Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021 Stronger Together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

Home , Darkinyung people, Dharug language, Japanese New Year, Korean New Year

Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021 Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

Lily Rose – Year 4 – Excelsior Public School

United Nations (UN) observances 2021 Languages for 2021 Australian English reflects the influence of the Darug people in words including boomerang, corroboree, dingo, koala, kookaburra, wallaby and the bush call coo-ee, which were all derived from The United Nations observes designated international days, weeks, years and decades, each with a January Dharug languages. theme or topic. These observances contribute to the achievement of the purposes of the UN Charter Tongan (Faka-Tongan) is an official and national language in the Kingdom of Tonga. It is a member of and promote awareness of and action on important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human the Polynesian branch of the Austronesian languages and is spoken by about 103,000 people mainly August rights issues. They provide a useful means for the promotion of international and national action and in Tonga. It is also spoken in Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, New Zealand, Niue and Wallis Island. It is Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 130 million people mainly in West Punjab in stimulate interest in United Nations activities and programs. Many of the themes are relevant to the closely related to Niuean, Wallisian and Samoan. Tongan is mainly a spoken language. Pakistan and in East Punjab in India. There are also significant numbers of Punjabi speakers in the UK, school curriculum and community and can be observed at school and/or used as focal points Canada, the UAE, the USA, Saudi Arabia and Australia. Punjabi is one of India’s 22 official languages in lesson planning. It was first written by missionaries in the early 19th century using a number of different spelling and it is the first official language in East Punjab. In Pakistan Punjabi is the second most widely- systems. The current system was promulgated by the Privy Council of Tonga in 1943. A few literary spoken language but has no official status. For more information on the following years and decades see the UN website. publications have been made in Tongan, including translations of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. was written with a version of the Urdu ( یباجنپ) Other publications include daily newspapers and weekly and monthly magazines. In West Punjab, from the 11th century, Punjabi alphabet known as Shahmukhi which means ‘from the King’s mouth’. The Shahmukhi alphabet There are almost 4,500 students from Tongan speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools. currently used was developed in Pakistan in 2016. It is written from right to left in horizontal lines. In East Punjab, Punjabi ( ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ) is written with the Gurmukhi alphabet which was standardised The traditional Tongan calendar was based on the phases of the moon and had 13 months. The main during the 16th century by Guru Angad Dev Ji. Gurmukhi means ‘from the mouth of the Guru’. It is purpose of the calendar for Tongans was to determine the time for the planting and cultivation of written from left to right in horizontal lines and is the alphabet used in this calendar. yams, which were Tonga’s most important staple food. Mid December to early January is Lihamui and mid-January to early February is Vaimu’a. There are approximately 5,300 students from Punjabi speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools.

February September 2021 - International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour Spanish (español/ castellano) is a Romance language with approximately 470 million speakers, 410 Swahili (Kiswahili) is a Bantu language spoken in Tanzania, Burundi, Congo (Kinshasa), Kenya, million of whom speak it as a first language while the remainder speak it as a second language. A Mayotte, Mozambique, Oman, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, UAE and the USA. Around 2021 - International Year of Peace and Trust significant number of people also speak Spanish as a foreign language. It is the language of Spain and 5 million people speak Swahili as a native language and a further 135 million speak it as a second an official language of another 19 countries mainly in Central and South America. language. Swahili is an official language of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya and is used as a lingua franca 2021 - International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development throughout East Africa. Spanish is written using the Latin script. Spanish first appeared in writing in the form of notes in Latin 2021 - International Year of Fruits and Vegetables religious texts dating from the 11th century. During the 12th century, law codes were being translated The earliest known Swahili documents were official letters to the Portuguese people of Mozambique into Spanish and in the 13th century Spanish prose and poetry began to flourish. in 1711 and an epic poem in 1728 written in the Arabic script. With the arrival of the European colonial International decades currently observed by the United Nations include: powers in East Africa Swahili was used as the main language of administration and the Latin alphabet There are around 8,000 students from Spanish speaking public in NSW public schools. was increasingly used to write it. 2021 – 2030 United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration March There are over 700 students from Swahili speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools. 2021 – 2030 International Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development Burmese ( ) or Myanmar, is a member of the Lolo-Burmese branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. It is spoken mainly in Myanmar (Burma), where it is the official language. There are October 2019 – 2028 Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace about 33 million people who speak Burmese as a first language. There are also thought to be another Mongolian (монгол) is an Altaic language spoken by approximately 5 million people in Mongolia, 10 million who speak it as a second language. Standard Burmese is spoken in the Irrawaddy River China, Afghanistan and Russia. There are a number of closely related varieties of Mongolian which are 2018 – 2028 International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” valley. spoken mainly in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region of China. 2018 – 2027 Third United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty Burmese dialects in other parts of Burma differ from the standard, but they are all more or less Through the centuries there have been several systems used for writing Mongolian based on Uyghur, mutually intelligible. Tibetan and Latin alphabets but in 1941 the Cyrillic alphabet was officially adopted. Traditional 2016 – 2025 United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition Mongolian script is now taught to some extent in schools, though it is mainly used for decorative The Burmese or Myanmar script developed from the Mon script, which was adapted from a southern purposes by artists, designers, calligraphers and poets and in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous 2014 – 2024 United Nations Decade of Sustainable Energy for All Indian script during the 8th century. The rounded appearance of letters is a result of the use of palm Region of China. Traditional Mongolian script is written from left to right in vertical columns running leaves as the traditional writing material. Straight lines would have torn the leaves. The Burmese from top to bottom. name for the script is ca-lonh ‘round script’. The earliest known inscriptions in the Burmese script The Lunar Calendar and the Year of the Ox and the Wombat date from the 11th century. There are more than 800 students from Mongolian speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools.

