HUMBER INTERFAITH CALENDAR MULTIFAITH HOLY DAYS & FESTIVALS
April 2015 : CALENDAR - DESCRIPTIONS
In the spirit of diversity and inclusion, we provide the following Multifaith Holy Days & Festivals realizing that it is not exhaustive. Should you wish your faith’s days to be included, please contact the Chaplain at x 4427 or chaplain@humber.ca for due consideration.
01 Wednesday
April = Namebine Giizis / Mmaal (Aboriginal)
Namebine Giizis is also known as the Sucker Moon in relation to the sucker fish (Ojibwe). Mmal is the season when rivers open and canoes can be launched and travel on the rivers can resume (Other).
April Fools’ Day (International)
A folk day when people seek to play humourous pranks and jokes on each other, possibly related to earlier cultural feasts and festivals.
02 Thursday
Holy Thursday (Christianity-Eastern)
Celebrates the institution of the Lord’s supper by Jesus.
Mahavira Jayanti (Jainism)
Celebrates the birthday of Lord Mahavira (Great Hero) the 24th Tirthankara (and the last of his time cycle).
03 Friday
Good Friday (Christianity-Western)
Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ in submission to death by crucifixion.
04 Saturday
Full Moon The moon is at its greatest visibility.
Total Lunar Eclipse (Equatorial)
The moon is completely blocked from sight by the shadow of the Earth.
Pesah/Passover to Apr 11 (Judaism)
Commemorates the Exodus, the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and is celebrated for 8 days beginning at dusk (before sundown) on the prior day.
05 Sunday
Easter (Christianity-Western)
Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from death and the announcement of the angel to the women at Jesus’ tomb that “He is risen.”
06 Monday
Easter Monday (Christianity-Western)
The promise of new life is celebrated by Christians in reflection on the resurrection of Jesus after His crucifixion and death.
Organization of the Church (Mormonism)
Denotes the founding of The Church for Latter Day Saints in 1830.
09 Thursday
Maundy Thursday (Christianity-Eastern)
Celebrates the institution of the Lord’s supper by Jesus.
10 Friday
Holy Friday (Christianity-Eastern)
Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ in submission to death by crucifixion.
12 Sunday
Pascha (Christianity-Eastern)
Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from death and the announcement of the angel to the women at Jesus’ tomb that “He is risen.”
13 Monday
Easter Monday (Christianity-Eastern)
The promise of new life is celebrated by Christians in reflection on the resurrection of Jesus after His crucifixion and death.
Vaisakhi (Hinduism)
Celebrates the first day of the solar year with an agricultural harvest festival. Important in North India, this holiday is named after the month Vaisakh.
Vaisakhi (Sikhism)
Commemorates the day in 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, created the Khalsa Panth (Brotherhood of the Pure). Brothers are named Singh (lion) and sisters are named Kaur (princess).
Songkran to Apr 15 (Buddhism)
A 3 day festival denoting the new year for Buddhists. Homes are cleaned and water is sprinkled on statues of Buddha and on monks who visit.
16 Thursday
Yom HaShoah (Judaism)
Commemorates the death of six million Jews in World War II under Nazism (also called Holocaust memorial Day).
18 Saturday
New Moon The moon is at its least visibility.
21 Tuesday
Feast of Ridvan to May 02 (Baha’i)
Remembers the 12 days that Baha’u’llah spent in the garden of Ridvan during his exile in Baghdad and when he proclaimed himself as the one announced by the Bab. On the first, ninth and twelfth days, work is suspended.
Akshaya Tritya (Jainism)
Akshaya Tritiya, meaning Immortal Third, is to encourage the beginning of new activity and is based on the day that Lord Rishabha broke his initial year-long fast by drinking sugar-cane juice.
22 Wednesday
Earth Day (International)
Celebrates the natural abundance of the Earth to promote care for the planet. Some plant trees and/or seeds to ensure new growth.
23 Thursday
Gathering of Nations Pow Wow to Apr 25 (Aboriginal)
In Albuquerque, New Mexico various tribes and nations participate, share, teach and exchange traditions with each other.
28 Tuesday
Jamal month begins (Baha’i)
Jamal, meaning Beauty, is the third month of the Baha’i year.
30 Thursday
Ghambar Maidyozarem to May 04(Zoroastrianism)
Celebrates the creation of the sky and the harvesting of the winter crop.