Ostara (Spring Equinox)
Culture/religion: Pagan/Wiccan
Date: March 20
“Ostara” is just one of the names used for the spring equinox celebrated in many different cultures and a variety of ways around the world. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season.
Ostara (Eostre or Eastre) is the Germanic goddess of spring and dawn who was traditionally honored in the month of April with festivals to celebrate fertility, renewal and rebirth.
Sources:
Who is Ostara?, NorthernPaganism.org
Ostara, The Goddess and the Green Man
History of Ostara, The Spring Equinox, Learn Religions
Naw-Ruz
Culture/religion: Bahá’í
Date: March 20
Naw Ruz means “New Day” and is the first day of the Bahá’í calendar year and occurs on the date of the vernal equinox. For the Bahá’í faith, it is a celebration of new beginnings and marks the end of the 19-day Bahá’í fast, which is a period of reflection and spiritual reinvigoration. It’s a celebration of new beginnings. For the Bahá’í faith, Naw Ruz marks the end of the 19-day Bahá’í fast which is a period of reflection and spiritual reinvigoration.
Naw Ruz has its origins as a Zoroastrian observance in ancient Iran and is celebrated as a cultural festival by Iranians of all religious backgrounds still today.
Naw-Ruz is one of the nine Bahá’í holy days on which work and school are suspended.
Alternate spellings: Nowruz
Pronunciation: Bahá’í: Ba-HIGH; Báb: Bahb (Bob); Bahá’u’lláh: Ba-ha-ul-LAH; Naw Ruz: Naw Rooz
Sources:
Naw-Ruz: Spiritual Springtime, Bahá’í Center of Washtenaw County
Naw-Ruz, Wikipedia
Style guide, glossary and pronunciation guide, Bahá’í World News Service
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Culture/religion: International observance
Date: March 21
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed each year on March 21, recognizing the day police in Sharpeville, South Africa opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960. Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
Sources:
Recognition, justice and development: The midterm review of the International Decade for People of African Descent, United Nations
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Wikipedia