January 1 |  NEW YEARS DAY

New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though other dates were also used in Rome). In all countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar with the exception of Israel, it is a public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts. In Australia, celebrations are held around the nation, especially in Sydney, where the world's largest fireworks displays draws over 1.5 million people to the harbour. Australia is the second country in the world to celebrate the New Year after New Zealand.

January 26 | AUSTRALIA DAY

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788, the hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamation of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, along with an address from the Prime Minister. Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808, with Governor Lachlan Macquarie having held the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales in 1818.

Febuary 14 |  VALENTINE'S DAY 

Every February, in many countries, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. The history of Valentine's Day - and its patron saint - is shrouded in mystery. But February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men - his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. According to the legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl - who may have been his jailor's daughter - who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure.

Febuary 14 |  CHINESE NEW YEAR

The Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year or Spring Festival as it's been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Originally tied to the lunar - solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. With the popular adoption in China of the Western calendar in 1912, the Chinese joined in celebrating January 1 as New Year's Day. China, however, continues to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year, although in a shorter version with a new name - the Spring Festival. The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back thousands of years through a continually evolving series of colorful legends and traditions. One of the most famous legends is that of Nien, an extremely cruel and ferocious beast, which the Chinese believe, eats people on New Year's Eve. To keep Nien away, red-paper couplets are pasted on doors, torches are lit, and firecrackers are set off throughout the night, because Nien is said to fear the color red, the light of fire, and loud noises. Early the next morning, as feelings of triumph and renewal fill the air at successfully keeping Nien away for another year, the most popular greeting heard is kung-hsi, or "congratulations."

March 17 | ST PATRICK'S DAY

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated annually on March 17 in honour of Ireland's patron saint. St. Patrick was born between 370 and 390 C. E. in the Roman Empire in Britain. His given name (Magonus Sucatus or Maewyn Succat) was changed to Patricius (Patrick) either after his baptism or after he became a priest. At the age of 16, Patrick was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. He remained in captivity for six years during which time he worked as a shepherd and began to have religious visions. During one of the visions, Patrick became aware of a rescue ship and he fled to France. Patrick eventually returned to Ireland as a missionary and succeeded in converting the Irish to Christianity. He used a shamrock to explain the Trinity to potential converts. The three leaves of the shamrock represented the father, son, and holy spirit. Patrick is also reported to have driven all of the snakes, a pagan symbol, out of Ireland and into the sea where they drowned. This is perhaps a metaphor for driving paganism out of Ireland since biologists believe there were no snakes in Ireland at the time. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage. In our days St. Patrick's Day is celebrated with green beer, the wearing of green clothing, and parades.

April 4 | EASTER DAY

Easter is one of the most important and popular Christian holidays. It is celebrated to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after he was tortured to death. Easter falls on the last day of the lent season. Lent season is a long period of celebrations. It starts from Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter. The origins of Easter date to the beginnings of Christianity, and it is probably the oldest Christian observance after the Sabbath (originally observed on Saturday, later on Sunday). Later, the Sabbath subsequently came to be regarded as the weekly celebration of the Resurrection. A convergence of three traditions - Pagan, Hebrew and Christian can be seen in many of the traditions and observances. Many of us are not aware that it is also the name of an ancient Saxon festival, Eastre. Eastre is the pagan goddess of spring and offspring. The ancient Saxons used to celebrate the return of spring with a hilarious festival commemorating their goddess of offspring and of springtime, Eastre. Easter bunnies, lilies and eggs form an important part of the Easter celebrations all over the world. Of old traditions, Easter coincides with the Passover, a Jewish festival. Unlike modern-day, Easter celebrations did not always follow a specific calendar. It was after 325 A.D. that the observance of Easter was set after the first full moon following the equinox. In the West, Easter is observed by the churches on the first Sunday following the full moon that falls on or after the Spring equinox or 21st of March every year. Thus, the day on which Easter is celebrated usually falls between March 22nd and April 25th.

April 22 | WORLD EARTH DAY

Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. While climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, it also presents the greatest opportunity – an unprecedented opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean energy economy now and for the future. Earth Day 2010 can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Earth Day Network is galvanizing millions who make personal commitments to sustainability. Earth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy. More than one billion people in 190 countries are taking action for Earth Day.

April 25 | ANZAC DAY

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.

May 9 | MOTHER'S DAY

The origin of Mother's Day goes back to the era of ancient Greek and Romans. But the roots of Mother's Day history can also be traced in UK where a Mothering Sunday was celebrated much before the festival saw the light of the day in US. However, the celebration of the festival as it is seen today is a recent phenomenon and about a hundred years old. Thanks to the hard work of the pioneering women of their times, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis that the day came into existence. Today the festival of Mothers day is celebrated across 46 countries - though on different dates - and is a hugely popular affair. Millions of people across the globe take the day as an opportunity to honor their mothers, thank them for their efforts in giving them life, raising them and being their constant support and well wisher.

September 5 | FATHER'S DAY

The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. So Father's Day was born as a token of love and gratitude that a daughter cherishes for her beloved father. What is noticeable about Father's Day in Australia is its unique time of celebration. Unlike in several other countries where Father's Day is celebrated on the Third Sunday of June, Fathers Day in Australia is celebrated on the first Sunday of September. Hence, the date of Father's Day is never fixed.

December 25 | CHRISTMAS DAY

If dazzling festivities and fervor make a festival, the Christmas celebrations in Australia quite equal the observances of the festival in Western cities like New York, London, Paris or Vancouver. The one exception is that in Australia, Christmas is rarely white for snow almost never falls on this date. Instead of white, snowy scenery, Australia is filled with blue skies and sunshine and intense heat sometimes up to 35 degrees Celcius. Thus, Christmas is special to Australians as it is Summer season. Till recently, the Australian Christmas celebrations were heavily influenced by the English way of observing the festival. But with the boom in Australia, more and more people are coming into the country from different parts of the world. As a result, Christmas in Australia has been influenced by the culture of various ethnic groups.  For many, it is the occasion to be with friends and relatives, to share love and friendship and giving and recieving of gifts. Often Australians spend Christmas out of doors, going to the beach, or heading to camping grounds for a longer break over the Christmas holiday period. Generally, Christmas is celebrated along traditional lines and families often travel great distances to be together. In homes, many of the traditional Christmas rituals are being followed.

December 31 | NEW YEARS EVE

New Year's Eve or Old Year's Night is on 31 December, the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day. In modern Western practice, New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties and social gatherings spanning the transition of the year at midnight. Many cultures use fireworks and other forms of noise making in part of the celebration. New Year's Eve is observed universally on 31 December according to the year numbering of the Common Era. New Year's Eve is also the seventh day of Christmas in western Christianity. Each major city around Australia holds New Year’s Eve celebrations, usually accompanied by a fireworks display amongst other events. Gloucester Park, a racecourse in central Perth, is the largest and most recognised display in Perth. In Brisbane 50,000 people annually gather at sites around the Brisbane River in the city to watch a fireworks display while events are held in the city and at Southbank.The two largest New Year's Eve celebrations in Australia are held in its two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. The celebrations in Sydney are usually accompanied by a theme which is displayed in light shows and a large symbol in the middle of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Over 1.5 million people gather around Port Jackson. The fireworks display last approx. 25 minutes and is followed by music shows set on several stages throughout the beach. As one of the first major New Year's celebrations each year (due to time zones), Sydney's fireworks display is often broadcast throughout the world during the day of 31 December.