16 March – what holiday is it today, folk traditions and church calendar
16 March 2026 falls on a Monday. It is the 1,481st day of the war in Ukraine. There are 291 days remaining until New Year’s Day.
On this day, believers commemorate the holy martyrs Savin and Paph.
Saint Savin of Hermopolis, a martyr, came from the Egyptian city of Hermopolis. He was a man of noble birth and the ruler of the city, but during the persecution of Christians he abandoned everything and went into hiding with other believers. According to tradition, he was betrayed to his persecutors by a beggar whom Savin had previously helped. The saint was seized, brutally tortured, and later drowned in a river around the year 287.
The holy martyr Pope of Laranda lived in Laranda – now part of Turkey. During the persecutions of Emperor Maximian, he openly professed the Christian faith. For refusing to worship the pagan gods, he was subjected to severe torture, after which he was executed.
Also, on 16 March, Ukraine and the world mark Freedom of Information Day. This international day is dedicated to every person’s right to receive information about the activities of public authorities and other socially important data.
The holiday coincides with the birthday of James Madison – one of the authors of the US Constitution and the fourth President of the United States. He emphasised that a democratic society can only exist when citizens have access to information and understand how the government operates.
In addition, 16 March marks Black Press Day. This date is dedicated to the history of African-American newspapers and their role in the struggle for equal rights, freedom of speech and justice.
It was on this day in 1827 that the first newspaper for the Black community, Freedom’s Journal, began publication in New York. It was founded by journalists and social activists Samuel Cornish and John Brown Russworm. The publication was created so that African Americans could tell their own stories about their lives, their problems and their aspirations for freedom.
Another date on 16 March is No Selfie Day. On this day, people are encouraged to take a break from constant photos and social media to live more in the moment.
The main idea behind this day is to put away phones and cameras, and focus on interacting with people and the world around us, rather than seeking digital validation.
