January |
|
1st* |
New Year's
Day - New Year's Day first day of 2008 |
6th |
Epiphany - one of three major Christian festivals, along with Christmas
and Easter |
10th |
Muharram - New Year - the first day of the first month of the Muslim year |
| |
|
February |
|
6th |
Ash Wednesday (Christian) - observance to begin the 40 day season of Lent. Ashes are marked on worshippers as a sign of penitence |
7th |
Chinese New Year, the year of the Pig - the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. |
18th* |
Family Day – The first of a new annual holiday in Ontario |
| March |
|
6th |
Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) – festival in honor of Lord Shiva and his marriage to Goddess Parvati |
17th |
Saint Patrick's Day (Christian) - celebration of Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland in early days of the faith |
21st* |
Good Friday (Christian) - remembrance of crucifixion of Jesus |
21st |
Purim (Jewish) - celebration of deliverance of the Jewish minority in Persia from genocide |
22nd |
Holi (Hindu) – spring festival dedicated to the god of pleasure. People shower each other with colored water and smear red and green powder on each other. |
23rd |
Easter Sunday (Christian) |
| |
|
| April |
|
6th |
Hindi New Year (Hindu) - spring festival dedicated to the God of Pleasure. It is observed in a colourful and boisterous manner |
13th |
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) (Hindu) - start of the New Years. Greetings that wish good life in coming days are exchanged. |
20th-21st |
Pesach (Passover) (Jewish) – First two days celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt |
20th-23rd |
Teravadin New Year (Buddhist) |
26th-27th |
Pesach (Passover) (Jewish) – Final two days celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt |
| |
|
| May |
|
19th* |
Victoria Day |
20th |
Buddha Day - Buddhist marking of the birth, enlightenment and death (attainment of Nirvana) of Lord Buddha. |
| |
|
| June |
|
9th-10th |
Shavuot (Jewish) - celebration of Moses' descent from Mt Sinai with the ten commandments. |
15th |
Corpus Christi - Christian (Roman Catholic) celebration in recognition of the Eucharist - the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. The real presence of the body and blood of Jesus is honored. |
|
|
| July |
|
1st* |
Canada
Day |
| |
|
| August |
|
4th* |
Civic Holiday |
24th |
Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) - commemoration of the birth of Krishna |
| |
|
| September |
|
1st* |
Labour Day |
2nd
|
Ramadan begins (Islam) - devoted to commemoration of Muhammad's reception of the divine revelation recorded in the Qur'am |
30th-Oct 1 |
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year. A time of introspection, abstinence, prayer and penitence. |
| |
|
| October |
|
2nd |
Eid ul Fitr - Islamic event marking the close of Ramadan. It is a festival of thanksgiving to Allah for enjoying the month of Ramadan. |
9th |
Yom Kippur - Jewish Day of Atonement. This holiest day of the Jewish year is observed with strict fasting and ceremonial repentance |
13th* |
Thanksgiving Day |
|
Sukkot - Jewish Feast of Tabernacles which celebrates the harvest and the protection of the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness dwelling in tents. |
28th |
Diwali (Deepavali) - Hindu Festival of Lights symbolizing the human urge to move toward the light. |
31st |
Halloween |
| |
|
| November |
|
11th |
Remembrance Day |
13th |
Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib (Sikh) |
| |
|
| December |
|
9th |
Eid ul-Adha - Islamic Feast of Sacrifice. The most important feast of Islam. |
22nd-29th |
Hanukkah - Jewish Festival of Lights. The eight candle Menorah is lighted |
25th* |
Christmas
Day |
26th*
|
Boxing Day |