Multicultural Calendar

The holy Spirit was felt amongst the 12 apostles after Jesus’ death. New members of the church are baptized on this day. It is called White Sunday because white clothes are worn for baptism.

6th Month

This day commemorates the island’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. People gather at the beaches in the afternoon. Then, at midnight, they jump into the ocean backwards three times to symbolize baptism, immersion and new life. The celebration continues with families gathering to enjoy music, food and dancing.

Inti Raymi is celebrated in Cusco, and is the second biggest festival in Latin America. This Inca festival celebrates the winter solstice, where the God of the Sun, Wiracocha, is honoured.

He is the patron saint of French-Canadians in Quebec. It is a national holiday with parades, bonfires and fireworks to celebrate his birthday.

The Government of Canada officially recognized June 27th as Canadian Multiculturalism Day on November 13, 2002. This day acknowledges the contributions that various communities make to Canadian society and to celebrate the country’s richness and diversity.

When the star cluster Matariki (Pleiades) appears in the dawn sky, Maori New Year starts. Festivities begins with the new moon after the first appearance of Matariki and last for a month. It is a time for connecting with, and giving thanks to the land, sea and sky, for the community to come together to farewell the dead and to begin planning ahead for the coming year.

This day commemorates the U.S. anniversary of the protest against police harassment in New York City’s Greenwich Village in 1969. The event has been commemorated by a Pride Parade each year in New York City on the last Sunday in June. Events and Pride Parades are held in many metropolitan cities throughout the United States and Canada.

This day celebrates the creation of animals. It is also a time for the equitable sharing of food.

(Statutory Holiday in Canada) On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act created the Canadian federal government. The BNA proclaimed ‘one Dominion under the name of Canada,’ hence the original title of the holiday, “Dominion Day.’ Dominion Day was officially renamed ‘Canada Day’ by an act of Parliament on October 27, 1982.

Hong Kong was a British colony ruled by a British Governor until it was reunited with China as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China on 1 July, 1997.

In 1776, the 13 Colonies signed the declaration of Independence, proclaiming their separation from England and formed the United States of America. It is celebrated with picnics, fireworks, parades and outdoor activities.

NAIDAC stands for “National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee”. A week-long celebration around Australia during the first week in July to focus on the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

(Tibet, Buddhist) His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people. Born to a peasant family in northeastern Tibet, he was recognized as the 14th Dalai Lama (Mongolian for ‘Ocean of Wisdom’)

Islamic New Year, 1443 AH. The first of Muharram marks the first day of the first month (Muharram) of the Islamic year. Muharram lasts for 29-30 days depending on the moon sighting. It begins at sundown the previous day. The dates vary by a day depending on whether the Saudi Arabia or the North American Calendar is being observed.

Meaning “Seven Evenings” is a Japanese star festival, derived from Obon traditions and the Chinese star festival, Qi Xi. The festival is usually held on July 7, and celebrates the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair). The Milky Way, a rivermade from stars that crosses the sky, separates these lovers. They are allowed to meet only once a year. This special day, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.