March 2012 - 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 Chaplaif or due consideration.
Phone: 416.675.6622 ext. 4427
Email: chaplain@humber.ca 

01 Thursday
March = Onaubinay Geezis, Xsaak (Aboriginal)
Onaubinay Geezis is the Snow-crested Moon (or, by community, Maple Sugar Moon or Sucker Moon) when suckers fish run. Xsaak is the season when Oolichan, the candlefish, swarm. The Nisga’a dry and render them into oil.

02 Friday
Month of ‘Ala (Baha’i)
‘Ala meaning Loftiness is the 19th and final month of the Baha'i year and the time of a 19-day fast (to March 20). Those of age in good health abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.
World Day of Prayer (Christianity)
An international day of prayer by Christian women for peace and justice.

08 Thursday
Full Moon
Purim (Judaism)
Purim, the Festival/Feast of Lots, celebrates victory over an oppressive Persian ruler in the Book of Esther, which is read at this time. Costumes are worn and gifts of food are shared.
Holi (Sikhism / Hinduism)
A festival to celebrate Spring dedicated to Holika, whose sacrificial death saved the life of her nephew, the king’s son, from his tyrant father. People light fires and blow horns and bright colours are used in celebration.
08-14, Great Prayer Festival (Buddhism)
Monks from Tibet gather to pray and hold philosophical debates. By tradition, butter lamps are lit in celebration of an early 15th century victory over non-Buddhist opponents.

09 Friday
Hola Mohallah (Sikhism)
Martial arts displays and mock battles are staged to honour Guru Gobind Singh who sought to deter tyranny by armed resistance.

11 Sunday
Start of Daylight Savings Time (Canada)
Clocks are moved one hour ahead in most provinces (Spring forward).

16 Friday
Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem to Mar 20 (Zoroastrianism)
Celebrates the creation of human beings while those who have passed away are remembered.

17 Saturday
St. Patrick’s Day (Christianity-Western)
Marks the death of Patrick, a missionary to Ireland after having been a slave there, who, reputedly, used the three-leaved shamrock to represent the Christian idea of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

19 Monday
St. Joseph’s Day (Christianity-Catholicism)
Celebrates Joseph as the foster father of Jesus.

20 Tuesday
March (Spring) Equinox
Shunki-sorei-sai (Shinto)
The Spring memorial service is held at home altars to revere ancestors as kami while gravesites are cleansed to be purified.
Ostara (Wicca)
Ostara / Eostre celebrates the return of the Goddess-as-Maiden, the courting of the Goddess by the God, and the reawakening of the seeds within the earth touched by the warmth the Gods’ love. The ringing of bells along with sunrise fires and the decoration of hard-boiled eggs are associated customs.
Spring Ohigon & Kwan Yin Day, Shunbun no hi (Buddhism)
Spring Ohigon is a special time for Jodo Shinshu Buddhists who listen to the teaching of Buddha and meditate on the perfection of enlightenment and/or the harmony in the universe as Buddhism teaches that each person is a Boddhisattva (Buddha-to-be) and may reach the perfected state. Kwan Yin Day is the symbolic future Buddha in the Chinese tradition, a female dispensing compassion with a thousand arms. For Shunbun no hi, Japanese Buddhists meditate on the harmony in the universe.

21 Wednesday
Naw Ruz & Baha’i 1st month begins(Baha’i)
New Year BE (Baha’i Era) is an evening feast and celebration to recognize the first month of the Baha’i year.
Now Ruz(Zoroastrianism)
Now Ruz means New Day and is the traditional New Year’s Day for ancient Persia that celebrates the renewal of the world and the creation of fire (symbolic of Asha or righteousness). Zarathustra received his revelation on this day. Celebrations included cleaning homes, buying new clothes plus visiting family elders, relatives and friends.

22 Thursday
New Moon

23 Friday
Ugadi / Chetra Navratras (Hinduism)
Ugadi is the beginning of a new Hindu lunar year. Celebrations include waking before daybreak to bathe the head, decorating the entrances to homes with fresh mango leaves and a dish that combines sweet, sour and bitter tastes as well as new clothes, social gatherings and a tranquil evening with devotional songs (bhajans). Chetra Navratras is a nine day festival dedicated to the nine manifestations of the Goddess Durga.

25 Sunday
Annunciation (Christianity-Western)
Commemorates the visit of the angel, Gabriel, to Mary to tell her that she was chosen to be the mother of Christ.

26 Monday
Birth Anniversary of Zarathustra (Zoroastrianism)
Celebrates the birth of the prophet Zoroaster and is also called Khordad Sal.