Celebrating Diversity

September - Celebrations

• Harvestide (Wicca)

  • Celebrates fall equinox and end of harvest

October  - Celebrations

• Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) 

  • Literally 'Head of Year' marks the first and second day of the Jewish New Year and the anniversary of the creation of the world. It begins at sundown the night before and ends 10 days later with Yom Kippur. It is celebrated with prayers and religious services.

• Yom Kippur (Jewish) 

  • The Day of Atonement is the holiest and most solemn of all days in the Jewish year. They believe that once you atone for your mistakes, you can be 'at one' with God. Jews do not work, and fast from sunset to sunset.

• Thanksgiving

  • Annual Canadian holiday, occurring on the second Monday in October, which celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year.

• Diwali (Hinduism) 

  • It means 'row of lights' and is the Hindu New Year. Diwali lasts for 5 days: Day 1 - New Year for business, Day 2 - the triumph of god Vishnu over the evil demon, Day 3 - Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity visits homes lit by lamps, Day 4 - Bali worship day, Day 5 - devoted to brothers and sisters.

• El Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) ~ Oct 31 - Nov 2 

  • Celebration in Mexico - combination of both the culture of Los Pueblos Originarios (First Nations) and Christianity (Spanish colonization).  

• Halloween ~ October 31st

  • It is a day to mark the single night in the year when, according to old Celtic beliefs, spirits and the dead can cross over into the world of the living. Some people hold parties and children may trick-or-treat in their neighbourhood.

November  - Celebrations

• All Saints Day (Western Christianity)

  • This day is for honouring saints, known and unknown.

• Remembrance Day ~ November 11th

  • A memorial day observed in Commonwealth of Nations member states since the end of the First World War to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty.

December  - Celebrations

• Hannukah (Jewish)  - exact dates change every year 

  • Approximately in 164 B.C., Maccabees, a small group of Jews fighting for religious freedom won victory over the Syrians. The legend goes that to rededicate the Temple, they found only one jar of holy oil and miraculously the candelabra remained lit for 8 days. The Festival of Lights is celebrated for eight days with the lighting of an eight candle menorah. Special readings and songs of praise focus on liberty and freedom.

• Christmas (Christianity) - Dec. 25th

  • This day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth over 2000 years ago. Customs include lighting candles, exchanging gifts and using evergreen decorations to celebrate this day, the most widely observed Chrsitian festival of the year. In most communities it is a family day.

• Kwanzaa - Dec. 26th

  • The celebration honours African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.

January  - Celebrations

• Orthodox Christmas (Christianity - Coptic & Eastern Orthodox) 

  • On this day, some Eastern churches celebrate the birth of Jesus according to the Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian or Western calendar.

February  - Celebrations

• Black History

  • Every February, Canadians are invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.

• Shrove Tuesday 

  • Also known in Commonwealth countries as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day. It is the day in February or March immediately preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. 

• Lunar New Year 

  • The new year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year. Happy Chinese New Year 2017 - The Year of the Rooster. The new year has begun and will last until Feb 15, 2018.

April  - Celebrations

• Ramadan (Islam) *exact dates change every year 

  • Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and a time when Muslims across the world will fast during the hours of daylight.

• Sikh Heritage Month (Canada) 

  • Aims to celebrate the contributions and aspirations of all Sikh-Canadians and develop a greater understanding and appreciation for a rich, unique and diverse heritage.

• Baisakhi (Sikh, Hindu) 

  • New Year Festival. Also a commemoration of the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh (the tenth Sikh Guru).

• Easter (Christianity) 

  • This day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

• Easter (Orthodox Christianity) 

May to August - Celebrations 

• Eid (Islam) *Celebration moves dates 

  • Festival of Sacrifice that marks the end of Hajj. This is a four day holiday that usually begins at sundown the day before.