Pearl Harbor Day (United States)
Tuesday, December 7 is the anniversary of the bombing of the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by Japanese armed forces. Many Americans think of this date in 1941 as the beginning of World War II, but war had actually been raging in Europe since October of 1939, and Japan and China had been at war since 1937.
World War II ended in 1945 and had a transformative effect upon the remainder of the 20th century, including the creation of the United Nations in an attempt to prevent future wars. Whether it was due to the UN, the advent of nuclear weapons, or other factors, there have been no wars of comparable magnitude since.
In 1995 the US Congress designated December 7 as Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and it is traditional to fly the US flag at half-mast.
Bodhi Day
Wednesday, December 8, is Bodhi Day, a holy day celebrated in many Buddhist traditions such as in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Bodhi Day commemorates when the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (of India) is believed to have first achieved enlightenment. It is not as widely celebrated as other holy days on the Buddhist calendar such as the Buddhist New Year, or Vesak, the Buddha’s birthday. Many American Buddhists, however, place additional emphasis upon Bodhi day due to its proximity to Christmas.