Greece
In Greece, January 8 is Midwife's Day or Women's Day, also sometimes called Women's Rule. On this day, men do all the housework and take care of the children, while women go out for the day, relaxing in cafés and coffee shops and playing card games. Events during the day focus on midwives, who parade through the streets on carts. In some villages, men who are caught outside, and not home doing chores, are chased by women and drenched with a bucket of cold water!
Australia
Australia Day is celebrated on January 26 and is the official national day of Australia. It recognizes the day in 1788 when a ship led by Captain Arthur Phillip first arrived to settle and establish a penal colony in Australia. To relieve the crowding in British prisons, the British established a colony in Australia and sent prisoners there. The day is celebrated with ceremonies all over the country. There are ferry races, tall ship races and surfing competitions, as well as music concerts and fireworks displays.
Sweden
Some families have a Christmas tree-decorating party and invite friends to help hang
ornaments and string garland on their tree. But in Sweden, they have a tree un-decorating party. Its called St. Knut's Day, or Julgransplundring, which means plundertime. The custom began nine centuries ago when King Knut (who ruled from 1080-1086) ordered that the Yule season should last 20 days, from December 25 to January 13. Ever since then, Swedes have made January 13 the day to take down the tree and have a party at the same time! It is also celebrated as Tyvendedagen in Norway.
