Multicultural Calendar

Jews mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E. It is a day of mourning and fasting.

This refers to Mary’s death and ascent to heaven and is celebrated by Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Special mentions: Sicilian-Canadians hold an outdoor procession for the Madonna del Assunta; Polish-Canadians celebrate the Feast of the Mother of God of the herbs, an early harvest festival; Armenian Orthodox bless the first grapes of the season; Ukrainians take flowers to the church to be blessed.

The day celebrates the national liberation from Imperial Japan in 1945. On the same day in 1948, the government of the Republic of Korea was established.

According to legend, God Indra was warring with demons. His wife tied a silk charm around his wrist to protect him and he was able to defeat his enemies. Hindu girls now tie a threaded amulet or ‘rakhi’ on their brothers for protection against evil.

(Shenshai) Zarathushtra (Zoroaster in Greek; Zarthosht in India and Persia) is the founder of the Zoroastrian religion, dating back to sometime between 1500 and 1000 BCE. He lived in Persia, modern day Iran. Zoroastrianism became the sttate religion of various Persian empires, until the 7th Century CE. When Arabs, followers of Islam, invaded Persia in 650 CE, a small number of Zoroastrians fled to India where most are concentrated today.

The Notting Hill Festival is held during the last weekend in August. this is a West Indian Street carnival with floats, bands, and stalls. It began in 1964 with the focus of standing against racism toward Caribbean and the deterring of other Black immigrants and bringing together the people of the Notting Hill area.

Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna and his rescue from potential death by the demon Kasna. Lord Krishna was born in a prison, then carried by his father to another village where he was secretly exchanged with a cow herder’s daughter for his safety.

Commemorates a Peruvian saint who lived in Lima. Her home is now a pilgrimage site, where every 30th of August, people come to pray and throw coins, messages and icons into a water well near her home.

Honours the warriors who died in the 1922 Battle of Dumlupinar, the final battle in the war of independence. The Mehtar band, the world’s oldest military band, plays, and celebrations include military parades.

(Freedom Day)

Celebrated for eight days, Paryushana-Parva is the holiest time of the year and is marked by fasting and worship of the 24 teachers of the Jain faith known as Tirthankaras or Jinas.

(Statutory Holiday in Canada) USA: On June 29, 1894, the U.S. Congress voted Labour Day as a National Holiday to honour working people’s contribution of labour. The day is celebrated with parades and speeches. —– Canada: National Holiday to honour working people’s contribution of labour. The day is celebrated with parades and speeches.

Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala in India. Lasting for four to ten days, it is a harvest festival commemorating the homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali from Patala (the underworld) who visits every Malayali home and during this time.

It is in honour of one of Hindu’s major deities, Ganesh, the elephant-headed god. He is known as the ‘remover of all obstacles’ and is invoked at the beginning of all new undertakings.