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A
Abolition
of slavery
see International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Aboriginal
see Australian
- Indigenous
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day (Australian - Indigenous)
6-13 July 2007
The Friday of NAIDOC Week is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day.
More information at:
http://www.naidoc.org.au/ |
Afghan
No
ruz or Nowrooz (New Year)
African,
African-American
Africa
Day
Akwasidae
Day of Reconciliation
(South Africa)
Kwanzaa
Africa
Day (Africa)
25 May
On this day in 1961, the Organisation of African Unity
was formed by the combined Heads of State of the African
Continent to assist Africa in its liberalisation from
colonisation, aid independant and democratic self-governance,
and to tackle issues such as sustainable development,
poverty and human rights.
This day is celebrated as a public holiday in most African
countries with a variety of celebrations as well as forums
to highlight on-going problems across the African continent.
More information at:
http://www.unu.edu/africa/africa-day/message-e.htm
|
Aids
Day
see World
Aids Day
Akitu (Assyrian New Year)
see
New Year (Assyrian)
Akwasidae
(Ghana)
Begins January and occurs every 6 weeks throughout
the year
Akwasidae marks the end of the 42 day cycle of Adae, the
most significant festival of the Ashanti peoples of Ghana.
Akwasidae is held in the Ashanti capital Kumasi or 'City
of the Golden Stool' in and around the Ashanti Palace.
The Golden Stool is symbolic of its unification of the
tribes of Ghana. The pomp and pageantry of the Ashanti
Kingdom is most vividly brought to life during this festival
which includes a royal parade by the Ashanti king, riding
in a palanquin adorned with gold ornaments who comes out
to receive homage from his sub-chiefs and people.
More information at:
http://www.ghanatourism.gov.gh/regions/highlight_detail.asp?id=&rdid=231
http://www.africabound.com/ghfestival.html
http://www.ashanti.com.au |
All
Saints Day/All Souls Day
see All Souls Day
see Halloween
see Days of the Dead (Los
Dias De Los Muertos)
Amnesty
International Candle Day
see
Candle
Day
Andrew,
Saint
see Saint Andrew
Anthony,
Saint
see Saint Anthony
Anti-poverty Week (Australia)
12 - 18 October, 2008
Anti-Poverty Week begins this year on Sunday 12 October, which has been designated by the United Nations as International Anti-Poverty Day, and finishes on Friday 18 October. The week focuses on poverty around the world, especially in the poorest countries but also in wealthier countries such as Australia.
The main aims of Anti-Poverty Week in Australia are to:strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and within Australia ; and
encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.
More information at:
http://www.antipovertyweek.org.au
|
ANZAC
Day (Australia, New Zealand)
25 April
ANZAC Day is a national holiday in Australia and New Zealand.
On this day in 1915, during World War I, the joint forces
of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed
at Gallipoli on the Turkish peninsula, at what is now
called ANZAC Cove. Outnumbered and lacking support, they
were eventually forced to withdraw.
ANZAC Day now commerates all Australians and New Zealanders
killed at Gallipoli and subsequent wars, and honours returned
servicemen and service women who fought and died in all
wars. Activities on this day include dawn memorial services
and parades.
More information at:
http://www.acn.net.au/articles/1999/03/anzac.htm
http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/Gallery/Anzac/Anzacday.htm |
Armenian
Genocide
Memorial Day
Saint Vartan
Ascension
Day (Christian)
1 May, 2008
Ascension Day occurs 40 days after Jesus' death and commemorates
Christ's ascent into heaven as recorded in the bible.
It is a public holiday in several European countries including
Switzerland, Luxembourg and Sweden.
More information at:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01767b.htm |
Assyrian
New Year (Assyrian)
Atonement,
Day of
see Yom Kippur
Australia
Day (Australian)
26 January
Australia Day is Australia's national day. It commemorates
the day in 1788 when the First Fleet landed at Port Jackson,
when the British took 'formal possession' of the Colony
of New South Wales, and Captain Arthur Phillip became
Governor of the Colony. Events held on this day include
flag-raising ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies, barbecues
and fireworks. There has been much debate over keeping
this day as Australia's national day, as this day symbolises
invasion, dispossession and death to many Indigenous Australian
people.
See also Invasion Day/Survival
Day |
Australian
ANZAC
Day
Australia Day
Ekka/Show Day
Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Labour Day
Melbourne
Cup Day
Racial Discrimination
Act, Anniversary of
see also Australian - Indigenous
Australian
- Indigenous
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day
Coming
of the Light
Invasion
Day or Survival Day
Journey of
Healing (National Sorry Day)
Mabo High Court
Decision, Anniversary of
NAIDOC Week
Reconciliation Week
Referendum for full citizen rights for Indigenous Australians
Uluru to traditional
owners
Wik High Court
Decision, Anniversary of
Autumn
Festival, Mid-
see Mid-Autumn Festival
|
Ayyam-i-Ha
(Baha'i)
25 February - 1 March
Also known as the Intercalary Days. The Baha'i calendar
is made up of 19 months of 19 days each. The period
of Ayyam-i-Ha adjusts the Baha'i year to the solar cycle.
These days are set aside for hospitality, gift-giving,
special acts of charity, and preparing for the Baha'i
Fast.
More information at:
http://www.bahai.org/article-1-3-0-2.html
http://www.bahai.org
http://www.bahaindex.com
|
B
Bab, The
Birth
of the Bab
Declaration of the
Bab
Martyrdom of the Bab
Baha'i
Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha
Ascension of Baha'ullah
Ayyam-i-Ha
Birth of Baha'ullah
Birth of the Bab
Declaration of the
Bab
Martyrdom of the Bab
Naw Ruz (Baha'i New Year)
Ridvan
The Fast
Baha'ullah
Ascension of Baha'ullah
Birth of Baha'ullah
Declaration of the
Bab
Baisakhi - New Year (Sikh)
13 April 2008
Baisakhi is New Year's Day in Punjab. It falls on the month of Vaisakh. This festival marks the ripening of the Rabi harvest. The day coincides with the solar equinox on the 13th of April. It was on this day that the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founded the Khalsa (the Sikh brotherhood) in 1699. For Sikhs, this is as a collective birthday. It is celebrated on April 13, though once in 36 years it occurs on 14th April.
More information at:
http://allaboutsikhs.com/way/baisakhi.htm |
Bakr-Id
see Eid-ul-Azha Barnabas,
Saint
see Saint Barnabas
Bandi-Chhorh Divas
see Diwali
(Sikh)
Belgium
Saint Casimir
Birth
of the Bab, see Birth of the Bab
of Baha'ullah, see Birth of Baha'ullah
of Buddha, see Vesak
of Jesus/Christ, see Christmas
of Lord Krishna, see Krishna's Birthday
of Muhammad, see Muhammad's Birthday
Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh)
5 January
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Nanak (Sikh Guru), was born at Patna Sahib on December 22, 1666, (Poh Sudi Saptmi). His birthday generally falls in December or January or sometimes twice within a year as it is calculated according to Hindu Bikrami Calendar, which is based on the lunar calendar. According to the Nanakshahi Calendar , the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib falls annually on January 5.
More information at:
http://www.sanatan.org/en/festivals/sikh/gurugobindbirthday.htm |
|
Bon
Om Tuk (Cambodia/Khmer)
Early November
Bon Om Tuk is considered the Khmer calendar's most important
festival celebrating the end of the wet season.
This three-day water festival celebrates the current in the Tonle Sap River reversing. During the rainy season, there is so much water in the Mekong River that water is forced up the Tonle Sap River to the lake. When the dry season comes, there is less water flowing, so the current goes back to normal. People celebrate this with boat races and fireworks by the river.
More information at:
http://cambodia.worldvision.org.nz/tw_cambodia_culture_special.asp |
Boxing
Day (Christian)
26 December
Believed to have originated in Britain and traditionally
celebrated in English-speaking countries, the day following
Christmas Day is called 'Boxing Day'. This day comes from
the custom started in the Middle Ages when churchres would
open their 'alms boxe' (boxes in which people had placed
gifts of money) and distribute the contents to the poor
after Christmas Day.
