{"content":[{"text":"January","block":"

Date	Event	Description
1 Jan	New Year's Day	New Year’s Day is the first day of the Gregorian calendar and is often celebrated by fireworks and parades.
1/2 Jan	Feast of St Basil	St Basil is considered one of the great leaders and thinkers of the Orthodox Christian church. In many Greek homes, a special cake is baked on the eve of St Basil’s Day with a gold or silver coin hidden inside. Similar traditions exist for Western Christian Churches.
6 Jan	Epiphany	Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of God in human form as Jesus Christ.
6 Jan	Armenian Christmas Day	The Armenian Church celebrates Christmas on this day.
7 Jan	The Holy Nativity Feast (Nativity of Christ)	Eastern Orthodox Churches that use the Julian Calendar celebrate Christmas on this day, with some traditions observing a week-long period of holidays from 1 January.
9 Jan	Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji	Sikh communities celebrate the birthday of the 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (born in 1666). His birth is considered an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar, which differs from the Julian calendar.
14 Jan	Thai Pongal	Thai Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka. It is observed at the start of the month Tai according to Tamil solar calendar, and this is typically about January 14. It is dedicated to the Hindu sun god Surya.
16 Jan	World Religion Day	Observed in over 80 countries, the aim of World Religion Day is to foster interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasising the common elements underlying all religions.
18 Jan	Buddhist New Year (Mahayana New Year)	Buddhist New Year depends on the country of origin or ethnic background of the community. In Mahayana Buddhist countries, the New Year starts on the first full moon day in January.
19 Jan	Coptic Epiphany	Epiphany commemorates the manifestation of God in human form as Jesus Christ.
25 Jan	Burns Night	Burns Night is annually celebrated in Scotland, and commemorates the life of the poet Robert Burns (bornon 25 January 1759). The day also celebrates Burns' contribution to Scottish culture.
26 Jan	Australia Day	Australia Day is a time to celebrate the nation and people we have become. We celebrate the history that has made us who we are, the country that we love and the values and institutions that underpin it.

"},{"text":"February","block":"

Date	Event	Description
1 Feb	Chinese Lunar New Year (Year of the Tiger)	Chinese Australian communities celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year with many customs, ancestor worship, family gatherings, special foods and gifts.
1 Feb	Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year—Year of the Tiger)	Known in South Korea as Seollal, Lunar New Year typically lasts three days (the day before and after the New Year). Centred around charye—paying respect to elders—the new year is a time to remember a shared heritage and look forward to the future.
1 Feb	Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year—Year of the Tiger)	Tết is considered the first day of Vietnam’s spring, a time marked by new beginnings. The Vietnamese community celebrate Tết with many customs, ancestor worship, family gatherings, special foods and gifts.
13 Feb	Anniversary of the Apology to members of the Stolen Generations	On 13 February 2008, the Australian Parliament made a formal apology to members of the Stolen Generation.
15 Feb	Parinirvana Day	Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia, Vietnam and the Philippines. This day is an observance of the death of the Buddha (in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition). Many celebrate Parinirvana Day by meditating or by going to Buddhist temples or monasteries.
16 Feb	Magha Puja	Magha Puja (also written as Makha Bucha Day) is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Sri Lanka and on the full moon day of Tabaung in Myanmar. Theravada Buddhists celebrate by going to temples with offerings of food and other items for the monks or nuns. Often there are solemn candlelight processions.
18 - 20 Feb	National Multicultural Festival, Canberra	The National Multicultural Festival features local, national and international music, dance, food and creative arts. Note: the 2022 National Multicultural Festival has been rescheduled to 2023 due to the COVID-19 outbreak
21 Feb	International Mother Language Day	The United Nations’ International Mother Language Day celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity.
26 Feb	Pako Festa, Geelong	Pako Festa is a celebration of cultural diversity in Australia. People come together in harmony to enjoy various cultural food, traditional dancing, live music and the Pako Street Parade, workshops, art exhibitions and craft displays.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"March","block":"

