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HOLIDAYS
Holidays are a time for the whole community to get together, celebrate, remember, and rejoice. Holidays create structure and order in time and make sure that, throughout the year, you continually come across and run into important feelings and ideas through ritual and repetition.
5 January- Birth of Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh was the last of the 10 human Gurus of the Sikh faith. He was born in 1666.
Glöckerlauf
A beautiful Austrian holiday takes place on January 5 and is known as Glockerlauf. People walk through the streets with big handmade and illuminated "Glockerkappen" carried on their shoulders.
6 January- Epiphany
The Epiphany falls on the 12th day after Christmas and signals the end of the Christmas season for Western Christians.
7 January- Orthodox Christmas Day
The majority of Orthodox Christian churches celebrate Christmas on 7 January.
Thai Pongal
Thai Pongal is a harvest festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun god, Surya. It is a four-day festival which according to the Tamil calendar is usually celebrated from January 14 to January 17.
27 January- International Holocaust Remembrance Day
An international memorial day commemorating the tragedy of the Holocaust that occurred during the Second World War.
Vasant Panchami
Vasant Panchami is the Hindu festival that welcomes spring. It falls in the Hindu lunar month of Magh (January/February).
Up-Helly Aa
Up Helly Aa can refer to any of twelve fire festivals held annually in the Shetland Islands of Scotland, in the middle of winter to mark the end of the yule season.
2 February- Imbolc
Imbolc is celebrated by Pagans midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
3 February- Setsubun
Shinto celebration of the change of seasons with the coming of spring with shouts of "Devils out, Good Fortune in". Bean throwing protects against demons.
Lohri
Lohri is a popular winter time Punjabi folk festival, celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus from the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. The significance and legends about the Lohri festival are many and these link the festival to the Punjab region.
15 February- Nirvana Day
Nirvana Day (Parinirvana) is the day when Buddhists from the Mahayana tradition remember the death and enlightenment of the Buddha.
Shivaratri
At Shivaratri, Hindus honour Lord Shiva. It falls on the 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun (February/March).
The Emperor's Birthday
The Emperor's Birthday (Tennō tanjōbi) is a national holiday in the Japanese calendar celebrated on the birthday of the reigning Emperor.
Clean Monday
Clean Monday is the start of Great Lent in Eastern Orthodox churches. It’s a day of strict prayer and fasting.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It's also known as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian churches and is a day of penitence.
Lent
Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar.
1-20 March- The Nineteen Day Fast
The last month in the Bahá'í calendar, Ala (meaning loftiness), is a time when Bahá'ís fast from sunrise to sunset and spend extra time in prayer.
14 January- Makkar Sakranti
A Hindu festival in reverence to deity Surya (sun) that is observed in January every year.
Guru Ravidass Jayanti
Guru Ravidass Jayanti is the birthday of Guru Ravidass, celebrated on Magh Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Magh (January/February).
Purim
Purim celebrates the events told in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible.
Holi
Holi is celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna (early March).
Chinese New Year
Also called Lunar New Year, this holiday marks the new year according to the lunar calendar.
Maslenitsa
Maslenitsa is an Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday, celebrated during the last week before Great Lent, that is, the eighth week before Eastern Orthodox Pascha.
Nyepi
A national day of silence, this Hindu holiday marks Lunar New Year in Bali, Indonesia, and encourages meditation and reflection.
Hola Mohalla
Hola Mohalla is a festival celebrated by Sikhs in the city of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, which is known as ‘the Holy City of Bliss’.
14 March- Nanakshani New Year
This day marks the beginning of the year in the Sikh Nanakshahi calendar.
Spring Equinox
At Spring (Vernal) Equinox the days and nights are of equal length. The land begins to bloom and Pagans celebrate the rebirth of spring.
21 March- Noruz
Historically, Noruz is the traditional Iranian new year holiday, and is celebrated by more than one religious group.
Rama Navami
At Rama Navami, Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Rama. It falls on the ninth day of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (March/April).
Birkat Ha'Ilanot
The Jewish festival of Birkat Illanot dictates that at the time of the first blossom, the community will gather outdoors by the trees and flowers in bloom to appreciate the beauty of nature and honour the generosity of its creator.
