• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Holidays, Celebrations, Festivals, & Events in Vatican City

The holidays in Vatican City are identical to the Holy Days of the Catholic Church, along with a couple secular holidays. First among these secular holidays is New Year's Day (January 1), which is also Mary, Mother of God Day.

Among the many Catholic Holy Days celebrated in Vatican City are the Epiphany, which falls on January 6. This is also known as Three Kings' Day and is celebrated to commemorate when people realized that Jesus was the Son of God. February 11 is Our Lady of Lourdes Day, which is dedicated to Mary and sightings of her near Lourdes, France. May 1 is also celebrated as a Holy Day; this day is the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker and was first celebrated as a day off of work in the mid-1900s when other countries were already celebrating the day as "May Day" or "International Workers' Day," a day commonly celebrated by communist countries. June 29 is St. Peter & Paul Day, dedicated to two of the earliest leaders in the church. August 15 is the Feast of the Assumption, which is dedicated to the day Mary ascended into Heaven (much of Vatican City is also closed on the eve of this day, August 14). November 1 is All Saint's Day.

The last couple holidays are the most important in the church: Easter and Christmas. Easter is the day Jesus ascended into Heaven and Christmas is the day of Jesus's birth. Christmas always falls on December 25, but Easter's date changes annually; it always falls between March 22 and April 25. Along with Easter are a number of other Holy Days that week, including Palm Sunday (the Sunday prior to Easter), Holy Thursday, Good Friday (the day Jesus died), and Easter Monday (the day after Easter), among others.

It's important to note that the Vatican Museums and other public sites are closed on all of the above holidays.

This page was last updated: November, 2013