Each Christmas there is much debate about the role of celebrations in early childhood settings.
It is clear that it is important to recognise celebrations and to have an understanding of, and respect for, cultural diversity. So, we have started to compile a list of various celebrations. Just click on the link to take a look!
Please take this list and hang it up on a wall in your home or centre.
It is not a complete list however, and we warmly invite readers to email us at publishing@earlychildhood.org.au with celebrations that they enjoy. We will continue to update this list.
World Religion Day
18 January 2004
Observed on the Third Sunday of January each year in over 80 countries,
World Religion Day helps foster interfaith understanding and harmony
Chinese New Year
22 January 2004
Idul Adha (Islam)
02 February 2004
Duration: 4-5 days
This is the festival of sacrifice, on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijja (12th
month) and lasting for 3-4 days afterwards. Also marks the end of
the Haj (pilgrimage) season. Commemorates the obedience of the prophet
Ibrahim (aka Abraham) in being willing to sacrifice his son Ishak
(Isaac). Muslim families who can afford it sacrifice a sheep or goat
for a feast, and distribute some of the meat to the poor.
Nirvana Day (Buddhism)
07 February 2004
Hijrah or Muharram (Islamic New Year)
22 February 2004
New Year - 1st day of Muharram (1st month). Commemorates the flight
of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina.
Orthodox Easter preparations begin
23 February 2004
Ashura - Islam
02 March 2004
A day of fasting on the 10th day of Muharram (1st month - Islamic
New Year)
Fast of Esther
04 March 2004, sunrise to sunset
Purim
07 March 2004
Purim celebrates the story from the Book of Esther in which the Jews
of Persia were saved by Queen Esther from destruction at the hands
of the evil Haman
Fast of the First Born
05 April 2004, sunrise to sunset
The Fast of the Firstborn (Ta’anit B’Chorim) commemorates
the horrific tenth plague that God inflicted on Pharoah and the Egyptian
people; death of their first born sons. The sons of the Israelites
were spared and in thanksgiving for their survival, the first-born
son in a Jewish family fasts from dawn on Erev Pesach until the Pesach
Seder.
Pesach (Passover)
06 April 2004
Passover or Pesach, as the festival is called in Hebrew, historically
commemorates the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egyptian
bondage, and recalls the mass Exodus from Egypt about 3,500 years
ago
The Omer Period
07 April 2004
Duration: Seven weeks
Easter
09 April 2004
Duration: 9 - 13 April
http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/page1433.html
Orthodox Easter
09 April 2004
Duration: 9-12 April
http://www.goarch.org/
African Liberation Day
25 April 2004
The Organization of African Unity was established on May 25, 1963,
at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Charter of the Organization was signed
on that occasion by Heads of State and Government of 32 independent
African States.
Maulud un-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad)
02 May 2004
12th of Rabi ul-Awal (3rd month). Because this day marks both the
birth AND the death of the Prophet it is not a major outward celebration.
Lag B'Omer
09 May 2004
http://www.bje.org.au/teens/displayResource.php?id=1190&gid=2
Vesak/Wesak Buddha Day
16 May 2004
Traditionally, Buddha's Birthday is known as Vesak or Visakah Puja
(Buddha's Birthday Celebrations). Vesak is the major Buddhist festival
of the year as it celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death
of the Buddha on the one day, the first full moon day in May, except
in a leap year when the festival is held in June. http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/community/calendar.htm
http://www.buddhanet.net/festival.htm
Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day
19 May 2004
It commemorates the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem and
the reunification of all Jerusalem, during the Six Day War, on the
28 Iyar 5727 (June 5, 1967).
http://www.bje.org.au/teens/templateFolder.php?id=317&gid=2
Shavuot
26 May 2004
Duration:2 days
Shavuot is second of the three Pilgrim Festivals (Pesach, Shavuot
and Sukkot) and is celebrated for 2 days outside Israel (and in
Israel for 1 day). Shavuot also marks the day that the Torah was
given to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai.
http://www.bje.org.au/teens/templateBase.php?id=734&gid=2
Star Festival (Japan)
07 July 2004
http://www.geocities.com/shunkomuroya/nihongo-memo/nenchugyoji/tanabata.htm
Obon (Japan)
15 August 2004
http://www.geocities.com/shunkomuroya/nihongo-memo/nenchugyoji/obon.htm
Miraj (Islam)
12 September 2004
27th of Rajab (7th month). The Ascension of the Prophet Muhammad
to Heaven.
Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year)
16 September 2004
Duration: 10 days
http://www.bje.org.au/teens/templateFolder.php?id=177&gid=2
Yom Kippur (Jewish day of Atonement)
25 September 2004
Yom Kippur literally means the Day of Atonement. It is a day of
fasting which commences at sunset on the evening of the 10th of
Tishrei and finishes at nightfall on the 11th Tishrei.
http://www.bje.org.au/teens/templateFolder.php?id=189&gid=2
Sukkot
30 September 2004
Duration: 7 days
http://www.bje.org.au/kids/templateFolder.php?id=194&gid=2
Shemini Atzeret
07 October 2004
http://www.bje.org.au/kids/templateFolder.php?id=207&gid=2
Beginning of Ramadan
15 October 2004
Duration; 1 month
Ramadan is the name of the 9th month in the Islamic calendar. This
month is special because it was the time when God revealed the Qur'an
to the Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.holidays.net/ramadan/
Diwali (Hindu Festival of Lights)
12 November 2004
It is traditionally known as the "festival of lights", for the common
practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them
around the home, in courtyards, gardens, verandahs, on the walls
built around the home and also on the roof tops.
http://www.ruchiskitchen.com/festivals/deepavali.htm
http://www.diwalimela.com/festivaloflights/index.html
Chanukah (Hanukkah)
08 December 2004
Duration: 8-15 December
The name 'Chanukah' means 'dedication'.
http://www.bje.org.au/teens/templateBase.php?id=77&gid=2
Kwanzaa
26 December 2004
Duration: 26 Dec - Jan 1
http://www.annieshomepage.com/kwanzaa.html
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