Date	Event	Description
1 Mar	Shrove Tuesday	Shrove Tuesday (also known as Pancake Day) is the day before Ash Wednesday, observed in many Christian countries through participating in confession and absolution, the ritual burning of the previous year's Holy Week palms, finalizing one's Lenten sacrifice, as well as eating pancakes and other sweets.
1 Mar	St David’s Day	St David is the patron saint of Wales. St David’s Day has been a national day of celebration for the Welsh community since the 18th century, featuring parades, festivities and singing.
2 Mar	Ash Wednesday (Lent begins)	Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar, traditionally a time of fasting and reflection. It begins with Ash Wednesday.
3 - 5 Mar	Tibetan New Year (Losar)	Losar is an occasion to dispel the obstacles and negativities of the previous year and is marked by activities that symbolise purification.
16 - 17 Mar	Purim – begins in the evening of 16 March and concludes the evening of 17 March	Purim commemorates the time when the Jewish people living in the ancient Achaemenid Persian empire were saved from extermination by the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther and her uncle and adviser named Mordechai.
17 Mar	National Close the Gap Day	National Close the Gap Day aims to raise awareness about the health and life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
17 Mar	St Patrick’s Day	This day is Ireland’s National Day. St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and brought Christianity to Ireland in the early days of the faith.
18 Mar	Holi (Festival of Colours)	Holi is a boisterous festival with people smearing each other with coloured water and bright powders. Originally a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land, Holi also commemorates some key figures in Hindu mythology.
19 - 27 Mar	Cultural Diversity Week, Victoria	Cultural Diversity Week features a program of festivals and events highlighting Victoria’s cultural, linguistic and religious diversity.
20 - 21 Mar	Naw-Ruz begins in the evening of 20 March and ends in the evening of 21 March	This is the Baha’i New Year, marking the first day in the Baha’i calendar. The festival is usually observed with meetings for prayer and celebration, often combined with a feast at the sunset before Naw-Ruz, which signals the end of a 19-day fast.
21 Mar	Norouz (various spellings) New Year	Norouz means ‘new day’ in Farsi and is a traditional festival of spring that has been celebrated for more than 3000 years. The ancient celebration of Norouz is shared by many peoples from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and others in the Black Sea basin, the Balkans, the Caucasus and western, central and southern Asia.
21 Mar	International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination	The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an opportunity to reflect on our collective responsibility for promoting and protecting this ideal.
21 - 27 Mar	Harmony Week	Harmony Week celebrates the cohesive and inclusive nature of our diverse nation. Schools, community groups and organisations across Australia host Harmony Week events.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"April","block":"

