Acknowledging holidays and celebrations in April

In April, we acknowledge Eid-al-Fitr, Vaisakhi, Tamil New Year and Pesach/Passover. Read more about each holiday/celebration below, written by members of our Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

April 10 or 11: Eid al-Fitr

Often known simply as Eid, it marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. It is a time of joy, gratitude and community. The day begins with a special communal prayer, signifying unity and offering thanks. Following the prayer, it’s traditional for Muslims to visit friends and family, share meals, and give generously to those in need, embodying the spirit of community and compassion.

Eid al-Fitr is not just a time for celebration, but also a moment for reflection, forgiveness and renewal. Importantly, after Ramadan, Muslims strive to live by the virtues they’ve cultivated during the holy month, such as abstaining from negative habits and practicing the good values and teachings of Islam. This period of reflection and commitment helps reinforce a lifestyle centred around kindness, patience, and generosity.

We at Grandview recognize the importance of this day for our Muslim staff and extend our best wishes for a joyful Eid celebration. To those celebrating, Eid Mubarak. May this Eid bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to you and your loved ones. Let’s all take a moment to appreciate the diverse tapestries of traditions and cultures that enrich our workplace.

April 13 or 14: Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is a significant day in the Sikh calendar. Vaisakhi is a spring festival which occurs on April 13 or 14 every year. It is a day to celebrate 1699, which is the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh chose the festival as the moment to establish the Khalsa – that’s the collective name given to Sikhs who’ve been baptized. To celebrate Vaisakhi, Sikhs will visit places of worship called Gurdwaras. These will also be specially decorated for the occasion. Many people enjoy parades and special processions through the streets. Farmers in the Punjab will also use Vaisakhi as an opportunity to give thanks for a plentiful harvest and pray for a good one in the year to come.

April 14: Tamil New Year

Tamil New Year, or Puthandu, is the first day of the Tamil calendar. It is celebrated by Tamils living in many parts of the world on the first month of the lunar-solar Hindu calendar. This year, Tamils around the world will usher in the New Year on April 14. In the days leading up to the Tamil New Year, people will clean their homes to declutter with the belief that getting rid of old and insignificant items will remove any negative energy from the previous year. On the day of Tamil New Year, the Sun’s position would be midway across the earth between the southern and northern hemispheres. This symbolizes the balance between people and nature. Considering the auspiciousness of the day, many will start new endeavours on this day.

Many Tamils mark the day by preparing Pongal (a sweet rice dish), preparing a plate full of fruits and flowers, lighting lamps at their home prayer altar, and visiting a temple. While Tamils across the world celebrate Puthandu, many other South Asian communities celebrate their new year on the same day — it is Vishu in Kerala, Bihu in Assam, and Pohela Boishakh in West Bengal.

April 22 to 30: Pesach/Passover

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. The eight-day holiday is celebrated each spring, usually in March or April. It’s a time when Jewish people remember the deliverance of the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago and their subsequent freedom as a people under the leadership of Moses. The Passover story is told in the Torah (the Jewish Bible) in Chapter 12 of the Book of Exodus. 

The central ritual, the seder, involves storytelling, song, and the consumption of symbolic foods like matzah and maror. Dietary changes, including the avoidance of leavened foods and, for Ashkenazi Jews, kitniyot (a category of food that includes legumes), are observed. The recitation of psalms and the beginning of the Omer, a 49-day period leading to the holiday of Shavuot, are integral to Passover practices.