Multicultural Calendar

This day honours the U.S. pioneers led by Brigham Young, who first settled in Utah in 1847. This day is celebrated with parades to remember their pioneering ancestors.

Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) was one of South America’s greatest generals. His victories over the Spaniards won independence for Bolivia, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. He is called El Liberator and the ‘George Washington’ of South America.

During the Grand Purification Ceremony, Japanese worshippers walk through a large ring of woven grass and reeds that are placed at the entrance of shrines as an act of inner purification for sins and offenses committed during the first half of the year. This sacred ritual is observed twice yearly.

Commemorates the life of St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556), who founded the Society of Jesus, the Roman Catholic religious order whose members are known as Jesuits.

8th Month

Its name is taken from the Celtic God Lugh, or Samildanach, which means ‘he of many gifts’. It celebrates the ancient festival of the first harvesting of grain in August.

Commemorates the Macedonians revolt against the Ottoman army on August 2, 1903, in Ilinden, or St. Elijah’s Day.

(Statutory Holiday in Canada)

This solemn day commemorates the day that United States dropped the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. People from different backgrounds unite on this day to declare their commitment to never letting another nuclear bomb be used against humans again.

Fravardeghan lasts ten days in preparation for Now Ruz for those who follow the Shanshai calendar. Ancestors are memorialized during this time.

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.