Humber Interfaith Calendar - Multifaith Holy Days & Festivals
March 2016

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 416.675.6622 x4427 or chaplain@humber.ca for due consideration.

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

02 Wednesday 
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.

04 Friday 
World Day of Prayer (International) 
An ecumenical movement of various Christian traditions begun in the 19th Century by women of Canada and the USA involved in mission work at home and around the world and recognized in Canada in 1927 via the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada. 

07 Monday
Mahashivratri (Hinduism)
The night before the feast, Hindus recite texts, sing and tell stories to honour Shiva, whose dynamic cosmic dance creates, preserves, destroys and recreates the world.

09 Wednesday 
New Moon The moon is at its least visibility.
Solar Eclipse (southern hemisphere) The sun’s light us blocked by the moon.

13 Sunday
Daylight Savings Time starts 
Clocks are moved backward one hour. 

14 Monday
Clean Monday / Great Lent to Apr 12 (Christianity-Eastern)
The first day of the Great Fast (Great Lent) in the final 6 week period leading up to Holy Week and Pascha or Passover.

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

17 Thursday 
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 Saturday
St. Joseph’s Day (Christianity-Catholicism)
Celebrates Joseph as the foster father of Jesus.

20 Sunday
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.
Palm Sunday (Christianity)
Celebrates Jesus’ symbolic ride into Jerusalem as king on a donkey while people laid palm branches along the way beforehand.

21 Monday 
Naw Ruz (Zoroastrian)
Naw Ruz means New Day and starts the new year according to the ancient Persian calendar. 
Now 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.

23 Wednesday 
New Moon The moon is at its greatest visibility.
Lunar Eclipse (southern hemisphere) The moon’s light is blocked by the earth.
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.

24 Thursday 
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.
Hola Mohallah (Sikhism)
Martial arts displays and mock battles are staged to honour Guru Gobind Singh who sought to deter tyranny by armed resistance.
Holy Thursday (Christianity-Eastern) 
Celebrates the institution of the Lord’s supper by Jesus.

25 Friday 
Good Friday (Christianity-Western)
Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ in submission to death by crucifixion.
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 Saturday
Birth Anniversary of Zarathustra (Zoroastrianism)
Celebrates the birth of the prophet Zoroaster and is also called Khordad Sal.

27 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.”

28 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.