Image: https://secrettoronto.co/new-years-eve-fireworks-toronto/
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January 1st - New Years Day
The celebration of New Year’s dates back to ancient civilizations, such as the Babylonians, who marked the beginning of the year with spring festivals.
In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, establishing January 1 as the start of the year in honor of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar to correct inaccuracies, creating today’s Gregorian calendar. The British Empire, along with its North American colonies, which are now known as Canada and the United States, adopted it in 1752, aligning its New Year’s traditions with those of many Western nations.
Happy New Year 2026 HDSB!!
Source: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/new-year-day
December 31st - January 3rd - Japanese and Chinese New Year
Year of the Horse
Image and for more info: https://chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/horse/
Tamil Heritage Month
Tamil Heritage is Celebrated to recognize the contribution that Tami=Canadian have made to Canadian Society, the richness of the Tamil language and culture and the importance of educating and reflecting upon Tamil heritage for future generations.
Image and to learn more please visit: https://tamilheritagemonth.com/
January 3rd - Mahanyana New Year
Happy Mahanyana to all who celebrate this holiday in our HDSB communities!!
Image and for more info: https://worldimportantdays.com/mahayana-new-year/
January 4th - Feast of the Epiphany
May 2026 be filled with many blessings for you and your families!
Image and more info please visit: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Epiphany
January 5th - Twelfth Night
Image and for more info please visit: https://worldimportantdays.com/mahayana-new-year/
January 13th - Punjabi Lohri
Happy Lohri to all who celebrate this holiday in our HDSB communities!!
Image and more info please visit: https://heritagepanjab.com/blogs/news/lohri
January 14th - Makar Sankranti
Happy Makar Sankranti to all who celebrate this holiday in our HDSB communities!!
Image and more info please visit: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Makar-Sankranti
January 15th - Thai Sankranti
Happy Songkran to all who celebrate this holiday in our HDSB communities!!
Image and more info please visit: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Songkran
January 18th - World Religion Day
World Religion Day 2026 is a day dedicated to acknowledging and respecting the various religious traditions and beliefs practiced around the world. It encourages individuals to learn about different religions, engage in interfaith conversations, and work towards a more harmonious and inclusive society.
Image and more info please visit: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-religion-day/
January 24th - World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture
Held every year on 24 January, World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture celebrates the many vibrant cultures of the African continent and African Diasporas around the world, reinforcing UNESCO’s mandate to promote respect for cultural diversity and human creativity around the globe. As a rich source of the world’s shared heritage, promoting African and Afrodescendant culture is crucial for sustainable development, mutual respect, dialogue and peace.
Image and more info please visit: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Makar-Sankranti
January 27th - International Holocaust Remembrance Day
On January 27, 1945, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp – where more than one million people were sent to gas chambers and to their agonizing deaths during the Holocaust – was liberated. In 2005, that day was designated as the annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Each year, Canadians and individuals all over the world take this opportunity to remember the victims of the atrocities of the Holocaust and reflect on the dangers of anti-Semitism.
Image and more info please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/canada-holocaust/international-remembrance-day.html
January 27th - Family Literacy Day
Family Literacy Day takes place every January 27th to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Since 1999, schools, libraries, literacy organizations and other community groups across the country have taken part in the initiative. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development, improving a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well.
Image and more info please visit: https://abclifeliteracy.ca/programs/family-literacy-day/
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