January
1 – New Year’s Day
The start of the Western calendar year, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the New Year starts. It is also customary to make New Year's resolutions, which individuals hope to fulfill in the coming months.
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4 - World Braille Day 2011
An opportunity for blindness organisations to promote Braille literacy, showcase their work, and raise public awareness of blindness issues around the world.
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5 - Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikhism)
Celebrates the life and achievements of the 10th Sikh Guru.
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6 - Epiphany (Christianity)
Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day).
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14 - Makar Sankranti (Hinduism)
A major harvest festival for the Hindus which also marks the beginning of the Holy Phase of Transition.
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16 - World Religion Day
Promotes interfaith understanding and harmony.
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23 - Chinese New Year
The longest and most important festival in the Chinese Lunar Calendar - it involves elaborate parades with Chinese Dragons (made of bamboo, paper and silk). 2012 is the year of the dragon.
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25 - Burns Night
Celebrates the life and works of the famous Scottish Bard Robert Burns, mainly observed in Scotland, but often takes place anywhere a Scot may be at the time.
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27 - International Holocaust Memorial Day 2012
Remembrance of the victims of The Holocaust. January 27 (1945) is the date Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp, was liberated by soviet troops.
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28 - Vasant Panchami (Hinduism)
Celebrates Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge, music and art. Also signifies the beginning of Vasant Ritu (the spring season).
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31 - Birthday of Guru Har Rai (Sikhism)
Celebrates the life and achievements of the 7th Sikh Guru.
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