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Committee on Multicultural
Initiatives and Diversity - COMID
The mission of the Committee on Multicultural Initiatives
and Diversity (COMID) is to foster our community and
environment where the richness of our diversity is
recognized, respected and embraced. Our view on diversity
includes, but is not limited to, ethnic, racial and
linguistic heritage; religious traditions; gender; sexual
orientation; age; and socioeconomic status.
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April 2006
Celebrations:
April 1, 2006 -
Farvardin or Sizdeh Bedar (Iran) - It is the
13th day after Nowruz. The number 13 is considered an
unlucky number for the Persians and, therefore, everyone
leaves home for the day to go on picnics or trips.
April 5, 2006 - Qing
Ming Festival (China, Taiwan) - A national holiday when
family graves are visited to ask for the blessings of the
departed spirits.
April 6, 2006, Raman- avami - Ramanavami celebrates
the birthday of Rama, the seventh incarnation of the God
Vishnu. Hindus read the Ramayana, a Hindu epic, which tells
the story of Rama, during the previous eight days.
April 6, 2006 - Chakri
Day (Thailand) - A national holiday to honor King Rama
I, who founded the Chakri Dynasty in 1782; he also was the
founder of Bangkok as the capital of Thailand.
April 8, 2006 -
Buddha’s Birthday (International) - Although the exact
date of Buddha’s birthday is unknown, this date is most
commonly noted around the world as his birthday. On this
day, Buddhists celebrate in various ways depending on
ethnicity and region.
April
9, 2006 - Jalál (Glory), the second Bahá'í month.
April
9, 2006 - Holy Week begins (Western) , Palm Sunday
(Western) - Palm Sunday celebrates the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem. Holy week culminates in Easter (Western).
April
10, 2006 - Mawlid al-Nabiy - Mawlid al-Nabiy is the
anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad. The festival
begins in the evening. Prophet's Birthday
(Islamic) - Celebrates the birthday of Muhammad, the final
prophet of Islam; also known as "the seal of the prophets."
Some scholars consider this holiday to be an innovation in
the religion, as Muhammad himself did not celebrate it,
except by fasting.
April
11, 2006 - Mahavira- jayanti - Mahavira-jayanti
celebrates the birthday of Lord Mahavira (Great Hero), the
24th Tirthankara (and the last of this time cycle).
April
12, 2006 - Eve of Pesah - Pesah, or Passover,
commemorates the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.
Celebrated for eight days, the first two and the last two
days are holidays (the first and the last days are holidays
in Israel and among Reform Jews). Pesah begins at dusk
(before sundown) on the previous day.
April
13, 2006 - First Day of Pesah - Pesah, or Passover,
commemorates the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.
Celebrated for eight days, the first two and the last two
days are holidays (the first and the last days are holidays
in Israel and among Reform Jews). Pesah begins at dusk
(before sundown) on the previous day.
April
13, 2006 - Maundy Thursday (Western) - Maundy
Thursday celebrates the institution of the Lord's Supper by
Jesus (Western).
April
13, 2006 - Saka New Year - The Saka calendar's New
Year's Day is a religious and cultural celebration for
Sinhalese, Indians, Burmese, Kampucheans, Laotians, and
Thais. Songkran (Buddhist) - In southeast Asia,
Songkran is recognized as the New Year for Buddhists. The
event lasts three days.
April
14, 2006 - Vaisakhi - Celebrated throughout India,
Vaisakhi has special importance for Sikhs. On this day 1699,
Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, created the Khalsa Panth,
the Brotherhood of the Pure. Khalsa brothers are given the
name Singh (lion), and sisters are named Kaur (princess).
April
14, 2006 -Vaisakhi - Vaisakhi, first day of the solar
year, is an agricultural festival celebrating the harvest.
Important in North India, it is named after the month
Vaisakh.
April
14, 2006 -Good Friday (Western) - Good Friday
commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ, i.e., his
sumbmission to death by crucifixion (Western).
April
14, 2006 -Saka New Year - The Saka calendar's New
Year's Day is a religious and cultural celebration for
Sinhalese, Indians, Burmese, Kampucheans, Laotians, and
Thais.
April
16, 2006 - Palm Sunday (Eastern) - Palm Sunday
celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
April
16, 2006 - Easter (Western) - Easter celebrates the
resurrection of Jesus. The oldest and most important
Christian festival, this day initiates the fifty-day period
culminating in Pentecost. In Eastern Orthodox churches, the
church year begins with Pascha (Eastern).
April 16, 2006 -
Sechselauten (Switzerland) - The word Sechselauten
means "six o’clock chimes." When church bells ring six
times, an image representing winter is burned and spring is
welcomed.
April
17, 2006 - Holy Week begins (Eastern) - Holy week
culminates in Pascha (Eastern).
April 17, 2006 - Anniversary of the Signing
of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1981)
April
20, 2006 - Holy Thursday (Eastern) - In the Eastern
tradition Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the
Lord's Supper by Jesus.

April 21, 2006 - Holy Friday
(Eastern) - Good Friday commemorates the Passion of Jesus
Christ, i.e., his sumbmission to death by crucifixion
April 22, 2006 - Earth Day
(International) - Begun in 1970, this day commemorates a
worldwide effort to protect the planet, children and the
future of mankind.
April
23, 2006 - Pascha (Eastern) - Easter or Pascha
celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. The oldest and most
important Christian festival, this day initiates the
fifty-day period culminating in Pentecost. In Eastern
Orthodox churches, the church year begins with Pascha
(Eastern).
April
24, 2006 - Yom HaShoah - Yom HaShoah is held in
memory of the six million Jews who died as victims of Nazi
atrocities during the Second World War.
April 24, 2006 -
Martyrs Day (Armenia) - This solemn day commemorates
the death of 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred in
1915-1916.
April 25, 2006 -
Easter Rebellion of 1916 (Ireland) - On Easter Monday
in 1916 Irish militants attempted to gain freedom from the
United Kingdom, but were unsuccessful. Celebrates a day of
remembrance.
April 25, 2006 -
Anzac Day (Australia, New Zealand) - Commemorates the
slain of their army corps in World War I.
April
27, 2006 - Jamál - Jamál (Beauty), the third Bahá'í
month.
April 27, 2006 -
Freedom Day (South Africa) - On this day the first
all-race election took place and South Africans brought
Nelson Mandela into political power in 1994.
April
29, 2006 - Ninth Day of Ridvan - The ninth day of
Ridvan when Bahá'í is suspend work.
April 29, 2006 -
Midori no hi (Japan) - Also known as Greenery Day, to
appreciate nature.
April
30, 2006 -Akshaya- tritiya - Akshaya-tritiya
(Immortal Third) celebrates the day when Lord Rishabha broke
his first year-long fast by drinking sugar cane juice.
April 30, 2006 -
Koninginnedag (Netherlands) - Celebrates the birthday
of former Queen Juliana and is also National Dutch Day.
April 30, 2006 -
Arbor Day (USA) - Communities across the United States
plant trees in an ongoing effort to conserve American
forests.
April
30, 2006 -Ghambar Maid- yozarem begins -
Ghambar Maidyozarem celebrates the creation of sky and the
harvesting of the winter crop.
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