September, 2005

SEPTEMBER IS:
· Back to school time
· Baby Safety Month
· Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
· Classical Music Month
· Library Card Sign-Up Month
· Read-A-New Book Month
· Emergency Care Month
· Youth Month
· Be Kind to Sewing Month
· National Chicken Month
· Latino Heritage Month
· National Honey Month
· National Literary Month
· National Piano Month
· National Rice month
· Organic Harvest Month
· National Courtesy Month
· National School Success Month

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*** Holiest days; some may abstain from work

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Sep - National Hispanic Heritage Month
It is initiated in 1968 as 'National Hispanic Heritage Week' but was established in 1988 by the U.S. Congress, and includes the days between September 15-October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 because this day marks the anniversary of independence for five Hispanic countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico achieved independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18. Latinos from all across the nation take a moment to reflect upon their history, customs and culture, as well as the contributions their people have made to the U.S.

Sep - Sep Navajo Nation Fair And Rodeo
Dates vary according to native reservations.

Sep - Sept Sunrise Dance
Apache. This is an ancient rite of passage for 14-year old girls and lasts four days. After a girl's first mentruation, the girl is massaged and prayed for by an elder female relative. Then, the girl's family decides which ceremony will be sponsored, which medicine man to choose, and whom to ask to be her godparents and cosponsors of the ceremony.

Sep - Sep 30 San Geronimo Day
Named after St. Jerome (1829-1909), an Apache fighter, this day is celebrated by the Native Americans and Hispanics in the Pueblo. Among the ceremonies are the morning races, the sacred clowns and the pole climb.

September 2005 schedule alerts

Schedule Alerts*** for September 2005
=====================================

September 1, 2005
Paryushana-Parva - Jain
The holiest time of the year, is marked by fasting, worship of
the Jina and celebrated for eight days concluding on Samvatsari.

September 5, 2005
Labour Day - Canada, USA
On June 29th, 1894, the US Congress voted Labour Day as a National
Holiday


*** *** Schedule alert: National holiday or Religious day when individuals may wish to take, or just take, time off work to observe the holiday.

Hindus in Kashmir valley celebrate Janmashtami in big way

Hindus in Kashmir valley celebrate Janmashtami in big way

Outlook (subscription) - New Delhi,India

Hindus in Kashmir valley today took out processions and offered prayers in temples amid tight security to mark Janamashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna. ...

[more stories...]

Janmashtami (Hindu)

Janmashtami is another "schedule alert" day celebrated by Hindus around the world on August 27th.

About Janmashtami

Dwarka all set for festival of Janmashtami. The famous temple of Lord Krishna has been decked up with multicoloured lights, which is visible from 10 km away.

Aug 24 - Ukraine Independence (1991)

Looking north on Maydan Nezalezhnosti in Kiev on Independence Day.

Ukraine proclaimed its independence on August 24, 1991.

About Ukraine

What else happened on August 24th...

August 23, 2005: Happy NAW RUZ !!

*** NAW RUZ - Zoroastrian

First day of the Bahá'í and Iranian New Year.

Naw-Ruz (aka Now-Ruz) is celebrated rather like the Christian Easter, with many symbols indicating spring and renewal. A week or so before the holiday lentils are placed in a dish to sprout into a mass of green blades. On the day of Naw-Ruz the family gathers in new or freshly cleaned clothes. The table is decorated with fruit, cakes, coloured eggs and other treats, as well as symbolic objects such as a holy book and a mirror. Among the best known customs of Naw-Ruz is the haft-sin -- the `seven S's'. These are seven objects beginning -- in Persian -- with the letter `S', such as hyacinths, apples, lilies, silver coins, garlic, vinegar and rue, decoratively arranged on a table. A great deal of time is spent exchanging visits with friends and relations. The celebrations end on the thirteenth day of Naw-Ruz with a picnic in the country. The sprouted lentils are thrown into running water, carrying away the bad luck of the previous year.




*** Schedule alert: National holiday or Religious day when individuals may wish to take time off work to observe the holiday.

Brought to you by TCM's Multicultural Calendar

Haiti--August 23, 1791: Uprising of African slaves

Liverpool remembers slave trade

Liverpool was Europe's principal slave port in the 18th century

People in Liverpool were marking the city's darker past with a Slavery Remembrance service on Tuesday.

The multi-faith service to remember the victims of slavery was being held at St Nicholas Church, in the city centre.

Liverpool was regarded as the principal slave port in Europe by the 1740s and the trade contributed much of the city's wealth during the 18th century.

The service is one of many commemorations being held across the world for Slavery Remembrance Day.

It is held each year on 23 August - the anniversary of an uprising in 1791 of African slaves on the Caribbean island of St Domingo, now called Haiti.

Aug 23rd - World Slavery Survives...

World: Slavery Survives, Despite Universal Abolition



UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, has proclaimed 23 August as International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. The date commemorates a revolt in 1791 by slaves in what is now Haiti -- an event considered a decisive victory of slaves against their oppressors. But despite laws in all of the world's countries against slavery, the United Nations says the practice continues in illegal underground forms.

[more...]

Aug 6, 2005 - Hiroshima Day

Hiroshima Day

This solemn day commemorates the day that United States dropped the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan in 1945. People from different backgrounds unite on this day to declare their commitment to never letting another nuclear bomb be used against humans again.

[source TCM's Multicultural Calendar]

August "schedule alerts" **

Guests at a Jewish Moroccan wedding are treated to a
traditional Belly Dance. According to tradition, the
women have an amiable competition trying to outdo
each other in the art of this graceful dance.
(Artwork: TCM's Multicultural Calendar - Aug/05)

In August, 2005 the following "schedule alert" events occur***:
*** August 1, 2005
Civic Holiday - Canada
Bank Holiday - Scotland

*** August 27, 2005
Janmashtami - Hindu

*** August 29, 2005
Summer Bank Holiday - U.K., Ireland


Question: What the heck are "schedule alerts"?

Answer: Schedule alerts are National Holidays or Religious days when individuals may want to take time off to observe a holiday. Although there are only 9 or 10 statutory holidays, there are 37 schedule alerts occurring in 2005.

Proactive organizations sensitive to the diversity within their workforce often plan their schedules around these alerts in order to avoid any unnecessary conflicts with employees personal scheduling. They realize that some employees, if they are reticent to disclose their religious or National affiliations, may just call in sick and TAKE the time off.

Celebrate Annual Holidays and Traditions for Motivation and Team Building

Celebrate Annual Holidays and Traditions for Motivation and Team Building

In her blog, Susan Heathfield talks about building employee motivation by creating and celebrating traditions in the workplace. Employee picnics, Christmas parties, etc. are great events to build community at work.