Date	Event	Description
1 Apr	Kha b-Nisan (also known as Akitu) (Assyrian and Chaldean New Year)	Assyrians and Chaldeans mark their New Year at the beginning of (northern hemisphere) spring. Celebrated by indigenous Assyrians of northern Iraq, north-eastern Syria, south-eastern Turkey and north-western Iran.
2 Apr – 1 May	Ramadan is expected to begin in the evening of 2 April (subject to the sighting of the moon) and to conclude in the evening of 1 May	Ramadan is the most auspicious month on the Islamic Calendar, being the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. During Ramadan Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset.
2 Apr	Brigadoon: The Bundanoon Highland Gathering	Brigadoon is an annual Scottish Highland themed gathering, held in Bundanoon, where visitors witness or partake in Scottish performances and traditional games.
10 Apr	Palm Sunday	The final Sunday before Easter Sunday, marks the beginning of (Christian) Holy Week. It is celebrated in all major Christian churches, including Roman Catholic and Protestant. In Orthodox churches, which follow the Julian calendar, Palm Sunday is celebrated later (17 April 2022)
10 Apr	Rama Navami	Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama and falls on the last day of Navratri- a nine-day Hindu festival where prayers are offered to the goddess Durga. Devotees, who have been observing fast throughout Navratri, break the fast on this day.
13 - 16 Apr	Songkran (Thai New Year)	Songkran, the Thai New Year and Water Festival, is one of Thailand’s oldest and favourite festivals. Thai communities across Australia celebrate this festival with food, crafts and entertainment.
13 - 16 Apr	Thingyan (Burmese New Year)	The coming of the New Year is seen as an opportunity to let go of the past and embrace a promising new future through the symbolism of water.
13 - 16 Apr	Choul Chnam Thmey (Cambodian/Khmer New Year)	The Cambodian/Khmer New Year coincides with the traditional solar new year in several parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. Traditionally it marks the end of the harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labour before the rainy season begins.
14 - 6 Apr	Pii Mai (Lao New Year)	The coming of the New Year is seen as an opportunity to let go of the past and embrace a promising new future. Water, which holds great symbolic value in Lao culture, is used to wash Buddha statues. Sand is brought to the temple grounds and is made into stupas or mounds, then decorated before being given to the monks as a way of making merit. People also splash water on each other during the celebrations that last three days.
14 Apr	Sinhalese and Tamil New Year	Beginning of the solar New Year, traditionally celebrated by Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka and Tamils in India. This festival is known as Puthandu or Puthu-varusham among Tamil and Aluth Avurudda among Sinhalese.
14 Apr	Baisakhi or Vaisakhi	Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is an ancient harvest festival which marks the beginning of a new solar year and harvest season.
14 Apr	Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)	Maundy commemorates the Washing of the Feet (Maundy) and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels.
14 Apr	Nava Varsha (Nepalese New Year)	Nava Varsha is a National Holiday for Nepal and is also known as Bikram Era.
15 Apr	Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)	Marks the first day of the Bangla Calendar. People clean and decorate their houses to welcome the New Year. They visit temples and pray for good fortune and prosperity in the coming year.
15 – 23 Apr	Pesach/Passover begins in the evening 15 April and ends in the evening of 23 April	Passover is the first and most significant of the Jewish pilgrim festivals. It celebrates the redemption by God of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Work is not permitted on the first two and last two days. Many people refrain from work during the whole festival.
15 Apr	Good Friday	Good Friday is a solemn Christian remembrance of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Hot cross buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday.
16 Apr	Theravada New Year	New Year Buddhist festival. Theravada Buddhists believe in reincarnation, dharma, karma, nirvana, the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path. Celebrated in Theravadin countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao.
16 Apr	Hanuman Jayanti	This day is a Hindu celebration of Hanuman, a Hindu god and divine vanara (monkey) companion of the god Rama. Devotion and selfless work are encouraged.
17 Apr	Easter Sunday	Easter commemorates the resurrection (return to life) of Jesus Christ following his death by crucifixion. It is the most significant event of the Christian calendar.
18 Apr	Easter Monday	In addition to its religious significance, Easter in Australia is enjoyed as a four-day holiday weekend starting on Good Friday and ending on Easter Monday.
21 Apr - 2 May	Ridvan – Ridvan is celebrated over a 12-day period and starts on 21 April and ends on 2 May	Ridvan is the most significant festival of the Baha’i faith. The First Day of Ridvan is the most important of the Baha’í Holy Days. It is the day on which Baha’u’lláh declared his mission as a messenger of God in the Garden of Ridvan. The 1^st, 9^th and 12^th days of the festival are also considered significant days and work is suspended on these days.
22 Apr	Holy Friday (Orthodox)	The day commemorates Jesus’ death by crucifixion. Spring flowers are often collected for the epitaph at church. Evening or late afternoon liturgies are held, followed by the procession of the epitaph in some churches where the evening ends with a candlelit procession of the epitaph through the streets.
23 Apr	St George’s Day	St George is the patron saint of England and one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican church. This day is generally celebrated with parades, dancing and other activities.
23 Apr	Holy Saturday (Orthodox)	Holy Saturday is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the Catholic Liturgical Calendar. The day celebrates the vigil that Christ's followers held for him outside of his tomb, waiting for his resurrection. It is celebrated in all major Christian churches, including Roman Catholic and Protestant. In Orthodox churches, which follow the Julian calendar, Holy Saturday is celebrated later.
24 Apr	Pascha (Easter Sunday)	Many Orthodox Christians in Australia celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection on Easter Sunday, also known as Pascha. The Orthodox date for Easter Sunday is later than the Easter date observed by non-orthodox Christians.
25 Apr	Anzac Day	Anzac Day is one of Australia’s most important commemorations. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand (ANZAC) forces during the First World War (1914-18), at Gallipoli. Dawn services at war memorials honour the sacrifice of those who died in war. Marches and reunions are held during the day.
27 Apr	Yom HaShoah V’Hagevurah means the ‘Day of /Remembrance of the Holocaust and the Heroism’ Holocaust Memorial Day	Yom HaShoah is a memorial day for the six million Jews killed by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. It is observed by many people of Jewish and other faiths.
28 Apr – 1 May	Australian Celtic Festival, Glen Innes NSW	This festival is a celebration of Celtic culture including dancing, music, singing, massed pipe bands, strongman events, Celtic foods and children’s programs.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"May","block":"

