Today@Dal

March 14
Commonwealth Day
Commonwealth Day is annually held on the second Monday of March. It commemorates the Commonwealth of Nations, which is a union of some countries that used to be part of the British Empire. It is not a statutory holiday; rather it is a day of observance by close to one billion persons of their common bonds and the contribution of the Commonwealth of Nations to the creation of a harmonious global environment.

Sikh New Year’s Day (SI)
The years of the Nanakshahi Sikh calendar start with the birth of Guru Nanak in 1469. 2016 is considered Nanakshahi 545. The calendar is based on the length of the tropical solar year, instead of the lunar cycle, meaning that dates will not fluctuate from year to year as they did previously under the old lunar based calendar. The Sikh New Year begins with Chet 1 which in the Common Era calendar is March 14.

March 16-20
Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem (ZO)
Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem occurs on the intercalary days celebrates the creation of human beings and commemorates passed souls.

March 17
St. Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick's Day is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland.

March 20
International Francophone Day
International Francophonie Day (In French, Journée internationale de la francophonie) is observed within the International Organization of La Francophonie's 77 member states every March 20 to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture. There are over 274 million French speakers on Earth.

Spring Ohigon (BU)
Spring Ohigon is a special time for Jodo Shinshu Buddhists. They listen to the teaching of the Buddha and meditate on the perfection of enlightenment. It is observed by the Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, Vietnamese, and Mahayana Buddhists.

Palm Sunday (CH)
On Palm Sunday Christians celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. For many Christian churches, Palm Sunday, often referred to as "Passion Sunday," marks the beginning of Holy Week, a Week which concludes on Easter Sunday. The Bible reveals that when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted him with waving palm branches and by covering his path with palm branches. Immediately following this great time of celebration in the ministry of Jesus, he begins his journey to the cross.

Ostara (W)
Ostara is one of the eight major Wiccan holidays or sabbats of the Wheel of the Year. Ostara is celebrated on the Vernal Equinox, in the Northern hemisphere around March 21 and in the Southern hemisphere around September 23, depending upon the specific timing of the equinox. Among the Wiccan sabbats, it is preceded by Imbolc and followed by Beltane. The Festival of Ostara at the spring equinox marks the end of winter and the beginning of the season of rebirth (spring), and is celebrated by a blot in honour of Frigg and Freya and/or the disir, the collective of female fertility deities. “The "blot" is a celebratory meal (also known as "cakes and ale") that is believed to be shared with the Goddess.

Shunki-sorei-sai (SH)
The “time of the spring” memorial service commemorates when ancestors’ spirits are revered at home altars and when gravesites are cleaned and purified. 

The full calendar is available on the website, http://www.dal.ca/dept/dalrespect/about/calendar.html#!9/29/2014||