MULTICULTURAL CALENDAR 2011 This calendar received funding from the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Home and Community Care Program Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the information on this calendar is as accurate as possible. Diversicare accepts no responsibility for any omissions and errors
Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny ( Mahatma Gandhi ) Seven Deadly Sins Wealth without work Pleasure without conscience Science without humanity Knowledge without character Politics without principle Commerce without morality Worship without sacrifice ( M ahatma Gandhi ) JANUAR j A N U A RY 一月 31 1 New Years Day; St Basil Day (Greece) 2 3 New Years Day Public holiday (Aust) 4 (Myanmar Burma ) 5 Birth of guru Gobind Singh (Hindu) 6 Epiphany Day 7 Nativity of Christ (Orthodox Christian) 8 9 10 National Day (Northern Mariana Islands) 11 12 13 14 15 16 World Religion Day 17 Martin Luther King Jr Day (USA) 18 19 20 21 22 National Day (Ukraine) 23 24 25 Burns Night (Scotland) 26 Australia Day; Republic Day (India) 27 28 29 30
Men hate each other because they fear each other, and they fear each other because they don't know each other, and they don't know each other because they are often separated from each other. ( Martin Luther King ) No culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive ( Mahatma Ghandi ) ا F e b r u a r y Luty 28 1 2 3 Chinese New Year; Tet Vietnamese New Year 4 Independence day (Sri Lanka) 5 6 Waitangi Day (NZ) 7 (Grenada) 8 Vasant Panchami (Hindu) 9 10 11 (Iran) 12 13 14 Valentine s Day 15 National day Serbia; Nirvana Day (Buddhist); Mohammad s Birthday (Islamic) 16 (Lithuania) 17 (Kosovo) 18 (Gambia) 19 20 21 International Mother Language day United Nations 22 (St Lucia) 23 National Day (Brunei); Republic Day (Guyana) 24 (Estonia) 25 National Day (Kuwait) 26 27 (Dominican Republic)
Don't let the culture influence your message, let your message influence the culture. ( M ike Huckabee ) Mars M A R C H 三月 1 (Bosnia Herzegovina); St David s Day 2 3 National Day (Bulgaria) 4 5 Tibetan New Year 6 (Ghana) 7 8 Shrove Tuesday (Christian) 9 Ash Wed-Lent begins (Christian) 10 11 12 (Mauritius) 13 14 New Year Nanakshahi (Sikh) 15 16 17 St Patrick s Day (Ireland) 18 19 20 (Tunisia); Start of Purim (Jewish) 21 Harmony Day (Australia); (Namibia); Norouz Persian New Year (Iran, Bha I, Kurd) 22 23 National Day (Pakistan) 24 Ramanavami (Hindu) 25 (Greece) 26 (Bangladesh) 27 28 29 30 31 Freedom Day (Malta)
Never judge someone By the way he looks Or a book by the way it's covered; For inside those tattered pages, There's a lot to be discovered ( S tephen Cosgrove) Prill A P R I L Tháng Tư 1 New Year (Assyrian) 2 3 4 (Senegal) 5 6 7 Annunciation (Coptic Orthodox) 8 9 10 11 12 13 Songkran Thai New Year (to 15 April) 18 National Day Zimbabwe; Hanuman Jayanti (Hindu); Theravada New Year (Buddhist) 25 Anzac Day (Australia) 19 Pesach and Passover (Jewish) For 8 days 26 Union Day (Tanzania) 14 Vaisakhi and Khalsa Day (Sikh); Sinhala and Tamil New Year 20 21 22 Good Friday (Christian) 27 Freedom Day (South Africa); National Day (Togo) 15 16 Queen s Bday (Denmark) 23 St George s Day (England) 28 29 30 17 National Day (Syria) 24 Easter Sunday (Christian)
The key to community is the acceptance, in fact the celebration of our individual and cultural differences. It is also the key to world peace ( M. Scott Peck) Svibanj M A Y י א מ 30 31 1 Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jewish) 2 Labour Day (QLD) 3 National Day (Poland) 4 5 6 7 8 9 Europe Day (European Union) 10 Yom Ha atzmaut (Israel) 11 12 13 14 National Day (Paraguay) 15 16 17 Constitution Day (Norway); Vesak or Buddha day 18 19 20 National Day (Cameroon) 21 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 22 National Day (Yemen) 23 24 (Eritrea) 25 National Day (Argentina); (Jordan) 26 National Day (Georgia) 27 National Reconciliation Week to 3rd June 28 National Day (Azerbaijan); National Day (Ethiopia) 29
The ideal of a single civilization for everyone, implicit in the cult of progress and technique, impoverishes and mutilates us (Octavio Paz ) Juni J u n e Июнь 6 National Day (Sweden) 1 (Samoa) 7 8 Shavuot (Jewish) 2 Foundation of Republic (Italy); Ascension of Christ 9 10 Portugal Day 3 4 5 11 12 (Philippines); National Day (Russian Fed) 13 Queens Bday (Australia) 14 15 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib (Sikh) 17 National Day (Iceland) 18 National Day (Seychelles) 19 20 Refugee Week Australia (to 26 June); World Refugee Day 21 22 23 National Day and Official Bday of HRH the Grand Duke (Luxembourg) 24 25 National Day (Croatia, Slovenia) 26 27 28 29 30 (Congo)
