In America people generally expect 24-hour shipping to be available six or seven days a week. They might also assume that their recipient will not be on vacation for more than a week or two a year. These assumptions may not be valid in other countries. One might also assume that common holidays fall the same dates. However, some holidays - such as Mother's Day -fall on quite different dates from country to country.
It is virtually impossible to achieve 24-hour shipping and delivery when ordering from the Americas for delivery on other continents.
When somebody in California places an afternoon order for delivery, it is already the middle of the night in Europe and the next day in Australia.
Expect at least a 48 hour shipping time and plan ahead.
International delivery is often not organized according to USA standards.
Some countries do not offer Saturday delivery. Delivery companies, accustomed to working with businesses, may not be familiar with residential addresses. They may expect the recipients to be pro-active in getting their parcels.
If the recipient will be at work on the desired day of delivery, consider shipping to the place of work rather than home.
Place and size matter. It is easier to get a large package to Berlin, Germany than to a small village in Portugal
Vacation customs. Europeans have many holidays. Around the Christmas and New Year holidays many people remain at home and offices may be closed.
Prior notification. There are many European holidays in January. You can impress your recipient twice by sending a gift card in December mentioning that their gift will arrive in January. (GiftsForEurope.com offers this service.)
Local Holiday Calendar
Father and Mother's Day are not on the same day in every country. In some countries, Belgium, for example, the dates vary by region.
Here are some valuable links to holiday calendars for religions and secular holidays by country.
European Holiday Dates
http://www.eupedia.com/europe/european_festivals_holidays.shtml
US Holiday Dates
http://www.giftbee.com/2006_holiday_calendar.php
http://www.madmanmike.com/us_events_dates.html
Holidays by country
http://www.earthcalendar.net/index.php
http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-holidays-by-country
http://shagtown.com/days/
http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/links/holidays.htm
http://www.buyusa.gov/germany/en/holidays.html
http://www.portalfiestas.com/
International Mother's Day dates
http://pressroom.hallmark.com/mothers_day_around_world.html
http://www.indobase.com/holidays/mothers—day/facts/mothers—day—2006.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother's_Day#Mother.27s_Days_in_various_parts_of_the_
New Year's, Father's Day, Valentine's Day
http://www.indobase.com/holidays/index.html
Religious Holiday Dates
http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/ethnic.html#December
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/holidays/holiday_dates_calendar.htm
http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/holidays/holiday_calendar.htm
https://www.cms.k12.nc.us/discover/calendar/06-07/religious06-07.pdf
Name Days
http://www.behindthename.com/namedays/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_day