Rosh Hashanah: this is the celebration of New Year in the Hebrew calendar. This is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. Click here for more information.
Ramadan: A month of fasting denotes this Islamic holiday. Click here for more information.
Yom Kippur: means "Day of Atonement," and is the most important holiday of the Jewish calendar. It is a day set aside to atone for the sins of the past year.. Click here for more information.
Dia de la Raza: Literally the "Day of the Race", is an effort to celebrate the Hispanic heritage of the Americas and, by extension, the multicultural heritage of all those races and cultures which contribute to what they are today.
Canadian Thanksgiving: This is a harvest festival, celebrated in much the same way as Thanksgiving is in the United States (see below). However, as Canada is farther North, the harvest comes earlier, and is celebrated the second Monday in October. An English explorer named Martin Frobisher had been trying to find a northern passage to Asia. Instead, he established a settlement in North America and celebrated a harvest feast roughly 40 years prior to the pilgrims landing in Massachusetts. During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada.
Halloween: For children, Halloween is a day to dress up, go door-to-door to friends’ houses where you can yell “Trick or Treat” and accumulate a bag full of treats. Customs vary, so in some regions children will play tricks on people who run out of candy. Other families may demand a “trick” from the child before they hand out the treats. If your child would like to wear a costume to school, please ensure that it is not scary. What exactly does Halloween celebrate? And where do its peculiar customs originate? Click here to find out.
