Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
Vesak (also Wesak or Buddha Day) 6 May is considered the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar. It is celebrated annually on the full moon of the ancient lunar month of Vesakha in May and commemorates the birth, enlightenment and the death of Buddha. The day is observed as a public holiday in many Southeast … Continue reading “Vesak – Buddha Day 6 May”
The Lusophone world celebrates 5 May as the International Day of the Portuguese language and culture. The language is spoken by over 250 million people in nine countries and is the third most widely spoken European language, after English and Spanish. World Portuguese Language Day highlights the important role this language plays in preserving human civilization … Continue reading “World Portuguese Language Day 5 May”
In the UK alone, there are over 10 million people living with some form of hearing loss, whether it is mild or profound. Deaf Awareness Week is all about promoting the positive aspects of living with deafness. This event aims to raise awareness of the isolation that deaf people can occasionally experience, and promote the … Continue reading “Deaf Awareness Week 4-9 May 2022”
From the evening of 2 May to the evening of 3 May Eid al-Fitr, also called the “Festival of Breaking the Fast”, is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan, as well being as a time for spiritual reflection and prayer. This religious Eid … Continue reading “Eid al-Fitr”
St George’s Day is celebrated on 23 April by various Christian churches and by the several nations, kingdoms, countries and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint, including England and regions of Spain and Portugal in particular. Saint George is most widely known for slaying a dragon. According to legend, the only well in … Continue reading “St George’s Day 23 April”
Pesach (Passover), which begins at sundown on 15 April, ending on the evening of 23 April, is a festival of freedom commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their transition from slavery to freedom. It is one of the most important Jewish holidays. Passover, called Pesach, gets its name from when the Israelites were enslaved … Continue reading “Pesach (Passover)”
Also called Leandro dal Ponte, Leandro Bassano (10 June 1557-15 April 1622) was an Italian artist from Bassano del Grappa who was awarded a knighthood by the Doge of Venice. Leandro was the son of the painter Jacopo Bassano and was active in his father’s workshop from a young age. When his elder brother Francesco left … Continue reading “Leandro Bassano 400th anniversary”
Vaisakhi is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs and marks the beginning of the Hindu solar New Year. It was originally a harvest festival in the Punjab until it became Sikhism’s most important festival. Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, is the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community, the Khalsa. In 1699, Sikhs from all over the … Continue reading “Vaisakhi 14 April”
Rama Navami is a spring Hindu festival celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Rama was an incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana, the Sanskrit epic of 24,000 stanzas. A continuous recital of the book takes place for about a week prior to the celebration and, on … Continue reading “Rama Navami 10 April”
8 April 1992 saw the final issue of Punch, Britain’s oldest satirical magazine, after 150 years in publication. Punch, or The London Charivari (in homage to the French satirical magazine Le Charivari), was a weekly British satirical magazine whose artists and illustrators included John Tenniel (of Alice in Wonderland fame) and Archibald Henning. Its audience … Continue reading “30th anniversary of the final issue of ‘Punch’”
