Guidance on Religious Holidays

Festival of Sacrifice. The day of Arafat marks the end of Hajj.

Commemoration of the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of god Vishnu.

Jewish New Year. A time of introspection, abstinence, and prayer.

Mabon is the arrival of autumn and with it the reaping of the harvest. It celebrates the abundance, the fruit of the labor put in throughout the year and signals preparations for the winter soon to come.

Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles – celebrates the harvest and the protection of the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness dwelling in tents.

Baha’i observance of the anniversary of the birth in 1819 of Siyyid, “the Bab,” the prophet-herald of the Baha’i Faith, in Shiraz, Persia.

Completion of the annual cycle of reading of the Torah.

Samhain is one of the most important festivals of the year. It is considered a very powerful time and is great to ask for guidance, help, clearing of negativity and starting of the new year in a positive light.

Festival of lights symbolizing the human urges to move toward the light.

Celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, circa 1469, observed on the full moon day of November.

A Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.

Yule is held during the winter equinox when days become shorter. It is the time in which last preparations are made for the coming cold months. It is also a time to remind oneself of the warmth and life-giving source of the Sun or fire.

Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed by prayers, exchanging of gifts and family parties (per Gregorian Calendar).

Celebrates the revelation of God incarnates as Jesus Christ.

Lent begins in Western Christianity.

First day of the forty days of the Great Lent period, beginning on Clean Monday followed by distinct periods of fasting, Lazarus Saturday, and Palm Sunday, culminating in Holy Week.

Commemorating the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim.

Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.

This is the Night of Destiny or Night of Power. It marks the revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad.

Birth of Khalsa brotherhood, the Sikh New Year festival commemorating the year Sikhism was born as a collective faith.

Commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn Jewish sons from the plague.

Celebration of the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery to freedom.

Symbolizes the reunification and strength of the bond of family and by extension the unity of the entire human family.

Beltane is the halfway point between Spring and Summer. It is a time to give gratitude and thanks to the fertility of spring, festivities start on the eve of May 1st.

Commemorates the eve of Baha’u’llah’s departure from Baghdad.

Christian remembrance of the crucifixion of Jesus and related events.

The fortieth day of Easter commemorating Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven.

Marking of the birth, enlightenment, and death (attainment of Nirvana) of Lord Buddha.

Observance of the anniversary of the death in exile of Baha`u`llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha’i Faith.

One of the three pilgrimage holidays commemorating the giving of the Torah (5 Books of Moses).

Litha is a celebration of the longest day of the year.

The midway point between summer and autumn, it is the first harvest of grains and fruits. It celebrates and gives gratitude to the new harvest of breads and fresh fruits.