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 April dates to observe, reflect, celebrate or promote throughout the university community. The complete calendar is available on our website.

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

MAY 18
Victoria Day (Canada)
The celebration of Victoria Day occurs every year on Monday, prior to May 25th. It is the first long weekend of the summer season. It is the official celebration in Canada of the birthdays of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II.

MAY 21
The Declaration of the Bab (BA)
This is the anniversary of the message and Declaration of the Báb. It is a blessed day and the dawn of manifestation, for the appearance of the Báb was the early light of the true morn, whereas the manifestation of the Blessed Beauty, Bahá'u'lláh, was the shining forth of the sun. It is celebrated at about two hours after sunset and is a Baha’i Holy day when work is suspended’.

World Day for Cultural Diversity Dialogue and Development (UN) - This Day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to “live together” better. UNESCO continues to promote greater awareness of the crucial relationship between culture and development and the important role of information and communication technologies in this relationship

MAY 24
Pentecost (CH)
Also known as Whitsunday in some western churches, is the commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus following his ascension (Acts 2:1-11). It comes fifty days after Easter.

MAY 24-25
Shavuot - JU
Shavuot, also spelled Shavuos Ashkenazi “[Feast of] Weeks”, is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (corresponding to late May/early June). It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer and the day the Torah was given at Mount Sinai. It is one of the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals (shalosh regalim) mandated by the Torah. This counting of days and weeks expresses anticipation and desire for the Giving of the Torah. At Passover, the Jewish people were freed from being slaves to Pharaoh; at Shavuot they accepted the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God.