January 2012

Dominion employee Rebecca McNamara defines diversity as "the courage not only to accept, but to celebrate the differences that make people unique and beautiful."

Her photo shows Dominion volunteer Stephen Lackey reading to a group of students at Chimborazo Elementary School in Richmond, Va., as part of Martin Luther King, Jr. Reading Day.

"To me, diversity is all about learning from one another," McNamara said. "It's about educating the next generation to be tolerant and accepting, and I think this photo depicts that."

January 1: New Year's Day

Haiti - On this day in 1804, Haitian slaves rebelled against French forces. Napoleon Bonaparte’s powerful army was defeated, and Haiti became a free country.
Shogatsu (Japanese New Year) - The most significant and elaborate event in Japan. Many visit shrines to pray for good health and fortune. The celebration usually lasts for three or four days.
St. Basil’s Day (Greece) - The Greeks call New Year's St. Basil’s Day. Traditionally, gifts are exchanged.

January 2:

Ancestry Day (Haiti) - Honors Haitian heroes.

January 6:

Carnival Season begins (Christian) - An age-old festival observed in parts of Europe and the Americas, from the Christian observances of Epiphany to Ash Wednesday, is called Carnival and culminates in Mardi Gras.
Old Christmas Day (Armenia) - Celebrated in the Armenian Church, the oldest Christian national church (founded 301 CE).
Three Kings Day (Christian) - A day of celebration in many parts of Europe, Latin America and South America that is the traditional time of gift giving and the culmination of the Christmas season. This day is also known as "Día de los Reyes."

January 7:

Christmas (eastern Orthodox, Ethiopian) - Celebrations take place in and outside of ancient churches. On the eve of this day there is prayer and chanting, and in the morning a colorful procession makes its way to a hilltop for mass. After the service the day is spent dancing, playing sports and feasting.

January 9:

Seijin no hi (Coming of Age Day) - Honors the coming of age of those person who have turned 20 in the preceding year in Japan.

January 14:

Makar Sankrat (India) - A Hindu and South Indian winter solstice observation marking the beginning of the Pongal festival.
Pongal (India) - A three-day Hindu rice harvest festival in South India is celebrated with a cultural evening of song and dance.

January 16:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (USA) - Across the country, schools and offices close to celebrate the life, death and legacy of one of the most influential civil rights leaders of our time.

January 21:

Errol Barrow Day (Barbados) - Honors the birth date of independence leader Errol Barrow, who led Barbados to freedom from Britain.

January 23:

Chinese New Year - Also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, this is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It also is a major holiday for Mongolians, Koreans, the Miao (Chinese Hmong) and the Vietnamese, who were influenced by Chinese culture in terms of religious and philosophical worldview, language and culture.
Tet Festival (Vietnam) - Celebrates the New Year
Seollal (Korea) - Lunar New Year's Day. This is the largest event of the year, celebrated on the first full-moon by eating a five-grain meal and praying for a bountiful harvest. An ancestral service is offered before the grave of the ancestors, and New Year's greetings are exchanged with family, relatives and neighbors.

January 26:

Australia Day - Commemorating the first white settlement in Australia in 1788.
Republic Day (India) – On this day in 1950 India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic with a constitution to guide her destiny.

January 30:

Greek Day of Education - It is the anniversary for the Three Hierarchs, St. Basil (Greece) and St. Gregory the Great, St. John Chrysostom.

January-February:

Iroquois Midwinter - Lasts for eight days and each day is dedicated to an event, ceremony (aboriginal), i.e., Tobacco Invocation. Days vary according to community.
Hopi Holy Cycle - Buffalo dances are performed in Hopi reserves to symbolize the changing of the seasons. Days vary (aboriginal), according to community.

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