April – Celebrate Diversity MonthThe creators of this Honoring Differences calendar first saw the need to set aside a full month tohonor the diversity surrounding us in 2004. We hope that organizations, schools, and individualswill choose to celebrate similarities as well as differences during this time, thereby gaining a deeperunderstanding of each other. One way to build connections with those we don’t usually get theopportunity to know is to explore the cultural celebrations and significant life events of others, whichthis calendar helps you to do. Through these connections, we create the energy needed to positivelychange our workplaces and communities

1 All Fools’ Day, INTERNATIONALMaundy Thursday, CHRISTIAN

2 Good Friday CHRISTIAN< COPTIC & EASTERN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN

Sizdebedar, IRANWorld Autism Awareness Day INTERNATIONAL

4 Easter (Pascha) CHRISTIAN, COPTIC & EASTERN ORTHOOX CHRISTIAIndependence Day, SENEGAL

5 Easter Monday, CHRISTIANQing Ming Festival, CHINA, TAIWAN

Sham 3l-Nessim, EGYPT6 Chakri Day THAILAND, National Tartan Day

CANADA, U.S.8 Buddha’s Birthday, BUDDHIST11 Yom Ha0Shah, JEWISH13 Buddhist New Year, BUDDHIST

Vaisakhi HINDU, JAIN<, SIKH14 Pan Amerian Day, LATIN AMERICA15 Income Tax Pay Day U.S.16 De Diego’s Birthday, PUERTO RICO

National Day of Silence GLBT17 Independence Day, SYRIA

18 Independence Day ZIMBABWEYom Hazikaron, ISRAEL

19 Yom ha’Atzma’ut, ISRAEL20 Festival of Ridvan (sundown), BAHA’I21 Administrative Professionals Day, U.S.

Festival of Ridvan, BAHA’ITiradentes Day, BRAZIL

22 Discovery of Brazil Day, BRAZILEarth Day INTERNATIONAL, U.S.Gathering of Nations Powwow, U.S., (NATIVE AMERICAN)Take Our Daughters & Sons to Work Day U.S.

23 National Sovereignty Day & Children’s DayTURKEYSt. George’s Day, CHRISTIAN

24 American Martyrs’ Day, ARMENIA25 Anzac Day, AUSTRALIA, NEW

ZEALAND, SAMOAFesta della Liberazione, ITALYSinai Day, EGYPT

26 Union Day, TANZANIA27 Freedom Day, SOUTH AFRICA29Showa-no-Hi, JAPAN30 Beltane CELTIC, PAGAN

Koninginendag, NETHERLANDSNational Arbor Day, U.S.

The Paint LadyFor the past 20 years, Sharon has joined in the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre in Minneapolis to help prepare for the annual May Day celebration. Starting in April, hundreds of volunteers from all walks of life gather in workshops to create costumes, floats, and larger than life puppets. The parade bursts into the streets in an explosion of movement and color the first Sunday in May.