Under Queen Victoria, December 26 became a holiday where
nobleman and landlords would fill boxes with gifts of
food and provisions for servants and tradespeople. Boxing
Day is also the feast of St Stephan, the first Christian
martyr stoned to death shortly after Christ's crucifixon.
More information at:
http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/jfa-ha/boxing_e.cfm http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/MCC/ |
Brazil
Carnival
Brighid,
Saint
see Saint Brighid
Buddha/Buddhist
Vesak
Vu Lan Day
Burns,
Robbie
see Robbie Burns
C
Calendar
Calendars haves been used throughout ancient and modern
civilisations to mark seasonal changes and harvesting
cycles. Scholars believe the word 'Calendar' is derived
from the Roman word Kalend (to announce). In Roman
times priests announced the commencement of each month
with each new phase of the moon. It is this observation
of lunar and solar phases which has been practised by
both ancient and modern civilisations to mark time. These
include ancient Mesopotamian, Babylonian, Roman, Celtic
and Mayan civilisations.
Many early festivals and rituals within these civilisations
coincide with changes in lunar and solar phases as well
as seasonal changes which affect agricultural activities.
As religions such as Islam and Christianity spread so
too did the number of religious festivals and holy days.
In modern times, the Gregorian
Calendar (Christian in origin) is used by most countries
for official activities, however, many of the ancient
calendars are still used for religious observances.
Calendars also in use include Julian
(Christian Orthodox), Chinese,
Druid (pagan or Celtic)
Indian, Islamic, Jewish,
Ethiopian, Balinese and Bahai. Calendars no longer in
use include French Revolutionary, Mayan and Roman calendars.
More information at:
http://webexhibits.org/calendars/index.html |
Calendar
See Druid Calendar
See Chinese Calendar
See Gregorian Calendar
See Islamic/Muslim Calendar
See Jewish/Hebrew Calendar
See
Julian Calendar
Cambodian
Bon Om Tuk
New Year (Cambodian)
Candle
Day (Amnesty International)
18 October
Amnesty International is a worldwide organisation that
works towards upholding human rights. Candle Day is celebrated
each year on this day to raise funds and to raise awareness
about human rights issues. Amnesty International has chapters
in each state in Australia that hold a variety of activities
on this day and throughout the year.
More information at:
http://www.amnesty.org
http://www.acn.net.au/articles/1998/10/amnesty.htm |
|
Carnival
(Brazil)
February 2-5, 2008
The origins of Carnival are unclear, but most agree
that it started as a pagan celebration in ancient Rome.
In Venetian times, Carnival (as it is know in South
America and the Carribean) or Mardi Gras (as it is known
in Europe) was characterised by masked balls which allowed
for the abolution of social divisions within society.
Carnevale
means "the time when the use of meat is taken away",
since Carnival is precisely the night before Ash
Wednesday. Carnival is the last chance for indulgence
and revelry before the temperance of Lent. However,
it is no longer confined to only those days before Lent;
many Carnivals held in other countries throughout the
world are held at other times of the year and have lost
their early religious significance to Lent.
In Brazil, the event is a mixture of fun, party and
theater which involves art and folklore.
More information at:
http://www.brazilcarnival.com/
http://www.ipanema.com/carnival/home.htm#top |
Cao
Dai
see
God the Father, Festival of
Casimir,
Saint
see Saint Casimir Catholic
All
Souls Day
Ash Wednesday
Saints
Chanukah
(Jewish)
December 5-12, 2007 (begins and ends at sundown)
Chanukah is the Jewish festival of lights. All eight days
are half day holidays in Israel. Traditionally, candles
are lit - one for the first day, two for the second day
and so on, and work is restricted to the time the candles
are lit. One hundred years after Alexander's conquest
of the Persian Empire in 333 BCE, Antiochus III added
the Land of Israel to his empire. Later, his successor
Antiochus Epiphanes IV (175-163 BCE) began a policy of
forcing the Jews to accept the idolatry which characterised
ancient Greek religious beliefs. The holiday commemorates
the victory of a small band of Maccabees over the pagan
Seleucid Greeks who ruled over Palestine at that time.
Following the rebellion, the kingdom of Israel was restored
for 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Temple.
