Holy Days & Holidays
*Local or regional customs may use a variation of this date.
Bold titles are the faith tradition.
August, 2017 - July, 2018 - Holy Days and Holidays
AUGUST 2017
- 1
- Lughnasadh Pagan Celebration of midpoint between solstice and equinox marking first harvest, observed by some Christians as Lammas
- Tisha Be’Av – Jewish Fast day mourning the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem, and other devastations in Jewish history - 6
- Erev Tu Be’Av - 7
- Tu Be’Av – Jewish Holiday of love
- Raksha Bandhan * - Hindu festival honoring family ties between siblings - 13-15
- Obon * - Buddhist and Shinto Japanese Buddhist festival to honor ancestors - 15
- Assumption of Mary Christian celebration of assumption of Mary into heaven, Holy day of obligation for Catholics
- Krishna Janmashtami * - Hindu Festival celebrating the birth of Krishna - 26-4
- Paryushana Parva * - Jain Eight Day Jain festival of devotion - 30-31
- Day of Arafah - Hajj Islam (begins sundown on August 30) Day of assembly on the plain of Arafah in Hajj. Optional day of fasting for non-pilgrims
SEPTEMBER 2017
- 1-3
- Eid al Adha - Sacrifice Day - Islam (begins sundown on September 1) Muslim celebration honoring the spiritual sacrifice of his son by prophet Abraham - 20
- Erev Rosh Hashanah Jewish Eve of the Jewish New Year and beginning of High Holy Days (begins at sundown)* - 21-22
- Rosh Hashanah * - Jewish New Year
- Mabon Pagan (begins sundown on September 21) Observance of autumn equinox and harvest festival - 21
- Hijra - New Year - Islam Muslim new year, marking the emigration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah 622 C - 21-29
- Navaratri * - Hindu Nine-night Hindu festival - 25
- Ganesh Chaturthi * - Hindu Festival honoring Ganesh - 28
- Birth of Confucius. Observed in all religious traditions emanating from China - 29
- Erev Yom Kippur – Jewish Eve of the Day of Atonement, observed with fasting (begins at sundown) - 30
- Yom Kippur - Jewish Day of Atonement, observed with fasting
- Ashura - Islam Muslim commemoration of Prophet Moses delivering his people from Pharaoh (a day of optional fasting accompanied with a day of fasting before [29] and/or after
[October 1] and of trials endured by leaders among Prophet Muhammad’s family
- Dussehra * - Hindu Celebration of the victory of good over evil
OCTOBER 2017
- 4
- Erev Sukkot - 5-11
- Sukkot - Jewish Eight-day remembrance of God’s protection during time in the wilderness. Observed by eating in a temporary hut called a “sukkah.” (begins at sundown on October 4, concludes on October 11) - 9
- Indigenous People’s Day Interfaith celebration of cultural heritage of indigenous peoples of Western hemispher - 11
- Erev Shemini Atzeret - 12
- Shemini Atzeret - Jewish Eighth day festival connected to Sukkot (begins at sundown on October 11)
- Erev Simchat Torah - 13
- Simchat Torah - Jewish day of rejoicing to celebrate the yearly completion of reading the whole Torah (begins at sundown on October 12) - 15
- Bodhidharma Day – Zen Buddhist Honors Zen ancestor Bodhidharma who brought Zen from India to China - 19
- Diwali (Deepavali) * - Hindu - Jain - Sikh Hindu festival of lights honoring various legends across the Hindu, Jain, and Sikh traditions - 20
- Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth – Sikh Installation of the Guru Granth Sahib. Recognition of Sikh sacred writings as tenth and final guru
- New Year * - Jain Celebration of the new year - 21
- Birth of The Báb – Bahá’í Commemoration of the birth of the Báb (The "Gate"), the Prophet-Herald of the Bahá’í faith - 22
- Birth of Bahá'u'lláh - Bahá’í Commemoration of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh (translated ‘Glory of God’), the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í faith - 31
- Samhain Pagan Observance of midpoint between equinox and solstice, descent into depths of winter
- All Hallows Eve – Christian Celebration derived from Celtic Samhain, beginning two-day remembrance of the dead
