World Kid Lit Month is an annual celebration of world literature and translation for children and young adults.

Ukrainian Heritage Day celebrates Ukrainian Canadians that have been a part of the Canadian cultural mosaic since 1891; making a profound mark on the development of Canada through their contributions to arts and culture, politics, education, and sports.

International Literacy Day More than 780 million of the world's adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children do not have access to education. 

Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) means “gift of jewels” in Amharic, and marks the end of the rainy reason and the beginning of the spring sunshine.

Mid-Autumn Festival Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) also known as Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival in China is a reunion time for families. People celebrate by gathering for dinners, worshipping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, and eating moon cakes. Celebrate in other countries with different names such as Chuseok or hangawi in Korean, Tsukimi in Japan, Tết Trung Thu in Vietnam.

International Day of Peace is day of global ceasefire and nonviolence, and an invitation to all nations and people to honour cessation of hostilities. 

International Day of Sign Languages is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users.

Gender Equality Week is the result of the passing of Bill C-309, the Gender Equality Week Act, which received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018. This legislation confirms Canada's commitment to address persistent gender equality gaps in the country.

National Day of Truth and Reconciliation honours the survivors of the residential school system, their families, and communities.
Orange Shirt Day

Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) is a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one’s life. Activities on Twinkl.ca

Hangeul Day known as 한글날 (Hangulnal) is a celebration marking the invention of the Korean alphabet, known as Hangeul. Most alphabets around the world have mysterious, unknown origins, slowly evolving from pictures into symbols that represent sounds. However, the Korean alphabet is different and unique as rather than evolving, it was created deliberately! Unlike Chinese characters, Hangeul is easy to learn! It is made up of consonants, vowels, and syllables, with many of the sounds overlapping with English.

International Day of the Girl was officially declared December 19, 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly, recognizes the rights of girls and the particular challenges they face in the world.

Thanksgiving (Canada)
Early Canadian settlers gave thanks for good harvests by decorating their churches with fruits and vegetables and celebrated dinner with venison and waterfowl.

Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or סֻכּוֹת, sukkōt, or sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a week-long festival that integrates themes of joy and insecurity. It is a joyful holiday, a time to focus on the simple pleasure of being close to nature and with family and friends. At the same time, Sukkot is a holiday of vulnerability and insecurity, recalling the fragile condition of the Israelites wandering in the desert and their total reliance on God. Activities on Twinkl.ca

Diwali/Festival of Lights celebrates the Hindu New Year. Diwali lasts for 5 days: Day 1 - New Year for business, Day 2 - the triumph of god Vishnu over the evil demon, Day 3 - Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity visits homes lit by lamps, Day 4 - Bali worship day, Day 5 - devoted to brothers and sisters. Symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance."

Halloween tradition goes back to the Celtic people 2,000 years ago who celebrated their New Year in late autumn and honoured Samhain or Lord of the Dead. They put candles on windows and lit bonfires to scare the disembodied spirits off. They wore disguises so as not be recognized and always carried a lantern. The Irish traditionally carved lanterns out of turnips or potatoes, but in North America they used pumpkins which were more readily available. Black and orange are the traditional colours of Halloween.

Hindu Heritage Month acknowledges and celebrates the many outstanding contributions that Canadians of Hindu heritage continue to make to building a strong and prosperous country.

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a two-day celebration of life and death. While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated throughout Latin America. This is a fiesta of bright colourful flowers, tasty food (including Pan de Muerto, a special kind of bread), candles, parades, prayer and fun. People dress up as skeletons and wear elaborate costumes and masks. Skeletons are a constant emblem during Day of the Dead.

Remembrance Day commemorates the soldiers killed in World Wars I and II and is in remembrance for all those who have given their lives in service of their country. Canadians set aside this day in memory of those who gave their lives for freedom. Many observers wear red poppies as a symbol of this day.

International World Kindness Day was established by the Kindness Movement in November, 1997 in Japan. Starting as random acts of kindness, the movement now has members in over 17 countries including USA and Canada. They are committed to building a global organization dedicated to inspire and promote kindness.

World Children's Day is a global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Child rights are human rights. They are non-negotiable and universal. However, in too many places today children’s rights are being misunderstood, disregarded or even denied and attacked.

St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the death of the third-century saint who is said to have been a source of inspiration for Santa Claus. St. Nicholas visited homes dressed in white robes carrying a book with a record of children’s wrongdoings. Upon St. Nicholas’ visit, children would be asked about their behaviour and would sing verses or recite poems. For their good behaviour and performances, they were rewarded with small presents like gold coins, candies, and small toys.

