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There are many facets that affect cultural perceptions of time, and one of them is calendars. Here are some key events in February from our 2015 intercultural calendar:

World’s Biggest Holiday

In Asia, the celebration of the new year culminates with the Lantern Festival. This major celebration falls on Feb. 6 in China and Feb. 17 in Taiwan. Tibetans will celebrate the New Year on Feb. 22. Please enjoy a colorful video of the Lantern Festival in our online intercultural calendar.

Major Holidays in Mexico and Japan

Holidays can affect the management of multicultural teams. February features a number of key national and independence days. Major countries with important holidays include Mexico (Constitution Day, Feb. 8) and Japan (National Foundation Day, Feb. 11). Others include National Day in Sri Lanka on the 4th, National Day in Kuwait on the 25th, and Independence Day in the Dominican Republic on the 27th.

Religious Holidays: Asia, Middle East

Muslims will mark Maulid an-Nabi, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad, on Feb 4. Mahãyãna Buddhists commemorate the death of Buddha in 483 B.C.E. on the 15th, celebrating his attainment of final nirvana.
On Feb. 20 Hindus will honor Shiva, one of the most important deities in Hinduism. It’s celebrated with fasting, prayer and meditation.

Christian and Jewish Holidays

Christians of both the Eastern and Western traditions will begin the holiday season leading to Easter with Great Lent. This begins on Feb. 20 for Eastern Orthodox Christians, and on the 22nd or Ash Wednesday for Western Catholics. T'u B'Shvat (New Year of the Trees) is a minor Jewish holiday celebrated on the 8th. Feb. 2 marks Imbolc, the Wicca celebration of fire, light, and the return of life.

African-American Heritage Month

In the United States, February is African-American Heritage Month, marking the birthdays of figures who made important contributions to African-American history, and to general American culture.

Feb. 1 is the birthday of the playwright and poet Langston Hughes. The abolitionist Frederick Douglas was born on the 14th. And Feb. 17 marks the birthday of the great singer Marion Anderson, the first African American to sing a leading role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. And W.E.B Du Bois, one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, was born on the 23rd.

For intercultural teams to work together effectively, team members must respect each others' cultures and schedules. For a complete listing of 2015 intercultural events, please view our 2015 diversity calendar.