Can you list every holiday celebrated in the United States, or any country, for that matter?

Probably not, and that’s okay! Holidays do play an important role in our society, though. Imagine what an international student studying in the U.S. would do if they turned up for class on Thanksgiving Day, because they didn’t know it was a national holiday!

It’s important to familiarize yourself with the holidays in your host country. Why? Museums often close on public holidays, classes may not meet, and stores, banking, and transportation may be limited. You don’t want your own naivety surrounding your host country’s holiday schedule to be cause for a “bad day,” so educate yourself and ask questions when you get there!

Timeanddate.com provides a list of holidays worldwide. Click on the country you are traveling to for a list of public and observed holidays. You can even create a monthly or yearly calendar based on the holidays in your country, or customize a calendar with both U.S. and international holidays to hang in your room while you’re abroad!