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March 2008
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1 March |
St David's Day (Wales) |
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Saturday
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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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2 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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6 March |
Maha Shivaratri - First Day (Hindu) |
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Thursday
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Maha Shivaratri is a festival dedicated to Shiva, who destroys the universe, one of the deities of the Hindu Trinity. This festival is celebrated during the night and day that come just before the new moon.
Each new moon is dedicated to Shiva, but Maha Shivratri is especially important because it is the night when he danced the 'Tandav', his cosmic dance.
Night represents evil, injustice, ignorance, sin, violence, and misfortune. Tradition says that Shiva (symbolised by the new moon) appeared in order to save the world from darkness and ignorance, before the world entered complete darkness. Devotees of Shiva fast during Maha Shivaratri and stay up all night at a place of worship. Shiva is offered special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables, and coconuts, during ritual worship.
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12 March |
National No Smoking Day |
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Wednesday
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If you would like more information on this, please visit the following web address: www.nosmokingday.org.uk |
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16 March |
Palm Sunday (Christian) |
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Sunday
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The most solemn week of the Christian year, Holy week, is the week leading up to Easter and is the week during which Christians particularly remember the last week of Jesus's life. Holy week begins on Palm Sunday. |
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17 March |
St Patrick's Day (Ireland) |
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Monday
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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 |
Purim (Jewish) |
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Thursday
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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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20 March |
Spring Equinox (Pagan) |
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Thursday
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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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20 March |
Naw-Rúz (Bahai) |
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Thursday
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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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20 March |
Milad-un-Nabi (12 Rabi'): Birthday of the Prophet Muhammed (Muslim) |
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Thursday
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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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20 March |
Maundy Thursday (Christian) |
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Thursday
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This is the Thursday before Easter. Christians remember it as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist. The Eucharist, also known as the Communion Service, is when Christians share bread and wine as reminders of Jesus' death and of his resurrection.
The night of Maundy Thursday is the night when Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. The word "maundy" comes from the command given by Christ at the Last Supper, that we should love one another.
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21 March |
Good Friday (Christian)- Bank Holiday |
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Friday
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The most important events in Christianity are the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Jewish prophet who Christians believe is the Son of God, whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter and it commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.
Good Friday is a day of mourning in church. During special Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus' suffering and death on the cross and what this means for their faith.
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21 March |
Holi - The Festival of Colours (Hindu) |
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Friday
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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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21 March |
International Day for Eliminating Racial Discrimination |
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Friday |
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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23 March |
Easter Sunday (Christian) |
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Sunday |
This commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important Christian festival and the one celebrated with the greatest joy. The date of Easter changes each year and several other Christian festivals fix their dates by reference to Easter.
Churches are filled with flowers and there are special hymns and songs. But not all Easter customs are Christian, some, such as the Easter Bunny and the name Easter, are Pagan in origin.
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24 March |
Easter Bank Holiday |
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Further information
Natalie Hill
Equality and Diversity Officer
Telephone: 01743 260 200
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