. EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CALENDAR FEBRUARY – 2022 MONTH-LONG OBSERVANCES: Black History Month Celebrates African American History. The study of black history is greatly owed to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who first launched ”Negro History Week” in 1926. February was chosen because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two men prominent in eliminating slavery, were both born in February. Since 1976, the month has been designated to remember the contributions of people of the African diaspora. In December of 1995, the Parliament of Canada recognized February as Black History Month following a motion introduced by the first African Canadian woman elected to Parliament, Jean Augustine. The presence of peoples of African descent in Canada dates back farther than Samuel de Champlain’s first voyage down the St. Lawrence River. Hopi Holy Cycle January and February. Buffalo dances are performed in Hopi reserves. Days may vary according to community. February 1: Chinese New Year The year of the Tiger. This is the year 4720 in the Chinese Lunar calendar and the most important holiday. A festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year in the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Lunar New Year, one of the most sacred of all traditional Chinese holidays, a time of family reunion and celebration. The Lunar New Year is also celebrated at this time in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Mongolia. February 1: National Freedom Day National Freedom Day, which celebrates the signing of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in the United States in 1865 February 1: St. Brigid of Kildare A feast day for St. Brigid celebrated by some Christian denominations February 1: Seollal (Korea) The Korean New Year lasts three days. During this time, many Koreans visit family, perform ancestral rites, eat traditional food and play folk games. Additionally, children often receive money from their elders. February 1: Setsubun-Sai (Japan) Known as Bean Throwing Night. Beans are thrown to protect against demons with shouts of “Devil out, Good Fortune in”. February 1: Abolition of Slavery (Mauritius) The struggle for freedom of the slaves of Mauritius during the Dutch period between 1638 and 1710 is remembered and honoured. February 1 and 2: Imbolc (Wicca) A Gaelic traditional festival marking the beginning of spring. It signals the first stirrings of live within the womb of mother earth. Corn dolls are burned as offerings to the sun to hasten his return. February 2: Candlemas A Christian holiday that celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief: the presentation of the child Jesus, Jesus’ first entry into the temple, and Virgin Mary’s purification February 3: St. Blaise Day The Blessing of the Throats. The feast day of St. Blaise of Sebaste celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church and some Eastern Catholic Churches February 3: Setsubun-Sai Beginning of spring, the day before the beginning of spring in Japan, it is celebrated annually as part of the Spring Festival February 5: Vasant Panchami (Hindu) The Hindu festival that highlights the coming of spring. On this day, Hindus worship Saraswati Devi, the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, music, art, and culture. Yellow coloured clothes are symbolically worn. Even the food is coloured yellow by using saffron. February 6: Waitangi Day (New Zealand) The day commemorates the signing of a treaty at Waitangi on February 6, 1840 by a group of Maori chiefs and the British Government. It honours the rights of the British Crown and the rights of the Maori people, which are now in the process of being reclaimed. February 8: Boy Scout Day (Canada, US) William Boyce, a Chicago published, founded the Boy Scouts of America on February 10, 1910. The purpose was to promote, through organization, and cooperation with other agencies, the ability of boys to do things for themselves and others, to train them in Scoutcraft and to teach them patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues. February 11: National Foundation Day (Japan) A national holiday for Japanese people to remind themselves of the nation's founding and foster their love for the nation. February 15: National Day (Serbia) A holiday celebrated to commemorate the outbreak of the First Serbian Uprising in 1804, which evolved into the Serbian Revolution against Ottoman rule. The revolution ultimately resulted in the recognition of Serbia's National by the Ottoman Empire (formally in 1817, de jure in 1835). On the same day in 1835, dur