Multicultural Calendar

Learn about and celebrate important dates for different cultural groups in Unama’ki-Cape Breton.

Unama’ki – Cape Breton is home to more than 132 000 residents. Among those, more than 6000 of the Island’s residents were born outside of Canada – in more than 35 countries. Unama’ki – Cape Breton is home to diverse and vibrant communities with many important cultural celebrations.
We’ve created this calendar to help you learn about and celebrate significant cultural dates that are important to Cape Bretoners from around the world. When we learn about and celebrate significant cultural dates that are important to locals born outside of Canada, we are showing all locals that they belong here, and that the Island welcomes all cultures.

We’ve included important dates for the top countries of origin for foreign-born locals in Unama’ki – Cape Breton, including: India, Nigeria, Philippines, Ukraine, Vietnam, Korea, China, United States, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, Iran, Syria and Pakistan. The calendar also includes important dates of major world religions including Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh dates.

We researched some of the key dates for these different ethnocultural groups and religions and created this multicultural calendar as a resource for all Unama’ki – Cape Breton residents.

Share this calendar with your friends and co-workers and be part of building a more welcoming and inclusive Unama’ki – Cape Breton for all.

August 2025

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Emancipation Day
All Day
Emancipation Day in Jamaica is a significant national holiday celebrated on August 1 each year. It marks the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British colonies, including Jamaica, on August 1, 1834. The day commemorates the liberation of enslaved individuals and honors the struggle for freedom and equality , ...
2
Virgin of Los Angeles Day
All Day
The Virgin of Los Angeles Day is celebrated annually on August 2 in Costa Rica. Also known as Virgen de Los Angeles Day, the holiday celebrates the ‘Virgen de Los Angeles’ or the ‘Lady of the Angels.’ Apart from Christmas and Easter, the Virgin of Los Angeles Day is one of the biggest celebrations in Costa Rica and is , ...
Tisha B’Av
6:00 pm - 12:00 am
Tisha B’Av is a Jewish day of mourning and fasting, usually observed in July or August. It commemorates various tragedies in Jewish history, including the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Ninth day of the month of Av in the Jewish Calendar. , ...
3
Tisha B’Av
12:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tisha B’Av is a Jewish day of mourning and fasting, usually observed in July or August. It commemorates various tragedies in Jewish history, including the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Ninth day of the month of Av in the Jewish Calendar. , ...
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Independence Day
All Day
Independence Day in Jamaica is celebrated on August 6 each year, marking the country’s independence from British rule in 1962. The day is observed with parades, cultural performances, and fireworks, reflecting on Jamaica’s sovereignty and cultural heritage. , ...
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Raksha Bandhan
All Day
Raksha Bandhan is an Indian festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) on their brothers’ wrists, and in return, brothers give gifts and promise to safeguard their sisters. , ...
9
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
All Day
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is recognized to raise awareness & protect the rights of the world’s Indigenous population. This events also recognizes the achievements & contributions that Indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. , ...
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Independence Day
All Day
Independence Day on August 14 marks Pakistan’s liberation from British rule in 1947, symbolizing the nation’s sovereignty and cultural identity through festivities, flag-raising ceremonies, and cultural events. , ...
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Arbaeen
All Day
Arbaeen is observed 40 days after Ashura and marks the end of the mourning period for Imam Hussein. It is a time when millions of Shia Muslims participate in a pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala, Iraq, making it one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world. , ...
Feast of the Assumption (Assumption of Mary)
All Day
The Feast of the Assumption ( Assumption of Mary) is a religious holiday celebrated on August 15 in some Acadian communities and by Christians. It’s a day to honor the Virgin Mary and is often accompanied by church processions and feasting. It celebrates the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken into H , ...
National Acadian Day – Journée Nationale Acadienne
All Day
Celebrated on August 15, National Acadian Day is the most significant Acadian holiday. It commemorates the Acadian culture and heritage and is marked by various events such as parades, cultural performances, and gatherings. It’s a day for Acadians to express their pride in their history and language. , ...
Independence Day
All Day
Independence Day, celebrated on August 15, marks India’s liberation from British colonial rule in 1947. The day features flag hoisting, parades, and cultural events across the nation. , ...
Liberation Day
All Day
Liberation Day in South Korea, known as Gwangbokjeol, is observed on August 15 every year. It commemorates the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945, signifying the nation’s liberation and independence after 35 years of occupation. , ...
Ferragosto
All Day
Ferragaosto is an Italian public holiday celebrated that starts on August 15 each year and runs for two weeks. It is a widely observed summer holiday in Italy, and many businesses and offices are closed on this day. It has ancient Roman origins, initially celebrated as a festival dedicated to the Roman emperor Augustus , ...
Dormition of the Holy Virgin
All Day
the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos is celebrated, honoring the passing of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. The Feast commemorates her “falling-asleep” or dormition and the subsequent assumption of her body into heaven. It is a significant event in Christian tradition, signifying the rev , ...
Founding of Asuncion
All Day
Every year in Paraguay the 15th August is one of the countries largest and most important national holidays. It marks the anniversary of the founding of Asunción. On the 15th August 1537 Juan de Salazar y Espinosa would have been quite unaware that the settlement he was about to found after turning his ship off the Riv , ...
16
Janmashtami
All Day
Janmashtami is observed in India to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu. It involves fasting, prayers, and various cultural festivities, including reenactments of episodes from Krishna’s life. The 8th day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava (August or September). , ...
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Demise of Prophet Muhammad and Martyrdom of Imam Hassan
All Day
This day commemorates the passing of the Prophet Muhammad and the martyrdom of Imam Hassan, the grandson of the Prophet. It is a day of reflection and remembrance. , ...
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Martyrdom of Imam Reza
All Day
The Martyrdom of Imam Reza is a solemn religious holiday in Iran that commemorates the death of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia Imam, in 818 AD. Recognized as a day of mourning, it includes rituals such as eulogies, poetry recitation, and gatherings at mosques and shrines. Mashhad, where Imam Reza’s shrine is located, , ...
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Ganesh Chaturthi
All Day
Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival honoring Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity of wisdom and prosperity. Celebrated with grand processions, music, and dancing, it involves installing Ganesha idols in homes and public places, followed by immersion in water bodies. Usually falls between mid- August and mid-Septemb , ...
National Repentance Day
All Day
Repentance day is a day of Christian prayer that is recognized as a public holiday in Papua New Guinea. It is common for people to come together in church and ask for forgiveness. , ...
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This calendar is an initiative of the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP) Awareness Working Group.
For more information about the work of the CBLIP, please visit www.capebretonpartnership.com/CBLIP.

Please note, newly submitted items for the calendar may be delayed in being uploaded, however we will attempt to have new submissions added as able.

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Last Modified: June 12, 2024