December 16 - Holidays and Observances

Holidays and Observances

• Christian Feast Day:
  • Adelaide of Italy
  • December 16 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
• Day of Reconciliation, formerly celebrated as Day of the Vow by the Afrikaners (South Africa)
• Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.
• National Day, celebrates the withdrawal of United Kingdom from Bahrain, making Bahrain an independent emirate in 1971. However December 16 is only the date on which the state celebrates the event, while the actual day on which the independence of Bahrain was declared was August 15, 1971 (see Bahrain Independence Day)
• National Sports Day (Thailand)
• The beginning of the nine-day celebration beginning December 16 and ending December 24, celebrating the trials which Mary and Joseph endured before finding a place to stay where Jesus could be born (Christians of Spanish-origin):
  • The first day of Las Posadas (Mexico, other Latin Americans)
  • The first day of Simbang Gabi (Philippines)
• Victory Day (Bangladesh)
• Victory Day (India)