Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
Nowruz is the Iranian or Persian New Year. It marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the March equinox, when the sun crosses the equator from south to north. The spelling and pronunciation of Nowruz varies by country – other spellings include Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevrus and Nauryz. Over … Continue reading “Nowruz (20 March)”
St. Patrick’s Day celebrated on 17 March observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking. He was born to wealthy parents near the end of the fourth century and is believed to have died … Continue reading “St Patrick’s Day 17 March”
8th of March marks International Women’s Day (IWD), a day for celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievement of women all across the globe. The other purpose of the day is to recognise the challenges women face, and draw more attention to the inequalities faced by women and other marginalised genders. The earliest reported … Continue reading “International Women’s Day (8 March)”
Holi, also called the festival of sharing and love or the festival of colours, is a Hindu two-day festival in the Spring. This year Holi is on 8 March, with Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan happening on 7 March. The holiday is officially celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna of … Continue reading “Holi 8 March”
Hinamatsuri is a Japanese festival that is celebrated every year on the 3rd of March. It is also known as the doll festival, and it celebrates female children where people pray for their continued health and happiness. During the holiday, families display ceramic dolls dressed in the decorative robes of the ancient imperial court. This … Continue reading “Hinamatsuri (3 March)”
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! Saint David is the patron saint of Wales and on the 1st of March the Feast of Saint David is celebrated. The date was chosen as it is the date of his death, with the holiday being celebrated since the canonisation of David in the 12th century by Pope Callixtus II. … Continue reading “St David’s Day (1 March)”
What is widely known as Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday in the UK, is in fact a week-long traditional Slavic celebration that takes places prior to the beginning of Lent, the Christian period of fasting and spiritual reflection leading up to Easter. Maslenitsa is often a time to indulge in rich foods before Lent in … Continue reading “Maslenitsa (20-26 February)”
Maha Shivaratri, also referred to as the “Great Night of Shiva”, is one of the biggest annual celebrations in the Hindu calendar and is held to honour Lord Shiva, who is one of the main deities in the religion. The reason behind celebrating Lord Shiva can vary slightly depending on the region that you are … Continue reading “Maha Shivaratri (February 18)”
In France and Belgium, 2 February is a day often dedicated to the making and eating of crêpes. Religiously, this day is known in the Christian faith as La Chandeleur or Candlemass, marking the day that Jesus was presented at the temple in Jerusalem and takes its name from the Christian tradition of bringing candles … Continue reading “La Chandeleur 2 February”
LGBTQ+ History Month is the annual month-long celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history and the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements. In the UK this celebration takes place every February and aims to raise awareness of, and combat prejudice against, those belonging to the LGBTQ+ community and its history. LGBTQ+ … Continue reading “LGBTQ+ History Month”