Culture is like wealth; it makes us more ourselves, it enables us to express ourselves ( Philip Gilbert Hamerton ) Liepa J U L Y J ул 4 (USA) 5 National Day (Venezuela); Liberation Day (Rwanda) 6 National Day (Malawi, Comoros) 7 National Day (Solomon Islands) 1 Canada Day; National Day (Burundi) 2 3 National Day (Belarus); Naidoc week to 10 July (Australia) 8 9 10 (Bahamas) 11 Anniversary of Mongolian People s Revolution 12 National Day (Kiribati) 13 National Day (Montenegro); Ulambana (Buddhist) 14 Bastille Day (France) 15 Asalha Puja Day (Buddhist) 16 17 18 19 20 21 Belgium National Day 22 23 Anniversary of Revolution of 23 July (Egypt) 24 25 26 National Day (Liberia, Maldives); Asalha Puja Day (Buddhist) 27 28 (Peru) 29 30 Throne Day (Morocco); (Vanuatu) 31
Words are the leaves of the tree of language, of which, if some fall away, a new succession takes their place. ( J ohn French ) 8 월 A U G U S T Agosto 1 Ramadan begins (Islamic); Foundation of the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland); National Day (Jamaica) 8 9 National Day (Singapore); Tisha B Av (Jewish) 2 3 4 Constitution Day (Cook Islands) 10 National Day (Ecuador) 11 National Day (Chad) 5 6 (Bolivia) 12 13 14 (Pakistan) 7 15 National Day (India) 16 17 Proclamation of Independence (Indonesia); National Day (Gabon); Ekka (QLD) 22 23. 24 National Day (Ukraine); Raksha Bandhan (Hindu) 18 19 (Afghanistan) 25 (Uruguay) 20 Senior s Week begins to 28 Aug 26 27 National Day (Moldova) 21 28 29 30 31 Eid al Fitr- Ramadan ends (Islamic)
Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit ( Jawahrlal Nehru, Indian Prime Minister 1889-1964 ) Settembre S E P T E M B E R Σεπτέμβριος 30 31 1 National Day (Libya); Constitution Day (Slovakia); Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu) 5 6 National Day (Swaziland) 7 (Brazil) 8 National Day (Andorra); (FYR Macedonia); National Day (North Korea) 12 13 14 15 (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua) 2 National Day (Vietnam); Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) 9 National Day (Korea) 16 Proclamation of Independence (Mexico); (Papua New Guinea) 3 4 10 11 Coptic New Year 17 Australian Citizenship Day; Oktoberfest - to 3 Oct (Germany) 18 (Chile) 19 20 21 National Day (Belize); (Malta) 22 Proclamation of Independence (Mali) 23 National Day (Saudi Arabia) 24 25 26 27 28 Jewish New Year (at sundown) 29 30 National Day (Botswana)
We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race. ( Kofi Annan) Oktober O C t o b e r Lokakuu 31 Halloween 1 National Day (China, Cyprus); (Nigeria) 2 3 German Unity Day; National Foundation Day (Korea) 4 5 6 Vijay Dashami (Hindu) 7 8 Yom Kippur (Jewish) 9 (Uganda) 10 Fiji 11 12 National Day (Spain) 13 Sukkot (Jewish) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Inauguration of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh); Birth of the Bab (Baha i) 21 22 23 24 (Zambia) 25 26 Diwali Festival of Lights (Hindu); National Day (Austria) 27 National Day (Turkmenistan) 28 National Day (Czech Republic) 29 Republic Day (Turkey) 30
Language. Climate. Manners and movement patterns shared jokes the country in which you are born and grow up forms the landscape of your imagination... Homesickness is like bereavement ( L ossesintranslation.com ) Novembre n o v e m b e r Tachwedd 1 All Saints Day (Christian); Anniversary of the Revolution (Algeria) 2 Melbourne Cup 3 (Dominica); National Day (Panama) 4 National Day (Tonga); Hajj-Pilgrimage to Mecca (Islamic) 5 6 Eid al Adha (Islamic) 7 8 9 (Cambodia) 10 11 Remembrance Day (Australia); National Day (Angola) 12 Birth of Baha u llah (Baha i) 13 14 15 Nativity Fast begins (Orthodox Christian) 16 International Day for Tolerance 17 18 Proclamation of Independence (Latvia); National Day (Oman) 19 National Day (Monaco) 20 21 Birth of Guru Nanak Sahib Founder of Sikh Religion 22 (Lebanon) 23 24 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh); Thanksgiving (USA) 25 Statehood Day (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 26 Muharram Islamic New Year 27 28 National Day (Albania; Mauritania); First Sunday of Advent (Christian) 29 30 St Andrew s Day (Scotland); (Barbados)
The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven't changed in seventy or eighty years. Your body changes, but you don't change at all. And that, of course, causes great confusion. ( D oris Lessing ) พฤศจ กายน d e c e m b e r Disyembre 1 National Day (Romania; Central African Republic) 2 National Day (Laos; United Arab Emirates) 3 4 5 The King s Bday Anniversary (Thailand); Ashura (Islamic) 6 (Finland) 7 8 Immaculate Conception (Christian); Bodhi Day (Buddhist) 9 10 11 12 National Day (Kenya) 13 14 15 16 National Day (Bahrain) 17 National Day (Bhutan) 18 National Day (Niger, Qatar); International Migrants Day 19 20 Chanukah-Festival of Lights (Jewish) 21 22 23 Emperor s Bday (Japan) 24 25 Christmas Day 26 Boxing Day 27 28 29 30 31