NOVEMBER 2017
- 1
- All Saints Day – Christian Celebration of lives of the saints. Holy day of obligation for Catholics. - 2
- All Souls Day/Dia de los Muertos - Christian Day of interceding for those who have died
- 4
- Guru Nanak Dev Sahib birthday - Sikh Birth of first guru and founder of Sikh faith 1469 CE - 23
- Thanksgiving - Interfaith USA - 25
- Day of The Covenant – Bahá’í The day when Bahá'ís celebrate the appointment of `Abdu'l-Bahá as the Centre of Bahá'u'lláh’s Covenant - 28
- Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’ - Bahá’í Commemoration the ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá who passed away on November 28, 1921, in Haifa, Palestine (now Israel) - 30-December 1
- Mawlid al-Nabi – Islam (begins sundown on November 30) The day that commemorates the birth of the last Prophet of Islam, Muhammad c.570 CE
DECEMBER 2017
- 6
- Saint Nicholas Day - Christian Feast of saint popularly known as Santa Claus for his generosity - 8
- Immaculate Conception - Christian Catholic day of celebrating the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin all of her life. Holy day of obligation
- Bodhi Day * - Buddhist Celebration of beginning of path to enlightenment of the Buddha - 12-20
- Hanukkah - Jewish Eight-night Jewish festival of lights remembering Maccabean victory and rededication of Temple 165 BCE. (First candle is lit at sundown on December 12. Holiday concludes at nightfall on December 20) - 12
- Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Christian Catholic celebration of Mary as patron saint of Mexico - 16-25
- Posadas Navidenas – Christian Mexican Catholic reenactment of journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem - 21
- Yule - Pagan Observance of rebirth of the sun after longest night of winter
- Remembrance Vigil for Pan Am 103 - Interfaith Syracuse University service of remembrance for the victims of Pan Am 103 - 23
- Human Light Secular celebration of humanist vision of peace and goodwill among all - 24
- Christmas Eve – Christian Eve of traditional Western date observing birth of Christ in twelve-day festival lasting to Epiphany - 25
- Christmas - Christian Traditional Western date observing birth of Christ in twelve-day festival lasting to Epiphany - 26
- First Day of Kwanzaa Weeklong celebration of African American life and cultural heritage
- Zarathosht Diso *- Zoroastrian Death of founding prophet Zarathushtra - 28
- Fast of Tevet 10 - Jewish Day of mourning and repentance marking the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem. In recent years, it also is a day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust - 31
- Watch Night - Christian Ritual service of preparation for the year to come
- Holy Family - Christian Catholic celebration of the love between the family of Jesus
JANUARY 2018
- 1
- Mary, Mother of God - Christian Catholic day of prayer and thanksgiving to Mary, mother of Jesus
- Gantan-sai - Shinto new year festival - 2
- Basil the Great - Orthodox Christian Celebration of defender of orthodoxy Basil of Caesarea - 5
- Guru Gobindh Singh birthday - Sikh Celebration of final master of Sikh faith 1666 CE - 7
- Epiphany Christian Festival celebrating the revelation of God in Jesus and the visit of the sages to the Christ child
- Feast of the Nativity - Orthodox Christian Traditional celebration of Christmas for Eastern Orthodox Christians - 8
- Baptism of the Lord Jesus - Christian Commemoration of the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus - 13
- Maghi - Sikh Commemoration of battle of Chali Mukte 1705 CE - 15
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Interfaith United States celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - 18-24
- Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - Christian Seven days of ecumenical prayer - 22
Vasant Panchami * - Hindu Festival honoring Saraswati, goddess of learning, wisdom, music, and art - 30-31
