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 for due consideration.

Phone: 416.675.6622 ext. 4427
Email: chaplain@humber.ca .

Calendar and Descriptions

Tuesday, May 1, 2012
 Zaugibagaw Geezis; Yansa’altt (Aboriginal)
Zaugibagaw Geezis is the flowers budding moon. Yansa’altt is the season of berries and woods fragrant with blossoms that yield the summer berry crops essential for the coming winter. Thanksgiving and early summer is celebrated with a Great Feather Dance.
Beltane (Wicca)
Beltane (Beltain or May Eve [April 30] and May Day) celebrates the joining of the Earth Goddess and the life-spark energy of the god Bel in sacred marriage as the basis of creation and as a time to balance the feminine and masculine within the psyche. Each celebrant prepares to participate in bringing the creative potential of the year to fruition. A Midsummer fertility festival was held in Celtic paganism. Maypole dances are presently held.

Sunday, May 6 , 2012
Full Moon
Wesak (Buddhism)
Wesak is the most important day of the year for Buddhists, also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima or Theravadin New Year. The full moon marks a triple celebration of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) in his Birth, Enlightenment and Final Demise. Buddha’s birth is celebrated on different dates in different countries: in 2012 in East Asia, according to the lunar calendar, it is celebrated April 28 (in South Korea on May 28 and in Tibet on May 29). In Japan, according to the Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated April 08 or May 08.

Sunday, May 13, 2012
Mother’s Day (North America)
A day set aside to honour mothers and motherhood.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012
International Day of Families (United Nations)
Celebrates the importance of families to people, societies and cultures around the world.

Thursday, May 17, 2012
Azamat (Baha'i)
Azamat, meaning Grandeur, is the 4th month of the Baha’i year.
Ascension of Jesus (Christianity-Western)
Commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven.

Sunday, May  20, 2012
 New Moon
Annular Solar Eclipse (Southern Hemispehere)
Annular: the Moon’s diameter make the sun look like a ring around it.
Yom Yerushalayim (Judaism)
Commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967.

Monday, May 21, 2012
 Victoria Day (Canada)
Celebrates the birthday of Queen Victoria (declared a Canadian holiday in 1845 prior to confederation).

Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Declaration of the Bab (Baha'i)
Commemorates the day in 1844 on which he announced his identity as the Bab, the herald of the new age.

Thursday, May 24, 2012
 Ascension of Jesus (Christianity-Eastern)
Commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven.
Aboriginal Awareness Week (Aboriginal/Canada)
Introduced in 1992 to increase awareness about Aboriginal peoples.

Sunday, May 27, 2012
Pentecost (Christianity-Western)
Celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples after his ascension, 50 days after Easter.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Ascension of Baha’u’llah
Marks the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Baha’i faith and work is suspended on this day.