Public holidays in New Eiffel

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New Year's Eve celebrations in New Eiffel: a balloon is popped for every hour, counting down towards the New Year's Day (00:00).

Public holidays in the Principality of New Eiffel, the small, erstwhile landlocked micronation that was surrounded by the United Kingdom, were largely based around New Eiffel's state religion of Christianity (Protestantism), the holidays and celebrations of England, and the philosophy that observing a large number of frivolous holidays would improve the mental well-being of citizens. At the time of New Eiffel's dissolution, the micronation was observing 17 fixed public holidays and 19 unofficial holidays.

Due to the inconvenience of important dates in New Eiffel's history aligning with other public holidays (Independence Day takes place on 31 December, New Year's Eve), New Eiffel only observed a single historical public holiday—New Eiffel Unity Day, honouring the establishment of the Principality on 11 August. During fixed public holidays, most businesses and non-essential services were closed; though, not all public holidays in the micronation were automatically non-work days.

None of New Eiffel's predecessor states—the Republic of New Finland (31 December 2017) nor the Kingdom of New Finland (4 June 2018)—are known to have formally observed any public holidays, although the residents of both micronations celebrated some of the holidays that were official in the United Kingdom. After the Principality of New Temporary (later renamed New Eiffel) was established on 11 August, founder Zabëlle Skye began pondering ideas for holidays to be observed. A Christian, Skye chose to observe several Christian holidays, and also thought about observing frivolous holidays based on his personal philosophy that observing a large number of such holidays would improve the mental well-being of citizens. On 5 December, New Eiffel adopted its first sixteen public holidays. Several more unofficial holidays were adopted between February 2019 and January 2020, with the adopting of further holidays becoming legally impossible due to the crisis in New Eiffel. New Eiffel dissolved on 1 November.

Fixed public holidays exclusive to New Eiffel were Movie Day (28 May); Cat's Day (3 July); New Eiffel Unity Day (11 August); Dog's Day (28 August); Workplace Day (5 October); and Celebrations Day (18 November). Unofficial public holidays exclusive to the micronation were Day Before Winter (19 March); Cardboard Day (9 April); Extrovert Day (1 May); Gamer's Day (1 June); Ambivert Day (29 August); Women's Day (6 September); Men's Day (13 September); Eat a Hotdog Day (10 October); Introvert Day (23 November); and National Art Day (2 December).

Fixed public holidays

Holiday Date Description
New Year's Day 1 January Celebrated by making New Year's resolutions, planning ahead for the year, and reflection.
Shrove Tuesday Moveable feast[a] Penance and baking and consuming pancakes.
Mother's Day Fourth Sunday in Lent[b] Honours mothers and motherhood. Celebrated by treating one's mother, often by making cards, purchasing presents and doing household chores generally delegated to one's mother.
Good Friday Friday immediately preceding Easter Attending Church services, prayer and almsgiving.
Easter Moveable feast[c] Church services, Bible study, easter egg decoration and easter egg hunts, consuming chocolate.
Movie Day 28 May Celebrated by watching films—sometimes hosting social gatherings dedicated to said activity—and the holding of New Eiffelic film festivals.
Father’s Day Third Sunday of June Honours fathers and fatherhood. Celebrated by treating one's father, often by making cards, purchasing presents and doing household chores generally delegated to one's father.
Cat's Day 3 July Celebrated by treating one's cat and raising awareness for cat adoption.
New Eiffel Unity Day 11 August Commemoration of the establishment of the principality. Often the prince released a speech.
Dog's Day 28 August Celebrated by treating one's dog and raising awareness for dog adoption.
Workplace Day 5 October Honouring workers generally; all those who are employed.
Halloween 31 October Celebrated by trick or treating, consuming sweets, social gatherings, visiting graves of loved ones and praying.
Firework's Day 5 November New Eiffelic adaptation of the British Guy Fawkes Night: celebrated by lighting or watching fireworks and bonfires.
Celebrations Day 18 November A general day of goodwill. Celebrated by social gatherings, doing recreational activities and feasting.
Christmas Eve 24 December Celebrated by gift giving (in New Eiffel, gifts were given on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, holiday greetings, feasting, family gatherings and Midnight Mass.
Christmas Day 25 December Commemoration of the nativity of Jesus: celebrated by symbolic decorations, family outings, feasting, prayer, Bible study and (exclusively to New Eiffel) karaoke.
New Year's Eve 31 December Celebrated by lighting or watching fireworks, reflection, family gatherings, feasting, parting and counting down to the new year by popping balloons by the hour.

Unofficial public holidays

Holiday Date Description
Valentine's Day 14 February Celebrated by honouring one's loved ones, such as family or a partner, often by giving gifts, making cards and going on outings.
National Random Acts of Kindness Day 17 February Celebrated by doing things considered kind, such as being polite, helping others and donating money.
Ash Wednesday Various[d] Prayer and fasting.
Day Before Winter 19 March Reflection.
World Water Day 22 March Commemorates those without access to potable water.
Cardboard Day 9 April Building cardboard forts.
Extrovert Day 1 May Commemorates extroverts.
Gamers' Day 1 June Commemorates video gamers. Gaming, particularly mobile and console, were commonplace in New Eiffel.
World Emoji Day 17 July Commemorates emojis.
Mental Illness Awareness Day 16 August Commemorates those with mental disorders.
National Potato Day 19 August Consuming dishes made with potatoes.
Ambivert Day 29 August Commemorates ambiverts—those who are neither introverted nor extroverted, but instead in-between.
Women's Day 6 September Commemorates women, especially women's rights, feminism, notable women and women's history.
Men's Day 13 September Commemorates men, generally.
Eat a Hotdog Day 10 October Making and consuming hotdogs.
Introvert Day 23 November Commemorates introverts.
National Art Day 2 December Commemorates art, generally.
Independence Day 31 December Commemorates the foundation of the Republic of New Finland, the eventual predecessor to New Eiffel.

Footnotes

  1. 47 days before Easter Sunday: the date can be between 3 February and 9 March inclusive.
  2. 21 days before Easter Sunday: the date can be between 1 March and 4 April inclusive.
  3. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon on or after 21 March (a fixed approximation of the March equinox).
  4. 46 days before Easter Sunday: the date can be between 2 February and 8 March inclusive.