The Lunar New Year 4719 will be celebrated on 12 February 2021. It celebrates Xin Nian, the There are about 750 students from Burmese speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools. November Chinese New Year, Solnal, the Korean New Year, Tết, the Vietnamese New Year and also Losar, Malayalam (മലയാളം) is a Southern Dravidian language spoken mainly in the Indian state of Kerala April in southern India, but also in other Indian states. There are about 35.5 million speakers of Malayalam the New Year celebrations for Tibet. Traditionally Shōgatsu, the Japanese New Year was also celebrated on this date but French is a Romance language spoken by about 354 million people worldwide. It is the third most in India. There are also many speakers of Malayalam in other countries, including around 52,000 in since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each spoken language in Europe, after German and English, and is also spoken in parts of Africa, North Australia. year. In most of these nations the Gregorian calendar is used for civil purposes but the lunar calendar is used to determine America, South America, Asia and Oceania. It is the language of France and an official language of The name Malayalam means “mountain region”, and comes from mala (mountain) and alam (region). festivals and auspicious dates such as weddings and moving house. another 27 nations. Originally the name referred to the land and was later used to refer to the language. French was widely used as a diplomatic language from the 17th century until the middle of the 20th This lunar new year is based on the traditional Chinese Agricultural Calendar which is lunisolar, primarily lunar century when it was replaced by English. It is still used in many international organisations. The current Malayalam alphabet has evolved from the Grantha alphabet, brought to the southwest but partially solar, guided by the movement of the moon as well as the sun. It is commonly called the lunar French is written using the Latin script and first appeared in writing in 842 CE. Before then, Latin was of India in the 8th or 9th century, to a systemised Malayalam alphabet in the early 13th century. With the language used for literature throughout Europe. some changes the Malayalam alphabet attained its current form by the 19th century. It is written calendar. from left to right in horizontal lines. During the 10th and 11th centuries, French appeared in a number of documents and religious The Chinese lunar calendar is associated with the Chinese zodiac, which has 12 animal signs: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, writings, and as literature from the late 12th century. Malayalam is also regularly written with a version of the Arabic script by Muslims in Singapore and Malaysia, and occasionally by Muslims in Kerala. dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each animal represents a year in a 12 year cycle, There are about 3,400 students from French speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools. beginning on Lunar New Year’s Day. There are many legends concerning the choice and order of the animals The oldest known writing in Malayalam is known as the Edakal-5 inscription and dates from late 4th and their characteristics which are said to be imparted to people born in their year. May century or the early 5th century CE. is a Turkic language with about 25 million speakers mainly in the Xinjiang ەچرۇغيۇئ Uyghur Uyghur Autonomous Region in the north west of China. In Xinjiang, Uyghur is an official There are approximately 2,600 students from Malayalam speaking backgrounds in NSW public The Australian Chinese Zodiac was developed by the Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce in Australia to language widely used in education and in the media, and as a lingua franca among other peoples. schools. promote understanding between Chinese and Australian cultures. Animals from the traditional zodiac have been There are also significant communities of Uyghur speakers in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. matched to native animals according to their perceived similar characteristics. This year the Ox is matched to the December Over the course of its history, Uyghur has been written with several scripts including versions of the Hungarian (Magyar) is an Ugric language with about 13 million speakers in Hungary (Magyarország), Wombat. For the complete Australian Chinese Zodiac visit http://www.australianchinesezodiac.com.au/ Arabic, Latin and Cyrillic alphabets adapted to represent the sounds of Uyghur. In 1987, the Arabic Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Austria and Slovenia. There is also a large diaspora in the UK and other script replaced the Latin alphabet as the official script for writing Uyghur in China. In this version of European countries, the USA, Canada and Australia. Hungarian is the official language of Hungary Ox 牛 Arabic, all vowels are spelled out and it is written in horizontal lines from right to left. and one of the official languages of the European Union (EU). The Ox is noted for its patience and taciturnity. It is eccentric, bigoted and can be angered easily. There are about 60 students from Uyghur speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools. Hungarian is a highly inflected language in which nouns can have up to 238 possible forms. It is 冷静，沉默，有耐性。有时却难免偏执，坚持己见，甚至容易动怒。 related to Mansi, an Ob-Ugric language with about 4,000 speakers who live in the eastern Urals and June Khanty or Ostyak, the other Ob-Ugric language which is spoken by about 15,000 people in the Ob Wombat 袋熊 Assyrian / Neo-Assyrian ( ) is spoken by an estimated 3 million people in parts of Iran, valley of western Siberia. The wombat is a very patient mammal with its own eccentric character and can be very defensive when a threat approaches. Iraq, Turkey and Syria, and among the Assyrian diaspora mainly in the USA and Europe. Assyrian is also known as Assyrian Neo-Aramaic. Assyrian is usually written in the madnhāyā version of the Syriac The earliest written text in Hungarian was a funeral oration (halotti beszéd) written in 1196, and the 拥有与鼠相似的特性，自信，迷人。悉心照顾其幼齿是袋鼠的习性。同时，袋鼠是群居动物，与鼠一样， alphabet and is written from left to right in horizontal lines. The Syriac Latin alphabet, developed in first complete book to be printed in Hungarian, Az zenth Paal leueley magyar nyeluen (The letters 与牛相似，袋熊亦是非常有耐性的动物。但当遇到外界敌意威胁时，它会变得异常敏感，亦会显露其偏执的一面 the 1930s, has also become widespread mainly in the Assyrian diaspora for practical reasons and its of Saint Paul in the Hungarian language) by Benedek Komjáti, was published in 1533 in Kraków in convenience, especially in social media. Poland. Hungarian literature flourished during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Cover artwork There are over 4,500 students from Assyrian speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools. There are nearly 600 students from Hungarian speaking backgrounds in NSW public schools.

