Holiday Folk Fair International

09/09/2024

The month of September is National Peace Consciousness Month in the Philippines. In 1986, then-president of the Philippines Corazon Aquino established the holiday to promote peace and unity among all citizens after several world wars in the 20th century. The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (O.P.A.P.P.) leads several activities that celebrate peace, justice, and equality during the month. Some activities include forums, film showings, and discussions in universities.

09/05/2024

The country of Albania celebrates St. Teresa Canonization Day on September 5, the anniversary of her death. St. Teresa ((formerly Mother Teresa) is one of the Albania’s most influential national figures, as she was born in 1910 in the area of the Ottoman Empire that is now Albania. Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa in September 2016, and she became the first person born in the Ottoman Balkans to be canonized. Religious ceremonies are held in her honor around Albania on this day.

09/03/2024

Celebrated on September 3 every year is Foundation Day in San Marino. San Marino is a 380-square-mile country in southern Europe, bordered by Italy and surrounded by the San Marino Apennine Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. It is the oldest sovereign state in the world, founded in 301 B.C. by St. Marinus. St. Marinus was fleeing Christian persecution and set up a Christian refugee on Monte Titano, the highest point in the republic. The country’s constitution is also the oldest surviving document in the world — it was written in 1600 and is still observed today. Foundation Day is celebrated with military parades and a flag-raising ceremony.

08/31/2024

Labor Day weekend is designed to celebrate the contributions that America’s workers make to its strength and prosperity. Thank you to all of you!

08/29/2024

In Slovakia on August 29, citizens commemorate the anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, which occurred in 1944. In June of that year, the Germans invaded Czechoslovakia. The uprising to suppress N**i rule lasted for two months. In 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into two countries: The Czech Republic and Slovakia. Some celebrate this day by placing wreaths on a memorial dedicated to the uprising.

08/26/2024

Celebrated annually on the last Monday in August is National Heroes Day in the Philippines. On this day Filipino people remember those who lost their lives to help establish the Philippines as an independent nation. The heroes most often honored on this day are Jose Rizal, Emilio Aguilaldo, Apolinario Mabini, and Andres Bonifacio, who is known for his creation of the Katipunan to organize an armed revolt against the Spanish. The Philippines was occupied by Spain until the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, but the United States took over the islands shortly after. In 1946, the Philippines were given their independence.

08/22/2024

We are exactly three months away from the 2024 Holiday Folk Fair International! The 81st annual Holiday Folk Fair, honoring the theme of “Celebrating the Culture of Traditional Art,” will be held Fri., Nov. 22 – Sun., Nov. 24, 2024, at the Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis. Hours will be 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 22; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 23; and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 24.

For more information on the 2024 Holiday Folk Fair International, visit www.folkfair.org or sign up for the event’s e-newsletter for all the latest updates here: https://folkfair.org/contact-us/.

08/19/2024

Celebrated on August 19 in Vietnam is August Revolution Commemoration Day. It honors the 1945 revolution led by the Viet Minh — also known as the League for the Independence of Vietnam — and its leader Ho Chi Minh. The team successfully overthrew the rule of the Japanese and French, and later that fall, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was formed. Citizens of Vietnam take part in a parade in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi and visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum on this day.

08/15/2024

Christians around the world celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary annually on August 15. This day celebrates the Virgin Mary’s ascension into heaven after her death. Countries like Spain, Belgium, Austria, France, Poland, Portugal, Greece, and Switzerland treat this day as a public holiday, celebrated with church services and parades.

08/12/2024

08/09/2024

Today we pay tribute to the indigenous communities of the world and recognize the International Day of The World’s Indigenous People. With more than 400 million indigenous people living in 90 countries, these communities have unique languages, traditions, cultures, and governing systems that they’ve observed for centuries. The indigenous people’s special connection with nature has also led to the protection of the general environment.

08/06/2024

Bolivia Independence Day is celebrated today, which marks the signing of Bolivia’s Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1825. The day is filled with festivities around the country, including parades, fireworks, and many other fun activities.

08/01/2024

August is American Artist Appreciation Month, and while we celebrate the American artists who have impacted history, we also recognize that they are just a fraction of the incredible artists around the world. During the 2024 Holiday Folk Fair International — taking place on Friday, November 22 – Sunday, November 24 — experience art in all forms from dozens of cultures while we honor this year’s theme: “Celebrate the Culture of Traditional Art.”

“Traditional Art” embodies painting, pottery, sculpture, textiles, metalwork, and many others. These activities, practiced by groups of people within the world’s cultures, will never go out of style, as they promote diversity and inclusion.

A representation of one’s cultural heritage, traditional art conveys traditions, values, and beliefs. Creating art pieces is a visible way to see a culture sustained, safeguarded, and passed down to the next generations.

