Friday, November 11, 2005

November 11th - Remembrance Day | Veteran's Day | Armistice Day

Remembrance Day - Canada/UK
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This day commemorates the soldiers killed in World Wars I and II. Canadians always set aside this day in memory of those who gave their lives for freedom. Many observers wear red poppies as a symbol of this day.

Veteran's Day - USA
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It was first proclaimed as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the termination (at 11 AM on November 11, 1918) of World War I.

Armistice Day - France

Monday, November 07, 2005

November 5th - Guy Fawkes Day (Bonfire Night)

[From TCM's Multicultural Calendar...]
Also known as Bonfire Night.

Guy Fawkes was a leader of a group of Catholic men who were plotting to blow up the king and Parliament but were arrested in time. The English and Irish burn bonfires topped by a figure known as "the guy". West Indians from the Bahamas and Barbados celebrate it as well.

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Friday, November 04, 2005

November 4 - Eid_ul-Fitr - The End of Ramadan

Eid_ul-Fitr - The End of Ramadan


The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر), often abbreviated as simply Eid, marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Fitr means to break and therefore symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period and of all evil habits. On the day of the celebration, a typical Muslim family gets up very early and attends special prayers held only for the occasion in big mosques, in large open areas, stadiums or arenas. The festivities and merriment start after the prayers with visits to the homes of friends and relatives and thanking the Creator for all blessings. Eid is a time to come together as a community and to renew friendship and family ties. This is a time for peace for all Muslims in the world to devote to prayers and mutual well-being.

It's a joyous occasion with significant religious significance. Happiness is observed at attaining spiritual uplift after a month of fasting. Muslims dress in holiday attire. After attending the special congregational prayer in the morning, worshippers greet and embrace each other in a spirit of peace, love, and brotherhood. Visiting friends and relatives is common.

For Muslims, Eid ul Fitr is a joyful celebration of the achievement of enhanced piety. It is a day of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, of congregation, fellowship, brotherhood and unity. Muslims are not only celebrating the end of fasting, but thanking God for the help and strength that he gave them throughout the previous month to help them practice self-control.

A common greeting during this 3-day festival is the Arabic greeting "Eid mubarak" or its Urdu variation "Eid mubarak ho!" which, loosely translated, means "Happy Eid!"

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Multicultural Education Week - Nov. 14 through 18

Northwestern will celebrate multicultural education

ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- Northwestern College will celebrate Multicultural Education Week Nov. 14 through 18 with a global fair, an international coffeehouse and a multicultural chapel.

Racial justice advocate Dr. Steve Robbins will address issues related to "Unintentional Intolerance" at 10:05 a.m. Nov. 14 and at 11:05 a.m. Nov. 15 in Christ Chapel. Born Nguyen Long in Saigon in 1965, Robbins now teaches communications at Grand Valley State University in Michigan and runs SLRobbins & Associates, a consulting firm that works with national companies and organizations to promote racial justice.

The global fair will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 15 in Rowenhorst Student Center. International students, along with past study abroad students and Summer of Service students, will have display booths.

The Persian film, "Children of Heaven," will be shown at 8 p.m. Nov. 16 in Bogaard Theatre. Multicultural connection interns will show the film "Crash" which deals candidly with racial issues at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in Bogaard Theatre. The interns will lead a discussion following the film.

The International Club chapel will be Nov. 18 and the international coffeehouse will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18 in Rowenhorst Student Center. Entertainment will include singing, dancing, reading a story, reciting poetry and acting. Coffee will be provided by De Koffie Boon.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

November 1st - Diwali (Indian, Hindu)

DIWALI means 'row of lights' and is the Hindu New Year.

Diwali lasts for 5 days:
Day 1 - New Year for business,
Day 2 - the triumph of god Vishnu over the evil demon,
Day 3 - Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity visits homes lit by lamps,
Day 4 - Bali worship day,
Day 5 - devoted to brothers and sisters.

November Multicultural Schedule Alerts

*** NOVEMBER SCHEDULE ALERTS
Schedule alert days are national or religious holidays when individuals may take time off to observe a holiday.

November 1, 2005
Diwali - Hindu, Sikh
It means 'row of lights' and is the Hindu New Year. Diwali lasts for 5 days: Day 1 - New Year for business, Day 2 - the triumph of god Vishnu over the evil demon, Day 3 - Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity visits homes lit by lamps, Day 4 - Bali worship day, Day 5 - devoted to brothers and sisters.

November 4, 2005
Eid-Ul-Fitr - Islam
This marks the end of the Ramadan fast and is celebrated for 3 days. Date of observance may vary according to sighting of new moon.

November 15, 2005
Guru Nanak's Birthday - Sikh
He was born in 1469 CE and was the first of the Ten Gurus of the Sikh faith and founded Sikhism. An accomplished poet, the Sikh scriptures called the Guru Granth Sahib contain 974 of his hymns.

November 24, 2005
Thanksgiving Day - USA
Early American settlers gave thanks for good harvests by decorating their churches with fruits and vegetables and celebrated dinner with venison and waterfowl.