Class 2P – Glendore Public School – Awabakal Country July Stronger together When the First Fleet arrived in Australia in 1788 several distinct groups of Aboriginal people occupied The Stronger together story is told through Aboriginal art. It represents the difficult times the Sydney Basin. The largest of these groups were the people of the Dharug language group. Darug over the past year that New South Wales has been through – the drought, bushfires, floods country extended from the Sydney CBD to the Blue Mountains. Dharug is the language. Darug are the people and the land. and COVID 19. After all that we have been through we have pulled together as a state and education provider and we have proven we are stronger together. The painting has the The Darug people are thought to have lived in groups or communities of around footprints of the wombat and the wombat represents determination and strength. 50 members. Each group retained its own hunting district, and each lived a semi- nomadic lifestyle, regularly changing location within their country. Typical dwellings This painting was completed by class 2P under the guidance and teaching of Mrs Kerry were two-sided bark tents known as gunyahs, while sandstone rock shelters were used in harsh weather. Men of the communities were responsible for hunting Traditional Darug welcome by Darug Gomen (Richard Green) Patterson, a teacher from the Darkinyung people. possums, fish, birds and kangaroo, often collaborating with other groups to hunt and eat the larger animals. Fire was used to reduce undergrowth and to catch game. Inside Cover – Lily Rose Year 4 – Excelsior Public School – Darug Country Iyura wa Pemul Coy Byalla Bulunga Nurene Wianga Naababan Gadigal Baou. Ngalu Iy-ora Curious wombat Darug women harvested what the Europeans called yams (the community’s staple) with digging Yen-noong wa Pemul, Wingiri Bar-ru-wall-uri; Goo-me-da Durrubin Boot-Boot Gno-rang Gwinanga The curious wombat is wandering in his beautiful land in search of what this lunar year will sticks. Food was cooked lightly on open fires or in ovens beneath the ground. The culture of the Tarimi Al-lo-wan Moo-tang, Tyelkala Pemul wa Bado Wianga. Bidjigal, Gommeraiagal, Wangel, bring to his life. He looks into the water and sees the bright, glistening sun. This knoorre-knoorre (wombat) is happy to be in his nice and Darug people involved a deeply spiritual association with the land and was evident in singing, dancing Gadigal, Dhrawal, Darkinjang wa Darug. Didgerry-Goor Biame. warm home. and stories as well as the many engravings on the flat sandstone outcrops of the Sydney Basin, some of which have remained for thousands of years. We welcome you to the land of the dolphin; their spirits flow through the hearts of this place, Inside Cover – Students Y4 – Y10 – Carenne School – Wiradjuri Country The arrival of Europeans to the country of the Darug people had devastating effects on the giving us the strength and passion, to live and enjoy all that the land has to offer us. As people of Jack Murphy, Danny Pike, Sophie Slatter, Faith Butler, Joshua Bearne-Ryan indigenous population. Violence and small pox wiped out most of the coastal people and soon after Year of the Wombat spread to the inland Darug communities around the Hawkesbury-Nepean area. As a result many this land we invite everyone to walk and to talk with our brothers and sisters as equals and to share Firstly, we made a monoprint background and then created our wombats using collage. We found out that the local Aboriginal (Wiradjuri) records and stories of the people were lost. Today there is a revitalisation of the Dharug language by in our vision for the future. Thanks to the Almighty. leaders and members of the Darug community with teaching and learning programs in schools and name for wombat is Wombad and that all species of wombats are protected in every Australian state. communities.

Acknowledgements 2022 Calendar contributions For additional resources teachers may visit: NSW Department of Education advisors from the Multicultural Education Team, Educational • www.racismnoway.com.au Standards Directorate coordinate the annual development of the calendar and related information Schools are invited to submit student artwork celebrating cultural diversity for the 2022 theme: • www.roads-to-refuge.com.au in consultation with the Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships Directorate. ‘In my language‘ by Friday 13 August 2021. 2022 is the year of the tiger and, according to the • www.alltogethernow.org.au Australian Chinese Zodiac, the Tasmanian tiger. The department acknowledges the work of students, teachers and schools in contributing a high standard of artwork for selection in this year’s calendar. Information regarding the submission of artwork is available via the Department of Education Note website or email: [email protected] Dates and events printed in the calendar are confirmed at the time of press. Many government departments, religious, community and ethno specific organisations, local authorities and community members have provided advice and information. Teaching and learning activities *Events marked with an asterisk indicate that the date may be subject to change; or that there may

Information to support intercultural understanding and build knowledge about cultural diversity is be regional and/or denominational differences in when the event is observed. A poster is attached to the calendar. It displays the word ‘Welcome’ in many of our community available via the Education NSW website. languages. It is designed for display in the classroom and around the school to help promote an Design by Thommen Design inclusive anti-racism ethos in the school community.

Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

Kaylah Hackney and Charlie Champion – Stage 1 – Jugiong Public School – Ngunnawal Country This month’s community language is Tongan Watering the Friendship Garden Together Sanuali January When we work together amazing things happen, just like this garden. Other events Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 January Liberation Day – Cuba Mōnite Tūsite Pulelulu Tu’apulelulu Falaite Tokonaki Sāpate Independence Day – Haiti National Day – Sudan 6 January Nollaig na mBan (Little Women’s Christmas – Ireland) 6 – 26 January Sydney Festival New Year’s1 Day 2 3 26 January Australia Day celebrations Ganjitsu (Japan) 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN) Milestones 1 January Federation of Australia formed 1901 9 January Final convict transportation to Australia landed in Western Australia 1868 16 January First group of free settlers arrived World Braille4 Day (UN) Twelfth Night (Christian)5 Christmas6 Day Christmas7 Day 8 9 10 Independence Day – Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind (Armenian Orthodox Christian) (Orthodox Christian) at Port Jackson 1793 Republic of the Union of Myanmar Singh Ji (Sikh) Three Kings Day (Christian) 22 January Australia signed the United Nations Convention on Refugees 1954 26 January Nationality and Citizens Act created status of ‘Australian Citizen’ 1948

11 12 Maghi (Sikh cultural13 festival) Orthodox New14 Year (Christian) 15 16 World17 Religion Day Pongal – Makar Sankranti (Hindu)

Martin Luther18 King Day (USA) 19 20 21 22 23 International24 Day of Education (UN)

Robert Burns25 Day – Scotland 26Australia Day Term 1 begins27 (Eastern Division) New Year (Buddhist28 – Mahayana 29 30 National31 Day – Nauru Survival Day tradition)

*Events marked with an asterisk indicate that the date may be subject to change; or that there may be regional and/or denominational differences in when the event is observed.

Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

5/6 McCartney – Cambridge Gardens Public School – Darug Country This month’s community language is Spanish A Collage of Us This is a collage of students from our classroom. We believe our class is fantastic and unique because we love learning together and having fun with each other. febrero February We created these self-portraits using coloured paper. When our faces are displayed as a collective, the artwork represents our strength in unity. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Other events 1 – 7 February World Interfaith Harmony Week (UN) lunes martes miercoles jueves viernes sabado domingo 11 February National Day – Iran 12 February Lunar New Year celebrations Losar – Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan Solnal – Korea Tết – Vietnam 1 Groundhog2 Day – USA Term 1 begins (western3 division) World Cancer Day4 (WHO) 5 Waitangi Day – New6 Zealand Independence Day 7– Grenada Xin Nian – China World Wetlands Day Independence Commemoration 12 February Fairfield CityLunar New Year Festival Day – Sri Lanka 12 – 14 February Glen Innes Show 12 – 21 February City of Sydney Lunar New Year Celebrations 13 – 14 January Crookwell Show

17 February Discovery Day – Lord Howe Island (1788) 26 – 28 February Cobargo Folk Festival

8 Safer Internet9 Day (SID) 10 St11 Vartan’s Day Lunar New Year12 – Year of the Ox World13 Radio Day (UN) 14St Valentine’s Day Milestones St Maroun’s Feast Day (Maronite (Armenian Christian) and Wombat Christian) International Day of Women and 7 February Colony of New South Wales Girls in Science (UN) formally proclaimed 1788 13 February Australian Government apology to Indigenous Australians 2008 15 February Current NSW state flag adopted 1876 18 February First school in the NSW Colony National15 Day – Serbia Shrove Tuesday/Pancake16 Day Banjo Paterson’s17 birthday Independence 18Day – The Gambia 19 World Day20 of Social Justice (UN) International 21Mother Language opened 1793 (Christian) Ash Wednesday – Lent begins Day (UN) Vasant Panchami (Hindu) (Christian) Independence Day – Kosovo Independence Day – Lithuania

National22 Day – Saint Lucia National Day23 – Brunei Darussalam Independence24 Day – Estonia National25 Day – Kuwait Magha26 Puja Day (Buddhist – Independence27 Day – Dominican 28 Emperor’s birthday – Japan Theravada tradition) Republic Yuan Xiao/Lantern Festival (China) Purim/Festival of Lots (Jewish)

*Events marked with an asterisk indicate that the date may be subject to change; or that there may be regional and/or denominational differences in when the event is observed.

Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

Elijah Dixon, Y6 – Lockhart Central School – Wiradjuri Country This month’s community language is Burmese Under the same sky All Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are under the same sky together. We need to work together and improve our wellbeing and how people are treated to live in a better March world. Other events Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday ′ 1 – 31 March Bandaged Bear Appeal, Children’s Hospital at Westmead 6 – 7 March Greek Fest, Darling Harbour 6 March – 30 May Greek Festival of Sydney 8 March United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace (UN) First day of autumn1 2 World Wildlife3 Day (UN) 4 Youth and Schools Clean5 Up Day Foundation Day – Norfolk6 Island Clean Up Australia7 Day 11 March Restoration of Idependence Day – Lithuania St David’s Day (Wales) National Day – Bulgaria World Day of Prayer Independence Day – Ghana 14 – 18 March Pronaya (Mandaean) (Ecumenical Christian) 19 – 20 March Camden Show – Still a country show! 20 March International Day of Happiness (UN) 21 March Thirlmere Festival of Steam International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN) International Day of Forests (UN) Commonwealth8 Day 9 10 Selective High School11 Placement National12 Day – Mauritius 13 Pi Day14 (Mathematics) 21 – 27 March Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Canberra Day Test (Australian Capital Territory) Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) Struggling against Racism and Racial International Women’s Day (UN) Isra and Mi’raj/Night Journey* (Muslim) Discrimination (UN) 28 March Sydney Children’s Festival, Tumbalong Park

Harmony Day 21 March Harmony Day is an initiative of Australia’s 15Ides of March 16 St Patrick’s17 Day (Ireland) National Close18 the Gap Day National Day19 of Action against 20Autumn equinox 21Harmony Day Commonwealth Government and a Bullying and Violence Naw-Rúz (New Year Bahá’í) International Day of Nowruz (UN) recognition of the United Nations’ St Joseph’s Feast Day French Language Day (UN) World Poetry Day (UNESCO) International Day for the Elimination of (Maronite Christian) Independence Day – Namibia Independence Day – Tunisia Racial Discrimination. Anti-racism education resources are available on the Department’s website. A number of other organisations, such as All Together Now, also provide anti-racism resources.

World22 Water Day (UN) World Meteorological23 Day (UN) World Tuberculosis24 Day (WHO) Independence25 Day – Greece Independence26 Day – Bangladesh 27 28Neighbour Day Milestones National Day – Pakistan Palm Sunday (Christian) First day of Passover (Jewish) 25 March Indigenous ex-servicemen granted voting rights 1949

National29 Vietnam War 30 31 Veterans Day Holi (Hindu) Hola Mohalla (Sikh cultural festival)

*Events marked with an asterisk indicate that the date may be subject to change; or that there may be regional and/or denominational differences in when the event is observed. Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

Students Y4-6 – Nimmitabel Public School – Ngarigo Country This month’s community language is French Perfectly Imperfect Every star is perfectly imperfect, but we all work together to make each day wondrous and extraordinary. We are lucky to live in big sky country and take inspiration avril April from the night sky where the Milky Way and constellations spark curiosity and wonderment. Together we shine brightly and reach for the stars. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Other events 1 – 12 April Sydney Royal Easter Show lundi mardi mercredi jeudi vendredi samedi dimanche 2 – 3 April Maclean Highland Gathering 4 April Quingming/Tomb Sweeping Festival (China) 12 April – 11 May Ramadan Nights, Lakemba 13 – 16 April New Year festivals: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Term1 1 ends Good Friday2 (Christian) Easter Saturday3 (Christian) Daylight saving4 time ends Thailand (Songkran) April Fools’ Day West Ryde Easter Parade and Fair Easter Sunday (Christian) 14 – 24 April NSW Seniors Festival Maundy Thursday (Christian) Independence Day – Senegal International Children’s Book Day 16 – 24 April NSW Youth Week 18 April – 19 May Australian Heritage Festival 23 April Spanish Language Day (UN) 23 – 24 April Gilgandra Show 23 – 24 April Moree Show 26 April – 2 May Sydney Writers’ Festival Easter Monday (Christian)5 International Day of6 Sport for World Health Day7 (WHO) Hana Matsuri (Buddhist8 – Japan) 9 10 11 27 April Freedom Day – South Africa Development and Peace (UN) Togolais National Day – Togo 30 April – 2 May Royal Bathurst Show

