Pembina Valley - Local Immigration Partnership

Paryushana begins (Jain)
2025-08-21
Paryushana is the most important annual holy event for Jains. They increase their level of spiritual intensity often using fasting and prayer/meditation to help. (Wikipedia)

Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)
2025-08-27
Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha’s clay idols privately in homes and publicly on elaborate pandals (temporary stages). (Wikipedia)

Mawlid (Islam)
2025-09-05
Mawlid is the Islamic observation of the day when the Islamic prophet Muhammad was born. Often organized in some countries by the Sufi orders, Mawlid is celebrated in a carnival manner, large street processions are held and homes or mosques are decorated. Charity and food is distributed, and stories about the life of Muhammad are narrated with recitation of poetry by children. (Wikipedia)

Nayrouz (Coptic Orthodox Church)
2025-09-11
This day marks the start of the Coptic new year as well as being a feast for martyrs of the past. (Wikipedia)

Paitishahem Gahambar begins (Zoroastrian)
2025-09-12 - 2025-09-16
Paitishahem Gahambar is one of six main Zoroastrian festivals. It celebrates the bringing in of the harvest.

Mabon (Pagan/Wicccan)
2025-09-22
Mabon is the modern Pagan celebration of the Autumnal equinox. a modern Pagan ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the Gods during the coming winter months.

Navaratri begins (Hindu)
2025-09-22
Navaratri is a nine day and ten night annual Hindu festival observed in the honour of the goddess Durga. It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Hindu Indian cultural sphere. Celebrations include worshipping nine goddesses during nine days, stage decorations, recital of the legend, enacting of the story, and chanting of the scriptures of Hinduism. (Wikipedia)

Rosh HaShana (Jewish)
2025-09-22 - 2025-09-24
Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah begins a ten-day period of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur, as well as beginning the cycle of autumnal religious festivals running through Sukkot and ending in Shemini Atzeret. (Wikipedia)

Yom Kippur (Jewish)
2025-10-02
Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in Judaism. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day’s main observances consist of full fasting and ascetic behavior accompanied by long prayer services in synagogue, as well as sin confessions. (Wikipedia)

Dussehera (Hindu)
2025-10-02
Also known as Vijayadashami, Dussehra is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Navaratri. It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. (Wikipedia)

Sukkot (Jewish)
2025-10-06 - 2025-10-13
Sukkot is a seven day festival that both celebrates the harvest and is a remembrance of the Exodus out of Egypt. It is sometimes called “Feast of Booths” or “Feast of Tabernacles”. This season is recognized by some through building of a temporary structure called a sukkah. (Wikipedia)

Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
2025-10-14
Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday marking the end of Sukkot.
Wikipedia

Simchat Torah (Jewish)
2025-10-15
Simchat Torah a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. It comes at the end of the festival of Sukkot. The celebration includes dancing in synagogue as all the Torah scrolls are carried around in seven circuits. (Wikipedia)

Installation of the Guru Granth (Sikh)
2025-10-20
October 20th marks the installation of Guru Granth Sahib as the central holy scripture of Sikhism, and the eternal living Guru of all Sikhs. It marks the end of human Gurus. This scripture is central to Sikh worship as it is said to imbibe the one light of the creator manifested in the Ten Sikh Gurus‐one spirit in ten forms. (Wikipedia)

Diwali (Hindu)
2025-10-20
Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights. It symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”. It is a five day festival with the main Diwali happening on the 3rd day. (Nov. 1 2024). Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists also celebrate Diwali. (Wikipedia)

Birth of the Báb (Bahá’í)
2025-10-22
The Báb, born ʿAlí Muḥammad, was the messianic founder of Bábism, and one of the central figures of the Baháʼí Faith. Adherence to the Báb as a divine messenger has survived into modern times in the form of the 5-8 million member Baháʼí Faith, whose founder, Baháʼu’lláh, claimed in 1863 to be the fulfillment of the Báb’s prophecy. (Wikipedia)

Chhath Puja (Hindu)
2025-10-28
Chhath is an ancient Hindu festival. Prayers during Chhath puja are dedicated to the solar deity, Surya, to show gratitude for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request that certain wishes be granted.
Wikipedia

Samhain (Gaelic/Pagan)
2025-10-31
Samhain is a festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Historically it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, Galicia and the Isle of Man. In the late 20th century it has been take up by neopagans and Wiccans. (Wikipedia)

All Saints' Day (Christian)
2025-11-01
All Saints’ Day, or All Hallows’ Day is celebrated in honor of all the saints of the church. The liturgical practice begins in the evening of Oct. 31, All Hallows’ Eve. (Wikipedia)

All Souls' Day (Christian)
2025-11-02
All Souls’ Day is a commemoration of all the faithful departed. In some Christian traditions this day is the final day of the three days of All Hallowtide. (Wikipedia)

Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead (Mexico)
2025-11-02
This is a holiday to honor the deceased, however it is often a holiday of joyful celebration rather than mourning. Family and friends gathering to pay respects and to remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed. (Wikipedia)

Guru Nanak Birthday (Sikh)
2025-11-05
Guru Nanak Gurpurab, or the birth of Guru Nanak Dev celebrates the birth of the first Sikh guru and the founder of Sikhism. This is one of the most sacred festivals in Sikhism. (Wikipedia)

Advent - first Sunday (Christian)
2025-11-30
Advent is the Christian liturgical season of preparation and anticipation of the birth of Jesus. The days and weeks of Advent are often marked with Advent calendars or candle-lit wreaths. In Eastern Christian traditions Advent is a nativity fast. (Wikipedia)

Geeta Jayanti (Hindu)
2025-12-01
Geeta Jayanti is a Hindu observance that marks the day the Bhagavad Gita dialogue occurred between Arjuna and Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. (Wikipedia)

Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
2025-12-08
Bodhi Day is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.
Wikipedia

Hanukkah (Jewish)
2025-12-14 - 2025-12-22
Hanukkah is an eight day Jewish festival of celebrating the recovery of Jerusalem and rededication of the second temple. It is also known as the festival of lights with use of the Hanukkah menorah. (Wikipedia)

Las Posadas (Latin America)
2025-12-16 - 2025-12-24
Las Posadas is a Christian festival in Latin America. This nine-day celebration represents the 9-month pregnancy of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Each day, two people portraying Mary and Joseph travel to houses designated as inns. At the end of the evening carols are sung and children break open a star-shaped piñata. (Wikipedia)

Yule Begins (Germanic/Pagan)
2025-12-21
Yule is a winter festival historically observed by Germanic peoples. It has been incorporated into some Christian Christmas celebrations as well as revived in some neopagan practices. (Wikipedia)

Joseph Smith’s Birthday (Mormon)
2025-12-23
Joseph Smith was the founder of Mormonism and the Church of the Latter Day Saints publishing the Book of Mormon in 1829. (Wikipedia)

Christmas (Christian)
2025-12-25
This is the day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It marks the end of Advent and the beginning of the 12 days of Christmas.
Wikipedia