More information at:
http://www.ahavat-israel.com/ahavat/torat/chanukah.html
http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/ |
Children's
Day
see Universal Children's Day Chinese
Chinese Calendar
Ching
Ming Festival
Dragon Boat Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
New Year (Chinese)
Christ,
Jesus
Birth of, see Christmas
Death of, see Good Friday
Resurrection of, see Easter Sunday
Christian
All
Saints Day
Ascension Day
Ash Wednesday
Boxing Day
Christmas
Coming of the
Light
Corpus Christi
Day
Easter
Good Friday
Palm Sunday
Pentecost
Saints
see also Catholic; Orthodox; Protestant
Christmas
(Christian)
6 January (Armenian)
7 January (Orthodox)
25 December (Christian)
Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christians believe that Jesus is the 'Son of God', the
Messiah sent from Heaven to save the world from sin.
The story of Christmas is that Jesus was born, angels
announced his birth to shepherds in the fields, and he
was visited by three Magi (wise men from the East), who
offered him gifts.
In the first few centuries AD, Christmas as such did not
exist - the Christian Church only celebrated the festival
of the Resurrection (Easter). According to a Roman almanac, Christmas was
being celebrated in Rome by 336 AD. In 354 AD Pope Liberus
instituted the Nativity on 25 December. The reason Christmas
came to be celebrated on 25 December remains uncertain,
but the most probable reason is that early Christians
wished the date to coincide with the various pagan festivals
that celebrated the winter solstice.
In the Armenian Church, Christmas on 25 December was never
accepted; Christ's birth is celebrated on 6 January. The
Russian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 7 January,
along with other Eastern Christian churches using the
Julian calendar.
Father Christmas, the other character often associated
with Christmas is based on a real person, St Nicholas.
His other name is 'Santa Claus' which comes from the Dutch
'Sinterklaas'. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra
(in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was very
shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them
knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed
the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down
the chimney. It landed in the stocking, which a girl had
put to dry by the fire. This may explain the belief that
Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts
in children's stockings.
More information at:
http://www.acn.net.au/articles/1998/11/xmas.htm |
Coming
of the Light (Australian - Indigenous - Christian)
1 July
This annual celebration on 1 July by Torres Strait Islanders
celebrates the arrival of Christianity to their islands.
The London Missionary Society arrived at Darnley Island
on 1 July 1871, and then travelled to other Torres Strait
islands.
More informaton at:
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0425/4_60/82360170/p1/article.jhtml |
Corpus
Christi Day (Latin - Christian)
7 June, 2007
The Feast of Corpus Christi, or Feast of the Body of Christ,
is celebrated by the Latin church on the Thursday after
Trinity Sunday. It is a feast to commemorate the institution
of the Holy Eucharist.
More information at:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04390b.htm |
Cyprus
Saint Barnabas
Czech
Republic
Saint Venceslas
D
Day
of Atonement
see Yom Kippur
Day
of Our Lady of Fatima
see Our Lady of Fatima
Day
of Reconciliation (South Africa)
16 December
This day originally commemorated the victory of Afrikaaners
in the 1838 campaign to annexe farmland from the traditional
Zulu owners. Formerly, the Day of the Vow, it was a rememberance
day of the Afrikaaners' vow for victory in the name of
God. In this campaign over 3000 Zulus were killed.
In 1961 the ANC utilised this day as a call to arms against
Apartheid. Following the demise of Apartheid, the day
has been renamed Day of Reconciliation. This public holiday
now symbolises the rebuilding of a new unified nation
and the fostering of greater understanding of all South
Africans.
More information at:
http://www.in-southafrica.info/festivalandevents.htm |
|
Days
of the Dead, The (Los Dias De Los Muertos) (Mexican)
1 and 2 November
Los Dias de los Muertos, the Days of the Dead, is a
traditional Mexican holiday honoring the dead. It is
celebrated every year at the same time as Halloween
and the Christian holy days of All
Saints Day and All Souls
Day (November 1 and 2). Prior to Spanish conquest,
this Aztec tradition originally fell in July.
The
days' activities include visits by families to the graves
of families, where gravesites are decorated with flowers
and meals prepared as offerings and to share amongst
family.
