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E
Easter
(Christian/Orthodox)
Easter in the Christian and Orthodox religions celebrates
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It also symbolises life
after death, or new life. It follows the period of Lent,
a time of fasting in the Christian/Orthodox calendar and
Holy Week which traces the last days of Jesus Christ's
journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Last Supper
and his Crucifixon on Good
Friday. Easter marks the period from when Jesus is
entombed, to his resurrection on Easter
Sunday. In Christianity many rituals and celebrations
are carried out over Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and
Easter Monday.
Similar celebrations exist in Pagan religions which pre-date
Christianity. The Pagan festival was a celebration of
the goddess of fertility and springtime, Eastre. Some
scholars believe second century Christian missionaries
adopted the springtime pagan festival to attract converts
to Christianity.
More information at:
http://wilstar.com/holidays/easter.htm
http://www.holidays.net/easter/story.htm
http://www.mexonline.com/semana.htm
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/feature/easterindex.html
|
Easter
Sunday (Christian/Orthodox)
23 March, 2008 - Christian/Gregorian calendar
27 March, 2008 - Orthodox/Julian
Calendar
Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Easter is also the oldest feast of the Christian Church.
Christianity adopted the use of the egg to symbolise renewed
life after death. Historically, the eggs were dyed bright
red - a joyful colour. Eggs were prohibited during the
fast of Lent, and were brought out on Easter day.
More information at:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05224d.htm |
Eid-ul-Azha
(Islamic/Muslim)
(also Id-ul-Azha, Id-ul-Zuha, Id-ul-Zoha, or Bakr-Id)
8 December , 2008
Commemorates the ordeal of Abraham/Ibrahim who was asked
to sacrifice his only son to prove his faith to Allah
(god). As he was on the point of slaying his son, Allah
stopped him and told him that it was but a test of his
faith. He was commanded to sacrifice a ram instead. Eid-ul-Azha
is celebrated by prayers and by sacrificing goats and
sheep. Rituals over this period of The Haj run over 4 days.
More information at:
http://www.nagpuronline.com/people/fes_mslm.html |
Ekka/Show
Day (Australian - Brisbane)
13 August, 2008
The Ekka as it is affectionately known is the Royal Queensland Show, held in Brisbane
in August each year. The Wednesday of 'Show Week' is 'people's
day' at the Ekka, and is a public holiday in Brisbane.
More information at:
http://www.ekka.com.au |
Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
see International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Enqutatash
see New Year (Ethiopian)
Equity Section Events
Click here for a complete list of Equity Section events
Ethiopian
New Year (Ethiopian)
Maskal (The Finding of the True
Cross)
Timkat (The Festival of the Epiphany)
F
Families
International
Day of Families
Fasting
Christian, see Lent
Baha'i, see The Fast
Islamic/Muslim, see Ramadan
Jewish, see Tisha B'Av
Fathers'
Day (Australian)
7 September, 2008
In Australia, Fathers' Day is celebrated on the first
Sunday in September.
More information at:
http://www.holidays.net |
Festival
of God the Father (Vietnamese - Cao Dai)
11 - 17 January, 2008
The Festival for the commemoration of God the Father is celebrated on the 9th day of the first lunar month. This is an important festival for the followers of Cao
Dai, a religious/spiritual movement that originated in
Vietnam. There are approximately 4-5 million adherents
of this religion. Caodaism has been influenced by Confucianism,
Buddhism and Taoism.
More information at:
http://mcel.pacificu.edu/as/students/vb/Caodai.htm |
Festivals
Ching Ming Festival
Festival of the Dead - Obon (Japan), see Obon
Festival of Lights (Hindu), see Divali
Festival of Lights (Jewish), see Chanukah
Festival of Sacrifice, see Eid-ul-Azha
Fire Festival, see Up-Helly-Aa
Gay and Lesbian Festival, see Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Lantern Festival, see New Year (Chinese)
Mid-Autumn Festival, see Mid-Autumn/Moon
Cake Festival or
Zhong Qiu Jie
Mnarja Festival
(Malta)
Fire
Festival
see Up-Helly-Aa
G
Gay
and Lesbian
International
Lesbian Day
Pride Month
Stonewall Day
Gay
and Lesbian Mardi Gras (Australian - Gay/Lesbian)
Feruary 9 - March 1 2008
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Festival is a gay and lesbian
arts and cultural festival culminating with the Mardi
Gras Parade. The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is the largest
gay and lesbian human rights demonstration in the world,
with over 150 gay and lesbian community groups, and many
individuals, contributing floats and donning costumes
for the parade. Mardi Gras calls for an end to discrimination
of gay and lesbian people, as well as having an emphasis
on education and celebration.