Milestones

3 April UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People International Day12 of Human Space Ramadan begins**13 (Muslim) Hindu Solar New14 Year* (Hindu) National15 Day – Israel Queen’s Birthday16 – Denmark Bundanoon17 is Brigadoon World18 Heritage Day Flight (UN) Sikh New Year - Vaisakhi (Sikh) Independence Day – National Day – Zimbabwe endorsed by Australia 2009 Syrian Arab Republic 25 April The ANZACs landed at Gallipoli 1915 29 April Captain Cook landed at Botany Bay 1770

19Term 2 begins First20 day of Ridvan (Bahá’í) Rama21 Navami (Hindu) International22 Mother Earth Day St George’s23 Day (England) 24 25ANZAC Day Chinese Language Day (UN) Serisal /Yezidi New Year (Yezidi) (UN) National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Turkey) English Language Day (UN)

26Union Day – 27New Year International28 Guide Dog Day 29 30Stewart House Day United Republic of Tanzania (Buddhist – Theravadin tradition) Ninth day of Ridvan (Bahá’i) Orthodox Good Friday (Christian) King’s Day – Netherlands International Jazz Day (UNESCO) Independence Day – Sierra Leone *Events marked with an asterisk indicate that the date may be subject to change; or that there may be regional and/or denominational differences in when the event is observed. **Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays such as Ramadan. In some lunar calendars the day begins at sunset, so there may be a one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.

Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

All students, K-12 – Glenvale School – Darkinjung Country This month’s community language is Uyghur Big Fish Each of our 8 classes studied fish, and how they come together to form a school of fish. Together, they are stronger as they swim side by side, acting like one powerful fish. May Each student then made a fish using paint or collage. All the fish were collaged together to make one big fish.

Other events Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 May Bourke Show Twelfth day of Ridvan (Bahá’í) National Day – Marshall Islands 1 – 2 May Australian Celtic Festival: Year of Ireland and the Isle of Man 2 – 8 May Motor Neurone Disease Week 8 – 9 May St Ives Show World No Tobacco31 Day (WHO) May1 Day Orthodox Easter Sunday2 (Christian) Orthodox Easter Saturday 8 – 9 May Walgett Show (Christian) 11 – 13 May Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 NAPLAN pen and paper International Labour Day assessments 11 – 21 May Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 NAPLAN online test window 14 – 15 May The Riverina Field Days, Griffith Showgrounds 15 – 21 May National Families Week 16 May Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon 17 – 23 May National Volunteer Week World Press Freedom3 Day International Firefighters’4 Day Kodomo no Hi/Children’s5 Day 6 Cornflower7 Blue Day Laylatul Al Qadr/Night8 of Destiny Mother’s9 Day 22 – 29 Blacktown City Festival Week* (UNESCO) World Asthma Day (Japan and Korea) (Muslim) Europe Day (European Union) Orthodox Easter Monday (Christian) World Red Crescent Day 26 May Independence Day – Georgia National Day – Poland World Red Cross Day National Day – Guyana 26 May – 11 July Gai-mariagal Festival (Northern Sydney region) 27 May – 3 June National Reconciliation Week 29 May Blacktown Streets Alive and Parade Day, Blacktown* 29 – 30 May Red Shield Doorknock Appeal 10World Lupus Day National Assessment11 Program International12 Nurses Day Ascension13 Day (Christian) National14 Day – Paraguay International15 Day of Families RSPCA Million16 Paws Walk (NAPLAN) commences Eid Al Fitr (Muslim) International Day of Living (The Salvation Army, Australia) Together in Peace Milestones

6 May The Commonwealth Migration Act 1958 was amended, effectively dismantling the White Australia Policy 1966 22 May Convict transportation to NSW ended 1840 22 May Official announcement of the discovery of gold Shavuot/Feast of Weeks (Jewish) Dehba ad Demana (Mandaean) World Bee Day (UN) International Tea Day (UN) International Day for Biological Declaration of the Báb (Bahá’í) 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 in NSW 1851 International Day Against International Museum Day National Day – Cameroon World Day for Cultural Diversity for Diversity (UN) Pentecost/Whitsunday (Christian) Homophobia Restoration of Independence – Dialogue and Development (UN) Unification Day – Yemen 27 May The 1967 referendum removed discrimination Constitution Day – Norway Timor-Leste against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Independence24 Day – Eritrea Africa25 Day (African Union) 26National Sorry Day Public27 Education Day Ascension28 of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) International 29Day of United Nations 30 National Day – Argentina Buddha Purnima – 2583rd Birth Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea, Republic Day – Azerbaijan Peacekeepers Independence Day – Jordan Anniversary of Gautama Buddha Cancer Council National Day – Ethiopia United Nations Day of Vesak* (UN)

5/6 Pacific Ocean – Rylstone Public School – Wiradjuri Country This month’s community language is Assyrian Better Together June This artwork represents our community. The bees are the people and the hive is our place. Just like the bee community, our communities work better and are stronger together. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Other events 5 June Matsuri Festival (Japan), Parramatta 9 – 20 June Sydney Film Festival* 13 – 19 June National Blood Donor Week* 20 June Mini-Mos Community Fun Run and Fair, Mosman 20 – 26 June National Refugee Week First day of1 winter Foundation of the Republic2 – Italy 3Mabo Day International Day 4of Innocent World Environment5 Day (UN) Russian Language6 Day (UN) Global Day of Parents (UN) Children Victims of Aggression (UN) Constitution Day – Denmark National Day – Sweden 25 June Day of the Seafarer (UN) Independence Day – Samoa 25 June – 11 July Way Out West (WOW) Children’s Festival, Casula Powerhouse* 26 June International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (UN) International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (UN) 7 Bounty Day – Norfolk8 Island 9 Portugal10 Day – Portugal 11 World Day Against12 Child Labour 13 World Oceans Day (UN) (UN) Milestones Independence Day – Philippines National Day – Russian Federation 3 June Mabo Native Title High Court Decision 1992 11 June Commonwealth of Australia Racial Discrimination Act 1975 26 June Australia joined the United Nations 1945