Date	Event	Description
2 - 3 May	Eid al Fitr, the end of Ramadan, is expected to begin in the evening of 2 May (subject to the sighting of the moon) and to conclude in the evening of 3 May	The Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan, ends with the festival of Eid al Fitr. A celebratory meal breaks the fast and at this time charity and good deeds have special significance. Eid is also a time of forgiveness and making amends.
6 May	Vesak Day or Buddha Day	Commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. The date varies by region and tradition. Some Countries celebrate Vesak Day 1 or 2 days either side of this date.
20 May	Dehwa Daymaneh	This date marks the birthday of John the Baptist (also known as Yahya Yohana to Mandaeans).
21 May	World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development	The World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development promotes cultural diversity.
21 - 2 May	Paniyiri Greek Festival, Brisbane	Paniyiri is Brisbane’s well known celebration of Greek culture and heritage, held annually at Musgrave Park. Visitors enjoy delicacies from the different islands and regions of Greece, together with music and dance.
24 - 25 May	Declaration of the Báb (begins evening 24 May end evening 25 May)	This date marks the anniversary of the Báb’s announcement of his mission in 1844. The Báb is a prophet and considered one of the founders of the Baha’i faith.
26 May	Ascension of Christ	This day observes the departure of Jesus from earth after his resurrection. It is a Christian holiday that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven, according to Christian belief.
26 May	National Sorry Day	National Sorry Day acknowledges and raises awareness of the history and continued effect of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from their families, communities and culture.
27 May - 3 Jun	National Reconciliation Week	National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
28 - 29 May	Ascension of Baha’u’lláh	It commemorates the anniversary of the death in 1892 of Baha'u'lláh, the founder of the Baha'í faith. This solemn anniversary is a day of rest, and is often observed by reading or chanting from the scriptures. Many pilgrims go to the Baha'í shrines in Israel and visit the tomb to pray. The Bahá’í day ends and a new one begins at sunset; consequently, the day on which a Feast or Holy Day is observed begins at sunset of the day before the Gregorian calendar dates listed.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"June","block":"

Date	Event	Description
2 Jun	Ascension of Jesus (Orthodox)	Forty days after the Resurrection, while blessing his disciples, Christ ascended into heaven, taking his place at the right of his Father. The Ascension of Jesus is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church.
3 Jun	Mabo Day	The Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision on 3 June 1992, which recognised that Indigenous people have a special relationship with the land. This paved the way for land rights known as native title. Mabo Day celebrates the life of activist Eddie Koiki Mabo.
3 Jun	Martyrdom (Shahidi) of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib	Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus, and the first martyr of the Sikh faith. He died on 16 June 1606 after being tortured. On this day Sikhs remember those who have suffered for the faith. The day is observed by reading the Guru Granth Sahib.
4 - 6 Jun	Shavuot	Shavuot is a Jewish celebration of Moses’s descent from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. It is the second of the Jewish pilgrim festivals. Some Jews refrain from work on Shavuot.
5 Jun	Pentecost	Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter (the name comes from the Greek pentekoste which means ‘fiftieth’).
10 - 13 Jun	National Celtic Festival, Portarlington, Victoria	This annual Celtic Folk Festival offers a range of arts experiences that capture the Celtic culture in its many interpretations within the Australian setting.
13 Jun	Queen’s Birthday—all states except Western Australia and Queensland	Celebrates the Queen’s birthday in Australia. Order of Australia award recipients are announced on Australia Day and the Queen’s Birthday. The date celebrated varies across States and Territories.
20 Jun	World Refugee Day	This day honours refugees and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
19 - 25 Jun	Refugee Week	Every year Refugee Week is celebrated around the country, providing the opportunity to acknowledge the success of refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australian society.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"July","block":"