More information at:
http://www.mardigras.org.au/ |
Genocide
Memorial Day - formerly Martyrs' Day (Armenian)
24 April
This day marks the anniversary of the mass genocide of
one and a half million Armenians in World War I under
the regime of the then Ottoman Empire.
More information at:
http://www.armenian-genocide.org/
|
German
Oktoberfest
God
the Father
see Festival
of God the Father
Gravesweeping
Day
see Ching Ming Festival
Guelaguetza (Mexican)
17 - 24 July, 2008
A Zapotec word signifying offering or offertory, Guelaguetza was the term used to describe the ceremony and celebration held each year to propitiate the gods in return for sufficient rain and a bountiful harvest.
More than three thousand years ago the indigenous peoples in what is now the state of Oaxaca began to cultivate plants to augment hunting, fishing and gathering. The most important of these was corn which formed the basis of their diet and, with the addition of tomatos, beans, chiles and squash, evolved into a richly varied and delicious regional gastronomy. Thus the gods and goddesses involved with water and corn were vital among the hagiarchy and the tribute to them was a lively and colorful celebration of the music, dance and products of the people.
This offering of life's gifts took place midway through the rainy season, when it was essential that the rains continue moderately and without excess to bring forth the best crops. The feast of Xilonen, goddess of tender corn, falls in this period on what in the modern calendar is July 16 and is the signal to begin the two weeks of celebration.
More information at:
http://www.oaxacainfo.com/guelaguetza.htm
http://www.aoaxaca.com/guelaguetza/ |
H
The Hajj or Eid-al-Adha (Islamic/Muslim)
6-9 December, 2008
The Hajj - the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca - commences on this day. Men who return from the pilgrimage carry the title Haji and women the title Hajjah. Undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the tenets of Islam.
More information at:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/isla1.htm |
Hanukkah (Jewish)
December 22-29, 2008
Hanukkah is the annual Jewish festival celebrated on eight successive days beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar, corresponding, approximately, to December in the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, and Feast of the Maccabees, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 BC after the Temple had been profaned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Syria and overlord of Palestine.
More information at:
http://www.history.com/minisites/hanukkah |
Harmony
Day
see National
Harmony Day
Halloween
(North American)
31 October
This modern North American celebration has its origins
in a number of ancient pagan, Celtic harvest festivals
and Christian festivals such as All
Saints Day, All Souls
Day and the Mexican festival, the Days
of the Dead that are celebrated on 1 and 2 November.
On All Hallow's Eve or Halloween people dress themselves
and their homes in the symbols of these festivals such
as pumpkins and apples, angels, saints, devils, ghosts
and skeletons.
More information at:
http://www.holidays.net/halloween/story.htm |
Hiroshima
Day (International)
6 August
On this day in 1945, the United States dropped the first atomic
bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima, and three days later, Nagasaki - thus ending World
War II. However, this was also the beginning the nuclear arms race and the race
for idealogical spheres of influence between the United
States and the former Soviet Union. Now Hiroshima Day
is a rallying point for the peace, anti-nuclear, and environmental
movements.
More information at:
http://www.dannen.com/hiroshima_links.html |
Holy
Week
See Easter
|
Holi
(Indian - Hindu)
22 March, 2008
Holi is an Indian spring festival, which is celebrated
in early March on the day after the full moon. It is
celebrated by people running in the streets and smearing
each other with coloured water and brightly hued powders.
Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and
fertility of the land, Holi also commemorates some key
figures in Hindu mythology, such as Holika, who tried
to protect her nephew Prince Prahlad from the wrath
of his tyrannous father. Holi also celebrates the immortal
love between the god Lord Krishna and his consort Radha.
|
Human Rights
Human Rights Day (United Nations)
Martin Luther King Day (USA)
Human
Rights Day (United Nations)
10 December
This day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations
General Assembly in 1948.
More information at:
http://www.un.org/events |
Hungary
Saint Stephen
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