07/29/2024

Observed every July 29 is Wallis and Futuna Territory Day. Wallis and Futuna are islands located in the South Pacific. Once colonized by France under the authority of New Caledonia, the islands’ inhabitants voted to become a French overseas territory in 1959. On July 29, 1961, the two islands became one territory. This day is celebrated with festivals and parades with traditional dancing and singing, as well as foods such as ham, bananas, sweet potatoes, and seafood.

07/25/2024

You can stay current on plans for Holiday Folk Fair International 2024, taking place Fri., Nov. 22—Sun., Nov. 24, by signing up for the event’s e-newsletter, which provides updates on what is happening with the event.

Visit https://folkfair.org/contact-us/ to register.

07/22/2024

The Royal Welsh Show takes place this year in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells from July 22-25. This four-day celebration brings 250,000 to Wales, boosting tourism. Established by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, the Royal Welsh Show celebrates the farming community with events and attractions focused on cattle, horticulture, countryside sports, horsemanship, and other livestock. This event is primarily for agricultural businesses in the UK, to attract new customers and young farmers who live in Welsh farming communities.

07/18/2024

07/15/2024

Celebrated on July 15 every year is Democracy and National Unity Day of Turkey. In 2016, the Peace at Home Council, a group within the Turkish Armed Forces, attempted to overthrow the government of Turkey. However, civilian and police forces banded together to stop the coup d’état. The following year, July 15 was named a public holiday to honor the bravery, unity, and lives of those who died during the failed military coup. In 2021, the July 15 Democracy Museum opened in Ankara, which includes profiles of the martyrs, citizen testimonies, and the history of the many coups in Turkish history. Many celebrate this day with a trip to the museum.

07/11/2024

to Holiday Folk Fair International’s annual Naturalization Ceremony in 2023. More than 300 individuals accepted the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship during the ceremony on November 17. This event marks the beginning of the festival and is one of the most moving parts of the weekend.

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Holiday Folk Fair International — which will be held Fri., Nov. 22 – Sun., Nov. 24, 2024 — and stay tuned for more information about this year’s Naturalization Ceremony and festival weekend!

07/08/2024

July is French American Heritage Month. The month celebrates the contributions made to society by people of French descent in the United States. French fashion, food, and even the French’s savior faire skills have become common in the U.S. Currently, 11.8-million of French- or French-Canadian descent work in the United States, with 2 million speaking French at home. Attracted to the United States because of its climate, the U.S. French population resides mostly in California, Louisiana, and Maine.

07/05/2024

Armenia Constitution Day is celebrated every year on July 5. It remembers when the country entered a post-Soviet era with a new constitution adopted through a referendum in 1995. Armenians celebrate the day with parades, by listening to the president’s speech, and if in the capital city of Yerevan, with a visit to the Vernissage, the arts-and-crafts market.

07/04/2024

Today we celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave. Happy Independence Day!

07/01/2024

Celebrated annually on July 1 is Ghana Republic Day. Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to gain independence from Britain in 1957, but it took four years to build Ghana into an independent republic. After a constitutional referendum and a presidential election, Ghanaian president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana a sovereign republic on June 1, 1960. This day is celebrated with Senior Citizens’ Day in the country, honoring those who formed the republic’s foundation.

06/27/2024

The 2024 Holiday Folk Fair International featured food will be announced soon! The 2023 Holiday Folk Fair International featured food was rice. Rice is considered one of the most important foods in the world. Half of the world’s population considers it a main part of a standard diet, and rice is responsible for one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide.

06/24/2024

St. Jean Baptiste Day is celebrated on June 24 annually in the Canadian province of Quebec. This day honors the birth of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of Canada. Families gather for picnics and bonfires while public events like parades and fireworks are held. French Canadians wear white and blue on this day.

06/20/2024

"Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows." — Helen Keller

Happy first day of summer!

06/17/2024

Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha today. This day honors the sacrifice Abraham was willing to make for his son, Isaac. When God saw Abraham’s faith, he provided a ram for sacrifice instead. During this holiday, which marks the end of Hajj, the obligatory sacred pilgrimage to Mecca, Muslims share a slaughtered animal in three parts: one part for themselves, a second for their family, and the third for those in need. Eid al-Adha is one of the biggest Islamic holidays of the year, reminding Muslims of God’s mercy and blessings among those who do good.

06/15/2024

We’re thinking about all fathers around the world this weekend! Happy Father’s Day!

06/13/2024

Stay tuned for the 2024 Holiday Folk Fair International entertainment schedule! The festival will run from Friday, November 22 – Sunday, November 24.

06/10/2024

Popular in Southern China is the Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated today, on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Legend has it that this tradition started around 300 B.C. when grieving Chinese citizens set out on boats to search for the body of poet and decorated state official Qu-Yuan, driving away evil spirits with the boat’s drums and paddles.

Dragon boats are known in Chinese culture to please the rain gods. The paddles represent the dragon’s claws while the drum mimics a dragon’s heartbeat.