Christmas - morphing into a secular holiday

Not just a religious holiday any more...

clipped from www.ottawacitizen.com Christmas is a secular holiday By Mark Mercer December 18, 2008 One point we must keep in mind here, though, is that Christmas is not an exclusively Christian holiday. For at least a couple of generations, Christmas has been evolving into a secular holiday, a holiday that for many of us has no religious significance at all. Christmas is a celebration of good will, generosity, and peace among nations. It is a time to appreciate and enjoy the company of family and friends. Children are central to Christmas — partly because it is to them that the future belongs, mainly because they are strange and clever people of whom we are fond. Now for the Christians among us, Christmas marks the birth of Jesus and, so, is also an occasion for worship. But it isn’t any such occasion for the rest of us.

Dec 17: Wright Brothers Day (Aviation)

The 105th anniversary of Wright Brothers first successful flight.

Another interesting day brought to you by Eric "
"Calendarwallah" Snyder - Calendarwallah@Gmail.com

clipped from en.wikipedia.org (December 17) Wright Brothers Day Wright Brothers Day commemorates the first successful flights in a heavier than air, mechanically propelled airplane, that were made by title="Orville and Wilbur Wright" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_and_Wilbur_Wright">Orville and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, title="North Carolina" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina">North Carolina.

2010: International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures

International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures

(2010)

The General Assembly, on 17 December 2007, declared 2010 the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures (resolution 62/90).  It recommended that events be organized oninterreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace during the year, including a high-level dialogue and/or informal interactive hearings with civil society.

Affirming that mutual understanding and interreligious dialogue constitute important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations and the culture of peace, the Assembly encouraged Member States to consider initiatives that identify areas for practical action at all levels of society to promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation.  It also encouraged the promotion of dialogue among the media from all cultures and civilizations.

Dec 8: Eid-ul-Adha

This is a "schedule alert" day. Those who celebrate this day may wish (or just take) time away from work.

clipped from www.multiculturalcalendar.com December 2008    Eid-ul-Adha It concludes the Hajj and is a three-day festival celebrating Abraham's test of obedience to Allah when he was asked to sacrifice his son Ismael. At the last minute, Allah replaced Ismael with a lamb. Eid-ul-Adha Islam  Mothers Day Portugal

Dec 7: Day Of Hajj (Islam)

clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com December 2008 Day of Hajj (Day of Arafat) Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The pilgrimage is one of the five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are expected to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime. About 6 million Muslims from over 70 countries journey to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. In one of the rites of the Hajj, pilgrims move in a circular, counterclockwise procession around the Ka'bah. Day of Hajj (Day of Arafat) Islam

Dec 7: Pearl Harbor Day

67th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor - causing US entry into WW II

clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com December 2008 Pearl Harbor Day This day commemorates the attack of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Air Force on the armed forces of the United States stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, killing two thousand people. This caused the United States to enter into World War II. Pearl Harbor Day USA

Dec 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)

19th anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre, in which 14 women were singled out for their gender and murdered in Montreal, Canada.

clipped from en.wikipedia.org December 6, National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is a day commemorated in Canada each December 6, the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique Massacre, in which 14 women were singled out for their gender and murdered. It is often marked by vigils, discussions and other reflections on violence against women. Canadian flags on all federal buildings, including the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, are flown at half-mast on December 6. In addition, Canadians are encouraged to observe a minute of silence on December 6 and to wear a white ribbon (or a purple ribbon) as a commitment to end violence against women.

2009: International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009)

To help coordinate this huge global programme and to provide an important resource for the participating countries, the IAU has established a central Secretariat and an IYA2009 website (www.astronomy2009.org) as the principal IYA2009 resource for public, professionals and media alike.

clipped from www.astronomy2009.org IYA2009 General The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery. Vision Everyone should realise the impact of astronomy and other fundamental sciences on our daily lives, and understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society. IYA2009 activities will take place locally, nationally, regionally and internationally. National Nodes have been formed in each country to prepare activities for 2009. These nodes will establish collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, science centres and science communicators to prepare activities for 2009. Already now, 132 countries are involved and well over 140 are expected to participate eventually.

This is a topic at the 14th International Conference on Technology Supported Learning & Training in Berlin Dec/08

clipped from www.icwe.net Promoting Cultural Dialogue with E-Learning A shared interest to acquaint people with cultural values and backgrounds as highly diverse as Hungary, Turkey and Japan is the motivating force that stands behind the e-learning project Learning Design of Courses Utilising ICT for Promoting Intercultural Dialogue that Dr Kumiko Aoki, National Institute of Multimedia Education, Japan, and Molnar Pal, Karolu Gaspar University, Hungary, will present at OEB 2008. On the initiative of three local media-education departments, two bi-national tele-collaborative classes were started to provide participants with in-depth information about each other's attitudes towards their varying perceptions of reality.

