Holy Days and Holidays Calendar 2019-2020

Installation of Holy Scripturesof Guru Granth Sahib1Sikhism

Ganesh/Vinayak Chauth1 or 2 Hinduism

Labour Day2 Canadian Holiday

3Jainism

Farvadegan (SC)4 Zoroastrianism

Birth Date of H. H. Sakya Trizin7 Buddhism

2019

SEPTEMBER

Coptic New Year/Nayrouz (J)11 Christianity

Anniversary of the Tatsunokuchi Persecution12Buddhism

Anant Chaturdashi12 Hinduism

Powley Day19 Indigenous World View

Festival of Higan-e20 Buddhism

Eihei Dogen Kigen Memorial22 Buddhism

Harvestide/Mabon/Fall Equinox23 Wicca

Anant Chaturdashi13 Jainism

Kshamavani/Daslakshan Parva ends14

Ashura10 or 11 Islam

Rosh Hashanah beginsJudaism

Rosh Hashanah ends1 Judaism

Bodhidharma Memorial5 Buddhism

World Communion Day6 Christianity

Durga Ashtami5 Hinduism

Vijaya Dashmi/Dassehra7 Hinduism

2019

OCTOBER

Installation of the Guru Granthas Guru20Sikhism

Simchat Torah21-22 Judaism

Bandi Chhor Divas27 Sikhism

Karva Chauth17 Hinduism

Arbaeen19 Islam

All Saints Day1 Christianity

Samhain1 Wicca

Gyan Panchami1 Jainism

Milad-un-Nabi9 or 10 Islam

Kathina ends10 Buddhism

Birth of Guru Nanak12 Sikhism

2019

NOVEMBER

12 Dev DiwaliJainism

Louis Riel Day16 Indigenous World View

Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur24 Sikhism

Day of the Covenant26 Bahá’í

First Day of Advent (J)28 Christianity

First Day of Advent1 Christianity

Maun Agiyaras8 Jainism

Birthday of Imam Aga Khan13 Islam

Saghamitta Day12 Buddhism

Yule/Winter Solstice21 Wicca

2019

DECEMBER

Christmas Eve24 Christianity

Christmas25 Christianity

Zarathosht-no-diso (FC)26 Zoroastrianism

Boxing Day26 Canadian Holiday

Awakening Day8 Buddhism

Temple Day (Solar New Year)1 Buddhism

New Year’s Day1 Christianity and Canadian Holiday

Birth of Guru Gobind Singh5 Sikhism

Epiphany6 Christianity

Christmas (J)7 Christianity

2020

JANUARY

Lohri13 Hinduism

New Year’s Day (J)14 Christianity

Makar Sankranti14 Hinduism

Epiphany (J)19 Christianity

Imbolc 2 Wicca

Lunar New Year/MaitreyaBodhisattva’s Birthday25Buddhism

Vasant Panchami29 Hinduism

Family Day (ON)17 Provincial Holiday

Ash Wednesday26 Christianity

Ayyám-i-Há (Intercalary Days)25-28 Bahá’í

2020

FEBRUARY

Inuit Day7 Indigenous World View

ABOUT THISCALENDAR

The students and staff of the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) represent a rich diversity of creed traditions and beliefs. While this calendar identifies some widely recognized days of significance, it should not be viewed as an exhaustive or authoritative account of all creed accommodation needs. Students and staff from any creed may or may not be absent from school or work on these days, and accommodations may be required. Bolded days indicate days of significance for many of the major creed beliefs and practices in Canada. For planning purposes, the expectation is that SCDSB schools and worksites not schedule larger events or activities on these days if possible.

For further information, please contact our Principal of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at 705-734-6363, ext. 11483.

This calendar should not be viewed as an exhaustive or authoritative account of all creed accommodation needs. Accommodation requests for creed beliefs and practices must be made through your Principal/Manager/Supervisor and will be approved in accordance with your collective agreement. Please see Appendix A of Memorandum A7125 for our Religious Accommodation Guidelines. While not all instances are captured in this calendar, we recognize that several holy days in many faiths begin on the evening prior to the marked day of observance, and that specific dates may vary depending upon the geographic region or local community.

Christianity - dates for Christianity are based on the Gregorian calendar unless specified as Julian (J); Julian dates reflect days of observance within Eastern Orthodox Christianity; Islam - dates are tentative as some may vary based on the sighting of the moon; Judaism - it is recognized that within Orthodox Judaism, two days would typically be observed for most days of significance, while in Reform Judaism, one day would be observed; Zoroastrianism - dates are based on Fasli Calendar (FC), Qadimi Calendar (QC) and Shenshahi Calendar (SC).

Samvatsari/Paryushan Parvaends/Daslakshan Parva begins

Jainism

Sharad Navratri begins29 Hinduism

Orange Shirt Day30 Canadian Observance

Thanksgiving Day14 Canadian Holiday

Yom Kippur8-9 Judaism

Pavarana13 Buddhism

Nichiren Shonin Memorial13 Buddhism

Sukkot13-20 Judaism

Kathina begins14 Buddhism

Diwali/Deepavali27 Hinduism

Diwali/Lord Mahavir Nirvana27 Sikhism

New Year28 Hinduism

New Year/Enlightenment Day of Gautamswami28Jainism

Birth of the Báb29 Bahá’í

30 Birth of the Bahá’u’lláhBahá’í

Chanukah22-30 Judaism

Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá28 Bahá’í

Mahāyāna New Year10 Buddhism

Linji Memorial10 Buddhism

Maghi13 Sikhism

Honen Shonin Memorial25 Buddhism

Magha (Sangha Day)7 Buddhism

Nirvana Day 15 Buddhism

Maha Shivratri21 Hinduism

Losar (Tibetan New Year)25-27 Buddhism

29

Remembrance Day11 Canadian Observance

Holy Days and Holidays Calendar 2019-2020ABOUT THISCALENDAR

The students and staff of the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) represent a rich diversity of creed traditions and beliefs. While this calendar identifies some widely recognized days of significance, it should not be viewed as an exhaustive or authoritative account of all creed accommodation needs. Students and staff from any creed may or may not be absent from school or work on these days, and accommodations may be required. Bolded days indicate days of significance for many of the major creed beliefs and practices in Canada. For planning purposes, the expectation is that SCDSB schools and worksites not schedule larger events or activities on these days if possible.

