Days of Significance

When planning school events, it is important to consider the days of significance that occur within the school year. This calendar highlights religious, secular and creed-based observances and holidays, significant events and celebrations, public holidays and other important dates.

There may be some variance in exact dates and times when days of significance are observed locally.

This calendar is not meant to be comprehensive or exhaustive and every attempt has been made to ensure its accuracy. Please note this is a fluid calendar and updates and changes may be made throughout the year. If you have any inquiries regarding this document, forward your correspondence via email to: susie.palumbo@dsbn.org.

September 2019
1	Installation of Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib Ji	Sikhism
2	Ganesh Charturthi	Hinduism
2	Labour Day	Canadian Government
8	International Literacy Day	United Nations
10	Ashura*	Islam
11	Martyrdrom of St. John the Baptist	Christianity
14	Holy Cross Day (Feast of the Cross)	Christianity
15	International Day of Democracy	United Nations
19	Powley Day	First Nation, Métis, Inuit
21	International Day of Peace	United Nations
21	Nativity of Mary	Christianity- Russian Orthodox
27	Elevation of the Holy Cross	Christianity – Eastern Orthodox
27	Feast of the Cross	Christianity – Russian Orthodox
29	Mahalaya (Durga Puja Festival)	Hinduism
29–Oct 7	Navratri (Autumn)	Hinduism
30	Orange Shirt Day	First Nation, Metis, Inuit
30–Oct 1	Rosh Hashanah*	Judaism

October 2019
	Women’s History Month	Canada
	Isalmic Heritage Month	Canada
5	World Teachers’ Day	United Nations
3	Maha Panchami (Durga Puja Festival)	Hinduism
4	Maha Sashthi (Durga Puja Festival)	Hinduism
5	Maha Saptami (Durga Puja Festival)	Hinduism
6	Maha Ashtami (Durga Puja Festival)	Hinduism
7	Maha Nabami (Durga Puja Festival)	Hinduism
8	Bijaya Dashami (Durga Puja Festival)	Hinduism
9	Yom Kippur*	Judaism
10	World Mental Health Day	World Health Organization
14	Thanksgiving Day	Canadian Government
14 – 20	Sukkot*	Judaism
17	Karva Chauth	Hinduism
20	Gurgadi of the Holy Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib	Sikhism
21 – 22	Shemini Atzeret*	Judaism
22	Simchat Torah*	Judaism
27	Bandi Chhor Divas	Sikhism
27	Diwali	Hinduism/Sikhism
27	Kathina Ceremony/Pavarana Day	Buddhism

November 2019
	Indigenous Education Month	Canada
1	All Saints Day	Christianity – East Orthodox and Western
7	Inuit Day	First Nation, Métis, Inuit
10	Mawlid-al-Nabi*	Islam
11	Remembrance Day	Canadian Government
12	Guru Nanak’s Birthday	Sikhism
13	International World Kindness Day	International
16	Louis Riel Day	First Nations, Métis, Inuit
19	Buddha’s Descent from Tushita Heaven	Buddhism – Tibetan
20	International Transgender Day of Remembrance	LGBTQ+
24	Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur	Sikhism
25	International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women	United Nations
26	Day of the Covenant*	Baha’i

December 2019
	Universal Human Rights Month	United Nations
1	World AIDS Day	United Nations
2	International Day of the Abolition of Slavery	United Nations
1 – 24	Advent	Christianity
3	International Day of Persons with Disabilities	United Nations
4	Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary	Christianity – Russian Orthodox
6	National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women	Canadian Government
8	Bodhi Day (Buddha Enlightenment)	Buddhism
8	St. Clements of Ohrid Patrons Day	Christianity – Macedonian Orthodox
10	Human Rights Day	United Nations
23-30	Hanukkah*	Judaism
18	International Migrants Day	United Nations
25	Christmas Day	Canadian Government and Christianity
26	Boxing Day	Canadian Government
26 – Jan 1	Kwanzaa	African Canadian and American Celebration

January 2020
1	Gantan-sai New Year	Buddhism - Shinto
1	New Year’s Day	Canadian Government
5	Prakash Guru Gobind Singh Ji	Sikhism
5	Twelfth Night	Christianity
6	Feast of the Epiphany/Dia de los Reyes	Christianity Eastern Orthodox and Western
6 – 7	Pasha Putrada Ekadashi	Hinduism
7	Feast of the Nativity/Orthodox Christmas (Gregorian Calendar)	Christianity – Russian/Eastern Orthodox
12	Baptism of Jesus	Christianity – East/West Orthodox
14	New Year (Gregorian Calendar)	Christianity Eastern Orthodox
14	Punjabi Lohri	Hinduism/Sikhism
15	Maghi	Sikhism
15	Makar Sankranti	Hinduism
15 – 18	Thai Pongal	Hindusim/Tamil
19	World Religion Day	Bahá’i
20	Buddhist New Year	Buddhism – Mahayana
21	Feast of the Wedding of Cana	Christianity – Ethiopian Orthodox
24 – 30	Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)	Chinese Cultural
25	Chinese New Year	Buddhism
26	St. Sava Devine Service	Christianity – Serbian Orthodox
29	Vasant Panchami	Hinduism

