On March 23, Bolivia celebrates the Day of the Sea (Día Del Mar). The holiday, observed by most around the country, remembers the section of the Pacific coastline that their country lost to Chile during the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific. Not only is there a parade featuring the Bolivian navy, but celebrants also listen to recordings of seagulls and ships as they vow to regain their ocean access someday.

In 1840, representatives from the British government and more than 500 Māori chiefs signed the Treaty of Waitangi, which is considered to be New Zealand's founding document. Waitangi Day was first officially commemorated nearly 100 years later in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974. Waitangi Day is celebrated every year on February 6.

The Southeast Asian nation of Cambodia has one of the highest number of public holidays in the world. Of the 28 public holidays each year, some are Buddhist religious holidays, while others commemorate royalty, including the Queen Mother’s Birthday, the Commemoration Day of King Father, and Coronation Day.

In Finland, failure is celebrated instead of shamed on the National Day for Failure on October 13. The brainchild of Finnish university students, the holiday started in 2010 to encourage Finns to pursue their dream jobs and start their own businesses instead of giving in to humans’ natural fear of inadequacy.

The “Day of Silence” (Nyepi in Balinese) occurs on the predominantly Hindu island of Bali, Indonesia. The day meant for self-reflection is a Hindu celebration; the date varies according to the Balinese calendar, but often falls in March. On this holiday, shops are closed, road use is forbidden, and even the local airport is shut down for 24 hours.

Missouri recognizes President Harry Truman’s May 8 birthday as an official state holiday, celebrating the fact that Truman was the only Missourian to ever be elected President. His birthplace in Lamar is a state historic site, and the Truman Presidential Library and Museum is in Independence, where President Truman is buried alongside his wife Bess.

On the first Monday of August, residents of Australia’s Northern Territory celebrate Picnic Day, a public holiday that encourages family leisure time. Picnic Day originated in the town of Adelaide River as a holiday for railway workers. While some picnic events in the region have roots as far back as the 1800s, the day as Northern Aussies now know it was started in earnest in the 1920s.

Japan and South Korea both turn the tables for Valentine’s Day, which is celebrated by having women give men chocolate instead of the other way around. White Day, celebrated exactly one month later on March 14, is reserved for men giving women candy in return. South Korea takes things to the next level with Black Day on April 14, when singles eat jjajangmyeon (also known as black bean noodles).

Celebrated on the second Sunday in August in Turkmenistan, this highly specific national holiday honors melons of all varieties, but the Turkmenbashi Melon in particular — named after the country’s first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, who insisted on being called “Turkmenbashi,” which translates to “leader of the Turkmens.” Inaugurated in 1994, Melon Day features an enormous display of melons, along with music and dance.

Each year on January 25, the Welsh honor St. Dwynwen, the patron saint of lovers. On this day, it’s customary for a person to give his or her love interest a “love spoon.” The tradition of love spoons dates back to the 17th century. When a man was interested in a woman, he would carve an elaborate wooden spoon and present it to her. The more elaborate the design, the greater his commitment to her.

The Hunminjeongeum was the book that outlined the principles of the new Korean writing system, which replaced Chinese characters. In South Korea, Hangeul Proclamation Day is celebrated on October 9 to mark the day in 1446 that the Hunminjeongeum was declared the official writing system for Koreans. The unique alphabet, now known as Hangeul, was a major victory for the people of Korea.

“Poisson d’avril” (April Fish) is a day of practical jokes and tomfoolery similar to what United States citizens recognize as April Fool’s Day. But the French take the practical jokes to the next level and celebrate this day for pranksters by taping drawings of fish on the backs of unsuspecting victims.

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has its origins in Aztec and Spanish customs, and is celebrated each year from November 1-2. Those taking part in the festivities will often set up altars decorated in marigolds (which are said to guide spirits with their bright color and scent), as well as food and favorite items for the spirits.

No Easter Bunny here — Sweden has Easter witches instead. On Easter night, Swedish children dress up as witches and go door-to-door wishing people a happy Easter in exchange for candy. The holiday is also celebrated in Sweden (and parts of Finland) with bonfires to ward off the real witches.

Beer Day, known as Bjórdagurinn to locals, may not be an official public holiday, but it’s one that many Icelanders are happy to observe. Every year on March 1, the Nordic nation celebrates the end of the 74-year prohibition on beer that ran from 1915 until March 1, 1989. Beer lovers toast to the time when Parliament voted to end the prohibition and they got their drinks back with a pint at their local pubs.

Four of Japan’s national holidays happen during Golden Week: Showa Day (April 29), celebrating former Emperor Hirohito’s birthday; Constitution Day (May 3), marking the introduction of the Japanese Constitution in 1947; Greenery Day (May 4), a day for nature appreciation; and Children’s Day (May 5), which dates back to the Nara period of the eighth century.

When December rolls around, children around the world start to feel the excitement of the Christmas season. But in the Austrian Alps, they must first get through Krampus Night, a sinister twist on the wholesome Santa Claus tradition. The name Krampus is derived from the German “krampen,” meaning "claw," and the legend of a devilish half-man, half-goat character. The popular Krampus Parade (or Krampuslauf) happens every year around December 5.

On March 30, 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward signed a treaty with Russia to acquire Alaska at a cost of $7 million. However, Seward had some trouble convincing the U.S. Senate to ratify the treaty, and the Alaskan purchase was called “Seward’s Folly.” However, Seward was vindicated by history, as resource-rich Alaska proved to be a worthy addition. Seward’s Day is now a state holiday, celebrated on the last Monday of March in Alaska.

The third Monday in February is Family Day for many Canadians; however, it isn’t an official national holiday and it doesn’t have any specific history or traditions. Starting in 1990, it was adopted in different ways by provinces across the country as a way to break up the stretch between New Year’s and Easter. And some provinces celebrate a different holiday on the day; for example, in Nova Scotia and Yukon, it’s called Heritage Day.

In the United Kingdom, Fat Tuesday (or Shrove Tuesday), the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar, is also known as Pancake Day. Christians would traditionally commit to 40 days of penitence and fasting during Lent. Pancakes were a great way to use up eggs and fat before the fast began, which led to the holiday’s alternative name.