25 March- Annunciation
Annunciation celebrates the day when the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary to tell her she'd been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.
Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It is often called Mother's Day but has no connection with the American festival of that name.
Khordad Sal
Khordad Sal is celebrated by Zoroastrians and Parsis as the birthday of their founder, Zoroaster.
Hanuman Jayanti
At Hanuman Jayanti, Hindus celebrate the birth of the god Hanuman. It falls in the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar (April).
Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti is the most important religious holiday for Jains. It’s celebrated in the Hindu month of Caitra (late March/early April).
Qingming Festival
The Qingming festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English, is a traditional Chinese festival observed by the Han Chinese of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand. It falls on the first day of the fifth solar term of the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week - the week leading up to Easter.
Passover
At Passover, Jews remember the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt. It's one of the most important festivals of the year.
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter, which Christians remember as the day of the Last Supper.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the day in the calendar when Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Day of Silence
The annual day of action to spread awareness about the effects of the bullying and harassment of LGBTQ students. Students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBTQ students.
13 April- Songkran
Songkran is the Thai New Year's national holiday. Songkran is 13 April every year, but the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April.
14 April- Vaisakhi
At Vaisakhi, Sikhs celebrate the founding of the Khalsa, the collective body of baptised Sikhs created in 1699.
Easter Day
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is the most important festival in the Christian calendar.
Easter Day (Orthodox Church)
Easter is the most sacred time of year for the Orthodox Church, beginning with Great Lent seven weeks before Easter Day.
21 April-2 May- Festival of Ridván
During the Festival of Ridván, Bahá'ís remember the 12 days that their founder, Bahá'u'lláh, spent in the Garden of Ridván.
22 April- Earth Day
An annual event celebrated around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Lailat al Miraj
Lailat al Miraj is when Muslims commemorate the Prophet Muhammad's nighttime journey from Mecca to the 'Farthest Mosque' in Jerusalem.
1 May- Beltane
For Pagans, Beltane is a fire festival which celebrates the arrival of summer and the fertility of the coming year.
Lag B'Omer
A Jewish holiday celebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, which occurs on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar (April/May).
Vesak Day
Vesak, or Buddha Day, is the major festival of the year for Buddhists from the Theravada tradition.
Lailat al Bara'a
Lailat al Bara'a - the Night of Forgiveness - takes place two weeks before the beginning of Ramadan.
24 May- Declaration of the Báb
On this day Bahá'ís remember the day in 1844, when the Báb foretold the coming of a new messenger from God.
Ascension Day
Ascension celebrates the day when Jesus Christ is said to have ascended bodily into heaven, in the presence of the apostles.
26 May- National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day is an annual event that has been held in Australia on 26 May, since 1998, to remember and commemorate the mistreatment of the country's Aboriginal People.
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar and is a time of fasting and spiritual renewal.
Shavuot
Shavuot or the Festival of Weeks is a harvest festival when Jews give thanks for the first fruits of the year.
Pentecost
At Pentecost, Christians celebrate the day when the Holy Spirit is said to have descended on Jesus's Apostles.
Trinity Sunday
Trinity Sunday is the Sunday after Pentecost when Christians celebrate the belief in three aspects of the one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is celebrated by Christians on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
June- LGBT Pride Month
The month of June was chosen for LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969.
Nirjala Ekadeshi
Nirjala Ekadashi is a Hindu holy day falling on the 11th lunar day (Ekadashi) of the waxing fortnight of the Hindu month of Jyestha (May/June).
Ganga Dussehra
Hindu honouring of the sacred river Ganga which flows from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal.
16 June- Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev
Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the ten Sikh Gurus and the first Sikh martyr.
Kabir Jayanti
Kabir Jayanti is an annual event that is observed in the honour of Sant Kabir Das.
Summer Solstice
At Summer Solstice, Pagans celebrate Midsummer or Litha, which means 'standing still of the sun'. It’s the longest day of the year
21 June- First Nations Day
Canadian First Nations (Indian, Metis and Inuit) most sacred day on the summer solstice. Communities hold feasts and invite guests. Also knows as National Aboriginal Day or National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Ratha Yatra
Ratha Yatra means 'chariot festival' and is a Hindu festival traditionally celebrated in Orissa State on the east coast of India.