- Erev Tu Bishvat
- Tu BiShvat - Jewish Celebration of the New Year of the Trees. (Begins at sundown on January 30)
FEBRUARY 2018
- 2
- Imbolc Pagan Feast of waxing light, midpoint between solstice and equinox
- Candlemas - Christian Celebration of the presentation of Jesus in the temple. New beginnings are recognized - 3
- Setsebun sai * - Shinto Celebration of approach of spring as invitation to good fortune - 4
- Four Chaplains Sunday - Interfaith Commemoration of the event in World War II when four Chaplains of Jewish and Christian traditions (Catholic and Protestant) gave their life jackets to others as a troop ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean - 8
- Chinese New Year - Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist Beginning of Chinese celebration of a new year for people of all religions - 9
- Thaipusam – Hindu Tamil festival that honors the deity Murugan - 13
- Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras - Christian Day of preparation for Lent, observed by feasting and carnival activities - 14
- St. Valentine's Day - Christian Festival of love loosely connected to Christian saint
- Ash Wednesday - Christian First of forty days of Western Christian penitential observance of Lent
- Maha Shivaratri *- Hindu Festival in honor of Lord Shiva and his marriage to Goddess Parvati - 15
- Nirvana Day * - Buddhist - Jain Commemoration of passing into Nirvana of the Buddha - 18
- Orthodox Sunday - Orthodox Christian First Sunday of Lent. Restoration of icons to the church is celebrated - 25-March 1
- Ayyám-i-Há - Bahá’í Intercalary days in the Bahá'í calendar, when Bahá'ís celebrate the Festival of Ayyám-i-Há (also known as ‘Days of Gift-Giving’) - 26
- Clean Monday - Orthodox Christian First day of Lent - 28
- Fast of Esther – Jewish Day preceding Purim that commemorates the fast Esther requested the Jewish people observe in preparation of her going to see the King uninvited - 28-March 1
- Erev Purim
- Purim - Jewish Holiday marking deliverance from Haman's genocidal plot against Jewish people in ancient Persia as related in Book of Esther. (Begins on February 28 at sundown)
MARCH 2018
- 2-20
- The Bahá’í Fasting Period - Bahá’í Last month of the Bahá’í calendar – Bahá’ís abstain from food and drinks between sunrise and sunset - 3
- Holi * - Hindu Festival of spring - 17
- Saint Patrick’s Day –Christian Celebration of Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland - 18-26
- Ramayana * - Hindu Festival leading up to the celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, hero of the religious epic poem, The Ramayana - 19
- St. Joseph's Day - Christian Celebration of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus - 20
- Ostara Pagan Spring equinox festival celebrating reawakening - 21
- Naw-Rúz - Bahá’í New Year (173 Baha'i Era.) - 23
- Magha Puja Day * - Buddhist Commemoration of presentation of Buddha to the world - 25
- Palm Sunday – Christian Beginning of Western Christian Holy Week, also known as Passion Sunday - 26
- Ramanavami * - Hindu Celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, hero of the religious epic poem The Ramayana - 28
- Khordad Sal* - Zoroastrian Birthday of Zarathustra, founding prophet of Zoroastrianism - 29
- Maundy Thursday – Christian Remembrance of Christ’s last supper. First day of the Sacred Triduum - 30
- Good Friday - Christian Remembrance of the crucifixion and death of Christ. Second day of the Sacred Triduum
- Erev Pesach (Passover)
- First Seder - 31
- Pesach (Passover) – Jewish Eight-day commemoration of freedom of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. (Begins with First Seder at sundown on March 30. Second Seder begins
at nightfall on March 31. Holiday concludes at nightfall on April 7)
- Holy Saturday Christian Day of vigil culminating in observance of resurrection of Christ. Third day of the Sacred Triduum
- Lazarus Saturday - Orthodox Christian