Today, kids put a special “Nikolaus boot” by the front door. Some might even leave a bit of hay or a carrot for Saint Nicholas’ donkey! If the kids have been good, in the morning they’ll find their shoes filled with small gifts and treats.

 Dongzhi Festival or  Winter Solstice marks the traditional Chinese celebration marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. Rooted in the ancient philosophy of yin and yang, the festival signifies the turning point when days start to become longer, symbolizing increased positivity and light. Families gather to enjoy special foods such as tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) in southern China, representing unity and prosperity, or dumplings in northern China, traditionally eaten to ward off the cold. 

In the Northern Hemisphere, winter begins; in the Southern Hemisphere, summer begins. Between the equator and the Arctic Circle, the sun rises and sets farthest south on the horizon for the year and the period of daylight is at its shortest - 12 hours 8 minutes at the equator, decreasing to zero at the Arctic Circle!

Christmas  Celebrates Jesus Christ's birth over 2000 years ago. Customs include lighting candles, exchanging gifts and using evergreen decorations to celebrate this day, the most widely observed Christian festival of the year.

Christmas Around the World

Hannukah is the Jewish Festival of lights lasts eight days, celebrating a miracle from more than 2,000 years ago.

Kwanzaa  commenced in 1966 when a professor wanted to encourage African Americans to celebrate their heritage. Kwanzaa means first fruit in Swahili and is a harvest festival. Families exchange gifts and have African-style feasts. Seven-pronged candle holders are lit on each consecutive night for the seven principles: unity, self-determination, working together, sharing, purpose, creativity and faith. The celebration continues till January 1.

New Years Eve - Celebrations around the world

Tamil Heritage Month celebrates the history of Canada’s Tamil community and its contribution to the social, cultural, political and economic strength of Canada. The Pongal festival, the most important and widely-celebrated festival amongst Tamils around the world, falls in the middle of the month. Pongal is both a time of thanksgiving for the blessings of a past year and a time to look forward to the start of a new year. The first month of the Tamil calendar, Thai, begins in the middle of January.

New Year Celebrations Around the World!

Japan: Oshogatsu, Japanese New Year, is one of the country's most important and widely celebrated holidays. It is a time for families to gather, reflect, and welcome the new year with traditions emphasizing purification and renewal. Learn some fun traditional games for celebrating the new year in Japan.​

Haiti: New Year's Day and Independence Day are celebrated together and typically celebrated with Freedom Soup. Download free printables for story comprehension and text-to-self connections.

Colombia: Discover New Year traditions with the picture book, Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela. A Teacher's Guide & Activities from the author includes reading questions and extension activities, a recipe for Colombian buñuelos, an Año Viejo craft, and a word search.

Banging bread on the walls (Ireland), throwing old furniture out the window (South Africa), cutting apples (Czech Republic) - discover more New Year traditions!​

Picture books about New Year Celebrations Around the World.

National  Ribbon Skirt Day was officially proclaimed into law in 2022 by the Canadian federal government; this day originated in Saskatchewan in 2020 when a First Nations girl was denied wearing her ribbon skirt at school. The Ribbon Skirt was created by First Nations and the Metis Nation and it is common to see women wearing them today.
More information
Make a Ribbon Skirt

World Braille Day Braille is a code that enables us to read with fingertips using a system of six raised dots. It was created in 1824 by a French boy named Louis Braille  who was born in 1809 in France and became blind after a childhood accident, however, he quickly mastered his new way of living. When Louis was only 15 years old, he created a reading and writing system based on Charles Barbier’s night writing system known today as braille. 

Check out the beautiful book by Menena Cottin, "The Black Book of Colors" which tells the story of a blind boy who views colours in his own special way.

For more information https://nfb.org/celebrate-world-braille-day

Harbin Ice Festival The city of Harbin in northeast China is famously home to the biggest ice sculpture festival in the world. Founded in 1897, Harbin is also one of China's newest cities and much of its Russian-style architecture dates from then.

Eastern Orthodox Christian, Coptic, and Rastafarian Christmas, follow the older Julian calendar, marking a day of peace and unity.

Lohri, observed in Punjab on January 13th every year, marks the end of winter and the start of long days and shorter nights; known in other parts of India as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Makar Sankranti in Bengal, Magha Bihu in Assam and Tai Pongal in Kerala. Lohri is celebrated in true spirit of the culture, Punjabi men and women perform Punjabi folk dances around a bonfire; Bhangra and Giddha are popular among them. During the day, children visit every house and sing Lohri songs asking for items, no one turns them away empty handed.Late in the evening, people gather around the bonfire and throw gachak, rewri, peanuts and popcorn into it and sing folk songs.

