Category: Holidays & Observances

Passover

During Pesach, or Passover, Jews in Canada and around the world commemorate how God delivered the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. The Seder is a feast that takes place on the first night of Pesach. Passover is one of the most important festivals on the Jewish calendar. In 2022 Passover takes place from Friday, April 15 to Saturday, April 23.

source: datafox, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Good Friday; Easter Sunday

Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of Christianity, was a Jew living in 1st Century Palestine. Jesus taught many things that challenged the religious and political power of the day. Eventually he was captured and executed. Good Friday commemorates the Crucifixion, the horrific method of execution used by the Romans, who hung him on a cross until he was dead.

source: RuizAnglada, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The followers of Jesus believed that he rose again on the following Sunday. The believers began to share their faith throughout the Roman world. Easter, like many pagan festivals of the Romans, became a Christian holiday celebrating the Resurrection.

While Christmas is a much bigger holiday in terms of secular, commercial and cultural impact, many Christians feel that Good Friday and Easter Sunday are more integral to their faith.

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source: Pinacoteca Vaticana, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons


Happy Vaisakhi

Happy Vaisakhi! May your day be glorious, full of joy and happiness.

Tuhāḍā dina śānadāra, khuśī’āṁ atē khuśī’āṁ bhari’ā hōvē.

ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਦਿਨ ਸ਼ਾਨਦਾਰ, ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ੀਆਂ ਭਰਿਆ ਹੋਵੇ।

Sadly, for the past few years we have missed parades like this one from 2012. Hopefully the Surrey Vaisakhi Parade is back next year!
source: waferboard, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

We are celebrating Sikh Heritage Month in your School Library. Be sure to visit us to find out more.

Vaisakhi

April 14 is Vaisakhi. Vaisakhi is a major festival on the Sikh calendar, and one of the most important days of the year. Sikhs in Canada, India, and around the world will celebrate the founding of the Khalsa, or the worldwide body of Sikhs, as established by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

source: KaurArt.com, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Vaisakhi was traditionally a spring harvest festival, and for some, a New Year’s Day. All across northern India, particularly in the Punjab, many different groups will celebrate Vaisakhi for these various reasons, including Hindus and other non-Sikhs.

The overwhelming majority of Indo-Canadians ( people of South Asian origin) in our school and in our neighbourhoods are Sikhs. As such, Vaisakhi is a major holiday in these parts and a significant event that is coming up in just a few days.

source: cbc.ca

Join with us in your School Library as we celebrate Sikh Heritage Month by learning more about Vaisakhi and other aspects of Sikh culture and history.

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April is Earth Month

Earth Day is April 22. Join us throughout April in the School Library as we celebrate the Earth all month long! Look for our display of books and other resources related to the Earth, the environment, life, ecology, and issues related to the future of this planet, our planet, our only home in the universe.

Sikh Heritage Month

April is Sikh Heritage Month in Canada

source: SikhHeritageMonth.ca

Visit us this month in the School Library as we celebrate Sikh Heritage Month. Find out more about Sikhs, Sikhism and the history of the Sikh people in Canada. Visit us in person to check out our display of books and DVDs, and visit us online to learn more about Sikh Heritage Month.

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