TAKING TIME OUT

We all love a day off and here in New Zealand we do pretty well for ourselves. We score 11 public holidays each year, celebrating everything from the birth of a foreign monarch to the struggle for fair working hours to the signing of a Treaty.

But right now we’re in the gloomy midst of an annual holiday drought, with a four month wait until Labour Day in late October.

ALL THE WORLD LOVES A HOLIDAY

As part of our annual Worldwide Benefit & Employment Guidelines, Mercer reviews holiday practices across 64 major economies. While the next sanctioned holiday may be a long way off for most Kiwis, we can take some comfort in the fact that somewhere, workers are enjoying a well-earned sleep-in.

WHO'S CELEBRATING NOW?

• Restoration Day on 16 August is the Dominican Republic’s version of Independence Day, commemorating the start of a two-year-long war against the Spanish Colonial Army in 1863.
• Moroccans celebrate Youth Day on 21 August, which aims to encourage youth to participate in decision-making, as well as raise awareness of important youth issues.
• August 24 marks Ukraine’s Independence Day.

ONE OF A KIND

Some New Zealand holidays are common in many nations – 94% of countries celebrate New Year’s Day, 80% rejoice with a day off at Christmas and Labour Day and just under half take time out on Good Friday.

More than 90% of the world’s nations celebrate “National Day” in some form or other – Independence Day, Bastille Day, Liberation Day, Freedom Day, Republic Day, Constitution Day… you get the picture.

Some countries though, have truly unique holidays:

• On May 24 Bermudians pay homage to Bermuda shorts; an item of clothing now acceptable to wear at business meetings in the country.
• The Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck, on February 10, commemorates the patron saint of Malta’s less-than-smooth landing on the island nation’s shores.
• Tiradentes – or “tooth-puller” celebrates the role of cattleman/dentist Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier, who led Brazil’s liberation movement from Portugal.

Japan takes the cake for one-of-a-kind holidays with 10 of its 15 public holidays either unique or rare elsewhere; Coming of Age Day, for example, congratulates and encourages those who’ve reached adulthood (age 20) that year – by giving everyone a day off.

CELEBRATING NATURE

The Japanese are quite keen to declare holidays in celebration of nature, in all its forms:

• Greenery Day on May 4 is a day to commune with nature.
• Marine Day on July 20 gives thanks to the ocean’s bounties.
• Mountain Day, earmarked for debut on 11 August 2016, celebrates; well, mountains.

TOASTING CONSUMABLES

Food and drink-themed holidays are popular, with some countries having a break from the grind to revel in the goodness of melons, radishes and vino.

Turkmenistan - Turkmen Melon Day

Turkmenistan observes a national holiday devoted to the melon, a major crop of the country. Typically celebrated on the second Sunday in August, melons are displayed all over the country and the nation’s 25 best melon growers are showered with gifts.

Mexico – Night of the Radishes

Another food-themed holiday worth mentioning is Noche de Rabaños, or Night of the Radishes. Celebrated in Oaxaca, Mexico on December 23, the day is dedicated to carving oversized radishes to create scenes, with prizes awarded in various categories.

The festival originated from the Viglia de Navidad (Vigil of Christmas) market which took place on the night before Christmas Eve, where vendors would create displays in a bid to attract people to their stalls. Radishes were carved and assembled to create Christmas-themed figures and scenes. In 1897, the official competition was born.

Moldova - Wine Day

Over two days in early October, Moldovans celebrate their country’s long history of winemaking, dating back some 500 years. Celebrated in the country’s capital, Chisinau, the festival includes drinking the wine – naturally – and also features dancing and celebrating the country’s rich folk traditions.