JANUARY St Basil Day St Basil was one of the greatest leaders and thinkers of the Orthodox Christian Church. In many Greek homes, a special cake is baked on the eve of St Basil s Day with a gold or silver coin hidden inside. Birth of Guru Gobind Singh, 10th Guru On this day people of Sikh faith honour the birth of the founder of the Khalsa (all baptised Sikhs). Epiphany Day Commemorates the manifestation of God in the human form as Jesus Christ. Nativity of Christ Eastern Orthodox Churches that use the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on this day. World Religion Day Observed in over 80 countries, the aim is to foster interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasising the common elements underlying all religions. Martin Luther King Jr Day US holiday commemorating the birth of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, the leader of the US civil rights movement who was assassinated in 1968. Burns Night On this night, Scots everywhere take time out to honour Robert Burns, poet, balladeer and for many Scotland s favourite son. A night for all Scots to celebrate their heritage. FEBRUARY Chinese New Year (Year of the Rabbit) Chinese New Year festivals in many communities feature traditional cultural activities, food stalls, arts and crafts, fire crackers, lion dances and dragon parades. Festivities held at Fortitude valley and Sunnybank. Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) Vietnamese people celebrate Tet with family reunions, special foods and gifts. Waitangi Day Commemorates the signing of the Treaty at Waitangi in 1840. Vasant Panchami This Hindu celebration is dedicated to Sarawati, Goddess of Learning. Traditionally during this festival, children are taught to write their first words. Nirvana Day This day is an observance of the death of the Buddha. Prophet Muhammad s Birthday Marks the birth of Muhammad, regarded by Muslims as a messenger and prophet of God. International Mother Language Day A day to promote linguistic & cultural diversity & Multilingualism. MARCH St David s Day Commemorates the patron saint of Wales, and has been the national day of celebration for Welsh people, featuring parades, festivities and singing. Tibetan New Year (Losar) Tibetan communities celebrate New Year, known as Losar, on this date. Losar is an occasion to dispel the obstacles and negativities of the old year and is marked with activities that symbolise purification. Shrove Day Day before Lent, a time of fasting and devotions. Pancakes are traditionally eaten on this day. Ash Wednesday Lent begins Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar, traditionally a time of fasting and reflection. St Patrick s Day Commemorates the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to Ireland. Purim Commemorates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. During Purim it is traditional to eat festive meals and to serve hamantasch cookies. This celebration lasts for 2 days. Harmony Day Celebrates Australia s diversity. It s about community participation, inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. Ramanavami Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, hero of the religious epic poem. The day involves the telling of stories and attending temples. APRIL Assyrian New Year Assyrians all over the world celebrate this day as their national festival. Annunciation Coptic Church has a major feast on this day. Songkram Thai New Year Thai communities across Australia celebrate this festival with authentic Thai food, crafts and performers. Vaisakhi and Khalsa Day Vaisakhi celebrates the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season. Khalsa Day commemorates the baptism of 5 brave Sikhs who offered to give their lives to their faith. Sinhala and Tamil New Year The 2 main Sri Lankan ethnic groups, the Sinhalese & the Tamils, celebrate a common traditional New Year. Hanuman Javanti Day Celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the Monkey God. Theravadin New Year In the Theravadin tradition, followed for example in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos, Buddhists New Year is celebrated from this day. Pesach-Passover Important Jewish festival, lasts for 8 days and commemorates the liberation by Moses of the Jewish people from slavery. Good (Holy) Friday Solemn Christian remembrance of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday. St George s Day Commemorates the patron saint of England, who became an ideal of martial valour and selflessness.
