Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder
February 2016
The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the
world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognises special faith and culture
days of our communities. February 2016 has several special faith and culture days to
celebrate and remember:
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February - Buxwlaks in Aboriginal Spirituality
Buxwlaks is celebrated by Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in Northwest British
Columbia. It is the season of blowing needles of the evergreens. The wind shakes loose
the foliage from frozen trees and heralds the approach of new growth and the New
Year.
February 1 or 2 - Imbolc in Wicca
Imbolc is the second major Sabbat in Wicca. It celebrates the sun's increasing power
that will bring the start of spring. Imbolc is also called Imbolg, Candlemas, Brigantia, the
Feast of the Waxing Light, and Oimelc. Originating as one of the Celtic fire festivals, it is
celebrated with the lighting of candles. It is a time of reflection about potential and new
beginnings.
There are eight Wiccan Sabbats, spaced about 45 days apart during the year. Four of
these are minor Sabbats—two equinoxes and two solstices. There are also four major
Sabbats, occurring roughly midway between the minor Sabbats.
February 3 - Setsubun-sai in Shinto
This popular family New Year's festival, commonly known as the bean-throwing festival,
marks the end of winter and the eve of the first day of spring according to the old lunar
calendar. The problems and evils of the winter are chased away as family members
participate in a ritual called mame-make—throwing beans into each room of the house,
and then through the outer doors with shouts of “Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi!” Roughly
translated, this means “Go out bad luck, come in good luck.”
On Setsubun, many families hang a hiiragi over their doorway. This is a charm made of a
piece of holly and a small dried fish tied together. The celebrants eat toasted soybeans.
They eat as many beans as their own age plus one more. The extra bean stands for the
start of the New Year.
The next day is considered the first day of spring in Japan.
February 7 to 26 - month of Mulk in Bahá’í
In the Bahá’í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an
attribute of God. Mulk, signifying "dominion," is the eighteenth month.
The Bahá’í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast
Day.
February 8 – Lunar New Year/Maitreya Bodhisattva’s Birthday in Buddhism
Followers of Mahayana Buddhist tradition from Tibet, China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and
other parts of the world celebrate their New Year after the new (dark) moon for the
year 4714 - the Year of the Monkey. They visit the local temple or monastery in the
morning. In the afternoon, they distribute food to the poor. The day will conclude with
evening chanting of the Buddha's teachings and meditation.
New Year's celebrations vary throughout East Asia:

New Year is one of the traditional and most important Chinese holidays. It is
celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, which is
usually the day on which the second new moon after the winter solstice occurs.
The Chinese New Year is celebrated over 15 days. The Chinese greeting is "Kung
Hei Fat Choi," meaning "Congratulations and be prosperous." Traditionally, red
packets ('hong bao' 'lai see' ) are passed out on New Year's Eve, and the New
Year is celebrated with firecrackers, as well as dragon and lion dances.

The Vietnamese New Year is celebrated for seven days. The greeting is "Tet Giap
Than," meaning "Best Wishes." A special ceremony called Le Tru Tich is held at
midnight (Giao Thua) on New Year's Eve. The ritual involves firecrackers and
gongs and other festive items that make loud noises to usher out the old and
welcome the new. Family members exchange gifts and pay homage to the
Kitchen God. They also visit local temples to pray for prosperity and good health.

Vietnamese families plant a New Year's tree called Cay Neu in front of their
homes. A bamboo pole is often used as a Cay Neu.

The Korean New Year's greeting is "Say hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh,"
meaning "Many New Year's blessings to you!"

Tibetan Buddhists celebrate Losar, or New Year's Day for the year 2143 in the
Tibetan calendar. The last two days of the old year are called Gutor and are
spent preparing for the New Year. The custom that day is to make special
noodles called guthuk. Everyone exchanges the traditional greeting, "Tashi
delek."
February 10 - Ash Wednesday in Christianity
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent in the Western Christian liturgical year. Lent
is a season of spiritual discipline, cleansing and fasting which occurs in the 40 days
before Good Friday. The name Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient practice of
putting ashes on one's head as a symbol of mourning and penitence.
February 12 - Vasant Panchami in Hinduism
A North Indian celebration, Vasant Panchami is celebrated in honour of Saraswati, the
Goddess of Learning and Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth.
The fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magh is Vasanta Panchami
and the first day of spring. Hindus celebrate this festival by holding ceremonies to
venerate Saraswati, goddess of wisdom and knowledge. People dress in yellow and get
together with their families. Marigold flowers are featured in religious services.
Symbolically, the education of children in their first year begins on this day.
February 15 - National Flag Day in Canada
This day celebrates the anniversary of the first raising of the Flag of Canada in 1965 at
Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The national flag was approved by the House of Commons on
Dec. 15, 1964, the Senate on Dec. 17, 1964 and was first flown on Parliament Hill on
Feb. 15, 1965.
February 15 - Family Day in Ontario
The third Monday of February is recognized as Family Day in Ontario. This statutory
holiday was established by Premier Dalton McGuinty on October 11, 2007. On this
holiday, families are encouraged to spend time together.
February 22 – Lantern Festival/Magha Puja in Buddhism
Magha Puja is celebrated on the full moon day of the third month in the Buddhist
calendar. The festival commemorates the day on which Buddha recited the Ovadha
Patimokkha (the Fundamental Teaching) to his disciples. The day is also celebrated for
the Fourfold Assembly - gathering of 1,250 Arahantas (accomplished holy ones) at
Veruvana Temple in Rajgarh city (India) of their own accord without notification on the
full moon day and all 1,250 disciples being ordained by Buddha himself. Adherents
renew their dedication to Dhamma (teachings of Buddha) practice on this day.
Lantern festival, is celebrated mid-autumn on the full moon night of the eighth month of
the lunar calendar by Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese and Timorese communities. This
festival celebrates the summer harvest and is a time for rejoicing. Brightly coloured
lanterns are hung in front of homes, and parades are held in towns and villages. In
Vietnam this festival is also called Children's Festival. Families gather together to share
meals and moon cakes.
February 26 to February 29 - Intercalary Days in Bahá'í
For Bahá'í s, the Intercalary Days are days of feasting, hospitality, rejoicing, charity and
giving of presents, as well as ministering to the poor and ill, as they prepare for the
annual Fast. The Intercalary Days are also used to complete the 365 days solar year as
the 19 month Bahá'í calendar falls short.
Ideas for celebrating special faith and cultural days in your school
If you have a colleague who celebrates one of these days, don't forget to offer them
best wishes! If you have students in your school who are followers of any of the listed
religions:
- make sure the dates are included on your school calendar
- have your principal announce the day over the PA system
- hold an assembly to talk with students about the importance of these days
- include a mention of these days in your school newsletter
- include information on your school website
- display student artwork announcing these days or depicting their ideas about these
days
- invite a member of a local faith group to come in and discuss the significance of this
day with students
- have class discussions about these days
- ask some of your students who celebrate certain holidays to write a short essay on
how they celebrate this day at home. Have them read it to the class to share this
celebration with the other students.
- have parents offer a cultural session
Questions?:
If you would like any more information on how to celebrate these days, please call
Varsha Naik, Community Liaison Coordinator at 905-890-1010, ext. 2573 or e-mail her
varsha.naik@peelsb.com