Events and Calendar

Christianity

• 12/8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception: A feast day celebrated by Roman Catholics that celebrate Mary’s conception without original sin.
• 12/25 – Christmas: The holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
• 12/26 – The Feast of St. Stephen:  Also called Boxing Day, this day commemorates the life of a saint known for his service to the poor who became the first Christian martyr.

Judaism

• 12/18 to 12/26 – Hanukkah: The 8-day celebration of the “Festival of Lights” that honors he victory of Jews over Syrian Greeks.

Paganism/Wiccan

• 12/21 – Yule: A Pagan and Wiccan holiday that begins at sundown at the winter solstice.

Paganism/Wiccan

• 11/1 – Samhain: A festival in the Pagan and Wiccan religions that marks the end of the harvest season.

Christianity

• 11/1 – All Saints Day: Also known as Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, this day honors the saints who have attained heaven in the Christian faith.
• 11/30 – Feast of St. Andrew: A day honoring the patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Barbados, and Romania in the Roman Catholic Church.

Rastafarianism

• 11/2 – Anniversary of the Crowning of Haile Selassie

Sikhism

• 11/8 – Birthday of Guru Nanak Ji: A day honoring the birth of the founder of Sikhism.

Jainism

• 11/24 – Jain New Year: A holiday always following Diwali; Jains celebrate their new year on the first day after the month of Kartika.

Judaism

• 10/4 – Yom Kippur: A Jewish day of atonement to reflect on sins and seek forgiveness from God.
• 10/9 to 10/16 – Sukkot: A day in the Jewish faith that remembers when the Jews journeyed to the desert on the way to the promised land.

Hinduism

• 10/5 – Dussehra: The tenth and final day of the Hindu festival honoring Asuj Navratras.
• 10/24 – Diwali: A 5-day festival of light that combines several different festivals in honor of gods, goddesses, harvests, new year’s, etc. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains.

Islam

• 10/8 – Mawlid: An Islamic holiday celebrating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

Bahai

• 10/26 – Birthday of the Bab: A day honoring the birthday of God’s messenger in the Baha’i faith.
• 10/27 – Birthday of Baha’u’llah: A day honoring the birthday of the prophet-founding of the Baha’i faith

Hinduism

• 9/10 to 9/25 – Pitru Paksha: A time when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors.
• 9/26 to 10/4 – Navaratri: A Hindu festival that celebrates the Goddess Durga.

Orthodox Christianity

• 9/11 – Coptic New Year: Also known as Nayrouz, this is a feast day that commemorates both martyrs and confessors in the Coptic Orthodox Christian Church.

Islam

• 9/17 – Arbaeen: A day of observance for Muslims that concludes the 40-day mourning period after the Day of Ashura.

Paganism/Wiccan

• 9/23 – Mabon: This day marks the autumnal equinox in the Pagan and Wiccan religions.

Jainism

• 9/23 to 9/31 – Paryushana: A Jain festival about forgiveness that is the faith’s most important religious observance.

Judaism

• 9/25* to 9/27 – Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year beginning at sundown that encourages reflection.

Paganism/Wiccan

• 8/1 – Lughnasadh: A festival in the Pagan and Wiccan religions that marks the beginning of harvest season.

Christianity

• 8/15 – Feast of the Assumption: A holy day that commemorates the Virgin Mary being assumed, body and soul, into heaven.

Islam

• 8/29 – Hijiri: Also known as Islamic New Year, this is the start of the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins when the crescent moon is sighted

Judaism

• 7/6 – Tisha B’Av: A Jewish holiday that remembers the destruction of the Jewish temple, once in 586 BCE and once in 70 CE in Jerusalem.

Islam

• 7/7 to 7/12 – The Hajj: The name for the annual pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca required for all Muslims at least once.
• 7/9 to 7/10 – Eid al-Adha: A Muslim holiday that marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.

Bahai

• 7/10 – Martyrdom of the Bab – The day of the execution of the co-founder of the Baha’i faith.

Rastafarianism

• 7/23 – Birthday of Haile Selassie: A holiday in Rastafarianism that celebrates Emperor Haile Selassie, an individual believed to be the incarnation of God.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

• 7/24 – Pioneer Day: A Utah state holiday that celebrates the settling of the Mormon pioneers in the Great Salt Lake area where they established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Orthodox Christianity

• 6/2 – Ascension Day: A day celebrated in Coptic Orthodox Christianity that marks Jesus’s ascension into heaven.
• 6/12 – All Saints Day: The day in Eastern Orthodox Christianity that designates the end of the Easter season.

Judaism

• 6/4 to 6/6 – Shavuot: A Jewish holiday that combines a grain harvest and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Bahai

• 6/8 – Race Unity Day: A day that promotes racial harmony and understanding in the Baha’i faith.

Christianity

• 6/12 – Trinity Sunday: A day in the Christian faith that celebrates the three personifications of God (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
• 6/16 – Feast of Corpus Christi: The feast day that commemorates the real presence of Jesus’s body in the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church.
• 6/24 – Feast of the Sacred Heart: A feast day in the Roman Catholic Church that celebrates Jesus’s physical heart as a representation of his love for all humanity.