Pongal is a major celebration in India and people celebrate four days.
- the first day is called Bhogi. Many people burn and get rid of old household items and purchase new household items on this day. This marks the start of a new cycle.
- the second day is Perum, also known as Surya Pongal, and is the most important day of Pongal. Many people worship the sun god, Lord Surya by offering prayers on this day. Many people also wear new clothes and women decorate houses with Kolam (designs) using rice flour and red clay.
- Mattu Pongal is the third day and includes worshipping cattle because it is believed that cattle help give a good harvest.
- the fourth day is called Kanum Pongal, which is when many people go on picnic and spend time with families and friends. 

The Pongal festival also includes exchanging gifts, dancing, and bull taming contests.

UN International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of the Holocaust pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945.

Chinese / Lunar New Year / Seollal (Korea)/ Tet (Vietnam) begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. 2025 is the year of the Snake. Lunar New Year has a history that spans over 3,000 years originating as a way to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The festival is deeply rooted in Chinese mythology and folklore and has evolved over the centuries to become the grand celebration it is today. Each year the zodiac is associated with an animal sign; the Snake is considered a symbol of wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. Celebrations last for 15 days culminating with the Lantern Festival.

World Hijab Day is a day for people around the world to show solidarity with Muslim girls and women who are unfairly discriminated against for simply wearing the hijab (headscarf). It is a day to walk in the shoes of Muslim women to encourage religious tolerance, understanding and international solidarity. Women around the world, irrespective of faiths, come together by donning the hijab to stand against bigotry, discrimination and prejudice faced by Muslim girls and women in hijab. More activities.

Ground Hog Day  The legend goes that if Punxsutawney (PUNKS-uh-tawny) Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter, and if he doesn’t see his shadow, you can expect an early arrival of spring.

Valentines Day  This holiday was named after a man, Valentine. While a few different stories are told about what he did to inspire the holiday, many people believe he’s celebrated for his role as a Roman priest who helped couples secretly get married.

NS Heritage Day is annual reminder of Nova Scotia's past and an opportunity to honour the remarkable people, places and events that have contributed to this province’s unique heritage.

International Mother Language Day celebrates ways of expressing the world in its multiplicity, committing to the preservation of the diversity of languages as a common heritage, and working for quality education – in mother tongues – for all. More activities.

Carnival/Mardi Gras (Brazil) A two-day celebration before Ash Wednesday.

Ramadan (Islam) The holiest month in the Islamic Year and begins at the sighting of the new moon. It commemorates the period during which Prophet Mohammad received divine revelations. Observing Muslims fast between the hours of sunrise and sunset during the entire month, and read the Qu'ran. Classroom videos, stories and activities.

Mărțișor is a traditional Romanian and Bulgarian celebration that involves the exchange of small decorative tokens, called martisoare, usually red and white intertwined threads adorned with charms or small trinkets. The custom symbolizes the arrival of spring and is believed to bring good luck and health to those who wear the martisoare. 

Pancake Tuesday/Shrove Tuesday is the last day before the beginning of Lent. Strict Christian Lenten rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up their supplies of eggs, milk, butter and other fats!

International Women's Day (United Nations) Celebrating women around the world.

Holi (Hindu) also known as the Festival of Colors, Love and Spring, Holi is celebrated on the last full moon in the lunar month of Phalguna. This ancient tradition marks the end of winter and honours the triumph of good over evil. Celebrants light bonfires, throw colorful powder called gulal, eat sweets, and dance to traditional folk music.

St. Patricks Day celebrate the coming of spring the Irish way!

International Francophonie Day/UN French Language Day Celebrations of French language and culture around the world occur on March 20 every year.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed March 21 annually on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws" in 1960.

Eid al-Fitr is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide marking the end of the month long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon.

Various Cultural Spring Celebrations People all over the world mark the end of winter!

International Children's Book Day  Celebrated annually since 1967, is a day dedicated to instilling a love for books and reading. It is celebrated on or around Hans Christian Anderson’s birthday.

Qingming Festival is also known as Pure Brightness Festival or Tomb-sweeping Day, is a Chinese holiday that includes paying respect to the dead, going on a spring outing, and flying kites.

Tartan Day is a day for people around the world to celebrate their connections to Scotland. First recognized in Canada in 1987, the event is now marked around the world.

Passover This Jewish holiday is celebrated for seven or eight days, depending on the branch of Judaism the person practices. Passover is a time to reflect on the Hebrew people’s freedom from slavery in ancient Egypt.