The familial atmosphere, colourful setting, and the
abundance of food, drink and interactions between participants
and with the dead is an important social ritual which
recognizes the cycle of life and death that is human
existence.
More
information at:
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~rjsalvad/scmfaq/muertos.html
http://www.holidays.net/halloween/muertos.htm
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/muertos.html
|
Death
of the Bab, see Martyrdom of the Bab
of Jesus/Christ, see Good Friday
|
Declaration
of the Bab (Baha'i)
Thursday 23 May
This is one of the most important events in the history
of the Baha'i faith. The Bab foretold the arrival of
Baha'ullah, the founder of the Baha'i faith. As such
the Bab and Baha'ullah are viewed as the twin manifestations
of the Baha'i era. The Bab is the Prophet-Herald of
the Baha'i faith which began in Persia (Iran).
More information at:
http://www.bahai.org/article-1-3-2-2.html
http://www.bahai.org
http://www.bahaindex.com
|
Deepavali
see Divali (Hindu)
see Diwali (Sikh)
Dhamma Day (Buddhist)
July 18 , 2007
Dhamma (or Asalha ) Day is one of Theravada Buddhism's most important festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's teachings, which were first given to the world shortly after his enlightenment. This first sermon is often referred to as 'Setting into Motion the Wheel of Dhamma'. In this context the word dhamma means teaching or doctrine which is encapsulated for Buddhists in the four noble truths .
More information at:
http://buddhism.about.com/cs/festivals/a/Dhamma.htm
|
Disability
Disability Action Week
International Day of Disabled Persons
Disability
Action Week (Australian - Queensland)
13 - 18 July, 2008
Disability Action Week is an annual event highlighting
the experiences, achievements and issues faced by people
with a disability.
It is a time for Queensland Communities to become more
aware of disability issues and to challenge the barriers
that prevent people with a disability from full participating
in many aspects of everyday life.
It is also an opportunity to celebrate the steps towards
full and equitable access during the past year.
More information at:
http://www.disability.qld.gov.au |
Discrimination
International
Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Racial Discrimination
Act
Diwali or Deepavali (Hindu)
28 October , 2008
Diwali , also called Deepavali is a major Hindu festival that is very significant in Hinduism , Sikhism and Jainism . Known as the "Festival of Lights," it symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas (as illustrated). Fireworks are associated with the festival in many regions of India .
More information at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali |
Dragon
Boat Festival (Chinese)
8 June, 2008
The Dragon Boat Festival (also known as Duan Wu or Tuen
Ng) commemorates the attempted rescue and death of Chinese
hero and poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself on the fifth
day of the fifth lunar month in 277BC. The townspeople
were unable to save their hero so they beat drums to scare
fish away and threw dumplings or bamboo stuffed with cooked
rice into the water so that the fish would eat this rather
than Qu Yuan's body (or as a sacrifice to him).
Dragon boat races, symbolising the rescue attempt, are
the highlight of the festival. Teams race decorated dragon
boats to the beat of heavy drums. It is customary to eat
rice dumplings during this festival. The Dragon Boat Festival
is celebrated in China and by Chinese people around the
world.
More information at:
http://www.index-china.com/index-english/chinese_holidays.htm |
Druid
Druid Calendar
All
Saints Day
Druid
Calendar
The Druid Calendar predates Christianity and the introduction
of the Gregorian calendar used by Celtic peoples of pre-Roman
times from modern day Britain, France and German, Ireland,
Scotland and Wales. The Druids were a 'pagan' religious
order whose celebrations were based on the phases of the
sun and moon. Festivals in the Druid Calendar centre around
these lunar and solar phases as seen in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are four 'Major High Days' - Samhain (November 1),
Oimelc (February 1), Beltane (May 1) and Lughnasadh (August
1); and four 'Minor High Days' - Winter Solstice or Midwinter
(December 21), Spring Equinox (March 21), Summer Solstice
or Midsummer (June 21) and Fall Equinox (September 21).
More information at:
http://www.neopagan.net/Contents.html
http://www.neopagan.net/NeoDruidismCalendar.html |
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