Queen’s birthday14 holiday (NSW) 15 Martyrdom of16 Guru Arjan Dev Ji World17 Day to Combat National18 Day – Seychelles 19 20World Refugee Day Tuen Ng/Dragon Boat Festival (Sikh) Desertification and Drought (UN) (China) International Day of the African National Day – Iceland World Blood Donor Day (WHO) Child (WHO)

21Winter Solstice 22 International23 Olympic Day 24 25Term 2 ends National26 Day – Madagascar Independence27 Day – Djibouti National Day – Luxembourg National Day – Croatia Independence Day – Mozambique National Day – Slovenia

28 International29 Day of the Tropics 30International Day of (UN) Parliamentarism (UN) Independence Day – Democratic Republic of the Congo

All students K-12 – The Ponds School – Darug Country This month’s community language is Dharug Yenma Yenmalaibylia - Let’s Walk Together (local Dharug language) – The Ponds School is a moderate to severe school for special purposes, catering for students from K-12. This unique artwork was composed by each and every student present on the day. Rarely do we have an opportunity to intertwine our individual identities so powerfully. There was no outline, for this Duggara activity other than to allow the children to be themselves – to place colour and form at their will and to be part of something bigger than themselves – to be “in this together”. (cold) July We have created something greater than our sum, and it is beautiful beyond measure. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Other events 1 July International Tartan Day Dharug is the language of the Darug people who lived in the Sydney Basin when the first fleet arrived in 1788. Darug people did not measure time by days and months but by seasons. July or thereabouts is Duggara when the Darug moved from their two-sided bark dwellings called gunyahs to sandstone rock shelters for the harsh weather. 2 – 10 July Cumberland Gang Show, Riverside Theatre, Parramatta 4 – 11 July NAIDOC Week* 10 July International Brick and Rolling Pin Throwing Contest, Stroud National Day – Burundi1 Salvation Army Founder’s2 Day National Day3 – Belarus Liberation Day4 – Rwanda 23 July – 8 Aug XXXII Summer Olympic Games, Tokyo Canada Day – Canada (Christian) Independence Day – USA 24 July Bankstown Bites Festival National Day – Somalia 30 July International Day of Friendship (UN)

Milestones 17 July UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability ratified by Australia 2008 National Day – Cape5 Verde Dalai Lama’s6 birthday National Day – Solomon7 Islands 8 Martydom of the Bab9 (Bahá’í) Independence10 Day – Bahamas World Population11 Day (UN) National Day – Venezuela National Day – Comoros Independence Day – South Sudan Anniversary of Mongolian People’s National Day – Malawi Revolution – Mongolia

12Term 3 begins National Day13 – Montenegro Bastille14 Day – France World Youth15 Skills Day (UN) Kenshi W16 zehli (Mandaean) St17 Charbel’s Feast Nelson Mandela 18International Day National Day – Kiribati (Maronite Christian) (UN) National Day – Sao Tome and Debha ad Raba (Mandaean) Principe

19 20Eid Al Adha (Muslim) Opportunity21 Class (OC) 22 Dehwa Sheshyan23 (Mandaean) Asalha24 Puja – Dhamma Day 25 National Day – Colombia Placement Test Anniversary of Revolution (Buddhist – Theravada tradition) Accession of King Leopold I (1831) of 23 July – Egypt Guru Purnima (Hindu) – Belgium

National26 Day – Liberia 27 Independence28 Day – Peru 29 National30 Tree Day for schools 31 National Day – Maldives Throne Day – Morocco Independence Day – Vanuatu *Events marked with an asterisk indicate that the date may be subject to change; or that there may be regional and/or denominational differences in when the event is observed. Stronger together Calendar for Cultural Diversity 2021

Whole school, K-6 – Ashfield Public School – Eora Nation This month’s community language is Punjabi Welcome Wish Students were inspired by the true story of Sadako Sakasi and the Japanese folklore which says that anyone who folds 1000 paper cranes will be granted a wish. All students from Kindergarten to Year 6 worked together to fold 1000 paper cranes (a Senbazuru) which were then embellished August with messages of hope and wishes for the future.

Other events Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 August National Tree Day 2 – 6 August Education Week – Public Schools NSW 6 – 28 August Vivid Sydney 13 – 14 August Tullamore Show 13 – 15 August Obon (Buddhist – Japan) 14 – 22 August National Science Week Krishna30 Janmashtami (Hindu) National Day – 31Kyrgyz Republic Horses’ birthday1 Food: Different by design National Day – Malaysia National Day – Benin 21 August Bedgerabong Show National Day – Foundation of the Swiss 21 – 22 August International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend Trinidad and Tobago Confederation Day – Switzerland 21 – 27 August Children’s Book Week 22 August Macarthur Multicultural Children’s Festival, Koshigaya Park 24 Aug – 5 Sept XVI Summer Paralympic Games Tokyo 29 Aug – 4 Sep Legacy Week 2 3 National Aboriginal 4and Torres 5 Jeans for Genes6 Day National Day – Cote7 d’Ivôire Sun-Herald8 City2Surf Strait Islander Children’s Day Hiroshima Peace Day Constitution Day – Cook Islands Independence Day – Bolivia 2022 Calendar for Cultural Diversity National Day – Jamaica 13 August Deadline for submitting student artwork for the 2022 Calendar for Cultural Diversity on the theme ‘In my language’ to: [email protected]

