic of China that happened in the year 1949 and is celebrated in Mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong as well. The celebrations in Hong Kong however started much later since 1997 after the territories got transferred from Britain to China. Apart from the hoisting of the national flag there are many parades that are organized too. But the most spectacular vision is offered by the fireworks that light up the sky.

Chung Yeung Festival – The Chung Yeung Festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month according to the Chinese Lunar calendar. This doubling up of the factor nine is considered to be inauspicious as per Chinese beliefs. As such, many rituals are followed that are believed to help people conquer the hurdles and bring in good luck. In Hong Kong, people gather at cemeteries on this day to pay respect to their ancestors. Since this festival occurs in the spring season, people also take the opportunity to picnic outdoors. It is a common tradition to eat special cakes known as “ko” on this day with the belief that it would help them achieve higher positions in life. Based on legends and folklores it is also the custom to hike to the city’s highest point on this day to avoid bad luck.

Christmas Day – Like most parts of the world Hong Kong too celebrates the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ on this day, who the Christians believe to be the son of God. On this day, Churches hold special prayer services. It is a day of fun and feasting with family and friends. Preparations for this day begin much earlier as people adorn homes, public places and businesses with holiday themed décor and lighting. Shopping also forms a major part of Christmas celebrations. A unique feature of Christmas holidays in Hong Kong is the Winter Fest that has been in vogue for about two thousand years now. It is spectacle to watch with lighting, carol singers, food, shops with attractive discounts and more.

Boxing Day (Observed) – Since the Boxing Day this year is a non working day in Hong Kong as it is; the next working day has been designated as a holiday to observe the Boxing Day. The custom for this day is more prevalent in countries that have strong British influence. This is the day when as per the British traditions employers used to give the employees a day off and also distributed gifts, foods and clothing to them. Today this day is an opportunity to prolong the Christmas vacation which gives people to spend more time in the company of family and friends.

List of 2015 Bank Holidays in Hong Kong

Day of the Week	Date	Holiday
Thursday	January 01	New Years Day
Thursday	February 19	Chinese New Year
Friday	February 20	Chinese New Year
Friday	April 03	Good Friday
Saturday	April 04	Qing Ming Festival
Monday	April 06	Easter Monday
Friday	May 01	Labor Day
Monday	May 25	The Buddha’s Birthday
Saturday	June 20	Dragon Boat Festival
Wednesday	July 01	Special Administration Region (SAR) Day
Monday	September 28	Late mid Autumn festival
Thursday	October 01	National Day
Wednesday	October 21	Chung Yeung Festival
Friday	December 25	Christmas Day
Monday	December 28	Boxing Day (Observed)

2015 Bank Holidays

Australia	Canada	China
Europe	France	Germany
Hong Kong	India	Singapore
UK	US

2015 Bank Holidays in Canada are legislated statutory holidays on which all employees, public workers or private workers, get to enjoy a day off without sacrificing their regular pay.

These are non working days at the federal, provincial or territorial levels. Apart from these there are holidays that are observed in the provincial and territorial levels. Also there are religious holidays which an observant person can opt to take off.

Here we bring for you a list of 2015 Bank Holidays as observed in Canada.

New Years Day – Since the year 153 BCE January 1st of every year has been considered to be the beginning of a brand New Year, and like most countries across the globe Canada too welcomes the New Year with much pomp. Apart from usual partying, there is also fireworks display. This is especially prevalent in Toronto where the fireworks are accompanied my music and public performances. Ice fishing too is a custom on the New Year’s Day, especially in the area of Quebec, in keeping with the winter chill that Canada experiences this time of the year.

Day after New Year’s Day – The Day after New Year officially brings an end to the festive season that began with Christmas and continued till New Year. The 2nd day of January each year is the time people spend with their family and friends to rejuvenate before they get back to work. It is also a day when people who had gone for vacation during the Christmas and New Year leave get back home. This day also coincides with the day on which the Quebec Bank was taken over by the Royal Bank of Canada.

Family Day – In British Columbia observes Family Day on the second Monday each year of the month of February. This was decided by an online poll that was conducted by the provincial government, and based on the results of the poll this decision has been adhered to since 2013.

Family Day – In most parts of Canada, Family Day is observed in the third Monday of the month of February each year. This is the day when people uphold the institution of family and celebrate the bond between the family members. This day is becoming more and more popular with the passage of time and change in the social scenario where it has now become extremely important to deeply root the values of familial bond among people.

Good Friday – This is the Friday before Easter, and on this day the Christians in Canada commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. For all people this is an opportunity to take a break from work and enjoy the spring season after the harsh winter months in the country. Among the traditions, Canadians eat hot cross buns on this day. These bunds are peppered with raisins, fruits and nuts and a cross is marked on the top.