Date	Event	Description
1 Jul	Coming of the Light Festival	The Coming of the Light is celebrated by Torres Strait Islanders and commemorates the arrival of the London Missionary Society on Erub Island in the Torres Strait in 1871. It led to the adoption of Christianity through island communities during the late 19th century.
1 Jul	Tartan Day	Tartan Day is a celebration of Scottish heritage that commemorates the repeal of an English law in 1782 that had banned the wearing of tartan. Celebrated globally on 6 Apr.
3 - 10 Jul	NAIDOC Week	National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week is held every year in early July. It is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society. This year’s theme is “Get up! Stand up! Show up!
7 – 12 Jul	The Hajj (Pilgrimage) to Mecca, Saudi Arabia is expected to begin on 7 July and to end on 12 July	On specific days of the Islamic month of Zu Al-Hijja, millions of Muslims from around the world congregate in the Prophet’s birthplace of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is obligatory for all Muslims who have the means to undertake it.
9 - 10 Jul	Martyrdom of the Báb	The Báb was executed in 1850. He was a Prophet and believed to be one of the main figures in the founding of the Baha’i faith. To commemorate this day, Baha'is read special prayers at noon, which is the time the execution was scheduled for. This is also a day of rest, when Baha'is should not work.
9 - 13 Jul	Eid al Adha is expected to begin in the evening of 9 July (subject to the sighting of the moon) and to conclude in the evening 13 July	The Eid al Adha means Feast of Sacrifice, and commemorates the ordeal of Ibrahim (Abraham) who was asked to sacrifice his only son to prove his faith to Allah (God).
11 - 15 Jul	Naadam Festival	The Naadam is a traditional festival in Mongolia. The biggest festival is the National Naadam Festival, which is held in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar. other events occur across Mongolia.
13 Jul	Asalha Puja (Dhamma) Day	Asalha Puja Day or the Dhamma Day celebrates the first teaching of the Buddha. This Buddhist event commemorates the first sermon delivered by the Buddha after his enlightenment. This event is one of most important festivals for Theravada Buddhists.
16 - 18 Jul	Mandaean New Year	Mandaean New Year is often spent and celebrated with family. It begins at dusk, with the sun setting and the first star appearing, and is marked with Dawn and the break of light, 36 hours later.
29 Jul	Al Hijri (first day of Muharram) - Islamic New Year	Al Hijri (Al Hijrah in Arabic) according to the lunar or Islamic Calendar, is the Islamic New Year observed on the first day of Muharram. Muharram is the first month of the year on the Islamic Calendar and is the second holiest month after Ramadan.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"August","block":"

