28 February: what is celebrated today

World Rare Disease Day

Every 28—or 29—February, when the calendar seems to depart from the norm, the world turns its gaze to those living with uncommon conditions. The choice of a “rare” day for this observance is no coincidence: it is a symbol of the thousands of patients whose lives unfold on the frontier of the unknown, facing late diagnoses, scarce treatments and the constant need to be recognised. Since 2008, this day created by EURORDIS has become a space for global visibility and advocacy.

Rare diseases, many of genetic origin, affect around 350 million people worldwide collectively: diverse faces behind figures that never tell the whole story. For them, so-called “orphan medicines” represent not only therapeutic hope, but also an economic and political challenge that requires international cooperation. Organisations such as FEDER in Spain have promoted campaigns, educational programmes and associative movements that shape a community unwilling to remain in the shadows.

Through testimonies, acts of solidarity or simple gestures of understanding, this day invites every citizen to break the silence. Rarity ceases to be an exception and becomes a reminder that health is complex territory, and that the dignity of every patient—however isolated their illness may appear—is a profoundly collective matter.

Andalusia Day

In southern Spain, 28 February takes on a different texture: green and white, bright and sonorous. Andalusia celebrates its day with pride in an identity forged among ancient cultures, social struggles and a historic referendum—the 1980 one—that marked the beginning of its full autonomy. Since then, the observance has been a tribute to a land that has sought to recognise itself in its roots in order to project itself into the future.

Andalusian streets wake to flag-raisings, institutional speeches and a festive air that runs through squares, schools and homes. Gastronomy—with the iconic bread with olive oil—becomes an everyday act of celebration, while cultural centres and schools organise activities that tell, in their own way, the history of an extensive and diverse region.

Symbols such as the flag and the anthem, the work of Blas Infante, give this commemoration its own language: one that speaks of freedom, justice and a profound connection with the land. Andalusia uses its day not only to remember what has been achieved, but to reaffirm a community vocation that remains alive even in times of uncertainty.

Beginning of Ramadan

This 28 February 2025 also coincides with the beginning of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and one of the most sacred periods for millions of Muslims. Its beginning is governed by an ancient gesture: observing the crescent moon, which marks the starting point of a spiritual journey combining fasting, prayer and reflection. Thus the first revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad is commemorated, an event which, according to tradition, transformed the religious history of the East.

For around thirty days, fasting—from dawn to sunset—becomes an act of purification and inner discipline. Far from being a mere dietary restriction, it is a way to renew divine awareness, strengthen patience and deepen family ties through Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast each night. Prayers set the rhythm of the day and recall the community dimension of this month.

Among curiosities, exceptions and ancient rules regulating this practice, Ramadan remains a living territory where tradition and the present meet. Even in changing contexts—such as the health restrictions of recent years—it retains its essential meaning intact: creating a space for reflection amid the world and remembering that the spirit also needs its own calendar.