Eid-al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan.
Dharma Day
Dharma Day, or Asala, is when Buddhists from the Theravada tradition celebrate the teachings of the Buddha.
Gion Matsuri
Shinto honouring of the sun god with parades, music and storytelling.
10 July- Martyrdom of the Báb
On this day, Bahá'ís mark the anniversary of the execution in 1850 of the Báb, the herald of the Bahá’í faith.
24 July- Pioneer Day
Mormon observation of arrival of first settlers at Great Salt Lake, USA, on July 24, 1847.
1 August- Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh, also called Lammas, is the time of the corn harvest when Pagans give thanks to the Goddess for her gifts.
Nag Panchami
In Nepal and India, Hindus worship snakes—and keep evil spirits out of their homes—by sticking images of serpents on their doors and making offerings to the revered reptiles.
15 August- Feast of the Assumption
The Feast of the Assumption commemorates the death of Jesus's mother, Mary, and her bodily assumption into Heaven.
Obon Festival
Japanese Buddhist festival to honour deceased ancestors. Involves lighting of bonfires, traditional meals, paper lanterns, folk dances.
Janmashtami
At Janmashtami, Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna. It takes place during the Hindu month of Shravan (August/September).
Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima is an Indian and Nepalese festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers.
Tisha B'Av
An annual fast day in Judaism which commemorates the anniversary of a number of disasters in Jewish history, primarily the destruction of both the First Temple by the Babylonians and the Second Temple by the Romans in Jerusalem.
Sho Dun Festival
The Sho Dun Festival, commonly known as the Yogurt Festival or Banquet is an annual festival held at Norbulingka or "Jewel Park" palace in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region.
Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan, or simply Rakhi is a Hindu religious and secular festival, celebrated in many parts of the Indian subcontinent, notably India and Nepal.
Paryushan
Paryushan is the most important Jain festival of the year and is celebrated in the Indian month of Bhadra (August/September).
Ganesh Charurthi
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of Ganesh, god of wisdom and prosperity. It falls in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada (August/September).
Goga Navami
Goga Navami is a Hindu festival observed on the 9th day during the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (the dark fortnight of the moon) of the month of Bhadrapad (August/September) in the traditional Hindu calendar. This festival is also popularly known as Guga Naumi and is dedicated to worshipping Lord Guga, who is the Snake God.
1 September- Guru Granth Sahib
On 1 September, Sikhs celebrate the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Scripture) in the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1604.
Onam
Onam is an annual Hindu holiday and festival with origins in the state of Kerala in India. It falls in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam (August/September). According to legends, the festival is celebrated to commemorate King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.
Pitru Paksha
A 16-lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, especially through food offerings.
Eid-al-Adha
Eid-al-Adha is one of the most important Islamic holidays and commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham's) willingness to sacrifice his son to God.
Anant Chaturdashi
Anant Chaturdashi is a festival observed and celebrated by Jains and Hindus. Chaturdashi is the 14th day of the lunar fortnight. In the normal course, Anant Chaturdashi falls 10 days after Ganesh Chaturthi.
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year festival and commemorates the creation of the world.
Al-Hijra
Al-Hijra is the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar, and the first day of the Islamic New Year.
Navaratri
Navaratri is a nine day festival of music and dance when Hindus worship the female expression of the divine.
Autumn Equinox
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) is celebrated by Pagans when day and night are of equal length, and is the final festival of the harvest season.
Dussehra
Vijayadasami, also known as Dussehra or Dasara, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year.
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur translates as the Day of Atonement and is the holiest date in the Jewish calendar.
Ashura
At Ashura, Muslims remember the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala (680 AD).
Durga Ashtami
Durga Ashtami or Maha Ashtami is one of the most auspicious days of five days long Durga Puja Festival. In India, fasting is undertaken by many people on this holy occasion. This day is also known for 'Astra Puja' as on this day the weapons of goddess Durga are worshipped.
Karva Chauth
Karva Chauth is a one-day festival celebrated by Hindu and Sikh women in many countries in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.
Tsukimi
Tsukimi refers to Japanese festivals honouring the autumn moon, a variant of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The celebration of the full moon typically takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Japanese calendar; the waxing moon is celebrated on the 13th day of the ninth month.