International Day of the9 World’s Hijra/Islamic 10New Year (Muslim) National11 Day – Chad International12 Youth Day (UN) 13Red Nose Day 14 Independence15 Day – Milestones Indigenous People (UN) National Day – Ecuador International Left-Handers Day Republic of Congo National Day Singapore Student artworks due for 2022 Independence Day – India 1 August First sitting of the New South Wales Calendar for Cultural Diversity National Day – Liechtenstein Legislative Council 1843 1 August Snowy Mountains Authority established 1949 11 August New South Wales constituted a Crown Colony 1824 17 August First NSW welfare institution, 16 National17 Day – Gabon Vietnam Veterans’18 Day – Battle of World Humanitarian19 Day (UN) Day of the Foundation20 of the State International21 Lighthouse Day 22Ullambana – the Female Orphan School, opened 1801 Proclamation of Independence – Long Tan Independence Day – Afghanistan of Hungary and St Stephen’s Day Hungry Ghost Festival 27 August NSW Women’s Franchise Act 1902 Indonesia – Hungary (Buddhist – China, Vietnam) Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)

International23 Day for the National24 Day – Ukraine Meals25 on Wheels Day 26 27Daffodil Day 28 International29 Day against Nuclear Remberance of the Slave Trade Independence Day – Uruguay National Day – Tests (UN) and its Abolition (UNESCO) Republic of Moldova

Elois Lonnen – Year 10 – Cootamundra High School – Wiradjuri Country This month’s community language is Swahili Family Community Family Community is a representation of my town. When our town is in need the community stands together, helping each other through the tough septemba September times. Living in a small rural town has its perks like that. The family community becomes a part of your personality and whenever you can, you help.

Other events Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 September First Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh) Jumatatu Jumanne Jumatano Alhamisi Ijumaa Jumamosi Jumapili Constitution Day – Slovak Republic Independence Day – Uzbekistan 1 – 7 September National Asthma Week 1 – 30 September Save the Koala Month 3 September National Foundation Day – San Marino First day of1 Spring National Day2 – Vietnam Australia National3 Flag Day Lake Cargelligo4 Show Fathers’5 Day 3 – 10 September National Sea Week National Wattle Day Legacy Badge Day Festival of the Winds, Bondi 4 – 11 September History Week (NSW) Indigenous Literacy Day Walk to Work Day International Day of Charity (UN) 5 – 11 September National Child Protection Week 11 – 12 September Hunter Valley Steamfest, Maitland 11 Sept – 10 Oct Floriade*, Canberra 12 September City of Canterbury-Bankstown Children’s Festival, Paul Keating Park Independence Day6 – Eswatini Rosh Hashanah/New Year7 (Jewish) International Literacy8 Day (UN) R 9U OK? Day Ganesha10 Chaturthi (Hindu) Matsuri Festival11 (Japan)*, National12 Bilby Day 16 September Proclamation of Independence Day – Threatened Species Day Indpendence Day – Republic of North National Day – Democratic People’s Chatswood Mexico Independence Day – Brazil Macedonia Republic of Korea (North Korea) World First Aid Day National Day – Tajikistan Independence Day – Papua New Guinea 17 – 19 September Clean up the World Weekend 19 September Molong Show 21 September National Day – Armenia National Day – Belize Independence Day – Malta 13 14 International Day of15 Democracy (UN) Yom16 Kippur (Jewish) 17Term 3 ends National18 Day – Chile Constitution19 Day – Nepal Independence Day – Costa Rica, International Day for the Australian Citizenship Day Independence Day – 21 Sept – 4 Oct Tulip Time Festival, Bowral El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Preservation of the Ozone Layer Saint Kitts and Nevis Nicaragua (UN) Milestones

16 September Television in Australia launched 1956

20Kathina Succot/Feast of Tabernacles21 (Jewish) Proclamation22 of Independence Day 23Spring equinox 24Save the Koala Day 25 26 (Buddhist – Therevada Tradition) Zhong Qiu Jie/Mid-Autumn Festival – Mali International Day of Sign Independence Day – Guinea-Bissau (China) Languages (UN) International Day of Peace (UN) National Day – Saudi Arabia

World27 Tourism Day (UN) 28Confucius’ birthday National Police29 Remembrance Day International30 Translation Day (UN) World Heart Day World Maritime Day (UN) National Day – Botswana

KS – Old Bar Public School – Biripi Country This month’s community language is Mongolian Togetherness We are stronger together and our artwork reflects this. The children decided on the colour combinations of red, yellow and black to symbolise our Aboriginal culture. Our Аравдугаар October drawings reflect who we are as individuals, yet we are equal. We decided that our connectedness to each other is what keeps us strong. Other events Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 October International Day of Older Persons (UN) Даваа Мягмар Лхагва Пүрэв Баасан Бямба Ням 1 – 31 October Global Dignity Month 1 – 31 October International School Libraries Month 2 – 4 October Manly Jazz Festival* 3 October Boorowa Irish Woolfest: Running of the Sheep 4 – 10 October World Space Week (UN) National Day – China, Cyprus,1 Mahatma Gandhi’s2 birthday Daylight saving time3 begins 6 – 13 October Jemaiye /Feast of the Assembly (Yezidi) Nigeria, Palau International Day of Non-Violence Day of German Unity – Germany 10 – 16 October Anti-Poverty Week Independence Day – Tuvalu (UN) National Foundation Day – 11 October Norfolk Island Royal Show Day Independence Day – Guinea Republic of Korea (South Korea) 11 – 27 October Spring Fest, Griffith 15 – 16 October Cootamundra Show 16 October Ryde Granny Smith Festival 18 – 24 October National Water Week 19 October National Day – Niue Labour Day (NSW) Navatri begins (Hindu) World Sight Day 4 Term5 4 begins 6 7 8 Peter Norman9 Day World Mental10 Health Day (WHO) 21 – 23 October Lismore Show World Animal Day World Teachers Day (UNESCO) World Habitat Day (UN) World Post Day (UN) National Day – Fiji Independence Day – Lesotho Independence Day – Uganda National Day or Double Tenth Day 23 – 31 October Children’s Week Hangeul Day (South Korea) – Republic of China (Taiwan) 24 – 30 October Disarmament Week (UN) 29 October Years 3 & 4 Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition Final* 29 Oct – 7 Nov Festival of Fisher’s Ghost, Campbelltown 29 Oct – 7 Nov Jacaranda Festival, Grafton Thanksgiving 11Day – Canada HSC written12 examinations 13 Chung Yeung14 Festival – China Dussehra15 (Hindu) World Food16 Day (UN)(FAO) International17 Day for the commence Deg al-Fil feast (Mandaean) Eradication of Poverty (UN) National Day – Spain International White Cane Day Milestones