Dec 4: Barbórka, Miners' Day - (Poland, Germany, Czech Republic)

St. Barbara Day.

Barbórka is celebrated not only in Poland but also in other countries of the region with strong mining tradition like in Germany and in Czech Republic. In Germany the celebration is called "Barbarafeier".

clipped from culture.polishsite.us Barbórka, Miners' Day (St. Barbara Day), December 4th One of the most celebrated days associated with workers group is St. Barbara's Day on December 4th. St. Barbara is a patron of coal miners. Miners' profession was always considered dangerous but prestigious therefore this day called "Barb�rka" or Barburka" (there was a long battle between puritans of the Polish language which form is correct) was celebrated for centuries in a spectacular way. The name of the feast originate of course from St. Barbara as a patron. Read about Polish saints and patrons. Miners are dressed in the special uniforms during Barbórka. The uniform consists of black suit and hat with a feather. The color of the feather (white, red or black) depends on the rank of the miner. Miners wear their decorative uniforms not only during Barborka but also for weddings, funerals and other important political or social ceremonies. Below is a picture of miners in their decorative uniforms with beautiful red feathers.

Nov 28: Buy Nothing Day

Great video to watch on "Buy Nothing Day" aka "Black Friday".

We call it consumerism, but seriously do we really "consume" all the stuff we get. We hoard it and "warehouse" it after a couple of days of use. And then we go out and buy some more...

clipped from www.gwenbell.com You Have Enough, You Have Enough, You Have Enough No, but really. You have enough. Yesterday I read an article on Gawker about a mom featured in the Times. She won’t have enough after buying her daughter a pile of toys to buy herself “this year’s designer jeans.” Gawker expressed my dismay succinctly: “Really not the sort of thing to pump you up to stimulate our wretchedly dysfunctional economy this Black Friday by buying a bunch of useless junk with money you didn’t save from sacrifices that don’t hurt on credit cards you shouldn’t have. So, really: Good call, Times. Well, all except the doom part. I think there’s something we can do about it. How about we all get a better grip on how much we do have.

Nov 23: 勤労感謝の日, Kinrō kansha no hi (Japan)

Labor Thanksgiving Day

clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com clipped from multiculturalcalendar.com November 2008 Kinro Kansha No Hi Japan clipped from en.wikipedia.org Labour Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日, Kinrō kansha no hi?) is a national holiday in Japan. It takes place annually on November 23. The law establishing the holiday cites it as an occasion for commemorating labour and production and giving one another thanks. Events are held throughout Japan, one such being the Nagano Labour Festival. The event encourages thinking about the environment, peace and human rights. It is not unusual for early grade elementary students to create drawings for the holiday and give them as gifts to local kobans, or police stations. Labor Thanksgiving Day is the modern name for an ancient rice harvest festival known as Niiname-sai (新嘗祭, Niiname-sai?), believed to have been held as long ago as November of 678. Traditionally, it celebrated the year's hard work; during the Niiname-sai ceremony, the Emperor would dedicate the year's harvest to kami (spirits), and taste the rice for the first time.

Nov 22: John F. Kennedy assassinated in 1963

45th anniversary of the slaying of US President, John F. Kennedy (JFK), in Dallas, Texas.

/e

clipped from en.wikipedia.org November 22 November 22 is the 326th day of the year (327th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 39 days remaining until the end of the year. 1963 - In Dallas, Texas, US President John F. Kennedy is killed and Texas Governor John B. Connally is seriously wounded by an assassin, identified as Lee Harvey Oswald, who was later captured and charged with the murder of police officer J. D. Tippit. That same day, US Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as the 36th President of the United States.

Nov 21: World Television Day (UN)

On December 17, 1996, UN General Assembly proclaimed November 21 as World Television Day to commemorate the date on which the first World Television Forum was held earlier that year. The UN invited all member states to observe the day by encouraging global exchanges of television programs focusing, among other things, on issues such as peace, security, economic and social development and cultural change enhancements.

clipped from www.timeanddate.com World Television Day The United Nations’ (UN) World Television Day is annually observed in many places around the world on November 21. The day recognizes that television plays a major role in presenting different issue that affect people.

Nov 20: Universal Children's Day (UN)

Another significant annual event brought to you by STE's Multicultural / Diversity Calendar.

Eric "CalendarWallah" Snyder
========================

clipped from www.multiculturalcalendar.com November 2008 Universal Children’s Day UN clipped from en.wikipedia.org UNICEF - Universal Children's Day clipped from en.wikipedia.org History Universal Children's Day takes place on November 20 annually. First proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954, it was established to encourage all countries to institute a day, firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children. It was also chosen as the day to celebrate childhood. November 20 is also the anniversary of the day when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was then signed on the same day in 1989, which has since been ratified by 191 states.