Jan 26: New Year - 2009 Year of the Earth Ox

The year of the Ox. This is the year 4707 in the Chinese Lunar calendar and the most important holiday. It is a three-day holiday in China and Hong Kong. The Chinese clean and decorate their homes with the 5 lucky signs of happiness; new clothes are worn and even the poorest buy new shoes, for it is considered bad luck to step down on the ground into old shoes. Vietnamese call it the 'Tet' Festival.

clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009 Chinese New Year

Jan 19: Kitchen God Celebration (China)

The custom is based on the traditional farewell ceremony for T'sao Wang, Prince of the Oven, before he leaves for his annual trip to heaven to report on families' good behavior during the year.

clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009 Kitchen God Celebration

Jan 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

A "schedule alert" day in the USA
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Some people may wish or just take time off work on this day. Some employees have a statutory holiday on this day.

This day commemorates the leader of the "Civil Rights" movement in USA. People of all races and religions have benefited from the sacrifices and accomplishments made by this great man. He was a Nobel Prize winner (Peace Prize 1964) and a prominent advocate of nonviolent protest. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 13: St. Knut's Day (Finland, Sweden)

Christmas trees are taken down to mark the "official" close of the Christmas season.

clipped from www.multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009 St. Knut`s Day Finland St. Knut`s Day King Knut who ruled Sweden from 1080-1086 is honoured as a saint for his virtue and generosity. He had declared that Christmas should be celebrated for twenty days, officially ending the season on January 13th. The days between Christmas and Saint Knut's Day are filled with parties for children and adults. After this day, trees are taken down to mark the official close of the season. , Sweden

Who is your real friend?

From my friend, Manuel.  Thought you might enjoy it.

Who is your real friend? This really works...! If you don't believe it, just try this experiment. Put your dog and your spouse in the trunk of the car for an hour. When you open the trunk, who is really happy to see you?

 

Posted via email from gub's posterous

Jan 12: Seijin No Hi (Japan)

Coming of age at age 20... sounds like a great idea.

clipped from www.multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009   Seijin No Hi This day celebrates Coming-of-Age of the youth of Japan who are twenty years old. They wear traditional clothes and visit the shrines where the family announce their adulthood to the spirits. This is a national holiday. Seijin No Hi Japan order this calendar

Jan 11: Full Moon

Full Moon occurs at 0348 EST.

https://media5.magma.ca/www.diversitynet.org/secureorder.htm

clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009  Full Moon

Jan 3 (early AM) The Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the year's best, producing more than 100 meteors per hour from a radiant near the North Star. This year the shower peaks on Jan. 3rd.

clipped from www.spaceweather.com the Quadrantids The Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the year's best, producing more than 100 meteors per hour from a radiant near the North Star. This year the shower peaks on Jan. 3rd. The timing favors observers in western North America and Across the Pacific Ocean. The best time to look: during the dark hours before sunrise on Saturday morning. Although the Quadrantids are a major shower, they are seldom observed. One reason is weather. The shower peaks in early January when northern winter is in full swing. Storms and cold tend to keep observers inside. Last year, NASA scientists went to extremes to gain a good view; they flew an airplane above the clouds and over the Arctic Circle where they saw many Quadrantids:

Jan 2: Berchtold's Day (Switzerland)

This day honours Duke Berchtold V, who founded Bern, the capital of Switzerland. He promised to name the city after the first animal he killed on a hunt. The bear (bern in German) then provided the city's name.

clipped from www.multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009 Berchtold's Day Switzerland

January: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender History Month (U.K.)

Another interesting calendar event brought to you by Eric "Calendarwallah" Snyder and STE's Diversity Calendar

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clipped from www.multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH - UK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH - R.-U.: was initiated by Schools OUT in Britain in February 2005. This is an opportunity for all to learn more about the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Britain and Northern Ireland. LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH - UK © Copyright 2002-2009 Creative Cultural Communications. Reproduction of intellectual content is forbidden without express written consent. Visit the Multicultural Calendar Web site to order this calendar.

January 1: New Years Day (Int'l) / St Basil's Day (Greek) / Gantan-Sai (Japan)

Another important holiday brought to you by Eric "Calendarwallah" Snyder and STE's Diversity Calendar.

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clipped from www.multiculturalcalendar.com January 2009 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH - UK LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH - R.-U.: was initiated by Schools OUT in Britain in February 2005. This is an opportunity for all to learn more about the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Britain and Northern Ireland. LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER HISTORY MONTH - UK   New Year`s Day International    St. Basil's Day The Greeks call New Year, St. Basil's Day. Traditionally, gifts are exchanged. St. Basil's Day Greece  Independence Day Haiti, Sudan   Gantan-Sai Gantan-sai, also referred to as Shogatu, is the Shinto New Year holiday. The faithful visit shrines, often at midnight, praying for renewal of heart, health, and prosperity. During the seven-day holiday, people wear their best clothing and visit the homes of friends and family to express their wishes for the coming year. Gantan-Sai Shinto