Sikhism

• 6/16 – Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib: A day observed by Sikhs to commemorate an individual who laid down his life for their people.

Paganism/Wiccan

• 6/24 – Litha: A Pagan and Wiccan festival that begins on the summer solstice and celebrates midsummer.

Paganism/Wiccan

• 5/1 – Beltane: A fire festival celebrated by the Pagan and Wiccan religions that celebrate summer and the fertility of the upcoming year.

Islam

• 5/3 – Eid al-Fitr: An Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. As it ends fasting, its primary event is a big meal.

Buddhism

• 5/8 – Birthday of Buddha: The day that Buddhists celebrate the Buddha’s birthday.
• 5/16 – Vesak:  The most important Theravada Buddhist festival that signifies the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.

Bahai

• 5/24 – Declaration of the Bab: The day that marks the prediction of the Bab as the Messenger of God in the Baha’i faith.

Christianity

• 5/26 – Ascension Day: A Christian holiday that marks the 40^th day following Easter when Jesus ascended into Heaven.

Islam

• 4/2 to 5/2 – Ramadan: The holy month of fasting, introspection, and prayer celebrated by Muslims.

Hinduism

• 4/14 – Vaisakhi: An ancient festival for Hindus that simultaneously celebrates that Solar New Year and spring harvest.

Judaism

• 4/15 to 4/23 – Passover: A 7-day holiday in the Jewish faith that honors the freeing of the Israeli slaves.

Jainism

• 4/15 – Mahavir Jayanti: A Jain holiday celebrating the birth of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.

Christianity

• 4/17 – Easter: The most important day in the Christian faith when they celebrate the resurrection of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• 4/24 – Feast of the Divine Mercy: A feast day on the second Sunday of Easter when Christians seek Christ’s forgiveness and grace.

Hinduism

• 3/1 – Maha Shiravatri: A Hindu festival called “Shiva’s night” which honors this significant deity.
• 3/17 to 3/18 – Holi- A Hindu festival of colors that welcomes spring and a new harvest in India.

Islam

• 3/1 – Lailat al Miraj: A Muslim holiday commemorating Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended into heaven.

Christianity

• 3/2 – Ash Wednesday: The day in the Christian Church that marks the start of Lent, the 40-day period of prayer and fasting before Easter.
• 3/19 – Feast Day of St. Joseph: A day that commemorates the husband of Jesus’s mother Mary and surrogate father on Earth.
• 3/25 – The Annunciation: The day in the Christian religion when the Angel Gabriel announced that Mary would become the mother of Jesus.

Judaism

• 3/17 – Purim: The Feast of Lots in the Jewish faith that honors the survival of ancient Persian Jews who were marked for death.

Sikhism

• 3/18 to 3/20 – Hola Mohalla – The 3-day Sikh festival honoring valor, skill, and defense preparedness.

Paganism/Wiccan

• 3/20 – Ostara: The celebration of the spring equinox in the Pagan and Wiccan religions.

Zoroastrianism

• 3/21 – Naw Ruz: The Zoroastrian New Year that is celebrated at the spring equinox.

Bahai

• 3/21 – Naw Ruz: The New Year for the Baha’i faith, marking the end of the Baha’i fast.

Paganism

• 2/1 – Imbolc: The halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox in the Pagan and Wiccan calendars. This day celebrates fire, light, and the return of life.

Christianity

• 2/2 – Candlemas: A holiday in the Christian church that blesses the candle supply for that year.

Buddhism

• 2/15 – Parinirvana: Also known as Nirvana Day in Mahãyãna Buddhism, this date marks Buddha’s death and attainment of final nirvana.

Judaism

• 2/17 – Tu Bishvat: The “New Year of Trees” in the Jewish faith.

Bahai

• 2/25 – Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha: A multiple-day festival in the Baha’i faith that prioritizes gift-giving, hospitality, charity, and preparation for fasting ahead of the New Year.

Christianity

• 1/6 – Feast of the Epiphany: The day that commemorates the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles for Christians. It is celebrated on January 6^th as it marks 12 days after Christmas when the three kings arrived in Bethlehem.
• 1/7 – Coptic Orthodox Christmas: The date that Orthodox Christians celebrate Jesus’s birth in the Julian calendar.

Buddhism

• 1/10 – Bodhi Day: This day celebrates the Buddha’s enlightenment; it is celebrated by Mahãyãna Buddhists.
• 1/­14 – Orthodox New Year: The “Old New Year” celebrates the start of the Julian calendar.

Sikhism

• ­1/13 – Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday – The date used to celebrate the tenth Sikh Guru and spiritual master.

Hinduism

• 1/14 Makar Sankranti - Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival that’s dedicated to the Hindu religious sun god Surya. It is often celebrated with morning prayer followed by kite games and competitions.

Bahai

• 1/16 – World Religion Day: A day in the Baha’i faith that celebrates common themes for faiths across the world.