Multicultural Calendar for April

Multicultural Calendar - April 2008

Select a Month:

Multicultural Communications Month - Multicultural communications may seem difficult at first –differences in languages, backgrounds, customs and the like all seem a challenge. By learning more about our different cultures, it becomes easier to interact. This month has been dedicated to further this cause.

April Toonik Tyme (Aboriginal) -Traditional Inuit games such as fishing and hunting contests take place. Celebrated during the third weekend in April.

April 1:

Farvardin or Sizdeh Bedar (Iran) - It is the 13th day after Nowruz. The number 13 is considered an unlucky number for the Persians and, therefore, everyone leaves home for the day to go on picnics or trips.

April 5:

Qing Ming Festival (China, Taiwan) - A national holiday when family graves are visited to ask for the blessings of the departed spirits.

April 6:

Chakri Day (Thailand) - A national holiday to honor King Rama I, who founded the Chakri Dynasty in 1782; he also was the founder of Bangkok as the capital of Thailand.

April 8:

Buddha’s Birthday (International) - Although the exact date of Buddha’s birthday is unknown, this date is most commonly noted around the world as his birthday. On this day, Buddhists celebrate in various ways depending on ethnicity and region.

April 11:

Prophet's Birthday (Islamic) - Celebrates the birthday of Muhammad, the final prophet of Islam; also known as "the seal of the prophets." Some scholars consider this holiday to be an innovation in the religion, as Muhammad himself did not celebrate it, except by fasting.

April 13:

Songkran (Buddhist) - In southeast Asia, Songkran is recognized as the New Year for Buddhists. The event lasts three days.

April 14:

Chaul Chnam Thmey (Cambodia) - Celebrates the Cambodian New Year (new lunar year) which lasts for three days, typically from April 13 - 15, although dates may be adjusted to fall on a weekend. The celebration involves many activities, such as gathering at the Buddhist Temple for food and prayers, music, classical dances and a variety of traditional games.

April 16:

Sechselauten (Switzerland) - The word Sechselauten means "six o’clock chimes." When church bells ring six times, an image representing winter is burned and spring is welcomed.

April 20:

Passover or Pesach (Jewish) - Begins at sundown. Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates The Exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Ancient Egypt.

April 22:

Earth Day (International) - Begun in 1970, this day commemorates a worldwide effort to protect the planet, children and the future of mankind.

April 24:

Martyrs Day (Armenia) - This solemn day commemorates the death of 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred in 1915-1916.

Spotlight: Greg Westbrook, Australia

Although the United States and Australia share a common language, British colonial heritage and an immigrant tradition, there are some significant differences, says Greg Westbrook, Senior Business Performance Analyst, Resource Management, OJRP.

Westbrook, who has firsthand experience living in both countries, should know. He grew up in Australia and now lives and works in the Richmond area.

Greg Westbrook is a
Senior Business
Performance Analyst
in Richmond, Va.
(Click image to enlarge)

Westbrook, a native of Kingaroy, Queensland, in northeast Australia, left his native land in August 2002.

Australia, like the United States, is a nation built by immigrants from many nations, Westbrook says. "Australian culture is based on many different cultures, from Aborigines initially living in the land, to British convicts, and to immigration by people of both Asian and European descent in the last century."

One major difference is that Australia is a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary system of government, similar to the United Kingdom. Australia is an independent nation, but, as a former British colony and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the country recognizes British Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia, too. "Australia has chosen to hold on to the monarchy over becoming a republic," Westbrook explains.

Australia's Parliament consists of a House of Representatives and a Senate, similar to the United States Congress. However, instead of an elected chief executive, or president, the party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives forms a government, and its leader becomes Prime Minister.

Australians drive on the left side of the road, another legacy of its British colonial past, Westbrook says. Another difference is that Australia is less densely populated than the United States. "Unlike the USA, towns in Australia are far apart," Westbrook says. "You have to go a long way to find a McDonald's."

"We embrace sports like the USA," he says, adding that those sports include rugby, cricket and soccer, rather than baseball, American football and basketball.

Westbrook says Australians prefer to drink their tea hot, "not cold and sweet," as is a popular custom in Virginia and other Southern states. He ads, "Not every Australian child learns to throw a boomerang or eats Vegemite," the iconic spread made from brewer's yeast extract, a by-product of beer production.

Major Australian holidays include:

New Year’s Day.
Australia Day, January 26, marking the 1788 founding of modern Australia.
Good Friday, Eastern Sunday and Easter Monday.
ANZAC Day, April 25, commemorates the heroic actions of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in 1915’s World War I Battle of Gallipoli.
Labour Day, the first Monday in May.
Queen’s Birthday, celebrated in Queensland the second Sunday in June (date varies by state).
Christmas, December 25 and Boxing Day, December 26.

Westbrook and his family returned to Australia in 2005 to sell their house and planned to return again in December 2007 to celebrate his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. He adds, “During the past five years, my wife’s parents have visited twice; my parents once; my brother and father together, once; my wife’s two sisters, once; and one of those sisters, another time. So, as you can see, we are not suffering from having family separation.” •

April 25:

Easter Rebellion of 1916 (Ireland) - On Easter Monday in 1916 Irish militants attempted to gain freedom from the United Kingdom, but were unsuccessful. Celebrates a day of remembrance.

Anzac Day (Australia, New Zealand) - Commemorates the slain of their army corps in World War I.

Arbor Day (USA) - Communities across the United States plant trees in an ongoing effort to conserve American forests.

April 26:

Gathering of Nations Pow Wow - Albuquerque, N.M., is the venue of more than 600 Native American tribes and nations participating in a three-day event where more than 4,000 participants share, teach and exchange traditions with each other.

April 27:

Freedom Day (South Africa) - On this day the first all-race election took place and South Africans brought Nelson Mandela into political power in 1994.

Last Day of Passover (Jewish) - This is the final day of Passover that commemorates The Exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Ancient Egypt.

April 29:

Midori no hi (Japan) - Also known as Greenery Day, to appreciate nature.

April 30:

Koninginnedag (Netherlands) - Celebrates the birthday of former Queen Juliana and is also National Dutch Day.

April-May: Iroquois Strawberry Season (Aboriginal) - Thanksgiving and Great Feather Dance. Early summer.

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