Calendar of events

Though overshadowed by falling so soon after Christmas, Epiphany is one of the three major Christian celebrations along with Christmas and Easter.

It is always celebrated on January 6th and commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus to the Magi or the three wise men, the first Gentile recognition of Christ.. In some countries, it may be known as ‘Three Kings Day’.

Belly Laugh Day is a day to celebrate the great gift of laughter. Smiling and laughing are encouraged and celebrated.

How? Smile, throw your arms in the air and laugh out loud. Join the Belly Laugh Bounce Around the World, as people from Antarctica to Hawaii in kitchens, schools, hospitals, offices, plants and stores stop at 1:24 to have a laugh.

Global Belly Laugh Day was created by Elaine Helle in June 2005.

Elaine thought we celebrate love, give thanks, so why don’t we celebrate the great gift of laughter?

Tigers are the third of the Chinese zodiacs. According to legend, Tiger was confident that no one could compete with its speed and vigor for the celestial race that would decide the order of the zodiacs. However, when Tiger climbed out of the river, thinking it was first, it was informed that Rat placed first for its cunning and Ox placed second for its diligence. This left the king of the jungle having to settle for third place.

In France and Belgium, crêpes are traditionally served on Candlemas (La Chandeleur), February 2nd.

This day was originally Virgin Mary’s Blessing Day but became known in France as “Le Jour des Crêpes” (“The Day of the Crêpes”), referring to the tradition of offering crêpes. The tradition dates back to 472, when Pope Gelasius I offered Crêpes to French pilgrims that were visiting Rome for celebrating the Chandeleur.

Also, the belief is that catching the crêpe with a frying pan after tossing it in the air with your right hand while holding a gold coin in your left hand would cause you to become rich that year. The roundness and golden color of a crêpe resemble the sun and its rays, hinting at the change in the weather that Candlemas would bring, falling at the mid-point between the winter solstice and spring equinox

World Read Aloud Day is celebrated on the first Wednesday of February.

LitWorld founded the campaign in 2010 to advocate for access to literacy and diverse stories, as well as the power of reading aloud – an activity that has an immensely powerful impact on children’s development. “LitWorld’s annual World Read Aloud Day has become a movement engaging hundreds of millions of people around the world in standing up for literacy as a foundational human right,” says Dorothy Lee, Executive Director of LitWorld. “When communities have access to strong literacy tools, every aspect of life improves.”

Considered a national holiday in multiple countries, World Read Aloud Day has been honored by celebrities such as Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Clinton, Kwame Alexander, and others. Additionally, the day is widely celebrated across social media, with the hashtag #worldreadaloudday trending annually.

❤️ Across many parts of the world on February 14th, flowers, cards and gifts will be exchanged between loved ones, as St. Valentine’s day is celebrated.

Celebrated since 1926, World Thinking Day is a day of international friendship. It is an opportunity to speak out on issues that affect young women and fundraise for 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries.

A tradition since 1932, the World Thinking Day Fund collects pennies and coins from members around the world, to support their fellow Guides and Scouts.

Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Pancake Tuesday) is a day in February or March preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some countries by consuming pancakes. In others, especially those (including Louisiana) where it is called Mardi Gras or some translation thereof, this is a carnival day, and also the last day of fat eating or gorging before the fasting period of Lent.

This moveable festival is determined by Easter. The expression Shrove Tuesday comes from the word shrive, meaning absolve. Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans,Methodists and Roman Catholics,who make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God’s help in dealing with.

Being the last day before the penitential season of Lent, related popular practices, such as indulging in food that one sacrifices for the upcoming forty days, are associated with Shrove Tuesday celebrations, before commencing the fasting and religious obligations associated with Lent. The term Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of theLenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday.

The name of the day comes from the custom that churchgoers are marked on the forehead with a cross of ash to symbolise death and regret for past sins. The priest will accompany the marking with a recital of Genesis 3:19 – “Remember that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return”. The tradition of marking with ashes began in the early church as a way for persistent sinners to outwardly show their desire for repentance. By the end of the 10th century, the custom had spread to all the faithful.

Traditionally the ashes are created from burning the palms used in the church on Palm Sunday the previous year. Palm Sunday marked the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem after his 40 days and nights in the desert.

During the 40 days before Easter, Roman Catholics are supposed to abstain from all bodily pleasures, including the consumption of meat. This is intended to remember the fasting of Jesus, who spent 40 days in the desert before beginning his ministry. In the Catholic Church, Lent gets off to an appropriate start with Ash Wednesday as it is a day of fasting, abstinence from meat and repentance.