For further information, please contact our Principal of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at 705-734-6363, ext. 11483.

This calendar should not be viewed as an exhaustive or authoritative account of all creed accommodation needs. Accommodation requests for creed beliefs and practices must be made through your Principal/Manager/Supervisor and will be approved in accordance with your collective agreement. Please see Appendix A of Memorandum A7125 for our Religious Accommodation Guidelines. While not all instances are captured in this calendar, we recognize that several holy days in many faiths begin on the evening prior to the marked day of observance, and that specific dates may vary depending upon the geographic region or local community.

Christianity - dates for Christianity are based on the Gregorian calendar unless specified as Julian (J); Julian dates reflect days of observance within Eastern Orthodox Christianity; Islam - dates are tentative as some may vary based on the sighting of the moon; Judaism - it is recognized that within Orthodox Judaism, two days would typically be observed for most days of significance, while in Reform Judaism, one day would be observed; Zoroastrianism - dates are based on Fasli Calendar (FC), Qadimi Calendar (QC) and Shenshahi Calendar (SC).

Lughnasadh/Lammas1 Wicca

Farvardegan (QC)4 Zoroastrianism

Civic Holiday (ON)3 Provincial Holiday

2020

AUGUST

Raksha Bandhan3 Hinduism

Samvatsari/Paryushan Parvaends/Daslakshan Parva begins23Buddhism

Ganesh ChaturthiHinduism22

Navroze (New Year) (SC)16 Zoroastrianism

Sri Krishna Janmashtami11 Hinduism

Paryushan Parva begins16 Jainism

Khordad Sal (SC) Zoroastrianism21

New Year (Hijra)20 Islam

Canada Day1 Canadian Holiday

Jalsa Salana3-5 Islam

Martyrdom of the Báb9 Bahá'í

2020

JULY

Navroze (New Year) (QC)17 Zoroastrianism

Khordad Sal (QC)22 Zoroastrianism

Imamat Day11 Islam

2020

JUNE

Poson5 Buddhism

National Indigenous PeoplesDay21Indigenous World View

Litha/Summer Solstice21 Wicca

Pentecost (J)7 Christianity

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev16 Sikhism

All Saints Day (J)14 Christianity

Bahá'í Fast1-19 Bahá’í

Sikh New Year14 Sikhism

Memorial of Shan-tao/Zendo Daishi14Buddhism

2020

MARCH

Naw Ruz (New Year)20 Bahá’í

Eid-e-Navroz21 Islam

Hola Mohalla10 Sikhism

Navroze (New Year) (FC)21 Zoroastrianism

Khordad Sal (FC)26 Zoroastrianism

Ostara/Mabon/Lady Day/Spring Equinox20Wicca

Isra’a and Mi’raj22 Islam

Vaisakhi/Baisakhi

Zoroastrianism

2020

APRIL

Theravāda New Year7 Buddhism

Mahavir Jayanti (Birthday)6 Jainism

Nisfu Sha’ban8 Islam

Good Friday10 Christianity

HoliHinduism

Pesach (Passover)8-16 Judaism

First Day of RidvanBahá’í

Easter12 Christianity

Easter Monday13 Christianity

Zarathosht-no-diso (QC)23 Zoroastrianism

Good Friday (J)17 Christianity

Easter (J)19 Christianity

Easter Monday 20 Christianity

Ninth Day of Ridvan Baha’i

9-10

Beltane1 Wicca

Twelfth Day of Ridvan1 Bahá’í

Ramadan (fasting month)24 Islam

2020

MAY

Declaration of the Báb23 Bahá’í

Zarathosht-no-diso (SC)23 Zoroastrianism

Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh28 Bahá’í

Lailat-ul-Qadr19 Islam

Jumatul Widha Islam

Wesak/Buddha Day7 Buddhism

Victoria Day18 Canadian Holiday

22

13 or 14

Clean Monday2 Christianity

28

Vasant Navratri and Chaitra/Chithirai (New Year) begin

25Hinduism

Farvardegan (FC) 8

Hinduism and Sikhism

HinduismRama Navami2

Pentecost31 Christianity

JudaismPurim

Festival of Higan-e16 Buddhism

Yom HaShoah20 Judaism

Nichiren Foundation DayBuddhism28Buddha’s Birth DateBuddhism30

Eid-ul-Fitr24 Islam

Shavuot28-30 Judaism

Asalha Puja Day (Dharma Day)5 Buddhism

Vassa (Rains Retreat) begins5 Buddhism

Guru Purnima5 Hinduism and Jainism

Birth Date of H.H. Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso6Buddhism

Tishah B’av29-30 Judaism

Waqfatu’Arafat30 Islam

Eid-ul-Adha31 Islam

9-10

19

HOLY DAYS & HOLIDAYS CALENDARSEPT. 2018 - AUG. 2019