In April, August Network commemorated 12 holidays across the world on our social media pages! Here's a summarized list of each holiday from the month of April with a brief description about it.

1. International Holidays
AUGUST NETWORK • APRIL 2020
Aparna Vashisht-
Rota
Natalia Cevallos
Whitney Camarena

2. Overview
Apr 8. Buddhist - Buddha's Birthday
Apr 9. Jewish - Passover (First Day)
Apr 10. Christian - Good Friday
Apr 12. Indian - Ambedkar Jayanti
Apr 12. Christian - Easter Sunday
Apr 16. Jewish - Passover (Last Day)
Apr 18. Zimbabwe - National Day
Apr 21. Jewish - Yom HaShoah (Holocaust
Remembrance Day)
Apr 22. Earth Day
Apr 24. Muslim - Ramadan (Starts)
Apr 27. South Africa - Freedom Day
Apr 28. Israel - Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence
Day)

3. Apr 8. Buddhist - Buddha's Birthday
The Buddha's Birthday holiday, also known as
Vesak or Wesak, on Apr. 8, 2020, commemorates
the birth of the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who
later became the founder of Buddhism.
Celebrations typically include festivals that are
hosted in most countries across East Asia;
however, due to the Global COVID-19 pandemic,
holiday festivities will be done while adhering to
social distancing guidelines of impacted areas -
with some countries postponing celebrations
entirely. Interestingly, while Vesak is celebrated on
the 8th in the US, it is actually celebrated much
later in China in other East Asian countries on
Apr. 30th.

4. Apr 9. Jewish - Passover (First Day)
The first day of the Passover holiday, on Apr. 9,
2020, is commemorated with the Passover Seder, a
feast eaten with close family and friends.
Celebrations include reading the story of the
Jewish Exodus from the Haggadah, during which
participants are to drink a cup of wine at
designated times. Along with consuming
unleavened matzo bread, it is customary to eat
mazor and chazeret - bitter herbs symbolic of the
harsh treatment that the Jewish people
experienced during slavery. The greeting for
Passover is simply “Chag Sameach!” (Happy
Holidays) or “Chag Pesach Sameach!” (Happy
Passover Holiday).

5. Apr 10. Christian - Good Friday
The Good Friday holiday, on Apr. 10, 2020,
remembers the trial and death by crucifixion of
the founder of the Christian religion, Jesus. The
commemoration is observed during Holy Week as
part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday
preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with
the Jewish observance of Passover. Catholic
traditions include upholding the law of
abstinence, in which those aged 14 and older
refrain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent,
including on Good Friday. Other denominations
may hold religious ceremonies and sermons at
churches on this day.

6. Apr 12. Indian - Ambedkar Jayanti
The Ambedkar Jayanti holiday, also known as
Bhim Jayanti, on Apr. 12, 2020 commemorates
the memory of B. R. Ambedkar, the first Law and
Justice Minister of Independent India. Ambedkar,
known as the "Father of The Indian Constitution"
has made immense contributions to the modern
concept of the Republic of India. Festivities of the
day include festivals and processions carried out by
his followers at Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai and
Deeksha Bhoomi in Nagpur.

7. Apr 12. Christian - Easter Sunday
The Easter Sunday holiday, on Apr. 12, 2020,
celebrates the resurrection of the founder of the
Christian religion, Jesus Christ from the dead, in
accordance with Biblical teachings. Many christians
will attend a traditional Easter Sunday at a church
service, sometimes called a "sunrise service" due to
the fact that they will host it at sunrise to symbolize
the resurrection of Jesus from the dead early in the
morning. Many churches decorate their worship
spaces with Easter lilies or special liturgical banners.
Some churches celebrate Holy Communion, while
others observe the sacrament of baptism, which is a
symbol of new life in Christ.

8. Apr 16. Jewish - Passover (Last Day)
The last day of the Passover holiday, on Apr. 16,
2020, marks the end of the Jewish
commemoration of the deliverance of Jewish
people from slavery in Egypt. Passover is also
known as Pesah, Pesach, or the Feast of
Unleavened Bread. Traditions include hosting a
final dinner, to which invited guests bring gifts,
known as Passover offerings. These are often
comprised of Kosher food and wine.

9. Apr 18. Zimbabwe - National Day
The Zimbabwe National Day holiday, on Apr. 18,
2020, commemorates the country's independence
from the United Kingdom in 1980. Traditional
celebrations include government-held ceremonial
speeches as well as a military parade and fighter
plane show in the country’s capital, Harare.
Typically, a festival is hosted at either the National
Sports Stadium or at the Rufaro Sports Stadium,
where Zimbabwe’s national anthem ‘Blessed be
the land of Zimbabwe’ (‘Kalibusiswe Ilizwe
leZimbabwe’) is sung while white doves are
released as a symbol of peace across the nation.

10. Apr 21. Jewish - Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
The Yom Hashoah holiday, also known as
Holocaust Remembrance Day, on Apr. 21, 2020,
commemorates those who died in the Holocaust
between 1933 and 1945. Traditional celebrations
include community-wide ceremonies, lighting
memorial candles, and reciting the Kaddish (a
prayer for the departed). Students of Jewish
history attend educational programs, which often
feature documentaries centering the stories of
survivors.

11. Apr 22. Earth Day
The Earth Day holiday, on Apr. 22, 2020,
demonstrates support for environmental
protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and has
since grown into a globally coordinated and week-
long event in over 193 countries. Traditional
celebrations focus on raising awareness about
global issues and this year, the 50th Anniversary,
will include the Great Global CleanUp, Citizen
Science, Advocacy, Education, and Art.

12. Apr 24. Muslim - Ramadan (Starts)
The Ramadan holiday, which begins on Apr. 24,
2020, is a month-long period of spiritual
reflection, self-improvement, and heightened
devotion to Islam. Traditions include waking up
before dawn to eat, performing the morning
prayer at sunrise, and then fasting until sunset, in
accordance with the Five Pillars of Islam. This is
done to commemorate when the Quran was sent
down to the lowest heaven in preparation for
revelation by Jibreel (Gabriel) to Muhammad, in
accordance with Islamic teaching.

13. Apr 27. South Africa - Freedom Day
The South African Freedom Day holiday, on Apr.
27, 2020, commemorates the first post-apartheid
elections held in 1994. Celebrations include
hosting meals while wearing traditional South
African clothing, decorating with flowers, and
listening to the presidential speech given in honor
of those who fought for liberation at the cost of
imprisonment, banning, and torture on behalf of
the oppressed masses.

14. Apr 28. Israel - Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day)
The Israeli Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day)
holiday, on Apr. 28, 2020, begins at sundown and
lasts until sundown on the following day.
Traditional celebrations include attending the
major State Ceremony at Mount Herzl in
Jerusalem, where the lighting of the twelve torches
takes place, as well as the International Bible
Contest, and Israel Prize ceremony. Families will
display the country's flag and host gatherings like
barbecues, picnics, and concerts.

15. If there is a holiday we missed and you’d like to
add it to the list; email the official name, region
of origin, and date to:
socialmedia@augustnetwork.com

16. Wishing everyone
a happy and
healthy month of
celebration!