Today@Dal

Each year the Dalhousie Office of Human Rights, Equity & Harassment Prevention (HREHP) develops a mosaic calendar of religious holidays and cultural dates for faculty, staff and students.

See below for a sample of August dates to observe, reflect, celebrate or promote throughout the university community. The complete calendar is available on the website, http://hrehp.dal.ca/Calendar/.

All Jewish and Islamic Holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date shown.

July 31-August 5th

Halifax International Busker Festival
Every year, the Halifax International Busker Festival explodes across Halifax's beautiful and historic downtown. Featuring the hilarious, wacky, and breathtaking entertainment that can only be found at the annual Halifax International Busker Festival.  

Crowds are treated to mind-blowing shows from the world's top street performance artists as they showcase their unique talents and skills with acrobatics, music, visual arts, comedy, fire shows, and so much more. With stages located along the historic Halifax Waterfront, the festival promises hundreds of draw dropping shows.

Ungated and open to the public, the Halifax International Busker Festival promises something for everyone. Please visit www.buskers.ca for more information.

August 1

Kamal - Baha’i Faith
The 8th month in the Baha’i Calendar called is called Kamal meaning Perfection and usually starts July 31 at sundown. The Baha’i calendar months are named after attributes or qualities of God. Throughout all the writings of the Manifestations of God (Prophets) these qualities and/or terms are used throughout.

Lunasa or Lammas (WICCA)
In some English-speaking countries in the Northern Hemisphere, Lammas Day is the festival of the first wheat harvest of the year

Jum’at al-Wada (Islam)
(Farewell Friday) is the last Friday of the month of Ramadan and the Friday immediately preceding

Eid al-Fitr. While not considered a festival, Jum’at at-Wada is a special day for many Muslims.

August 2

Raksha Bandhan (HI)
This festival celebrates the emotional relationship between a brother and a sister. On this auspicious day, the sisters tie Rakhi (a decorated thread) on their brother's wrist and pray for their well-being and the brothers take pledge to protect their sisters from all the harms and troubles

August 3

Dharma Day
Dharma Day commemorates the Buddha’s first discourse, called Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma (or Dharma), following his Enlightenment. Also commemorated on this day is Kwan Yin’s ‘Setting on the Path’. (Mahayana)

Laylat al Kadr (IS)
Night of Power, commemorates the first revelation of the Qur’an (Islamic Scriptures) to Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE. This festival begins in the evening.

August 5

Civic / Natal Day
Be part of the Alexander Keith's Natal Day Festival! Natal Day is the annual birthday celebration of the communities of Halifax and Dartmouth. It is a time where citizens, former citizens, guests and tourists celebrate our civic holiday.

The Natal Day Festival traditionally consists of parades, breakfasts, live entertainment, festival tents, sporting activities, family events and the biggest, most elaborate fireworks display of the year! Come and take part in one of many exciting Natal Day events and activities taking place this summer in Halifax and Dartmouth! http://www.natalday.org/

Transfiguration (CH)
Commemoration of the experience on Mt Tabor when Jesus’ physical appearance became brilliant as his connection with traditional Jewish holy figures became evident to the disciples.

August 8-11

Eid al Fitr (IS)
Eid al-Fitr  (“ festival of breaking of the fast"), also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast, the Sweet Festival and the Lesser Eid, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The religious Eid is a single day and Muslims are not permitted to fast that day. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world try to show a common goal of unity

August 9

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (UN)
This day was created to further strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in such areas as culture, education, health, human rights, the environment, and social and economic development.

August 9-18

Fravardeghan Days (ZO - Shenshai)
Also known as Muktad (memorializing ancestors), are then days in preparation for Nowruz (the start of the New Year), observed by Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar.

August 10

Sri Krishna Jayanti (HI)
The celebration of the birth of Lord Shri Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, believed to have been born about five thousand years ago in Mathura in ‘Dwapar Yuga’.

August 15

National Acadian Day
This day recognizes Acadians who, in view of their origin, history and development, constitute the first permanent settlement from France in Canada and now reside in most of the provinces and territories of Canada. It also celebrates the contributions of the Acadian people, for nearly 400 years, to the economic, cultural and social vitality of Canada and allows Acadians to share their rich historical and cultural heritage with the rest of Canadians allowing them to become more familiar with all its aspects, both traditional and contemporary of the Acadian tradition.

August 18

Transfiguration (CH-Eastern)
Commemoration of the experience on Mt Tabor when Jesus’ physical appearance became brilliant as his connection with traditional Jewish holy figures became evident to the disciples.

Nowruz (ZO-Shenshai)
The start of the New Year for Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar, and the beginning of the year 1381 AY (after Yazdegird III, the last of the Zoaroastrian Kings of Persia)

August 20

Asma’ (BA)
The 9th month of the Baha’i calendar begins.

August 26

Paryushana – Parva (JA)
The Paryushana is the most important festival among the Jain festivals.  Its origin is related to the staying of the monks in one place in Chaturmas and is a time of reflection on actions and meditation on the past year. Paryushana is marked by strict observance of the ten cardinal virtues: forgiveness, charity, simplicity, contentment, truthfulness, self-restraint, fasting, detachment, humility and continence.

August 29
Ullambana (BU)
On Ullambana, Mahayana Buddhists make offerings to the Triple Gem (the Buddha, the Dharma/Teachings, & the Sangha – the monastic community) on behalf of ancestors.