From Publisher's website: Detailing 3,000 Observances from All 50 States and More Than 100 Nations. Revised and expanded, this now-classic compendium describes 3,000 holidays, festivals, commemorations, holy days, feasts and fasts, and other observances from all parts of the world. The entries cover popular, ethnic, religious, and historic events of international, national, regional, and local significance. This multi-purpose dictionary is ideal for schools and public libraries, religious organizations, community affairs groups, and others interested in learning about festive events.

Dedication to Leslie Shepard -- Foreword to the Fourth edition / Jack Santino -- Foreword to the Third edition / Leslie Shepard -- Preface -- Holidays, festivals, and celebrations of the world dictionary -- Appendices -- 1: Glossary of words relating to time -- 2: Calendars throughout history: an overview of calendar systems around the world -- 3: Comparative table of calendar systems -- 4: Phases of the Moon from 2009 to 2020 given in Eastern standard time -- 5: Overview of the world's major religions -- 6: Facts about the US States and territories -- 7: Legal holidays by state -- 8: Tourism information sources for the US States and North America -- 9: Facts about the US Presidents -- 10: Facts about countries around the world -- 11: Legal holidays by country -- 12: Tourism information sources for countries around the world -- 13: Bibliography -- Indexes -- 1: Chronological indexes: Fixed days and events -- 2: Chronological indexes: Movable days -- 3: Special subject index -- Ancient/pagan -- Calendar -- Folkloric -- Historic -- Promotional -- Sporting -- 4: General index.