Belgium : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

Secular holiday : Chicago, Saturday May 1st, 1886: 350,000 workers go on strike to call for an 8-hour working day. Industries are paralyzed nationwide. On Monday, as demonstrations go on, the police open fire. On Tuesday, Chicago is again on strike. Following a bomb launched against them, the police shoot again. 12 dead, of which 7 policemen. 8 anarchists will be condemned and executed. In 1889, the Socialist International Movement met in Paris and declared this day international workers' day . The Soviets will follow suit, just as the Nazis. In France, under the Vichy regime (1940-1944), the celebration is renamed Labour Day .

Secular holiday : Https://fetedeliris.brussels/ in Brussels only - lasts 2 days 2023 edition confirmed

cards/flowers : Probably linked with a celebration in England in the 1600s ( Mothering Sunday ). Honored all mothers in England. Mothering Sunday gave poor servants who lived and worked for the wealthy a day off to actually go home and dedicate time to their mothers. Mothering Cake , a special cake, was common for the celebration.

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School holidays : some schools may work on Friday

Culture : Sanguis Christi

Catholic or protestant : Forty days after Easter, always on a Thursday. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared before his disciples and gathered them to tell them to baptize and spread the good word. He then ascended to heaven on a cloud.

Banks only :

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Catholic or protestant : Not a paid holiday

Catholic or protestant : Seven weeks after Easter Monday -Marking the day the Holy Spirit entered the disciples left behind and the beginning of their ministry.

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cards/flowers : except in Antwert

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Secular holiday : Applies to the Flemish-speaking civil servants Celebrates the Battle of the Golden Spurs (11 July 1302)

Culture : Lasts 5 days - www.gentsefeesten.be in Ghent 2023 edition confirmed

Secular holiday : Celebrates the 1831 separation from the Netherlands, as well as the formal establishment of the kingdom. Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg was crowned and supported the constitution drawn up by National Congress. Paid holiday when falling on Sunday (Labour law 4 Jan 1974)

Sports events : Www.formula1.com in Spa-Francorchamps - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 2023 edition confirmed

Catholic : Dogma defined by the Catholic Church on November 1, 1950, when Pope Pius XII declared that at the end of her life, Mary's body and soul were assumed into Heaven.

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Tradeshows : Lasts 5 days - in Kortrijk, West Flander (odd years only) www.matexpo.com/ 2023 edition confirmed

cards/flowers : Jewish New Year

Secular holiday : Applies to the French-speaking community civil servants

Culture : Www.fiff.be in Namur 2023 edition confirmed

Sports events : Www.bruxelles.be 2023 edition confirmed

Culture : Http://www.filmfestival.be in Gent 2023 edition confirmed

Sports events : Https://www.atptour.com in Antwerp 2023 edition confirmed

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Sports events : Https://antwerpmarathon.com 2023 edition confirmed

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Special Events : At 1:00 a.m. local times

Catholic : The day now honors all saints of the church, even those not known by name. The first All Saints' Day occurred on May 13, 609 (C.E.) when Pope Boniface IV accepted the Pantheon as a gift from the Emperor Phocas. Boniface dedicated it as the Church of Santa Maria Rotonda in honor of the Blessed Virgin and all martyrs. During Pope Gregory III's reign (731-741), the festival was expanded to include all saints and a chapel in St. Peter's church was dedicated accordingly. Pope Gregory IV officially designated the day in 837. (World Book Encyclopedia)

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cards/flowers :

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Secular holiday : Commemmorates the end of World War I on 11th November 1918. The armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning - the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Paid holiday when falling on Sunday (Labour law 4 Jan 1974)

Secular holiday : Dynasty Day German-speaking community celebration