Date	Event	Description
4 Aug	National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day	National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day (NAICD) is a celebration of Indigenous children. NAICD was first observed by the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) in 1988.
7 - 8 Aug	Ashura - begins at sunset on 7 August and ends at sunset on 8 August (the dates specified are an estimate due to the lunar calendar)	For Sunni Muslims, Ashura marks Noah's departure from the ark, and the exodus of Moses from Egypt, and usually marked by a day of non-obligatory fasting. For Shia Muslims, it marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein in Karbala in Iraq, and is commemorated with public processions.
9 Aug	International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples	The United Nations’ annual International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples encourages people to spread the UN’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples.
11 Aug	Raksha Bandhan	Raksha Bandhan means bond of protection. This Hindu festival honours the love between brothers and sisters and is marked by the tying of a rakhi thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother.
15 Aug	Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary	The Christian feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into heaven following her death. The Assumption signals the end of Mary’s earthly life and marks her return to heaven to be reunited with Jesus.
18 - 19 Aug	Krishna Janmashtami	This is one of the most important Hindu festivals, celebrating the birthday of Lord Krishna, believed to be the eighth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu who gave the vital message of the Bhagwat Gita - the guiding principles for every Hindu.
25 Aug	Australian South Sea Islanders National Recognition Day	In 1994, the Commonwealth Government officially recognised the Australian South Sea Islanders (ASSI) as a distinct cultural group. This was followed by a formal Recognition Statement by the Queensland Government in September 2000.
28 Aug	Inauguration (Gurgaddi) of Guru Granth Sahib	This day commemorates the eternal installation of the Sikh Holy Scripture referred to as Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Sri Granth Sahib Ji. Sikhs regard and respect the Holy Scripture as their living Guru.
30 Aug – 9 Sep	Onam – 30 August to 9 September	Ancient Hindu festival celebrates rich harvest.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"September","block":"

Date	Event	Description
10 Sep	Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival	The Mid-Autumn Festival is a popular East and South East Asian celebration of abundance and togetherness, dating back over 3000 years. The traditional food of this festival is the moon cake, but can vary depending on the country.
10 Sep	Chuseok	A similar holiday to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Chuseok is a special holiday in Korean culture with roots in celebrating good harvest, family and the importance of the full moon as a symbol of harmony and the hope for good fortune.
10 Sep	Tsukimi	A similar holiday to the Mid-Autumn Festival, Tsukimi is a special holiday in Japanese culture that employs the symbolism of the full moon to celebrate togetherness and hopes for good fortune.
11 Sep	Nayrouz (Coptic New Year)	The Nayrouz feast that commemorates martyrs and confessors within the Coptic Orthodox Church. The day marks both the start of the Coptic new year and its first month.
17 Sep	Australian Citizenship Day	Citizenship Day was introduced in 2001. It is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate and value Australian citizenship, the peaceful, prosperous and inclusive society we share, and to reflect on the role we play in building our nation and shaping our country's future as proud Australian citizens.
17 Sep - 3 Oct	Oktoberfest	Oktoberfest is the world's largest ‘Volksfest’ (folk festival) held annually in Munich, Bavaria, in Germany. An important part of Bavarian culture since it was first held in 1810, other cities across the world hold Oktoberfest festivities modelled on the Munich event.
25 - 27 Sep	Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)	Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year festival, commemorates the creation of the world. Customs include the blowing of the Shofar, a ram's horn trumpet, and the dipping of apples in honey as a symbol of the sweet New Year that lies ahead. Work is not permitted.
26 Sep	Queen’s birthday (WA)	This day celebrates the Queen’s birthday in Western Australia. Each year the governor of Western Australia declares the day on which the state will observe the Queen's Birthday. For 2022, it will be 26 September.
26 Sep - 5 Oct	Navaratri	Navaratri is a 9-day festival celebrated in Autumn during the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and October. It denotes nine nights of reverence towards Goddess Durga and her nine avatars, together with communal festivities to celebrate good over evil.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"October","block":"

