Unusual Holidays Around the World

As the new year kicks off, it’s always fun to look ahead and see which public holidays might be available to provide little points of joy throughout the upcoming 12 months. However, have you ever noticed some of the weirder holidays practised around the rest of the world? Let’s take a look at a couple that stand out:

National Spaghetti Day

First up is the delicious National Spaghetti Day on 4 January. This is your chance to cook and share your favourite pasta dish with your friends and family. Feel like being adventurous? Why not try a new sauce to go with those noodles!

While the first mention of the national day appeared in 1953, the Italian cuisine has been around for centuries, with many people carrying fond memories of their childhood as soon as the tasty morsel touches their lips.

Alien Abduction Day

Yes, you read that right. If you’ve ever been beamed up into a giant spaceship, the 20th of March is just for you.

While it’s currently unclear exactly when the day first started to be observed, it reportedly first became popularised in 2008 by an Alien Abduction Day festival in Toronto, Canada. Since then, people around the world have gathered to share their alleged experiences and find solace in connecting with their fellow abductees.

World Mosquito Day

Ever felt like celebrating mosquitoes? No? Me neither. However, you might not want to dismiss the 20th of August too quickly.

In 1897, Sir Ronald Ross discovered that malaria was transmitted to humans by female mosquitoes, aiding vital research in preventing and curing mosquito-transmitted diseases like malaria, West Nile Virus, Dengue fever and more.

Malaria alone has been estimated to have killed nearly 54 billion people – of people who have ever lived! – so researching and understanding the illness is vital to preventing further casualties.