Lag B'Omer in Canada
Quick Facts
Many Jewish people in Canada observe Lag B’Omer on the 18th day of the month of Iyar in the Jewish calendar.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Lag B'Omer | English |
| Lag Ba'omer | French |
Lag B'Omer 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010Lag B'Omer 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
See list of observations below
Some Jewish communities in Canada have bonfire events during Lag B'Omer. ©iStockphoto.com/Sebastian Santa
What do people do?
Lag B’Omer is generally a day of celebration and joy for many Jewish people in Canada because mourning practices that occur during the Omer period are lifted on this date. Many Jewish communities in Canada celebrate Lag B’Omer by hosting various social events. They usually include a bonfire and are held outdoors, particularly if the weather is sunny.
Some of these events take place in the form of street festivals, while others are annual Lag B’Omer family barbecues or picnics that include live music and entertainment. Many Lag B’Omer festivities in Canada include opportunities for adults to socialize and for children to engage in fun activities such as spending time with farm animals. Some Lag B’Omer celebrations that are targeted at young audiences, such as teenagers, feature activities such as paintball games.
Public life
Lag B’Omer is not a federal public holiday in Canada so many Lag B’Omer events are held after school or work hours (if not during the weekend), usually in the afternoon or early evening. Government offices, organizations, public transit services, and educational institutions operate to their usual schedules.
Background
The name of this Jewish observance refers to the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. An “omer” refers to a sheaf of barley or wheat. In the book of Leviticus, it is written that God commanded people to make an offering of a sheaf of barley on each of the 50 days between Passover and Shavuot. The day number was announced after the evening service, and in time this ceremony came to be known as the “counting of the Omer”.
The reason why the 33rd day of this period was singled out may have something to do with an ancient pagan festival that was celebrated at the same time. Another story claims that a plague attacked Rabbi Akiba’s students in the second century CE suddenly stopped on this day. Many Jewish people also mark this date by remembering the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who was one of Rabbi Akiva's students. In any case, this observance represents a break in the season between Passover and Shavuot.
About Lag B'Omer in other countries
Read more about Lag B'Omer.Lag B'Omer Observances
Note: Many Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | May 4 | 1980 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 22 | 1981 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 11 | 1982 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 1 | 1983 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 20 | 1984 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 9 | 1985 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 27 | 1986 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 17 | 1987 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 5 | 1988 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 23 | 1989 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 13 | 1990 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 2 | 1991 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 21 | 1992 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 9 | 1993 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | Apr 29 | 1994 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 18 | 1995 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 7 | 1996 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 25 | 1997 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 14 | 1998 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 4 | 1999 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 23 | 2000 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 11 | 2001 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | Apr 30 | 2002 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 20 | 2003 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 9 | 2004 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 27 | 2005 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 16 | 2006 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 6 | 2007 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Fri | May 23 | 2008 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Tue | May 12 | 2009 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 2 | 2010 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 22 | 2011 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 10 | 2012 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | Apr 28 | 2013 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Sun | May 18 | 2014 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday | |
| Thu | May 7 | 2015 | Lag B'Omer | Jewish holiday |
Other holidays in May 2010 in Canada
- Mother's Day (Sunday, May 9, 2010)
- Ascension Day (Thursday, May 13, 2010)
- Shavuot (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)
- Pentecost (Sunday, May 23, 2010)
- Whit Monday (Monday, May 24, 2010)
- National Patriots' Day (Monday, May 24, 2010)
- Victoria Day (Monday, May 24, 2010)
- Trinity Sunday (Sunday, May 30, 2010)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
