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February

21 International Mother Language Day

March

21 World Poetry Day

April

23  World Book and Copyright Day

May

3   World Press Freedom Day

17  World Telecommunications Day

21  World Day for Cultural Development

21  World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

November

21  World Television Day

June

4  International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression

July

23/28   World Youth Day

August

12   International Youth Day

November

20   Universal Children’s Day (UNICEF)

December

12  International Day of Children’s Broadcasting                 

December

3  International Day of Disabled Persons

There are many national and international disability sports championships, including archery, athletics, basketball, cycling, equestrianism, fencing, rugby, sailing, shooting, ski-ing, swimming and table-tennis

Find out when they are taking place, and who is taking part from your country.

September

8  International Literacy Day (UNESCO)

October

5  International Teacher’s Day (UNESCO)

Elders

October

1 International Day of Older Persons 

February

2   World Wetlands Day

March

23  World Meteorological Day

May

3  Sun Day

22  International Day for Biological Diversity

June

5   World Environment Day

17   World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

July

11   World Population Day

September

16   International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

(Last week in Sept)        World Maritime Day

October

(1st Monday)        World Habitat Day

(2nd Wednesday)  International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction

December

11  International Mountain Day

ETHNICITY/RACISM

March

21   International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

April

8  International Roma Day      

August

9   International Day of Indigenous People

November

9   International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

16   International Day of Tolerance

March

22    World Day for Water

24     World Tuberculosis Day

April

7    World Health Day

May

4   World Asthma Day

31 World No Tobacco Day (WHO)

June

26  International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

26   United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

September

10  World Suicide Prevention Day

October

16   World Food Day

December

1   World Aids Day

June

20  World Refugee Day

26   International Day in Support of Victims of Torture

December

18   International Migrants Day

August

23   International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (UNESCO)

December

2    International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

WAR & PEACE

April

7    International Day of the Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda

May

29    International Day of UN Peacekeepers

September

21    International Day of Peace

October

24-30   Disarmament Week

November

6   International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed and Conflict

16   International Day of Tolerance

March

8   International Women’s Day

November

25  International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Only fixed dates and approximate months are shown

Some change each year – so check annually

January                                                     

1       Feast of St. Basil (Christian Orthodox)

1       Japanese New Year (Japan)

5       Guru Gobind Singh's Birthday (Sikh)

6       Epiphany (Christian)

7       The Nativity of Jesus Christ (Christian Orthodox)

13     Lohri (Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh)

16     World Religion Day (Baha'i)

         Eid al-Adha (Islamic, Muslim)

         Tu b'Shvat or Tu B'Shevat (Jewish, Israel)

February

2       Candlemas (Christian)

2       Imbolc (Wiccan)

9       Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnam)

23     Lantern Festival (Taiwan)

24     Flag Day (Mexico)

         Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras (Christian)

         Ash Wednesday (Protestant, Roman Catholic)

         Chinese Lunar New Year (China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam)

         Al Hijra - Muslim New Year

         Ashura (Muslim)

March

3       The Doll Festival (Japan)

4       World Day of Prayer

17     St. Patrick's Day (Roman Catholic)

 21    Naw Ruz (Baha'i, Persia)

22     New Year's Day (India)

25     The Annunciation (Christian)

         Palm Sunday (start of Holy Week -Protestant, Roman Catholic)

         Holy Thursday (Christian)

         Good Friday (Protestant, Roman Catholic)

         Purim (Jewish)

         Easter (Protestant, Roman Catholic)

RELIGIOUS  & SEASONAL FESTIVALS cont

April

30     Beltane (Celtic)

         Passover (Jewish)

May

23     Declaration of the Bab (Baha'i)

29     Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)

         Corpus Christi (Roman Catholic)

         Easter (Orthodox) or Pascha

         Ascension Day (Christian)

         Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Memorial Day (Jewish)

June

         Shavuot (Jewish)

July

9       Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha'i)

16     Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan (Sikh)

24     Pioneer Day (Mormon)

August

         Lammas and Lughnasadh (Celtic/Pagan)

September

         Isra Al Mi'raj: Ascent of Propher Muhammad

         Religious Freedom Week

         Autumnal Equinox (Japan)

October

31     All Hallow’s Eve (Christian)

         Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

         Yom Kippur (Jewish)

         Sukkot (Jewish)

         Lailat Ul-Qadr (Islamic, Muslim)

         Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)

         Simchat Torah (Jewish)

RELIGIOUS  & SEASONAL FESTIVALS cont

November

1       All Saints' Day (Christian, Roman Catholic)

2       All Souls' Day (Roman Catholic)

         Diwali (Buddhist, Hindu)

         Birthday of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)

         Eid-Al-Fitr (Muslim)

         Ramadan (Muslim

December

6       St. Nicholas Day

8       Bodhi Day - Buddha's Enlightenment (Buddhist)

25     Christmas Day (Christian)

26     St Stephen’s Day/Boxing Day

         Hanukkah (Jewish)

         Kwanzaa (African-American)

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