Humber Interfaith Calendar - Multifaith Holy Days & Festivals
October 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 Saturday
New Moon The moon is at its least visibility.
October = Binaakwe Giizis / Xlaaw (Aboriginal)
Binaakwe Giizis is also known as Falling Leaves Moon (Ojibwe) and during this time, after the first frosts, the people started their journeys to the winter camps. Xlaaw is the season to put up food for storage, preserved in Oolichan grease.
Women’s History Month (Canada)
Since 1992, to denote the accomplishments and contributions made by Canadian women.
Navratri to Oct 09 (Hinduism)
Nine nights starting on the new moon and ending on Dussehra are dedicated to the goddess Durga who had 9 incarnations and has the power of good to destroy demons.
02 Sunday
Hijra or First of Muharram to Nov 14 (Islam)
The start of a ten day festival to celebrate the Islamic New Year and the Hijra (migration) of Mohammed and his followers from Mecca to Medina, where the first Islamic ummah (community) was established in 622 CE.
03 Monday
Rosh Hashana to Oct 04 (Judaism)
Rosh Hashana is considered the anniversary of the creation of the world and begins at sundown on the previous day. It is the first of the Ten Days of Awe (or Repentance) ending with Yom Kippur and is celebrated with prayers and religious observances. Reform Jews celebrate for one day and others for two.
09 Sunday
Durga Puja to Sarawati Puja Oct 22 (Hinduism)
Celebrates the divine creative force of the universe and honours the 10-armed goddess Durga, wife of Shiva, and the destroyer of demons.
10 Monday
Thanksgiving (Canada)
Canadians give thanks for plentiful harvests and an abundance of food, often with a turkey dinner. Early settlers decorated churches with fruits and vegetables denoting prosperity.
11 Tuesday
Ashura (Islam)
Commemorates the martyrdom of Husain (Prophet Mohammad’s grandson) observed by Shi’ites on the 10th day of Muharram.
Dussehra or Vijay Dasami (Hinduism)
Celebrates the victory of good over evil (Lord Rama over the demon Ravan, the Goddess Durga over a demon) and follows the celebration of Navaratri (9 nights) and Durga Puja (worship) when other Goddesses are also worshipped.
12 Wednesday
Yom Kippur (Judaism)
The holiest day of the year in Judaism begins at sundown and is a day of fasting. To seek oneness with God, Jews ask forgiveness and forgive others. They then can confess their sins and ask God's forgiveness.
Ghambar Ayathrem to Oct 16 (Zoroastrianism)
Celebrates the creation of plants, the sowing of the winter crop and the return of herds from pasture.
16 Sunday
Full Moon The moon is at its greatest visibility.
Pavarana (Buddhism)
Celebrated at the full moon at the end of the Rains Retreat, when Buddha intently practiced meditation.
‘Ilm to Nov 03 (Baha’i)
‘Ilm, meaning Knowledge, is the twelfth month of the Baha’i year.
17 Monday
Sukkoth (Festival/Feast of Booths) to Oct 23 (Judaism)
A pilgrimmage feast and a time of thanksgiving to celebrate God’s presence in creation and among the Jewish people, beginning at sundown.
Kathina (Buddhism)
Ordained monks and nuns in the Theravada tradition are provided new robes and other necessities of life.
19 Wednesday
Karva Chauth or Karwachauth (Hinduism)
Celebrates the story of a newly-married queen’s care for her husband, the king, in which women fast for one day until moonrise for the long-life and health of their husbands, with the first such fast especially important. At moonrise, the husband feeds the first morsel of food to his wife.
20 Thursday
Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
The birth anniversary of the Baha’i herald of the new age whose shrine is at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa, Israel.
24 Monday
Shmini Atzeret (Judaism)
The eighth day of Sukkot is a special festival with prayers for rain.
25 Tuesday
Simhat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) (Judaism)
Begins the synagogues’ annual Torah reading cycle. Reform Jews celebrate it with Shmini Atzeret.
30 Sunday
New Moon The moon is at its least visibility.
Diwali or Festival of Lights to Nov 03 (Hinduism / Sikhism)
A popular festival dedicated to the Goddess Kali in Bengal and Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth in the rest of India and associated with stories about the destruction of evil by Vishnu in one of his many manifestations including: A New Year celebration meaning “row of lights” and lasting five days including: a new year for business, the victory of the god Vishnu over demonic evil, lit lamps in homes to invite prosperity (Lakshmi) to visit, a day of praise for former king Bali in honour of his sacrifice to Vishnu, a celebration of brothers and sisters.
Mahavira Nirvana (Jainism)
The Festival of Lamps celebrating the attainment of nirvana and release from the cycle of rebirth (moksha) by Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara.
31 Monday
Reformation Day (Christianity-Protestant)
Martin Luther posted of his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517, which led to the formation of Lutheran, Reformed and other Protestant denominations. Many churches celebrate it on the last Sunday in October.
Samhain (Wicca)
The dying God returns to the womb of the Goddess in preparation for rebirth at Yule. The souls of those who have died during the past year’s wheel are bid farewell. It also marks the third and final harvest.
Halloween (Canada, USA)
Early Celtic peoples celebrate the new year in late autumn in honour of Samhain, Lord of the Dead, with candles in windows and bonfires, plus the carrying of carved lanterns and wearing of disguises at night to scare away disembodied spirits. Later, in North America, people carved pumpkins to make lanterns and the orange of pumpkins and black of night skies gave rise to the traditional colours of Halloween, derived from “All Hallows Eve” and viewed as a hallowed evening when spirits visited.