Old Spanish Days Early August
This five-day fiesta held in Santa Barbara, California, in early August draws heavily on the area’s Spanish-American and Mexican-American heritage.
Hiroshima Peace Ceremony August 6
A ceremony held each year since 1947 at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan, in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb that devastated the city in 1945. The peace ceremony is held in the evening, when the city’s citizens set thousands of lighted lanterns adrift on the Ota River and prayers are offered for world peace. Other memorial services are also held throughout the world at this time.
Glorious Twelfth August 12
August 12 is the legal opening of grouse season in Scotland. If the 12th falls on a Sunday, Grouse Day is the following day. Because grouse-shooting has always played such a central role in the life of Scottish gentlemen, the occasion is referred to as the Glorious Twelfth and is observed as a social event by Scots around the world.
Obon August 13-15
Obon, also called Urabon, is celebrated by Japanese Buddhists around the world. Obon is a festival for the dead.
San Martin Day August 17
This national holiday in Argentina honors José Francisco de San Martín, who died on this day in 1850.
National Aviation Day (USA) August 19
National Aviation Day honors the birthday of the American inventor and early manufacturer of airplanes, Orville Wright (1871-1948), as well as the progress that has been made in manned flight since the Wright Brothers made their historic 120-foot flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903.
Women’s Equality Day: August 26
Organization: U.S. Department of State
Summary: “The U.S. Congress designated August 26 as ‘Women’s Equality Day’ in 1971 to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted women in the United States the right to vote.” (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE) Learn more about this day commemorating both the passage of the 19th Amendment and women’s efforts toward equality.
Hopi Snake Dance August
The grand finale of ceremonies to pray for rain, held by individual Hopi tribes in Arizona every two years. Hopis believe their ancestors originated in an underworld, and that their gods and the spirits of ancestors live there. They call snakes their brothers, and trust that the snakes will carry their prayers to the Rainmakers beneath the earth. Thus the Hopi dancers carry snakes in their mouths to impart prayers to them.
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