Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-02-15

ia that particular city will be open
that day. Does any one around the
place know whether January is a
bank holiday in Picking or Athens or
Cape Town? Usually no one does.
les hard enough to keep tabs on the
"a holidays rampant In these United
States. 1t therefore becomes neceS-
sary to send an expensive cablegram
to get the information. This sort of
thing happens not once, but many
times, in every banking house with
an extensive foreign business
Among the holidays established by
custom the occasion is generally the
anniversary of an important political
swent or the birthday of a national
Zero. Such holidays are therefore To-
cal, while Church holidays are for the
most part general. The former class
prevails in the newer and more dem
ocratic countries. while the older ones
confine themselves largely to the
church fasts and festivals.
Where Holidays Are Thickest.
Contrary to the popular notion, the
new demOcracies Of the west enjoy a
greater number of holidays than their
sister nations Of the eastern hemi-
sphere. OF the 81 nations or depend
encies listed Brazil leads, with "a
holidays. The United States, with
"a. is close second, although she,
unlike Brazil, practically ignores the
church days. Another popular delu-
sion Is shattered when we find that
France has only IS formally observed
days and Italy only %. We had sup.
posed the Latins always Outdid us In
this particular Among the other bel.
ligerents Germany. 1t is presumed
will observe 20 days next year, Great
Britain 16. Japan 10 and Russia II
In most of these countries numerous
local holidays ordinarily observed
have been abandoned during the war.
The study of holidays is fascinat
ing to the historian. Those of oul
own country offer particularly rich
field. II one knew the meaning of all
the half hundred days celebrated In
the United States, with the collateral
events connected with each, he would
be we'll versed in the nations history.
One Of the first surprises in store
for such student Is to learn that the
United States has no national holt.
day. The reader will at once think
Of Fourth Of July and OF the Presi.
dents Thanksgiving proclamation
But not even these are national. Acts
| Of Congress and Presidents pro.
nouncements in this respect apply
only to the District of Columbia and
the territories. The states usually
follow suit, but as matter of GUS
| tom only and not of law. Here Is q
chance to win some bets from your
friends
Americas Red Letter Days.
American local holidays are rich In
historical significance. OF such are
the concentrations of Bunker Hill
and Bennington and New Orleans ant
San Jacinto; the all but forgotten
Fast Day Of New England, still sur
viving in New Hampshire; Patriots
Day in Maine and Old Defenders Day
in Baltimore, Pioneer Day In Idaho
and the various Admission Days pop
ular with other Western states, Con
federate Memorial Day in the South
together with the birthdays of Let
and other heroes of the Confederacy.
Two states have Independence Day.
of their own. Texas observes her sep
aratlon from Mexico on March 2
North Carolina commentaries thu
Halifax independence resolutions OF
April y and the Meck1enburg decIa
ration on May 20.
It remains for Frederick county
Md, to celebrate all alone the repu
diation OF the stamp act, one of thu
most local celebrations of an impor
tant national event on record.
: Among the favorlte months for hol
, days the world over November leads