This week many of us will be getting an early holiday season as a bulge in anniversaries means an uptick in public rest days across the world.
If you are reading this in the US, you are already immersed in the long Memorial day weekend with tomorrow’s commemoration of those who have given their life in military service.
On other years, the last Monday of May would also be a day off in the UK, linked to the Christian festival of Pentecost, or Whitsun as the Church of England calls it. But this year, the day off has been moved to Thursday and Brits have been handed an extra public holiday on Friday to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years as British head of state — perhaps by heading to the cinema.
On Thursday, Italians will commemorate the founding of their modern state with fireworks and parades on National Republic day.
Then there is the Dragon Boat Festival, the traditional Chinese holiday held on the fifth day of the fifth…