Easter Monday – This is the day after Easter, Easter being the day when Canada like other countries in the world that follow the Christian traditions celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the opportunity for people to enjoy the long weekend and to nibble on the confectionary that they have received from friends and family for Easter, especially the Easter Eggs.

Mother’s Day – Canadians celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of the month of June each year to show their love and respect towards their mother or anyone else one considers as a Mother Figure in their life. This is the day when people spend time with their moms. It is a common custom to present moms with bouquets of carnations.

Victoria Day – Victoria Day is celebrated in Canada on the Monday that comes right before May 25. This day is also known by the names of May Long or May Long Weekend and May Two-Four. This day finds its origin in the birth date of Queen Victoria, the longest reigning monarch of the then expanding kingdom of Great Britain. The date has been adjusted later as per statutes. The day is observed with parades and fireworks in many places.

National Patriots’ Day – Commemorated on the Monday preceding May 25th, this day is celebrated in the same day as the Victoria Day. This is the day on which in the year 1837 there arose rebellion against the British rule. Across the country a lot of events are organized that make the citizens aware of the history of Canada.

Father’s Day – Canadians honor their father or those whom they consider to be father figures in their life on the third Sunday of the month of June each year. Apart from spending time together and presenting greeting cards and other gifts, it is also a custom to participate in a charity run, the proceeds from which are donated for the cause of prostate cancer.

Discovery Day – This day is celebrated in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador in the Monday which is nearest to the 24th of June each year. This is the day that commemorates when in the year 1497 John Cabot discovered the provinces. Since the year 1997, as the day observed its 500th anniversary, the day has also been named as the Cabot 500 Day.

The National Holiday of Quebec – This day was introduced as the French colonists settled in the country and thought of celebrating the Feast of Saint John the Baptist who is considered to be the patron saint of the Canadians of French descent. The celebrations of this day can be traced back to 1636. Since 1925 this day was declared to be a legal holiday, and since 1977 it gained the status of national holiday.

Canada Day – The celebrations of this day dates back to the 19th century and was first observed as the anniversary of the rule of Great Britain in Canada. Since 1958, the day is being celebrated in an organized fashion all across the country with the Secretary of State of Canada being responsible for all the arrangements.

Civic Day – This day is a paid non working day provided it is in keeping with the policy of one’s employer and provides people the perfect opportunity to take a break in the middle of the summer season and enjoy the warmth and sunshine before the cold winter months set in.

Discovery Day – This is especially celebrated in Yukon since 1911 on the third Monday of the month of August each year to commemorate the day (August 17) on which in the year 1896 gold was discovered at Bonanza Creek of Yukon by George Washington Carmack which resulted in the gold rush that is so famous in the history of the land. Due to this, the day is also known by the name of Klondike Gold Discovery Day.

Labor Day – Labor Day celebrations in Canada can be dated back to 1872 when printers in Toronto revolted to establish a sane working hours per week, although at that time it was not legal to have any Labor Union activity. Since then the day has been celebrated to uphold the rights of Workers and to acknowledge their contribution to the economic growth of the country. Marches, parades and picnics mark the occasion.

Thanksgiving – Thanksgiving was introduced in Canada by the British explorer Martin Frobisher who celebrated this day to show gratitude of having survived the exploration. The day became nationally recognized since 1879 and is commemorated to show gratitude for a good harvest and general well being all through the year.

Remembrance Day – This is the day when the World War I ended in the year 1918, and Canada commemorates this day by paying tribute to the war veterans and martyrs who have served the country.

Christmas Day – The birth anniversary of Jesus Christ has transcended the barriers of Christendom and has now become a global celebration with more emphasis on socio cultural aspect. People exchange greeting cards and gifts, decorate their houses and business places and celebrate the holiday season with their near and dear ones. This is also a time for people to plan a vacation.

Boxing Day – Although the origin and background of this holiday is not very specified, this day has now been established as a paid holiday and gives people the opportunity to get some breathing space after the Christmas celebrations.

List of 2015 Bank Holidays in Canada

 

Day of the Week	Date	Holiday
Thursday	January 01	New Years Day
Friday	January 02	Day after New Year’s Day
Monday	February 09	Family Day
Monday	February 16	Family Day
Friday	April 03	Good Friday
Monday	April 06	Easter Monday
Sunday	May 10	Mother’s Day
Monday	May 18	Victoria Day
Monday	May 18	National Patriots’ Day
Sunday	June 21	Father’s Day
Monday	June 22	Discovery Day
Wednesday	June 24	The National Holiday of Quebec
Wednesday	July 01	Canada Day
Monday	August 03	Civic Day
Monday	August 17	Discovery Day
Monday	September 07	Labor Day
Monday	October 12	Thanksgiving
Wednesday	November 11	Remembrance Day
Friday	December 25	Christmas Day
Saturday	December 26	Boxing Day

2015 Bank Holidays 

Australia	Canada	China
Europe	France	Germany
Hong Kong	India	Singapore
UK	US