Songkran is Thai's New Year’s festival known for its lively water fights and festive atmosphere. It involves water splashing as a symbolic cleansing and renewal, along with traditional rituals, parades, and family gatherings.

Easter (Christian) Takes place three days after Jesus's death on Good Friday, and celebrates his resurrection from the grave. Classroom videos, stories and activities.

Chinese Language Day Language Days at the United Nations seek to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. Under the initiative, UN duty stations around the world celebrate six separate days, each dedicated to one of the Organization's six official languages.

Earth Day is celebrated around the world honouring the earth and renewing our commitment to building a safer, healthier and cleaner world for all of us.

Gathering of the Nations Pow Wow Albuquerque, New Mexico is the venue of over 700 tribes and nations participating in a three-day event where over 3,000 participants share, teach and exchange traditions with each other.

International Dance Day is celebrated every year on April 29th, the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810) – the creator of modern ballet. The mission is to celebrate and bring people together with a common language – dance.

Mìos nan Gàidheal |Gaelic Nova Scotia Month in Nova Scotia which is a time to celebrate and create awareness of the history, culture, language, contributions, and achievements of Gaels across the province.

Canadian Jewish Heritage Month, a time to celebrate Jewish culture, faith, and history in Canada. To teach about this month please click here.

Asian Heritage Month in Canada is a time to reflect on and recognize the many contributions that people of Asian origin have made and continue to make to Canada. Canadian resources, videos.  Resources, lesson plans, and recommended literature for grades P-12. Printable sheets on well known people, Google Slides presentation.

Information and books on the ALR featuring Asian characters.

Kodomo no Hi, Children’s Day, is a Japanese national holiday honouring the well-being and happiness of children, featuring traditional decorations like Koinobori (carp-shaped streamers) and the display of samurai dolls, symbolizing strength and courage, in households with boys.

Hana Matsuri, also known as the Flower Festival, is celebrated in Japan to commemorate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha’s birthday). It is celebrated at different times in different regions: 

5 May (China, Vietnam, the Philippines and East Asia)

11 May (Myanmar, Thailand)

12 May (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka)

Black Excellence in Nova Scotia - Celebrating Black Excellence in schools provides an opportunity to acknowledge the brilliance, achievements, and talents of students, and recognize the past and present achievements, stories, art, and innovations of people of African descent; Google Slides presentation.

For more information visit the African Canadian Services Branch.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) reminds us that those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, or non-binary continue to experience significant disparities – including negative mental health impacts, unemployment, homelessness, harassment, and bullying – and they are often victims of violence simply for being themselves.

Victoria Day, the Sovereign's birthday has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) and was declared a holiday by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845. After Confederation, Queen Victoria’s birthday was celebrated every year on May 24 unless that date was a Sunday, in which case a proclamation was issued providing for the celebration on May 25. After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, an act was passed by the Parliament of Canada establishing a legal holiday on May 24 in each year (or May 25 if May 24 fell on a Sunday) under the name Victoria Day.

World Day for Cultural Diversity provides an opportunity to deepen understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together better.

“On 21 May, the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, UNESCO encourages people around the world to join us in celebrating cultural diversity and advocating for ways to protect and promote it in their own communities. In this way, all will be included and no one will be left behind.” — Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO

The Cheese Rolling Festival is an annual English tradition in which several contestants attempt to chase a rolling cheese wheel down a very steep hill to win one of the most unique competitions in the world. The tradition dates back centuries and is now officially an extreme sport with people from around the world travelling to Gloucester to catch a glimpse of the famous event.

Pride, Indigenous History, Portuguese, Italian and Filipino Heritage Month is a time to celebrate with these groups, bringing increased awareness to the experiences of our communities & neighbours; highlighting past and ongoing contributions of these groups, and an opportunity to learn more about these rich and vibrant traditions and cultures.

World Refugee Day  is an international day designed by the United Nations (UN) to honour people who have been forced to flee. Together, we champion their right to seek safety, build support for their economic and social inclusion, and advocate for solutions to their plight.

Canadian Multiculturalism Day The Government of Canada officially acknowledges the contributions that various communities make to Canadian society and celebrate the country's richness and diversity; ensuring that all citizens keep their identities, take pride in their ancestry and have a sense  of belonging.

Canada Day On July 1, 1867, the British North America Act created the Canadian federal government. The BNA proclaimed 'one Dominion under the name of Canada,' hence the original title of the holiday, 'Dominion Day.' Dominion Day was officially renamed 'Canada Day' by an act of Parliament on October 27, 1982.