Simply put, observances are remembrance, awareness, and celebration days or events that are not normally days off work. These events are inherently different from public holidays, as they are commonly celebrated regionally, and not nationally. Observances are holidays such as Halloween or Earth Day.

The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the Organization. Usually, it is one or more Member States that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution.

Observances, on the other hand, are remembrance, awareness and celebration days or events that are not normally days off work, like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Father's Day.