This is a list of generic types of observances, namely holidays and observances with similar names in different countries that do not necessarily commemorate the same thing or are observed on the same day in the same way.
One popular example is that of Independence Day, which is observed by many countries on different days of the year in commemoration of different events from one another.
| Administrative Professionals Day (also known as Administrator's Day, Secretaries Day or Admin Day) | Recognizes the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals.[1] |
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| Arbor Day (also known as Tree Planting Day) | A day where individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. |
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| Bird Day | Commemorative date celebrating birds and their conservation. |
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| Children's Day | Commemorative date celebrated in honor of children. |
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| Discovery Day | A date commemorating the discovery of land, gold, and other significant national discoveries. | ||
| Engineer's Day | Commemorative date celebrating engineers. |
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| Father's Day | A date commemorating fathers and fatherhood. | ||
| Food Day | A date celebrating a particular food. |
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| Friendship Day (also known as Friend's Day) | A day celebrating friendship. |
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| Heritage Day | A day commemorating national, regional, or cultural heritage, or particular aspects thereof, |
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| Indian Arrival Day | Commemorating the arrival of people from the Indian subcontinent to their respective nations as indentured labourers brought by European colonial authorities and their agents. | ||
| Inventor's Day | A day recognizing the contributions of certain inventors. | ||
| Labour Day | Celebrating the achievements of workers. | ||
| Maritime Day | |||
| Mother's Day | A date commemorating mothers and motherhood. | ||
| Movable feast | |||
| National Grandparents Day | |||
| National Sports Day | |||
| New Year | A date marking the beginning of a calendar year, typically categorized between lunar or lunisolar new years and solar new years. |
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| Parents' Day | |||
| Public holiday | |||
| King's/Queen's Official Birthday | The selected day in most Commonwealth realms on which the birthday of the monarch is officially celebrated in those countries. It does not necessarily correspond to the date of the monarch's actual birth. | ||
| Ratification Day | |||
| Spring break | Recess in early spring at universities and schools. | ||
| Spring Day | |||
| Teachers' Day | |||
| Thanksgiving | |||
| Youth Day |
| Air Force Day | A day honouring countries' respective air forces. | ||
| Armed Forces Day (also known as Defenders Day) | A day honouring countries' respective military forces. Some countries commemorate different days for the individual branches of their armed forces (army, navy, air force, etc.). (Not to be confused with Veterans/Armistice Day.) |
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| Army Day | Commemorative date honouring a country's army. | ||
| Constitution Day | Holiday honoring a country's constitution. | ||
| Dominion Day | A former holiday commemorating the granting of certain countries Dominion status in the British Empire. | Formerly celebrated in the two countries that received "Dominion" status: the Dominion of Canada (in French as Fête du Dominion), and Dominion of New Zealand. | |
| Flag Day | A date celebrating a historical flag-related event, such as the adoption of a country's flag. | ||
| Heroes' Day | A date commemorating a national hero or heroes. | ||
| Martyrs' Day | |||
| Navy Day | Commemorative date honouring a country's navy. | ||
| Remembrance Day (also known as Veterans Day; formerly Armistice Day) | |||
| Victory Day |
The meaning of an Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Independence Day, and Liberation Day can vary, but in general they are celebrated in various countries in commemoration of a historical event where a nation, state, or group of people achieved sovereignty, freedom, or some other form of independence (such as from military occupation or imprisonment).
Along with Independence Day, a Foundation Day and Republic Day commemorate the establishment of a nation or state.
| Emancipation Day | Holiday to celebrate emancipation of enslaved people, particularly those of African descent. |
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| Independence Day | A date commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or statehood. | ||
| Liberation Day | A date commemorating the liberation of a place. Similar to an independence day, liberation days differ in that they typically mark either a revolution, the fall of a dictatorship, or the end of an occupation by another state, thereby differing from original independence day or creation of statehood. |
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| National Day | A day commemorating the statehood or nationhood of a state or its people. It may be the date of independence, of becoming a republic, of becoming a federation, or a significant date for a patron saint or a ruler. | ||
| Revolution Day | Commemorating an important event in a country's history, usually the beginning or turning point in a revolution that led to significant political change. | ||
| Foundation Day | A date celebrating the founding of a nation, state or a creation of a military unit. | ||
| Republic Day |
In the United States, there are:
Various countries and communities celebrate a National Unity Day, Union Day, or Unification Day.