Why and How to Make Fictional Holidays

 

In the US there are many, many holidays. New Year's, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and much more. Every culture/religion has it's own holidays. So why is there a lack of holidays in fiction?

Why Make a Fictional Holiday?

Because every culture, every religion, every nation has holidays. Religious holidays celebrate or remember important events according to that religion. Christians celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born on that day (or night). They celebrate the first coming of their savior into the world.

National holidays are usually in remembrance of historical events, like Pearl Harbor Day, which is a day to honor the memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Independance days are holidays when people celebrate the anniversary of the day that their country gained independance from other countries.

There are even holidays that no longer have any significant meaning and are simply enjoyed and kept alive by the people groups that celebrate them because they like said holidays enough to do that.

All in all, having fictional holidays will help to flesh out the religions, cultures, and people groups that are in your story.

How to Make a Fictional Holiday?

The easiset way to make a fictional holiday is to first determine why people would be celebrating. Was a religious figure born or killed? Was the nation declared independant? Was there a festival adapted from another culure? Was there a major historical event?

Religious holidays are very likely to be centered around a specific person from that religion. Births, deaths, and other important events are likely to be celebrated.

Independace days, wars, and plagues are all historical events that could be remembered annually. Likewise, the births or deaths of famous leaders or historical figures could also be celerated.

If the country was initially a colony or you are developing a nomadic culture, then a holiday adapted from another people group is also an option. Maybe they celebrate a festival in the spring which was originally a celebration of a deity creating the first spring.