APRIL cont Easter Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ following his death by crucifixion. It is the most significant event on the Christian calendar. MAY Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day Day to remember the 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis. Observed by many people of Jewish and other faiths. Buddha Day Vesak Day Major Buddhist festival of the year and celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development This day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better. http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/cultural_diversity/ National Reconciliation Week Celebrates the rich culture and history of the first Australians. JUNE Ascension of Christ This day observes the departure of Jesus from earth after his resurrection. Shavuot Jewish celebration of Moses s descent from Mt Sinai with the Ten Commandments. Martyrdom (Shahidi) of Guru Arjan Sahib Sikhs remember the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Sahib, and those who have suffered for the faith. Day is observed by reading the holy books. Rufugee Week Encourages understanding and acceptance between communities, enabling refugees to live in safety and to continue making a valuable contribution to Australia. JULY NAIDOC Week Celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures & an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields. Ulambana (Obon) Festival of the Hungry Ghosts (Mahayana tradtition). On this day Buddhists visit cemeteries to make offerings to departed ancestors. Obon celebrates the reunion of family ancestors with the living. Bastille Day French National holiday, commemorates the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a fortress prison, which resulted in the beginning of a new form of government. Asalha Puja (Dhamma) Day Theravadin Buddhist date commemorates the first sermon delivered by the Buddha after enlightenment. AUGUST Ramadan begins One of the most important times in the Islamic calendar. During the month, Muslims engage in fasting, prayer and show charity to those in need. Tisha B Av Commemorates a list of catastrophes which have befallen the Jewish people since ancient times. It is a day of fasting. Seniors Week begins (ends 28 August) http://www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/seniors/ events/seniorsweek/ Raksha Bandhan (means bond of protection) This Hindu festival honours the love between brothers & sisters and is marked by the tying of a rakhi thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. Eid al Fitr (end of Ramadan) The Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, ends with the festival of Eid al Fitr. A celebratory meal breaks the fast & at this time charity & good deeds have special significance. Eid is also a time of forgiveness and making amends. SEPTEMBER Ganesh Chaturthi Popular religious festival. In India, clay statues of the Hindu elephant god Ganesh are paraded through the streets. Krishna Janmashtami Important event in the Hindu calendar. Celebrates the birth of Krishna more than 5000 years ago. Celebrations take place over 2 days. Coptic New Year The Feast of Nayrouz (Feast of the Martyrs) marks New Year on the Coptic calendar. The Copts are the indigenous people of Egypt. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world. Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) Commemorates the creation of the world. A synagogue ritual is the blowing of the Shofar, a ram s horn trumpet. Apples are dipped in honey as a symbol of the sweet New Year that lies ahead. OCTOBER German Unity Day Commemorates the unification of West and East Germany. Vijay Dashami (Dasera) Hindu festival marks the triumph of good over evil. It concludes the festival of Navaratri, which extends over a number of days. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Holiest day of the Jewish year, observed with fasting and repentance. Many Jews will refrain from work and attend synagogue services. It is a day set aside to atone for the sins of the past year. Sukkot Commemorates the 40 year period during which the Jewish people were wandering in the desert. Sukkot were the huts they lived in during this time. Inauguration (Gurgadi) of Guru Granth Sahib Commemorates the eternal installation of the holy books, Granth Sahib. Birth of the Bab Baha I followers celebrate the birth of Bab on this day, a prophet and forerunner of their faith. Work is suspended on this day. Diwali Celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. It involves lights, fireworks and sweets and is celebrated by people of Jain, Sikh and Hindu faiths.
