Events of the Month
During 2003-MAY
Sponsored link.
Events during 2003-MAY:
- MAY-1: Wiccans celebrate Beltane. This is one of their
four major Sabbats (seasonal days of celebration).
Wicca
is a Neopagan
religion, patterned after the aboriginal religion of the ancient
Celtic people.
- MAY-1: International Workers' Day recognizes the
contribution by workers throughout the world. It is recognized in almost
every country except the United States, Canada, and South Africa.
3
- MAY-1: The
National Day of Prayer is held annually on the first
Thursday in May. It has evolved from a multi-faith observance into an
exclusively
conservative Christian day of prayer.
- MAY-1: The first annual observance of the National Day of
Reason will be held. Future celebrations will also be
scheduled the first Thursday in May. It is a response to the National Day
of Prayer by various Humanist,
Agnostic, Atheist, and other secular groups
as a support for those Americans who do not believe in a personal male
deity.
- MAY-2: Members of the Bahá'í Faith celebrate the twelfth and final
day of Ridvan (a.k.a. the Most Great Festival and
King of Festivals).
This day is the end of a twelve day celebration
which recalls the day on 1863-APR-21 CE when Baha'u'llah declared that he was the prophet predicted
by the Bab. It is day on which Bahá'í communities elect their Local Spiritual Assembly.
- MAY-3: UNESCO sponsors the World Press Freedom Day. It
is "a day to remember and celebrate the fundamental principles of press
freedom, to encourage and develop press freedom initiatives, and to assess
the state of press freedom worldwide....World Press Freedom Day is also a
time to remember journalists who have been killed and to support the
victims of press freedom violations." 1
- MAY-11: Mother's Day has been celebrated on the
2nd Sunday in May since 1914. It is now observed in Australia,
Canada, Denmark, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand and the U.S. on this
day.
- MAY-13:
Mawlid al-Nabi is a celebration of the birthday of the
Prophet Muhammad. It is observed in many
Islamic countries. "However, some conservative sects (e.g.,
the Wahhabiyah) consider the celebration to be idolatrous." 2
- MAY-15: This is the ninth annual International Day of Families,
sponsored by the United Nations.
- MAY-14: This is the date of the pro-life National March for
Life in Canada. It is held in Ottawa on a date on or near the
anniversary of the legalization of abortion in Canada, 1969-MAY-14. Canada
has not had a law regulating abortion for 33 years.
- MAY-15: Buddhists celebrate Wesak,
(a.k.a. Vaisakha Puja), a celebration of the birth,
enlightenment and death of Buddha. It is observed at the time of the full
moon, and is the most important Buddhist
festival.
- MAY-23 is the date of the Declaration
of the Bab. It recalls the day in 1844 CE when the Bab
declared that he was the individual making way for Baha'u'llah, the
founder of the Baha'i faith.
- MAY-26: This
is Memorial Day in the U.S. It is observed annually on the
last Monday in May.
- MAY-29 is observed as Ascension Day
by western Christians - it is 40 days
after Easter Sunday, and is the day when most believe that Jesus
left his followers and ascended to heaven.
- MAY-29:
The Ascension of Baha'u'llah is celebrated
by members of the Baha'i Faith; it is the anniversary of Baha'u'llah's death.
Sponsored link:
References:
- "Events Calendar, Year 2003," The Communication Initiative, at:
http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/
- "Mawlid," at:
http://www3.kumc.edu/
- "May Day - the Real Labor Day," at:
http://flag.blackened.net/daver/
Although care was taken in the
preparation of this list, we cannot accept responsibility for any errors or
their consequences.
Site navigation:
Copyright © 2003 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Essay prepared on 2003-FEB-3
Latest update: 2003-APR-14
Compiled by B.A. Robinson
|