Date	Event	Description
1 - 5 Oct	Durga Puja	Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess, Durga. It is particularly popular and traditionally celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, the country of Bangladesh, and in the Mithilanchal regions of Bihar and Nepal. It is marked with worship rituals as well as performance arts, gift-giving, family visits, feasting, and public processions.
3 Oct	Queen’s Birthday (QLD)	This day celebrates the Queen’s birthday in Queensland. The date varies across States and Territories.
4 - 5 Oct	Yom Kippur	This holiest day of the Jewish year is observed with fasting and repentance. Many Jews will refrain from work and attend synagogue services
5 Oct	Vijay Dashami (Dussehra)	This Hindu festival marks the triumph of good over evil. The festival of Dussehra concludes the festival of Navaratri, which extends over a number of days.
7 - 8 Oct	Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Mawlid Al-Nabi)	The Prophet Muhammad’s birthday is commemorated in most Muslim-majority countries, and usually marked by prayers, carnivals, fairs and public processions.
9 - 16 Oct	Sukkot (Tabernacles)	Sukkot commemorates the faith and trust in God of the people of Israel when they lived for 40 years in the desert after leaving Egypt and is also a thanksgiving for the fall harvest.
17 - 18 Oct	Simchat Torah	Simchat Torah is a celebratory Jewish holiday that marks the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Simchat Torah means ‘Rejoicing in the Law’ in Hebrew. Special attention is given to children, who join the celebrations with flags and singing.
24 Oct	Deepavali (also known as Diwali and Tihar or the Festival of Lights)	Australians of Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths celebrate Deepavali (Diwali), or the Festival of Lights, which celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
24 Oct	Bandi Chhor Divas	Australians of Sikh faith celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas (which means ‘The Celebration of Freedom’), the release from prison of the sixth guru Sri Guru Hargobind Ji, who also rescued 52 Hindu kings held captive with him, by Mughal Emperor Jehangir in the Gwalior Fort in 1619. Celebrations include lighting oil lamps, candles and fireworks.
26 Oct	Bhai Tika (Bhai Dooj, Bhaubeej or Bhai Phonta)	The final day of Deepavali or Tihar, a time to celebrate family relationships.
25 - 26 Oct	Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh	Two successive holy days that celebrate the births of two central figures in the Baha’I faith. Each day’s worth of celebration starts and ends with the setting of the sun.
28 Oct	Oxi Day	Commemorates the rejection by Greek prime minister of the ultimatum made by Axis forces to occupy Greek territory in 1940.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"November","block":"

Date	Event	Description
1 Nov	All Saints’ Day	This Christian day honours saints, known and unknown. Saints are men and women recognised for lives of holiness and devotion to God or who were martyred for their faith.
8 Nov	Birth of Guru Nanak	Commemorates Guru Nanak Sahib who was the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru. This day may also be called Guru Nanak Gurpurb, Guru Nanak's Prakash Utsav or Guru Nanak Dev Hi Jayanti
9 Nov	Loy Krathong – Festival of Lights	Loy Krathong takes place on the night of the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. The famous floating lantern festival gives thanks to the Goodness of Water and seeks forgiveness from her.
11 Nov	Remembrance Day	This day marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914-18). Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am in memory of the millions who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.
16 Nov	International Day for Tolerance	The United Nations' annual International Day for Tolerance fosters mutual understanding among cultures and peoples.
24 Nov	Martyrdom (Shahidi) of Guru Tegh Bahadur	Guru Tegh Bahadur, the 9th Guru, sacrificed his life to defend the religious freedom of another faith.
27 Nov	First Sunday of Advent	Advent is observed with the lighting of advent candles, display of wreaths and special ceremonies. Advent also anticipates the coming again to earth of Jesus Christ.
28 - 29 Nov	The Ascension of Abdu'l Baha	Commemorates the ascension of Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í faith.
30 Nov	St Andrew’s Day	St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. He is also the patron saint of Romania, Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Poland. The day is usually celebrated with traditional recitations, cuisine, dancing and singing.

"},{"id":-1,"text":"December","block":"

Date	Event	Description
8 Dec	Bodhi Day	Celebrates the day in which Siddhartha Gautama sat underneath the Bodhi tree and attained enlightenment. It generally falls on the eighth day of the 12th month of the lunisolar calendar.
18 - 26 Dec	Chanukah Festival of Lights	Chanukah (Hanukkah) commemorates the recapture and rededication by the Jewish people of the Jerusalem Temple. It lasts for eight days and nights, and each night an additional candle is lit.
25 Dec	Christmas Day	Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, peace on earth, and good will. Christmas lights and trees are displayed, carols are sung, and individuals come together to exchange gifts and spend time with family and friends.
31 Dec	New Year’s Eve	New Year’s Eve is a time for communities, families and friends to celebrate the year past and the year to come according to the Gregorian calendar.

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Multicultural affairs

​​C​alendar of cultural and religious dates

Calendar of cultural and religious dates