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April 2009
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3 April |
Rama Navami (Hindu) |
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Friday
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This celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, who was an incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of Ramayana. On this day the house is cleaned and decorated, offering of fruit and flowers are places on the family shrine and prayers are recited. |
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4 April |
Ching Ming, Clear and Bright Festival (Chinese) |
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Saturday
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This takes place 106 days after the Winter Solstice. This is when families pay respect to their ancestors and graves are visited and tidied. |
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5 April |
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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7 April |
World Health Day |
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Tuesday
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World Health Day on 7 April marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is an occasion to raise awareness of key global health issues.
This year the World Health Organisation is focusing on |
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9 April |
Hanuman Jayanti (Hindu) |
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Thursday
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This is to celebrate to commemorate the birth of Hanuman Ji, the monkey god. Hanuman is the symbol of strength and energy. |
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9 April |
Pesach/Passover - The Festival of Freedom (Jewish) |
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Thursday
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This is one of the most important festivals, as it commemorates the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led from Egypt by Moses. This celebration lasts for 8 days. Before celebrations can begin, the house must be cleaned from top to bottom.
The day before Passover the first born male fasts on this day. During the first 2 nights of Passover family and friends gather for ritual Seder meals.
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9 April |
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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10 April |
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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12 April |
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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13 April |
Easter Bank Holiday |
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Monday |
Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not Scotland. If people have been on a short holiday or have visited family or friends who live some distance away, they often travel back on this day.
In some places, there are egg rolling competitions, Easter bonnet parades, displays of traditional Morris dancing fairs or special sports matches. In Biddenden, Kent, special cakes are distributed in memory of conjoined twins born in 1100, who lived to the age of 34. In Leicestershire, the villages of Hallaton and Medbourne hold a bottle kicking match. It has been held at least since the early 18th century, but it may originate from pagan times. |
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13 April |
Vaisakhi/Baisakhi - New Year (Sikh) |
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Monday
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This is the Sikh New Year Festival and also the date when the Khalsa and the 5 K's were introduced in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh. |
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21 April |
Ridvan, Declaration of Baha'u'llah - 1st day (Baha'i) |
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Tuesday
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This marks Baha'u'Ilah's time in the Garden of Ridvan and that he was the prophet promised by the Bab. The 12 day period when Baha'u'llah in 1863 proclaimed his mission as gods messenger at a garden in Baghdad, which then was known as the Garden of Ridvan (Paradise). The 1st, 9th and 12th days are particularly holy days. |
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21 April |
Yom Hashoah - Holocaust Memorial Day (Jewish) |
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Tuesday
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This day is to commemorate the 6 million Jewish people who were killed in WWII. |
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23 April |
St George's Day |
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Thursday
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St George is the Patron Saint of England and his emblem is a red cross on a white background. |
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29 April |
9th Day of Ridvan (Baha'i) |
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Wednesday |
Marks the arrival of the Baha'ullah's family at the Ridvan garden. |
Further information
Natalie Hill
Equality and Diversity Officer
Telephone: 01743 260 200
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