11 October Coat of Arms of New South Wales granted by Royal Warrant 1906 26 October Uluru handed back to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara people 1985 Birth of18 the Báb (Bahá’í) Birth of Bahá’u’lláh19 (Bahá’í) Gurgaddi20 (Installation) Day of 21 22 23 United24 Nations Day (UN) Milad Al Nabi/Prophet Muhammad’s Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh) Independence Day – Zambia (pbuh) birthday (Muslim)

25 National26 Day – Austria Universal Children’s27 Day (Australia) National Day28 – Czech Republic National29 Bandanna Day National30 Mosque Open Day* Grandparents31 Day National Day – Teacher’s Day (Australia) Hallowe’en Saint Vincent and the Grenadines National Day – Turkey World Cities Day (UN) National Day – Turkmenistan

Y8-Y11, Red Class Mixed Special Education Support Class – Bomaderry High School – Dharawal Country This month’s community language is Malayalam The story of survival (2020 fire, rain and floods) The animals scatter, looking for a safe place from the ravages of fire. Rain comes and floods the rivers. They are guided by the Wombat to find refuge November on Mount Cambewarra. This is a visual story recording history. It is modeled on Noah’s Ark and Aboriginal dreaming stories. Mountains, rivers, animals and the elements have great significance in creation and survival. Other events Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 1 November Anniversary of the Revolution Day – Algeria Independence Day – Antigua and Barbuda 5 – 6 November Murwillumbah Show 7 November Newtown Festival, Newtown 8 – 14 November National Recycling Week 13 November Viva La Gong, Wollongong All Saints’ Day (Christian)1 Melbourne2 Cup Day Independence Day –3 Dominica Diwali4 (Hindu) Guy Fawkes5 Day (UK) Kindness Day6 (Australia) 7 13 – 14 November Mullumbimby Show Dehba ad Hanena (Mandaean) All Souls’ Day (Christian) National Day – Federated States of Bandi Shodh Divas 24 Nov – 24 Dec Darling Harbour Christmas, Darling Harbour Micronesia (Sikh cultural festival) National Day – Panama National Day – Tonga 25 November Statehood Day – Bosnia and Herzegovina Independence Day – Suriname 27 November Matsuri Festival (Japan), Tumbalong Park

International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO) 8 World Freedom9 Day World Science10 Day for Peace and Remembrance/Armistice11 Day (1918) Years 512 & 6 Multicultural World13 Kindness Day World 14Diabetes Day (UN) 16 November In 1996, the UN General Assembly invited Independence Day – Cambodia Development (UNESCO) National Day – Angola Perspectives Public Speaking its members to observe this day each year. Competition Final* This day affirms that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference. It is respect and appreciation of the rich variety of our world’s cultures. Tolerance recognises the universal human rights and fundamental 15 International Day16 for Tolerance International17 Students Day World Philosophy18 Day (UN) Birth19 Anniversary of Universal20 Children’s Day (UN) World Television21 Day (UN) freedoms of others. (UN) Proclamation of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikh) Independence Day – Latvia International Men’s Day National Day – Oman National Day – Monaco Milestones

8 November First Indigenous High Court Case 1934 16 November Australian Government apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants 2009 Independence22 Day – Lebanon 23 Thanksgiving24 Day – Norfolk Island International25 Day for the 26 Ascension of 27‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Bahá’í) Advent28 Sunday (Christian) 30 November First performance of Martyrdom of Elimination of Violence National Day – Albania Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (Sikh) Against Women (UN) National Day – Mauritania Advance Australia Fair 1878 Thanksgiving Day – USA

Chanukah/Festival29 of Lights National30 Day – Barbados (Jewish) St Andrew’s Day – Scotland

Robert Wood – Year 5 – Dalgety Public School – Ngarigo Country This month’s community language is Hungarian Together we are Resilient As students of Dalgety school and Dalgety community, we are stronger when we are there for each other, even in the toughest of times, like bushfires, december drought, floods and COVID 19. We care for each other, support each other, hang out together and offer aid to others no matter what their background, December race or religion. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Other events 1 December World AIDS Day hétfö kedd szerda csütörtö péntek szombat vasárnap 2 December International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (UN) 3 – 5 December National Cherry Festival, Young 5 December Ocean Care Day International Volunteer Day (UN) First day of summer1 National2 Day – International Day of People3 with 4 King Bhumipol’s5 birthday World Soil Day (UN) National Day – Lao People’s Democratic Republic Disabilities (UN) anniversary, National Day and 17 – 20 December Rozhiyen Khodan / Fasting (Yezidi) Central African Republic National Day – United Arab Father’s Day – Thailand 18 December International Migrants Day (UN) National Day – Romania Emirates St Nicholas’ Eve – Netherlands Arabic Language Day (UN) 31 December New Year’s Eve celebrations

Milestones International Mountain Day (UN) St Nicholas’6 Day 7 Bodhi Day8 (Buddhist) 9 Human10 Rights Day (UN) 11 12 10 December Universal Declaration of Human Rights Independence Day – Finland National Day – Burkina Faso Jamhuri Day – Kenya adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 1948 21 December Australia is named 1817

13 Abu-al-hires14 (Mandaean) 15 National16 Day – Bahrain 17Term 4 ends National18 Day – Niger 19 Independence Day – Kazakhstan National Day – Bhutan National Day – Qatar

International20 Human Solidarity 21 22Summer Solstice 23 Christmas24 Eve (Christian) Christmas25 Day (Christian) 26 Day (UN) National Day – Libya Boxing Day Eeda Rozhia / Feast Day (Yezidi) Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begins

Christmas27 Day Public Holiday Boxing28 Day Public Holiday 29Batizmi (Yezidi) 30 31New Year’s Eve Hogmanay (Scotland)

*Events marked with an asterisk indicate that the date may be subject to change; or that there may be regional and/or denominational differences in when the event is observed.