Rotherham Events and Celebrations - May 2008

Important events and celebrations this month include:

1 Ascension Day
Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven.

1 May Day and Beltane
Beltane is a Celtic word which means 'fires of Bel' (Bel was a Celtic deity). It is a fire festival that celebrates the coming of summer and the fertility of the coming year. May Day celebrations also have their origins in the Roman festival of Flora, goddess of fruit and flowers, which marked the beginning of summer. Maypole dancing is a tradition.

2 Yom Hashoah
A day set aside for Jewish people to remember the Holocaust. Ceremonies include the lighting of candles for Holocaust victims, listening to survivors’ stories and prayers.

5 Deaf Awareness Week
Deaf Awareness Week promotes the positive aspects of deafness and social inclusion. It also aims to improve understanding of different types of deafness and the different methods of communication used by deaf and hearing impaired people, such as sign language and lip reading.

11 Pentecost – Whitsun
Christian celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church, and the start of the church's mission to the world.

11 Christian Aid Week
Seven days of fundraising, prayer and action against global poverty. Working with the world’s poorest communities, Christian Aid invests in things that provide benefits for years to come – helping people to improve their own lives, whatever their race or religion.

17 International Day Against Homophobia
Is a day to remember victims of violence because of homophobia and an opportunity to acknowledge the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities’ ongoing struggles for human rights and legal across the world.

20 Wesak (Buddha Day)
The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday and Enlightenment, and for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.

25 Corpus Christi
Roman Catholic celebration in recognition of the Eucharist - the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ.