April is a month filled with vibrant celebrations from around the world, marking the new beginnings and cultural heritage. We kick off the month with the Assyrian New Year, known as Kha b-Nisan, a joyous occasion signifying the arrival of spring. This ancient tradition, steeped in history, brings communities together for hours of festivities, including parades and parties, as they welcome the season of growth and renewal.  In  our cultural calendar, we also celebrate Chinese Language Day, Spanish Language Day and round out the month with International Dance Day and International Jazz Day. We hope you enjoy travelling the world with our April dates to celebrate.  1. Kha b-Nisan (Assyrian New Year)  1st April Sheeta khadta hoya brekhta (Happy New Year in Assyrian). Kha b-Nisan or Akitu, the Assyrian New Year, celebrates the beginning of spring amongst Indigenous Assyrians and is one of the oldest traditions in the world. With celebrations including parades and parties, communities come together in harmony and practise traditions that have been maintained for centuries. The auspicious occasion comes with traditional dress development and positivity for the new year to come.   Our Assyrian-Iraqi Band program provides an insight into the fascinating 7000-year history of Assyrian peoples in Iraq. Students will be immersed in music spoken in the native Assyrian Aramic language, providing valuable cultural knowledge.   2. Fan Dance Day 3rd April Originating in South Korea, Fan Dance Day celebrates the long history of the traditional fan dance across Southeast Asia including in Japan and China; each with their own unique characteristics. With brightly coloured kimonos and fans, it acknowledges the important art form that has been around for centuries and represents beauty delicacy and grace. Performances are accompanied by live traditional music and are enjoyed by people from all around the world.   Our  Chinese Fan Dance  offers a remarkable opportunity for children to immerse themselves in a delicate and beautiful dance form. With eye-catching and vibrant fans, students can experience the elegance and grace of the traditional fan dance. Available in New South Wales and Victoria, this program ensures a one-of-a-kind learning journey that honours the richness of Southeast Asian culture.  3. Children’s Day 4th April Celebrated on April 4th in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Children’s Day is a joyous occasion filled with laughter and delight. It is a day dedicated to honouring the innocence and happiness that children bring to our families and communities. With festivities including gifts, treats, and games, children come together with friends and loved ones to make cherished memories.  Moreover, Children’s Day serves as a reminder of every child’s fundamental right to education. With their boundless creativity and intelligence, children possess incredible potential from an early age.  To challenge and push the minds of students, our martial art programs are a wonderful way for students to learn the complexities of these sports. Our Cool Capoeira program combines acrobatics with traditional musical beats creating an engaging and immersive experience for students. Available in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, this program teaches discipline, dedication, and persistence.   4. International Day of Conscience 5th April Established by the United Nations General Assembly, the International Day of Conscience promotes peaceful relations and recognition of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, language, or religion. To have conscience is to be sincerely aware of one’s intentions and be always conscious of morality. Encouraging social interaction with people from diverse cultures, faiths and beliefs is essential to live in harmony with others. Being in a state of peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the active engagement and enjoyment of diverse communities. The International Day of Conscience aims to educate our younger generations on the importance of supporting and advocating for the rights of all.   Our diversity analytics tool-  Diversity Atlas, is a comprehensive platform that assesses the demographic diversity within an organisation. With the awareness of incredible intersectionalities that exist in our world, our tool assesses the identities an organisation consists of, to create better representation in all industries. By discovering linguistic, cultural, gender differences, an organisation can then use such information to move forward in building a space which actively recognises, promotes, and advocates for differences in the workplace.   5. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 6th April International Day of Sport for Development and Peace recognises the importance of physical and emotional wellbeing. It acknowledges the incredible contribution that sport has made for individuals all around the world, particularly during COVID-19. Sports played a crucial role in providing solace and support to individuals worldwide during these challenging times, offering an outlet for stress and anxiety while promoting fairness, equality, and inclusion through teamwork and friendly competition.  At Cultural Infusion, we offer highly interactive programs designed to promote spiritual, physical, and emotional balance. Our Chinese Martial Arts Workshop available in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, teaches the philosophy behind martial arts and the range of training methods that are used. Students will develop important skills such as dedication and perseverance through learning various techniques.   6. Eid al-Fitr 9th April Eid al-Fitr, the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” holds profound significance in the Islamic faith as it marks the culmination of Ramadan, the holiest month in Islam. Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam, represents the period when the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad. During this sacred month, Muslims observe rigorous fasting from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and water as a means of spiritual purification and discipline.   While fasting may seem challenging, Muslims eagerly anticipate Ramadan as an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. Beyond its physical aspects, Ramadan serves as a time for individuals to cleanse their hearts and minds, striving to cultivate virtues such as patience, generosity, and integrity. Through connecting with Allah (God), Muslims end the month with an optimistic and content feeling and carry forward by implementing such favourable habits for the rest of the year.    Eid al-Fitr also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast” commemorates this effort with a morning prayer which is then followed by communal gatherings with friends and family. Altruism is demonstrated through Zakat al-Fitr which is a mandatory charity collected before the morning prayer and is given to the poor and needy to ensure all can partake in the celebrations.    7. Songrkan (Thai New Year)  13th to 15th April Sawad dee ppee mai! (Happy New Year in Thai)  Celebrate Songkran, known as the Thai New Year, which is an auspicious occasion on the Buddhist calendar that signifies the sun’s passage into the Aries constellation and the start of a new year in Thailand.  Starting in mid-April at the end of the rice harvest, Songkran is a special time for people to reunite with their families and pay respect to older adults, ancestors, and sacred Buddha images. The act of pouring water is a core part of the festival which symbolises cleansing, reverence, and good fortune. This includes bathing Buddha images and splashing water on friends and family.   Today, Songkran has evolved into one of the most popular cultural festivals in the world and has even been promoted in tourism as the “world’s biggest water fight” where both locals and tourists can enjoy Thai music, games, and a lot of food!   A range of instruments from around the world can be explored on our award-winning platform Sound Infusion including the Thai instruments, Khim and Pi Java.   Songkran is one of the most significant periods of the Thai calendar, and embodies the spirit of community, cooperation, and forgiveness, making it one of the most cherished and significant periods in the Thai calendar.  8. World Art Day 15th April World Art Day promotes the creativity, curiosity, and cultural diversity of fine arts. It celebrates the creative means in which humanity has expressed themselves. Through sharing history, experiences and stories, World Art Day acknowledges how art has transformed the world.   Cultural Infusion promotes the world of art through our vast range of programs that explore culture, art, storytelling, history, and language. Our immersive and engaging programs cater to students of all ages, from pre-primary to Year 12, fostering a deep appreciation for artistic expression and cultural heritage.  Aboriginal Storytelling through Art is an incredibly interactive program that engages students to the world of Indigenous art. This program is available face to face in Victoria and New South Wales, and virtual delivery for all states.   9. Zimbabwe’s National Day 18th April Zimbabwe’s National Day of Independence symbolises a day of freedom, unity, and strength. Overcoming a difficult journey to independence, the day represents happiness and pride for Zimbabweans. Nestled in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe boasts a vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes, including the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, showcasing the natural wonders of the world.  With music playing a crucial role in Zimbabwean culture, Cultural Infusion offers an engaging program in Western Australia that discovers the beauty of the instrument Mbira. The Mbira of Zimbabwe uses music, language and singing to explore the traditional instrument. Having been used for more than a thousand years, George introduces its origins and history. With traditional songs in the Shona language, students participate in an immersive experience to learn about Zimbabwean culture.   10. Chinese Language Day 20th April Chinese Language Day celebrates the richness and diversity of the Chinese language, recognised as one of the United Nations’ six official languages. With over 1.3 billion speakers worldwide, the United Nations’ Chinese Language Day recognises and acknowledges the importance of the Chinese language. Since 1946, Chinese language day has celebrated the linguistic diversity of the language. The Chinese language is a comprehensive system that has multiple characters, with each character having its own complex component. With multiple dialects, further sub-dialects and regional variations, Chinese is an incredibly diverse language.  11. World Creativity and Innovation Day 21st April World Creativity and Innovation Day shines a spotlight on the indispensable role of the creative arts industry in driving sustainable development worldwide. This day brings awareness to the importance and need for artistic expression. Creativity leads to the emergence of new possibilities and solutions and without innovative ideas, the world cannot develop and progress as it needs to. Therefore, creativity is vital for the advancement of the UN’s sustainable development goals. The arts industry has allowed for the cultivation and development of many communities by presenting the diverse artistic fields of theatre, fashion, design, and dance from all around the world.  Sharing the beautiful artistic design of traditional Indonesian attire, our Bali in Motion program has vibrant and colourful costumes and dresses that highlight the tremendous artistic industry found in Bali. Available in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Western Australia, students can immerse themselves in Balinese cultural traditions with a combination of dance and music.   12. Spanish Language Day 23rd April Spanish Language Day celebrates and acknowledges the wonder, evolution, and linguistic diversity of the Spanish language. Being the 4th most spoken language in the world and one of six official languages of the United Nations, Spanish has more than 500 million speakers all around the world.   Nations come together in solidarity including Argentina, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain and more. Not only is language merely a means of communication but through it, we discover ideas, experiences, and beauty of other cultures.   In celebration of the rich Spanish culture our Fire of Flamenco program available in Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland is a beautiful, vibrant, interactive workshop that shares the wonders of the traditional dance. Students will discover the expressive art form and the complexity involved in the traditional artform.   13. International Dance Day 29th April International Dance Day celebrates the significance and importance of dance as an art from. Founded by the international theatre institute along with its main partner of the performing arts being UNESCO, International Dance Day recognises the value of dance to societies as it symbolises a means of artistic expression. With its value often being undermined, this day creates an awareness of the world of choreography and dance and encourages a global celebration of the fine arts. Through captivating performances, the artistic diversity of the world is enjoyed with performances representing a great deal of cultures.   Cultural Infusion has a vast range of programs that share the joy of East Asian, Southeast Asian, European dance and more!   Our Multicultural Moves program available in Victoria, takes students on a journey across the world. From Jamaican Dance Hall to Hip Hop, children are sure to be immersed and engaged in a highly interactive workshop.   14. International Jazz Day 30th April Uniting teachers, musicians and communities, International Jazz Day shares the wonders of jazz music!   Originating from African American communities, jazz music has played a significant role in the expression of human experience. International Jazz Day provides insight into the evolution, history, and practice of jazz music around the world. Through upbeat melodies, a greater intercultural understanding is gained as International Jazz Day reinforces peace, cultural acceptance, harmony, respect, and tolerance for all.   And that is a wrap on our April dates to celebrate! We hope you find the time to enjoy one or many of the cultural celebrations above.  To book or learn more about our cultural programs please click here or alternatively call us on 03 9412 6666.   Next month, we will look at May’s top cultural dates, including Cinco de Mayo, World Belly Dance Day, and National Reconciliation Week in Australia.