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March 2009
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1 March |
St David's Day (Wales) |
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Sunday
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St David is the Patron Saint of Wales and is known as Dewi Sant in the Welsh language.
He was a Celtic monk, abbot and bishop, who lived in the sixth century. During his life he was the archbishop of Wales and he was one of many early saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of western Britain.
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10 March |
Purim (Jewish) |
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Tuesday
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This commemorates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination by the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther.
It is one of the most entertaining Jewish holidays, during which carnival celebrations are held where plays and parodies are performed. |
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11 March |
Holi - The Festival of Colours (Hindu) |
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Wednesday
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Holi is the Hindu festival that welcomes the Spring and celebrates the new life and energy of the season. Although Holi has religious roots, not much religious activity is involved in its celebration.
Holi is the most energetic Indian festival, filled with fun and good humour; even the strict rules of separation between castes are abandoned.
Holi is also called 'The Festival of Colours'. People celebrate the festival by smearing each other with paint and throwing coloured powder and dye around in an atmosphere of great good humour.
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11 March |
National No Smoking Day |
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Wednesday
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Every year more than a million people try to quit on this day. If you would like more information on this please visit: www.nosmokingday.org.uk |
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14 March |
Milad-un-Nabi (12 Rabi'): Birthday of the Prophet Muhammed (Muslim) |
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Saturday
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This date is important as it commemorates the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet and is regarded as a blessing for the whole of humanity. The most important aspect of this event is the teachings and sufferings of the Prophet. |
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17 March |
St Patrick's Day (Ireland) |
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Tuesday
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Patron Saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing christianity to Ireland.
Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never have been - the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age.
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20 March |
Spring Equinox (Pagan) |
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Friday
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This celebrates the renewed life of the Earth that comes with the Spring. It is a solar festival, celebrated when the length of the day and the night are equal. This occurs twice a year, at Spring and Autumn Equinox.
The God and Goddess are often portrayed as The Green Man and Mother Earth. To celebrate Spring Equinox some Pagans carry out particular rituals. For instance a woman and a man are chosen to act out the roles of Spring God and Goddess, playing out courtship and symbolically planting seeds.
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21 March |
Naw-Rúz (Bahai) |
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Saturday
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Naw-Rúz is the Bahá'í New Year festival and falls at the Spring equinox. It symbolises the new life of Spring. Naw-Rúz is the first day of the month of Baha, which is the first month in the Bahá'í calendar. During this festival there are normally meetings for prayer and celebration. The sunset of Naw-Rúz signals the end of the 19 day fast, where there is a combined feast with celebration; this may include dancing and music.
On New Year's Day families gather together and decorate the table with things such as a mirror, holy book, fruit, cakes, coloured eggs and a candle for every child in the house. The menu consists of seven items beginning with the letter S. Naw-Rúz is one of the nine Bahá'í holy days on which work is suspended. |
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21 March |
International Day for Eliminating Racial Discrimination |
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Saturday |
This important international day reminds us of the work that is needed in all societies to build an awareness of human unity, and to render unacceptable all behaviour based on any sense of racial superiority or separation. The challenge of our time is to foster the ethics of human unity. |
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22 March |
Mothering Sunday |
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Sunday
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This falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it's often called "Mothers Day", it has no connection with the American festival of that name. Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family. Today it is a day when children give presents, flowers and home made cards to their mothers.
Centuries ago it was considered important for people to return to their home or "mother" church once a year. So each year, in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their "mother" church or the main church or Cathedral of the area.
Inevitably the return to the "mother" church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home.
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27 March |
Bikarami Samvat - Varsha-Pratipada (Hindu) |
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Friday |
The Hindu Spring New Year celebrated particularly in South India. |
Further information
Natalie Hill
Equality and Diversity Officer
Telephone: 01743 260 200
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