APRIL 2018
- 1
- Palm Sunday - Orthodox Christian
- Easter Christian Feast of resurrection of Christ - 3
- Mahavir Jayanti * - Jain Birth of founder of Jain tradition Mahavira 540 BCE - 6
- Holy Friday - Orthodox Christian Anniversary of death of Christ, as commemorated by Orthodox Christians - 8
- Vesak - Buddhist Celebrates the Birth of Shakyamuni Buddha
- Pascha (Easter) - Orthodox Christian Celebration of the resurrection of Christ, beginning at midnight - 11
- Erev Yom Ha’Shoah - 12
- Yom Ha’Shoah - Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Day (begins at sunset on April 11) - 13
- Lailat al Miraj - Islam The day that commemorates the Prophet Muhammad's nighttime journey, in 622 CE, to Heaven to meet with God and to meet with his fellow Prophets like Abraham and Moses - 14
- Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) * - Sikh Celebration of beginning of harvest season - 18
- Erev Yom Ha’Atzmaut - 19
- Yom Ha'Atzmaut - Jewish Celebration of Independence Day in Israel. (Begins at sunset on May 18) - 21
- 1st Day of Ridvan - Bahá’í – Baha’i’s celebrate the day Baha’u’llah arrived at the Garden of Ridvan - 29
- 9th Day of Ridvan - Bahá’í – Baha’i’s celebrate the day Baha’u’llah declared the Mission and Purpose of the Baha’i Faith.
MAY 2018
- 1
- Beltane Pagan Celebration of midpoint between equinox and solstice, celebrating Earth’s fertility
- Lailat al Bara'ah/Nisf Sha’ban - Islam (night of May 1) Optional Night of prayer - 2
- 12th Day of Ridvan - Bahá’í – Baha’i’s commemorate the day Baha’u’llah departed from the Garden of Ridvan and continued His exile
- Erev Lag Ba’Omer - 3
- Lag Ba'Omer - Jewish Celebration of the 33 day of counting the Omer - a 49 day period between Pesach and Shavout. (Begins at sunset on May 2) - 10
- Ascension of the Lord – Christian Festival marking the bodily ascension of Jesus into Heaven - 16
- Ramadan – Islam (begins at sundown on 16) Muslim Holy month of daily fasting (from dawn to sunset) and nightly prayers begins - 19
- Erev Shavuot - 20-21
- Shavuot - Jewish Festival of receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. (Begins at sunset on May 19 and concludes at nightfall on May 21.) - 20
- Pentecost – Christian Celebration of the descent of Holy Spirit upon followers of Christ - 24
- Declaration of The Báb - Bahá’í Celebration of the day when The Báb announced He was "the bearer of a Divine Revelation which would prepare humanity for the advent of the Promised
One of all religions" - 27
- Pentecost - Orthodox Christian
- Trinity Sunday - Christian Honors the belief in one God with a threefold nature
- 29
- Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh - Baha'i Commemoration of the ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í faith
JUNE 2018
- 5-14
- Laylatul Qadr -The Night of Destiny - Islam (begins sundown on 5). Muslim commemoration of the Holy Night, in Ramadan, when the Qur`an was revealed. It can fall on any of the 10 nights and these nights are spent in worship, prayers, and supplications. This night is also when the destiny of all things is determined for the coming year - 15-16
- Eid al Fitr – Festival of the Completion of the Fast/End of Ramadan – Islam (begins sundown on June 15). Muslim celebration showing gratitude for a successful completion of fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan. The day begins with a distribution of charity to the needy the night before (15), followed by morning prayer services the next day (16) and gatherings with family, friends, and relatives
JULY 2018
- 10
- Martyrdom of the Báb - Baha’i - The Báb, forerunner of Baha'u'llah, was publicly executed for announcing the nearing arrival of the Promised One, and the prophesied dawn of a new day - 21
- Erev Tisha Be'Av - 22
- Tisha Be-Av - Jewish Fast day mourning the destruction of both temples in Jerusalem, and other devastations in Jewish history - 26
- Erev Tu Be'Av - 27
- Tu Be'Av - Jewish Holiday of Love