OCTOBER cont Halloween Celebrated mainly in the USA, has its origins in ancient pagan, Celtic harvest and Christian festivals. People dress themselves and their homes in the symbols of these festivals such as pumpkins and apples, angels, saints, devils, ghosts and skeletons. NOVEMBER All Saints Day Christian day honours saints, known and unknown. Saints are men and women recognised for lives of holiness and devotion to God or who were martyred for their faith. Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca) During the pilgrimage Muslims from all around the world, of different countries, languages and ethnicities, come together in worship. Eid al Adha Religious festival celebrated by Muslims and Druze worldwide as a commemoration of Ibrahim's (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son, as commanded by Allah. Remembrance Day Australia observes 1 minute silence at 11am in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts. Nativity Fast begins During the Nativity Fast (until Christmas) Orthodox Christians abstain from all meat and dairy products, fish, eggs, alcohol and oil. International Day of Tolerance An appreciation of diversity, the ability to live and let others live, the ability to adhere to one s convictions while accepting that others adhere to theirs, and the ability to enjoy one s rights and freedoms without infringing on those of others. Birth of Guru Nanak Sahib-Founder of Sikh Religion Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh faith & way of life. Sikhism stresses the importance of doing good deeds rather than merely carrying out rituals. Martyrdom (Shahidi) of Guru Tegh Bahadur Guru Tegh Bahadur, Sikh religious leader who sacrificed his life to defend the religious freedom of another faith. Thanksgiving Celebrated primarily in the USA, traditionally to give thanks to God for the harvest,. These days it s an opportunity to express gratitude to others for our blessings. Muharram (Islamic New Year) First month of the year on the Islamic Calendar and marks the New Year for Muslims. DECEMBER Ashura Marks Noah s departure from the ark, the exodus of Moses from Egypt and the martyrdom of Muhammad s grandson. Immaculate Conception This Catholic feast day commemorates the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin all of her life. Bodhi Day On this day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama s attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India. International Migrants Day Established by the United Nations in recognition of the large and increasing numbers of migrants throughout the world. This day is a reminder of the need to support migrant populations. Chanukah (Hanukkah) Festival of Lights Commemorates the recapture and rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. It lasts for 8 days & nights, and each night an additional candle is lit. Christmas Day Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas themes are peace on Earth and good will to others. Tips for using this calendar * Ask your clients whether they celebrate any significant days and how is it celebrated * Ask your clients whether they would like to celebrate any significant days and to show you which ones * Use the calendar to celebrate multiple events to promote harmony and diversity * Use the calendar to give you ideas for special celebrations or activities in your service * Use the calendar as a talking point for the sharing of cultures, to build rapport with your clients * When an event is coming up in your local area, ask your client whether they would like to attend * Extend your own awareness of multicultural days ***** This calendar is also available online ***** www.diversicare.com.au Birth of Baha u llah On this day people of Baha I faith refrain from work and celebrate the birth of their faith s founder. First Sunday of Advent Observed with the lighting of advent candles, display of wreaths & special ceremonies. Also anticipates the coming again to earth of Jesus Christ. St Andrew s Day Patron saint of Scotland. Information sourced from: www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/a-diverse-australia/calendar-australia/ http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/atsip-calendar.pdf http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/eid-al-fitr http://www.chabad.org/holidays/jewishnewyear/template_cdo/aid/671869/jewish/when-is- Rosh-Hashanah-in-2010-2011-2012-2013-2014-and-2015.htm http://www.godweb.org/buddhist_calendar.htm