Events of the Month

During 2003-MAY

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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.

References:

1. "Events Calendar, Year 2003," The Communication Initiative, at: http://www.comminit.com/events_cal/
2. "Mawlid," at: http://www3.kumc.edu/
3. "May Day - the Real Labor Day," at: http://flag.blackened.net/daver/

Copyright © 2003 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Essay prepared on 2003-FEB-3
Latest update: 2003-APR-14
Compiled by B.A. Robinson

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