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| Multicultural Calendar |
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Graybridge Malkam is pleased to provide
you with a list of upcoming holidays and celebrations from a variety of
cultures.
We're always looking for more culturally significant dates to add to our
calendar. If you know of any important dates that we've missed, please contact
us and let us know so we can share them with everyone. |
May 2013
Asian Heritage Awareness Month
Acknowledges the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to Canada.
Speech & Hearing Awareness Month
Promotes awareness of early detection and prevention of communication disorders and seeks to increase the public's sensitivity to the challenges faced by individuals experiencing them.
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| May 1
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Vappu Day – Finland
Street carnival related to St. Walpurgis (an English missionary to Germany); this is one of the many versions of Labour Day celebrations across the globe.
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May 1
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May Day/International Workers' Day
International Workers' Day (also known as May Day) is a celebration of the international labour movement. May 1 is a national holiday in more than 80 countries and celebrated unofficially in many other countries.
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| May 2
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Holy Thursday - Christian - Coptic & Eastern Orthodox
In the Julian Calendar, this day marks the day when Jesus ate the Last Supper and washed the feet of his disciples prior to his arrest and crucifixion.
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May 3
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Holy Friday: Christian - Coptic & Eastern Orthodox
In the Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Calendar, this day commemorates the passion and death by crucifixion of Jesus and is a solemn day. Eastern Orthodox members fast on this day. Macedonians make a plashtanitsa or picture of the dead Jesus on a large cloth to be carried in a procession.
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| May 3
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World Press Freedom Day – United Nations
Marked by the UNESCO on May 3, with an international conference on media and press freedom, in conflict areas of the world.
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May 5
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Pascha/Easter – Eastern Orthodox
Celebrating the resurrection of Christ according to the Julian calendar.
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| May 5
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Cinco De Mayo
This day marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the 'Batalla de Puebla' in 1862. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, it came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism.
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May 6
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Easter Monday: Christian - Coptic & Eastern Orthodox
Easter Monday commemorates the meeting of the women at Jesus' tomb with an angel who assured them that Jesus had been resurrected from death. It is observed as a holiday in some countries.
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| May 12
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Mother’s Day – incl. United States, Canada, most of Europe, China
Origins go as far back as ancient Greek culture, where it was a spring festival dedicated to Rhea, the mother of the gods.
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May 15
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Shavu'ot – Judaism
Celebration of Moses' descent from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments.
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| May 17
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Ázamat (4th Month) Bahá'í
The first day of the fourth Bahá'í month. The English translation of Ázamat (Arabic) is Grandeur.
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May 19
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Pentecost – Eastern Orthodox
God the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the form of tongues of fire and rushing wind. This is a traditional day for baptism and confirmation.
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| May 20
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Victoria Day – Canada
Queen Victoria’s birthday was declared a holiday in 1845; the U.K. celebrates it in June.
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May 20
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National Patriots’ Day – Quebec
Officially commemorates the patriots of Lower Canada who struggled for democratic institutions in the early 19th century. Formerly known as Fęte de Dollard.
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| May 21
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Awareness Week - Aboriginal/Native Canadian
Aboriginal Awareness Week, first introduced in 1992, is held on the four days that follow the Victoria Day long weekend. It was designed to increase awareness of Aboriginal peoples among federal public service employees.
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May 21
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World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development – United Nations
To increase understanding of the values of Cultural Diversity; to move from Diversity to Pluralism.
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| May 23
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Declaration of Báb
The Bahá Faith began in Persia (now Iran) on this day in 1844, by the prophet Báb who announced his mission as the founder. The event is celebrated about two hours after sunset.
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May 25
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Wesak – Buddhism
Buddhists celebrate the birthday of Buddha – dates vary between early April and late May.
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| May 27
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Memorial Day – United States
This is the day for Americans to honour the dead. Originally a day on which flags and flowers were placed on graves of soldiers who died in the American Civil War, it has become a day on which the dead of all wars and all other dead are remembered the same way.
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May 29
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Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh
The prophet-founder of the Bahá'í Faith passed away near Haifa, Israel. The event is observed at the actual time of his passing at 3am.
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| PLEASE NOTE: Sources for this page include Diversity Resources, Inc.
Multicultural Calendar, Creative Cultural Communication's Multicultural
Calendar, country specific sites and InterfaithCalendar.org.
If you are looking for a print calendar, check out www.multiculturalcalendar.com. |