February 2020
	Black History Month	Canada
1	World Hijab Day	International
3	Setsubun	Buddhism – Shinto
15	Buddha’s Death – (Nirvana Day)	Buddhism – Various Sects
15	Meeting of Our Lord Day	Christianity – Russian Orthodox
17	Family Day	Ontario Government
20	World Day of Social Justice	United Nations
21	International Mother Language Day	United Nations
21	Maha Shivaratri	Hinduism
25 – 27	Losar New Year	Buddhism – Tibetan, Nepal, Bhutan
26	Ash Wednesday (First Day of Lent)	Christianity
26 – 29	Avyám-i-Há	Bahá’i

March 2020
2	Clean Monday	Christianity – Eastern Orthodox
8	International Women’s and United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace	United Nations
9 – 10	Holi*	Hinduism
10 – 12	Holla Mohalla	Sikhism
10	Purim*	Judaism
14	Sikh New Year	Sikhism
20	Persian New Year (Eid-e-Navroz)	Baha’i
21	International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination	United Nations
21 – 22	Persian New Year (National Holiday)	Iranian Government
22	Isra’a Wal Miraj*	Islam
22	World Water Day	United Nations
24	Saka New Year (Nyepi)	Hinduism
25	Feast of the Annunciation	Christianity – East Orthodox and Western
25-April 23	Nisfu Sha’ban*	Islam
25	Ugandi (New Year)	Hinduism

April 2020
2	Sri Rama Navami	Hinduism
2	Raise the Flag for Autism Day
7	Laudation of the Mother of God	Christianity – Russian Orthodox
7	Memorial to Christ’s Death	Jehovah’s Witness
7	World Health Day	World Health Organization
8	International Day of Pink (second Wed. in April)	Nova Scotia High School (Unnamed)
9 – 16	Pesach/Passover*	Judaism
10	Good Friday	Canadian Govt Holiday and Christianity
12	Easter Sunday	Christianity
13	Easter Monday	Canadian Govt Holiday and Christianity
13	Vaisakhi	Sikhism
14	Puthandu (Tamil New Year)	Buddhism/Taoism
13	Solar New Year (Mesha Sankranta)	Hinduism
19	Easter (Pascha)	Christianity – Russian Orthodox
22	Earth Day (International Mother Earth Day)	United Nations
24	Armenian Genocide Memorial Day	Canadian Government
24– May 23	Ramadan*	Islam
17	Holy Friday	Christianity – Eastern Orthodox
19	Easter (Pascha) (Julian Calendar)	Christianity – Eastern Orthodox
21	Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)	Judaism
25	Feast of St. Mark	Christianity – East Orthodox and Western
26	Akshaya Tritya	Hinduism
28	National Day of Mourning	Canadian Government
30	Vaisakhi Puja (Buddha’s Birthday)	Buddhism

May 2020
	Asian Heritage Month	Canada
1	Ridván	Baha’i
4 – 8	Education Week	DSBN
7	Vesak Day	Buddhism
17	International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia	International
18	Queen Victoria Day	Canadian Government Holiday
19	Jumu’ah-tul Wida*	Islam
19	Laylat al-Qadr*	Islam
21	World Day of Cultural Diversity	United Nations
21	Ascension Day	Christianity – Western
23	Declaration of the Bá’b*	Bahá’i
24	Eid al Fitr*	Islam
28	Ascension Day	Christianity – Eastern Orthodox
29 – 30	Shavuot*	Judaism
29	Ascension of Baha’u’llah*	Baha’i
31	Pentacost	Judaism/Christianity – East Orthodox and Western

June 2020
	Pride Month	Canada
	Indigenous History Month	Canada
First Monday	Pride Flag Day	DSBN
5	World Environment Day (WED)	United Nations
12	World Day Against Child Labour	United Nations
16	Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji	Sikhism
20	World Refugee Day	United Nations
21	National Indigenous Day (Canada)	First Nations, Metis, Inuit
24	Nativity of St. John the Baptist	Christianity – East. Orthodox and Western
24	St. Jean Baptiste Day	Quebec and Francophone Culture
27	Multiculturalism Day	Canada

NOTE:
Days of Significance/Holy Days may vary a few days before or after the indicated date due to incompatibility of calendars from the Western Gregorian calendar, moon sightings, time zones, etc.

* Denotes Days of Significance/Holy Days that begin the evening before the indicated date