Sukkot
At Sukkot Jews remember the Israelites' 40 years of exile in the desert, living in makeshift dwellings, before they reached the promised land.
Meskel
Meskel is an annual religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox churches, which commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress Helena in the fourth century.
Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday marking the day after the end of Sukkot and is an extra day of celebration.
Ahoi Ashtami
On Ahoi Ashtami, women fast from morning to evening and pray for the welfare and long life of their sons.
Dhanteras
Dhana Trayodashi, or Dhanteras, is the first day of the Indian Diwali and the Nepalese Tihar Festival.
Tihar
Tihar, also known as Deepawali and Yamapanchak, is a five-day-long Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal and India.
Bandi Chhorh Divas
On this day, Sikhs celebrate the safe return of the sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind, from detention in the Gwalior Gaol in 1619.
Diwali
Diwali is known as the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains albeit for different reasons.
17 October- Spirit Day
An annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on the third Thursday in October. Started in 2010 by Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan, it was initially created in response to a rash of widely publicized bullying-related suicides of gay school students in 2010.
20 October- Guru Granth Sahib declared Guru for all times
Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last living Guru of the Sikh faith.
On his death in 1708, he said that Sikhs were to treat the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book) as their Guru for all times.
31 October- All Hallows' Eve
All Hallows' Eve is commonly known as Halloween - and means eve of All Saints' (or Hallows') Day. 'Hallow' is an old English word for saint.
31 October- Reformation Day
Protestant Christian anniversary of their tradition and its emphasis on the place of the Bible and religious freedom.
31 October- Samhain
Samhain marks the Celtic New Year and the beginning of what Pagans call the Wheel of the Year.
Bhai Dooj
Bhai Dooj is a festival celebrated by Hindus of India and Nepal on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar month of Kartika (October/November).
Tulsi Vivah
Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant (holy basil) to the Hindu god Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna.
1 November- All Saint's Day
On All Saints' Day, Christians remember all the saints and martyrs, known and unknown, throughout Christian history.
2 November- All Soul's Day
All Souls' Day is a day when Christians remember and pray for the dead, especially family members.
Dehwa Hanina
Mandean "Little Feast" observance. A day that represents the victory of life.
Birthday of Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh faith and the first of its 10 Gurus. He was born in Punjab in 1469.
Chhath
Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival historically native to the Indian subcontinent, more specifically, the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal as well as the Madhesh region of Nepal.
13 November- Birth of the Báb
On this day Bahá'ís celebrate the birth in 1819 of the Báb, the herald or forerunner of their faith.
14 November- Birth of Bahá'u'lláh
On this day, Bahá'ís celebrate the anniversary of the birth in 1817 of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of their faith. Bahá'u'lláh means 'Glory of God'.
Mawlid
Mawlid or Mawlid al-Nabi al-Sharif is the observance of the birthday of Islamic prophet Muhammad which is commemorated in Rabi' al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.
24 November- Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of the Ten Sikh Gurus. He was martyred in 1675.
1 December- World AIDS Day
An international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of the disease.
Advent Sunday
Advent is the four week period before Christmas when Christians prepare for the coming of Christ. The word Advent means 'coming' or 'arrival'.
8 December- Bodhi Day
On Bodhi day, Buddhists from the Mahayana tradition celebrate the Buddha's attainment of enlightenment.
Gita Jayanti
Hindu celebration of the birthday of Srimad Bhagavad Gita and the revelation of the Gospel of Dharma to the world.
Yule
Yule marks the Winter Solstice - the shortest day of the year - when Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the sun.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival also known as the festival of lights.
24 December- Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve is the evening before Christmas Day.
25 December- Christmas Day
Christmas Day is when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, whom they believe to be the son of God.
26 December- Zarathosht Diso
On this day, Zoroastrians remember the death of their prophet, Zoroaster. It's a solemn occasion devoted to prayer and remembering his life.
Holy Innocents' Day
The commemoration of the massacre of the "Holy Innocents", traditionally regarded as the first Christian martyrs.
Kwanzaa
A celebration held in nations of the African diaspora which lasts a week. The celebration honours African heritage in African-American culture and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.
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